A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with acute stress disorder. Which of the following client statements aligns with this diagnosis?

“I was in a car crash two weeks ago and I have nightmares when I sleep.”.

“I was physically abused as a child and have frequent flashbacks since then.”.

“I was in a terrible car crash two years ago and I have been unable to drive since then.”.

“My parents fought a lot when I was a child.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale
Acute Stress Disorder (ASD) is a mental health condition that can occur in the immediate aftermath of a traumatic event, with symptoms starting within four weeks of the event and lasting for a minimum of three days and up to one month. This client’s statement about experiencing nightmares following a car crash two weeks ago aligns with the diagnosis of ASD.

Nightmares are a common symptom of ASD, often replaying the traumatic event, leading to disrupted sleep and increased distress.
Choice B rationale
This statement is more indicative of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a related but distinct condition from ASD. PTSD is characterized by persistent and intrusive memories of the traumatic event, which can include flashbacks, and symptoms must last for more than a month and cause significant distress or functional impairment. The chronic nature of the symptoms described by the client, including frequent flashbacks since childhood, is more consistent with PTSD than ASD.
Choice C rationale
This statement could suggest a condition known as Specific Phobia, Situational Type. This is a type of anxiety disorder characterized by an intense, persistent fear of certain situations. The individual will avoid the situation or endure it with intense fear or anxiety. In this case, the client’s inability to drive following a car crash two years ago could indicate a specific phobia related to driving.
Choice D rationale
The experience described by the client in this statement is indicative of a dissociative symptom, which can be a feature of several different mental health disorders, including but not limited to Dissociative Disorders and PTSD1. The feeling of leaving one’s body is referred to as depersonalization, a type of dissociation that can occur as a response to trauma. However, without more information, it is difficult to align this statement with a specific diag

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Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A rationale
Agoraphobia is characterized by a fear of being in situations where escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or help might not be available in the event of panic symptoms. This does not align with the child’s symptoms of not being able to speak in class or other social situations.
Choice B rationale
Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about a variety of topics and is not specific to social situations. The child’s symptoms are more specific to social situations, which does not align with generalized anxiety disorder.

Choice C rationale
Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder characterized by a consistent failure to speak in specific social situations in which there is an expectation for speaking, despite speaking in other situations. This aligns with the child’s symptoms of not being able to speak during class and other social situations.
Choice D rationale
Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those to whom the individual is attached. The child’s symptoms do not indicate a fear of separation, but rather a fear of speaking in social situations.

A. The child insists on having their own way when playing with friends. B. The child cries because they are the smallest child in their class. C. The child is rude to their siblings when things do not go their way. D. The child is found making small fires in the backyard.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale

Insisting on having their own way when playing with friends is a common behavior among children and is not necessarily related to a traumatic experience. It could be a sign of a strong personality or a phase of development where the child is learning about power and control.
Choice B rationale
Crying because they are the smallest child in their class is more likely related to self-esteem or body image issues. This behavior is not typically associated with experiencing a traumatic event like a house fire.
Choice C rationale
Being rude to siblings when things do not go their way is a common behavior among children and is not necessarily indicative of a traumatic experience. It could be a sign of frustration or difficulty managing emotions.
Choice D rationale
Making small fires in the backyard could be a sign that the child is trying to make sense of or reenact the traumatic experience of their house being destroyed by a wildfire. This behavior is a cause for concern and should be addressed with professional help.

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A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with acute stress disorder. Which of the following client statements aligns with this diagnosis?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a child whose guardians report that the child consistently cannot speak during class and other social situations. Which of the following anxiety disorders should the nurse identify that the child is experiencing?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

A nurse is reviewing assessment findings for a 9-year-old child whose family home was destroyed in a wildfire. The nurse should identify that which of the following behaviors is related to the traumatic experience?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

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