Author Question: An adolescent refuses to go to gym class after classmates jokingly called two freckles under his ... (Read 56 times)

gbarreiro · **on:** Jul 19, 2018

An adolescent refuses to go to gym class after classmates jokingly called two freckles under his nipples extra breasts. Which intervention would be most therapeutic for this adolescent?

a. Reassure him that they are freckles not extra breasts, and send the student back to the gym to play basketball.
b. Acknowledge the student's self-consciousness while reflecting the reality that the statement was made as an insensitive joke.
c. Call the principal and explain the situation and the possibility that the school may be experiencing a bullying problem that focuses on anatomy jokes.
d. Inform his parents of their child's concerns, and suggest they have a discussion about hurtful joking and age appropriate anatomy to deal with the issue.

Question 2

A patient who was abused as a child tells a nurse of the abuse in a stilted, unemotional manner. Which intervention would encourage the patient to examine feelings associated with childhood abuse?

a. You poor thing I feel deeply sorry for what you endured..
b. When you described this relationship, you didn't tell me how you felt..
c. You must be feeling so angry with your parents that you'd like to harm them..
d. If I experienced that as a child, I would feel betrayed, confused, and frightened..

bpool94 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 19, 2018

Answer to Question 1

B
It is important to acknowledge the patient's concern while still focusing on reality. Inadequately addressing and minimizing the patient's concerns and sending the child back to the gym set up a situation that may create a regressive struggle. Calling the principal is an overreaction at this point. Informing the parents and suggesting a follow-up discussion would be premature and could overwhelm an already traumatized and sensitive adolescent.

Answer to Question 2

D
When patients have difficulty describing feelings, the nurse can use the technique of verbalizing how he or she might have felt in the same situation. This demonstrates the nurse's empathy for the patient.