Author Question: An Asian-American patient is referred to the mental health clinic. He has many somatic complaints ... (Read 94 times)

rlane42 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

An Asian-American patient is referred to the mental health clinic. He has many somatic complaints for which no physical basis has been found.

The patient tells the nurse that he does not believe this clinic can help him. Based on knowledge of the beliefs common to this culture, what can the nurse hypothesize about the patient?
a. Because of the cultural stigma attached to mental illness, he may be expressing psychological distress via somatic symptoms.
b. Acculturation has occurred because feelings of hopelessness are alien to his native culture.
c. Suicide is not a present danger because suicidal impulses are rarely associated with feelings of helplessness among Asian-American patients.
d. The patient has rejected both family care and traditional healing methods in favor of health care practices of the new culture.

Question 2

The nurse identifies a patient as being in spiritual distress. Which patient statement sup-ports this nursing diagnosis?

a. I've never felt so alone before in my entire life.
b. I don't know if I could get through this without faith in God.
c. I've always relied on my faith in God but now I feel I've been abandoned.
d. Why do bad things happen to good people? I've always been a good person.

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

Answer to Question 1

ANS: A
The following facts are known about beliefs commonly held by members of this culture: there is a stigma attached to mental illness; mental illness is often described in somatic terms; members of this culture come into treatment late and often have feelings of hopelessness up-on entry into the system; families tend to care for their members with mental illness; and tra-ditional healing has usually been tried and failed before the patient attempts to access the mental health system.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: C
Spiritual distress is a nursing diagnosis that is defined as a disruption in the value and belief systems that pervades the person's state of being and that transcends the physical and psy-chosocial self. Feeling abandoned when one has always relied on faith is an indication of spiritual distress. Feeling alone and questioning why something has occurred is not necessari-ly spirit based, and not an indication of spiritual distress. Questioning one's ability to manage an emotion without one's faith is a testimony to the faith, not an expression of despair.