A nurse is responding to a parent of an adolescent who was recently diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder following a sexual assault.The parent mentions that their child has been experimenting with drugs. Why would they be doing this?
“This must be a difficult time for you.”.
“This is normal behavior for an adolescent. Nothing to be concerned about.”.
“I can understand your concerns. Which of these behaviors do you want to address first?”
“It’s very frustrating when children misbehave. Do any of your other children react the same way? What rules have you established for them?”
The Correct Answer is A
Choice A rationale
The adolescent’s experimentation with drugs could be a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma of the sexual assault and the subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Substance use, including drug use, is often a maladaptive coping strategy used by individuals
who have experienced trauma to numb their feelings, escape from their reality, or attempt to regain control. This must indeed be a difficult time for both the adolescent and the parent.
Choice B rationale
While experimentation is a part of normal adolescent behavior, it is not normal or healthy for an adolescent to use drugs, especially in response to a traumatic event such as a sexual assault. Drug use can lead to addiction, health problems, and further psychological distress. Therefore, it is something to be concerned about and addressed appropriately.
Choice C rationale
While it is important to understand and address the parent’s concerns, the focus should be on the adolescent’s needs. The adolescent is dealing with the aftermath of a sexual assault and a diagnosis of PTSD, and is using drugs. These are serious issues that need to be addressed with professional help. The question of which behavior to address first should be determined based on the adolescent’s immediate safety and well-being.
Choice D rationale
It is not helpful to label the adolescent’s behavior as misbehavior or to compare them to their siblings. Each child is unique and may react differently to stress and trauma. Instead of focusing on rules and comparisons, it would be more beneficial to provide support, understanding, and appropriate professional help.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
The symptoms described by the patient are indicative of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). GAD is characterized by excessive anxiety and worry about a number of events or activities.
The worry is out of proportion to the actual circumstance and is difficult to control.
Choice B rationale
Panic disorder is characterized by recurrent unexpected panic attacks, which are abrupt surges of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes.
Choice C rationale
Agoraphobia involves fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help might not be available in the event of developing panic-like symptoms.
Choice D rationale
Separation anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive fear or anxiety about separation from those to whom the individual is attached.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A rationale
Post-traumatic play is a way for children to re-enact the traumatic event, and it is a common reaction among children who have experienced trauma. The child in the question mimicking shooting a gun with their hand whenever someone enters the room or tries to interact with them could be an example of this.
Choice B rationale
There is no recognized PTSD symptom or manifestation known as “Men formation.”.
Choice C rationale
Depersonalization involves experiencing a sense of being detached or disconnected from oneself, observing oneself from an outside perspective, or experiencing a sense of unreality. This does not seem to apply to the child’s behavior in the question.
Choice D rationale
Time skewing refers to a shift in the perception of time, which is not evident in the child’s behavior in the question.
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