A nurse is taking care of an adult client who is experiencing increased anxiety and an inability to concentrate. Which of the following responses should the nurse make?

Choice A rationale:

Joining a bowling league 2 months ago indicates that the client is actively seeking social interactions and engaging in activities. While grief can manifest in various ways, joining a social activity does not necessarily indicate maladaptive grief. It's important for individuals to find ways to connect with others and continue living their lives after the loss of a loved one.

Choice B rationale:

Meeting his daughter for dinner every week demonstrates ongoing communication and emotional connection with family. This behavior suggests a healthy attempt at maintaining relationships and coping with the loss. Regular interactions with family members can be supportive during the grieving process.

Choice C rationale:

Keeping his partner's closet untouched since her death is a sign of maladaptive grief. This behavior suggests an inability to let go of personal belongings and move forward after a significant period of time. In healthy grieving, individuals usually work through their emotions and gradually start reorganizing their living spaces and personal items.

Choice D rationale:

Exercising at a local health facility 3 days each week indicates that the client is engaging in self-care and maintaining physical health. While exercise can be a coping mechanism, this behavior alone does not provide enough evidence to determine whether the client is experiencing maladaptive grief.

The correct answer is choice B: Is an aversion therapy that produces unpleasant consequences for undesirable behavior.

Choice A rationale:

Decreases or eliminates a behavior by introducing a more adaptive behavior that is incompatible with the unacceptable behavior. Choice A refers to the technique of "differential reinforcement," where an undesirable behavior is replaced by a more appropriate behavior. This technique involves reinforcing positive behaviors while ignoring or providing minimal attention to negative behaviors. It is not the same as covert sensitization.

Choice B rationale:

Is an aversion therapy that produces unpleasant consequences for undesirable behavior. Covert sensitization is a form of aversion therapy used to eliminate unwanted behaviors by associating them with unpleasant imagery or thoughts. It's based on the principle that if a person can associate a negative response with a certain behavior, they will be less likely to engage in that behavior. This technique is used for behaviors like addiction or certain compulsive behaviors.

Choice C rationale:

An aversive stimulus or punishment during which the client is removed from the environment where the unacceptable behavior is being exhibited. Choice C refers to "time-out," a technique used to decrease undesirable behaviors by removing the individual from the environment where the behavior is occurring. This is often used with children and involves giving them a brief break from a situation to help them calm down. It's not the same as covert sensitization.

Choice D rationale:

Relies on an individual's imagination rather than medication for unpleasant symptoms. Choice D is not directly related to covert sensitization. Covert sensitization involves creating a negative association with a behavior using mental imagery. It's not about relying on imagination instead of medication.