A young adult's chief complaint is seizure fits. A chart review ...

[soccerdreamer_17]

A young adult's chief complaint is seizure fits. A chart review shows a negative EEG report and a normal neurological consultation report. A psychosocial history reveals increased family stress, bankruptcy, and a recent divorce.
 
  The nurse recognizes that this young man's pseudo-seizures most likely are an example of which unconscious coping mechanism?
  a. Compensation
  b. Conversion
  c. Dissociation
  d. Denial

Question 2

An assessment finding example for caregiver strain would be which of the following?
 
  a. Caregiver routinely creates a weekly menu plan.
  b. Caregiver has not received medical care when ill.
  c. Caregiver can identify respite care provider.
  d. Caregiver attends religious service.

[matt]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: B
A conversion reaction is an ego defense mechanism that involves repressing an anxiety-producing conflict and transforming it into a nonorganic symptom such as difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, or sudden blindness without medical cause. Compensation is making up for a deficiency in one aspect of self-image by strongly emphasizing a feature considered an asset. Dissociation involves experiencing a subjective sense of numbing and a reduced awareness of one's surroundings. Denial is seen as avoiding emotional conflicts by refusing to consciously acknowledge anything that causes intolerable emotional pain.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
A nurse will identify a caregiver's lack of self-care as a potential example of caregiver role strain. Sacrificing their own health to care for the identified patient places caregivers at risk for becoming ill themselves. If caregivers jeopardize their own health, they may not be able to care for the actual patient. In all of the other options, the caregiver is handling caregiver stress appropriately.