When assessing for the subjective symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which question will the nurse ask a client hospitalized for severe anxiety related to a sexual assault by a family member as a teenager?
"On a regular basis, do you get enough restful sleep?"
"Can we discuss what triggered your angry outburst a few minutes ago?"
"Are you experiencing a flashback of the rape right now?"
"Am I correct to say that you try to avoid certain family members?"
The Correct Answer is C
A. Sleep disturbances are common in PTSD, but they might not address the current acute symptoms the client is experiencing.
B. This question explores the immediate trigger for an outburst but might not directly address the PTSD symptoms related to the sexual assault.
C. Inquiring about flashbacks directly relates to one of the hallmark symptoms of PTSD, especially given the recent severe anxiety related to the assault.
D. Avoidance behavior is a symptom of PTSD, but the question about experiencing a flashback addresses more immediate distress.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. Intervening during self-harm is more related to beneficence (preventing harm) rather than autonomy (respecting the patient's right to make decisions).
B. Autonomy involves respecting a patient's right to make decisions about their care, including discussing alternatives for treatment.
C. Staying with an anxious patient is supportive but doesn't specifically address the principle of autonomy.
D. Restricting patients who are fighting is more related to safety and order within the unit, not necessarily autonomy.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. While both schizophrenia and PTSD are mental health disorders, the priority in this context for a soldier with a history of combat exposure is to screen for conditions that commonly arise from traumatic experiences, such as PTSD and major depressive disorder.
B. PTSD and major depressive disorder can often co-occur, especially in individuals exposed to trauma. Given the soldier's history of combat exposure and PTSD diagnosis, screening for major depressive disorder is crucial due to its frequent association with PTSD and its potential severity.
C. Bipolar disorder may share some symptoms with PTSD, but given the context of returning from combat and the diagnosis of PTSD, the priority would be to focus on screening for
conditions more directly linked to trauma.
D. Dementia is less likely to be directly related to combat exposure in a returning soldier. While it's essential to assess the soldier's overall mental health, the immediate concern in this scenario would be mental health conditions more commonly associated with trauma.
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