Author Question: A patient being treated for symptoms of PTSD following a shooting incident at a local elementary ... (Read 71 times)

asmith134 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A patient being treated for symptoms of PTSD following a shooting incident at a local elementary school reports I feel like there's no reason to go on living when so many others died.

Which of these is the most appropriate response by the nurse at this juncture? A. You've got lots of reasons to go on living
B. Are you having thoughts of hurting or killing yourself?
C. You're just experiencing survivor guilt.
D. There must be something that gives you hope.

Question 2

A military vet who recently returned from active duty in a Middle Eastern country and suffers from PTSD states he will not allow the lab tech, who is Iranian, to draw his blood.

The patient states He'll probably use a contaminated needle on me. Which of these is the most appropriate response by the nurse? A. Let me see if I can arrange for a different technician to draw your blood.
B. Let me help you overcome your cultural bias by letting him draw your blood.
C. There is no other technician, so you're just going to have to let him draw your blood.
D. I don't think the technician is really Middle Eastern.

kingdude89 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
This patient is expressing hopelessness, and it is a priority to assess for suicide ideation in these circumstances. Items A and D minimize the patient's experience of feeling hopelessness. Item C may be a useful strategy to encourage the patient that this is a common experience of trauma survivors, but the immediate priority is determining patient safety.

Answer to Question 2

A
Item A demonstrates acceptance of the patient and attempts to create a less threatening situation for the patient. Item B makes an unsubstantiated assumption about the patient's biases. Item C will not contribute to the patient's sense of control, and sense of comfort and control is important in managing symptoms of PTSD. Item D minimizes the patient's concerns rather than responding empathically to them.