A nurse is caring for a patient with a mental health disorder. Which approach best supports therapeutic care?

Adopt a neutral attitude when providing care

Check on the patient throughout the day for brief interactions

Discuss the patient’s feelings with an authorized individual

Share personal mental health information with the patient

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: A neutral attitude in psychiatric nursing maintains professional boundaries and objectivity, preventing bias or emotional entanglement. This fosters a therapeutic environment, allowing patients to express feelings without judgment, aligning with principles of therapeutic communication and mental health care, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Brief check-ins, while useful, may not provide the depth needed for therapeutic care in mental health settings. Consistent, meaningful engagement is more effective for building trust and addressing complex emotional needs, making this approach less optimal compared to maintaining neutrality.

Choice C reason: Discussing a patient’s feelings with another individual risks breaching confidentiality unless authorized by the patient or legally required. This violates ethical standards in mental health care, which prioritize privacy, making this approach non-therapeutic and incorrect for supporting patient care.

Choice D reason: Sharing personal mental health information blurs professional boundaries, potentially shifting focus from the patient’s needs to the nurse’s experiences. This undermines therapeutic communication and objectivity, risking patient trust and care quality, making this approach inappropriate and incorrect.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: In Peplau’s orientation phase, the nurse establishes trust, fosters collaboration, and sets boundaries to build a therapeutic relationship. This foundation is critical for patients with psychiatric disorders, ensuring a safe space for engagement, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Medication adherence is a clinical intervention addressed later, in the working phase, not orientation. The initial phase focuses on relationship-building, not specific treatments, making this choice incorrect for the orientation phase’s goals.

Choice C reason: Coping skill development occurs in the working phase, after trust is established. Orientation prioritizes relationship foundations like trust and boundaries, not skill-building, making this choice incorrect for the initial nurse-patient interaction phase.

Choice D reason: Long-term goals are addressed in the working or termination phases, not orientation, which focuses on establishing trust and rapport. Setting goals prematurely may hinder relationship-building, making this choice incorrect for the orientation phase.

A. Arrange for social services to address the patient’s housing needs B. Contact the landlord to discuss the eviction situation further C. Determine whether the adverse medication reaction was genuine D. Delay discharge until the patient’s mental status improves

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Arranging social services addresses the patient’s eviction, a social determinant of health impacting mental stability. This holistic approach supports recovery by ensuring housing stability, aligning with psychiatric nursing’s focus on comprehensive care, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Contacting the landlord directly exceeds the nurse’s role and may violate privacy. It does not address the patient’s immediate housing needs or mental health, making it less appropriate than coordinating with social services for professional support.

Choice C reason: Questioning the medication reaction’s validity is inappropriate without evidence and distracts from addressing the eviction. It undermines trust and does not support discharge planning, making this choice irrelevant to the patient’s current needs.

Choice D reason: Delaying discharge without clinical justification risks unnecessary hospitalization. The eviction requires social support, not prolonged admission, as mental status improvement is not specified as a concern, making this choice incorrect.

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A nurse is caring for a patient with a mental health disorder. Which approach best supports therapeutic care?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Hildegard Peplau came up with the phases of the nurse-patient relationship. What does the nurse address during the orientation phase with a patient diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A patient was hospitalized for 24 hours after a reaction to a psychotropic medication. While planning discharge, the nurse learned the patient received a notice of eviction immediately prior to admission. Select the nurse’s most appropriate action.

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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