A client experiencing extreme stress attempts to cope by acting ...

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A client experiencing extreme stress attempts to cope by acting out. What should the nurse do to help this client?
 
  1. Isolate the client.
  2. Medicate the client.
  3. Identify a healthier coping mechanism.
  4. Notify the charge nurse.

Question 2

A client is in the hospital experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder. The nurse should plan to teach the client:
 
  1. how to take medications.
  2. progressive relaxation exercises.
  3. how to regress.
  4. appropriate use of denial to cope.

[Dinolord]

Answer to Question 1

Answer: 3

1. A client who is acting out is feeling anxious. Isolating the client will increase the stress.
2. The client might be medicated if she becomes violent, not for acting out.
3. The nurse would try to help the client identify the stress feelings and explore more acceptable ways of coping with anxiety.
4. The nurse is capable of caring for the client unless the behavior escalates to violence.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: 2

1. Medications are pharmacological interventions.
2. Progressive relaxation exercises help the client to concentrate on muscle relaxation instead of on the perceived fear.
3. Teaching the client to regress is an unhealthy response to stress. Nurses promote expression of fears, not means of denial or regression.
4. Denial is appropriate for a short period of time, but at some point, the client will need to confront fears with assistance and in a controlled situation.