A mother is concerned about her ability to perform in her new role. She is quite anxious and refuses to leave the postpartum unit. To offer effective client care, a nurse should recognize which information about this type of crisis?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: In this scenario, the mother's anxiety and refusal to leave the postpartum unit are most likely due to an acute response to the external situational stressor of becoming a new mother. Postpartum anxiety and difficulties adjusting to the new role are common experiences for many new mothers and can precipitate a crisis situation. This crisis is not caused by preexisting psychopathology or normal life-cycle transitions, but rather by the specific stressors associated with the new maternal role. Recognizing this as an acute response to an external situational stressor will guide the nurse in providing appropriate care and support for the mother during this sensitive time.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: One key way a nurse can differentiate a client diagnosed with panic disorder from a client diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is by observing the presence of depersonalization. Depersonalization, which is the feeling of being detached from oneself or feeling like things are unreal, is commonly seen in panic disorder and absent in GAD. Clients with panic disorder often experience sudden, intense episodes of anxiety known as panic attacks, during which depersonalization may occur. In contrast, GAD is characterized by persistent and excessive worry or anxiety about various aspects of life, but depersonalization is not a hallmark symptom of GAD. This distinction can aid the nurse in making an accurate diagnosis and providing appropriate care for the client.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Option A, "I know it's frightening, but try to remind yourself that this will only last a short time," is the most appropriate nursing reply. This response acknowledges the client's feelings of fear and impending doom during a panic attack while also providing reassurance that the attack is temporary. It validates the client's experience without dismissing the intensity of their emotions and offers a coping strategy to help manage the anxiety during an attack. This response shows empathy and understanding, which can help build trust with the client and foster a therapeutic relationship.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Systematic desensitization is a type of behavior therapy that is commonly used to treat phobias, including a fear of crossing bridges. The therapy involves exposing the individual to the feared object or situation in a gradual and systematic manner. By starting with less anxiety-provoking steps and gradually progressing to more anxiety-inducing steps, the individual can learn to manage their fear response and increase their tolerance to anxiety. This approach helps the client to confront their fears in a controlled and manageable way, allowing them to eventually overcome their phobia. Therefore, the explanation that should be conveyed to the client is that through a series of increasingly anxiety-provoking steps, their tolerance to anxiety will gradually increase.