Author Question: A Hispanic patient says, I have no energy and cannot eat I want to sleep but can't, because pain ... (Read 49 times)

wrbasek0 · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

A Hispanic patient says, I have no energy and cannot eat

I want to sleep but can't, because pain moves around different parts of my body. A physical examination reveals no pathology. The nurse should hypothesize that the patient may be experiencing:
a. lost soul (susto).
b. spiritual distress.
c. a broken heart.
d. amok.

Question 2

A nurse tells a patient, I know how you feel. My spouse can be very insensitive too. I am also considering divorce. Analysis suggests that the nurse is

a. self-disclosing inappropriately.
b. experiencing countertransference .
c. using empathy to establish trust with the patient.
d. encouraging the patient to express negative feelings.

anoriega3 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Loss of one's soul, a culture-bound illness occasionally seen among Hispanic individuals, produces vague symptoms such as those described. Western medicine regards these as depressive symptoms, but individuals with lost soul speak only of physical symptoms, rather than psychological or emotional disequilibrium. The other options are culture-bound disorders with symptoms different from what is described in this scenario.

Answer to Question 2

A
Brief self-disclosure is used to help the patient clarify specific issues, to feel less vulnerable, or to feel more normal. When used appropriately, self-disclosure benefits the patient. When used inappropriately, it benefits the nurse. In this case, the self-disclosure burdens the patient with the nurse's problems. Empathy focuses on the patient. Countertransference would result in different behaviors. Encouraging expression of negative feelings would be more direct.