The nurse is implementing validation therapy with an elderly male ...

[madam-professor]

The nurse is implementing validation therapy with an elderly male client to assist him in resolving old conflicts and making peace with himself. Which is one of the techniques used?
 
  a. Sympathy
  b. Empathy
  c. Helping the client write a paragraph about his life
  d. Contacting old acquaintances for their interpretation of the client's life

Question 2

A recently divorced man with severe depression exhibits poor sleep and impaired concentration, leading him to function poorly at work. Inattention to hygiene and irritability with others aggravate problems at work.
 
  Co-workers do not recognize that he is depressed and instead assume his behavioral changes are due to drug abuse. One day he is fired. Work had been his one remaining source of self-worth. The man presents at the emergency room seeking medication to help him sleep. Which of the following responses would be most important for the triage nurse to take at this time? a. Have you considered seeking treatment for the depression itself?
  b. Tell me what you have already been trying to help improve your sleep..
  c. We usually don't prescribe sleep medications in the emergency room..
  d. You said you are depressed; have you thought about harming yourself?

[Edwyer]

Answer to Question 1

B
Empathy and several other interventions constitute validation therapy. The other options are not used in validation therapy.

Answer to Question 2

D
Approximately two-thirds of depressed people contemplate suicide. Depressed patients who exhibit feelings of worthlessness are at higher risk. Significant losses (divorce and loss of job) and depressed mood are major risk factors for suicide. Suicide should be directly assessed. Seeking further information about his sleep habits and exploring treatment options related to depression are desirable but are not as high a priority at this time as assessing possible risk to self. Advising him that sleep medications are not provided by the emergency room could be seen as further rejection and could lead the patient to terminate the assessment prematurely.

[madam-professor]

TY

[Edwyer]

Happy to Help