A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

How do you feel about having imbalanced neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help your brain communicate; an imbalance can affect mood and behavior

Let’s focus on your medication to fix the imbalance

Your doctor can explain that better than I can

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Asking about feelings explores emotions but does not address the patient’s question about neurotransmitters. Educational queries require informative responses to enhance understanding, not redirection to feelings, making this choice non-therapeutic and incorrect for the patient’s need.

Choice B reason: Explaining neurotransmitters as brain communication chemicals directly addresses the patient’s question. It provides clear, accurate information about their role in mood and behavior, aligning with patient education principles in psychiatric nursing, making this the correct, informative response.

Choice C reason: Focusing on medication avoids explaining neurotransmitters, failing to address the patient’s educational need. It shifts focus prematurely to treatment, which may confuse the patient, making this response less effective and incorrect for providing the requested information.

Choice D reason: Deferring to the doctor dismisses the nurse’s role in patient education, undermining trust. Nurses are equipped to explain basic concepts like neurotransmitters, and this response fails to meet the patient’s need for understanding, making it non-therapeutic and incorrect.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Administering medications addresses symptoms pharmacologically but is not a core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention. CBT focuses on modifying thoughts and behaviors, not drug therapy, making this choice incorrect for the specified theoretical approach.

Choice B reason: CBT targets negative thought patterns to modify maladaptive behaviors and emotions, central to treating anxiety. Challenging distorted cognitions helps the patient reframe perceptions, reducing withdrawal, aligning with CBT principles, making this the correct choice.

Choice C reason: Group therapy encourages social interaction but is not a primary CBT intervention. CBT focuses on individual cognitive restructuring, not group dynamics, making this choice less relevant for the specified theoretical approach to anxiety treatment.

Choice D reason: Relaxation techniques are adjunctive in CBT but not the primary focus. Challenging negative thoughts is the core intervention, directly addressing cognitive distortions driving anxiety, making relaxation a secondary approach and this choice incorrect.

A. There are people with problems much worse than yours B. What do you think you could do to feel better? C. I understand how you’re feeling; let’s talk more about it D. Why don’t you just try to forget about it?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Comparing the patient’s problems to others minimizes their experience, a non-therapeutic technique. It dismisses feelings, hindering trust and open communication, contrary to psychiatric nursing principles that emphasize validation, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Asking the patient to suggest solutions encourages self-reflection and empowerment, a therapeutic technique. It fosters autonomy and problem-solving, aligning with patient-centered care in mental health nursing, making this a correct choice for therapeutic communication.

Choice C reason: Expressing understanding and inviting further discussion validates the patient’s feelings, fostering trust. This empathetic, open-ended approach is a hallmark of therapeutic communication in psychiatric care, promoting a safe space for exploration, making this a correct choice.

Choice D reason: Suggesting the patient forget their problems is dismissive and non-therapeutic. It invalidates feelings and discourages exploration, contrary to psychiatric nursing goals of fostering insight and trust, making this choice incorrect for therapeutic communication.

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A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

When using cognitive behavioral theory with an anxious, withdrawn patient, interventions should focus on which of the following?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Which comments by a nurse demonstrate the use of therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that apply)

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

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

A fearful patient has an increased heart rate and blood pressure. The nurse suspects increased activity of which neurotransmitter?

Which scenario best depicts a behavioral crisis?

A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

Which tasks are safe and appropriate to be performed by a basic-level nurse for a patient suffering from mental illness?

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.

A nurse is caring for a group of clients in an acute mental health facility. Which of the following clients has the legal right to refuse treatment?