A patient is experiencing moderate anxiety. The nurse encourages the patient to talk about feelings and concerns. What is the rationale for this intervention?

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Question 1 of 5

A patient is experiencing moderate anxiety. The nurse encourages the patient to talk about feelings and concerns. What is the rationale for this intervention?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because verbalizing feelings and concerns can help the patient process and understand their emotions, making them feel less overwhelming. This can facilitate problem-solving by breaking down complex issues into smaller, manageable parts. By talking about their concerns, the patient can also receive support and feedback from the nurse, leading to a sense of relief and empowerment. Incorrect answer explanations: A: Offering hope may be comforting but does not directly address the patient's current anxiety by helping them process and verbalize their feelings. C: Focusing on the environment may not necessarily address the patient's internal feelings and concerns, which are key in managing anxiety. D: While exploring alternatives can increase a sense of control, it may not directly address the immediate need to process and verbalize emotions to reduce anxiety.

Question 2 of 5

A nurse engaged in an interaction with a patient recognizes body space zones. Which of the following would the nurse identify as the individual's personal zone?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A because the personal zone is the space ranging from 18 inches to 4 feet from an individual, which falls between the intimate zone (0-18 inches) and the social zone (4-12 feet). This zone is where most interactions with acquaintances occur. Choice B is incorrect because the public zone extends beyond the social zone and is typically used for public speaking or formal presentations. Choice C is incorrect because it describes the concept of a protective or defensive space, not the personal zone. Choice D is incorrect because the concept of recognizing intruders pertains more to territoriality and is not specific to identifying personal space zones.

Question 3 of 5

During a therapy session, a patient is asked to rate the intensity of his current issue from 1 to 10 with 1 being complete absence of the issue and 10 being the most intense. The patient is being asked which type of question?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Scaling. Scaling questions involve asking clients to rate the intensity of their issues on a numerical scale, just like in this scenario. This helps therapists understand the perceived severity of the problem and track changes over time. Relationship questions focus on interpersonal dynamics, miracle questions explore ideal outcomes, and exception questions inquire about times when the issue is not present. In this case, the question about rating intensity aligns best with the scaling technique.

Question 4 of 5

The nurse is working with a patient whose mobility is impaired secondary to a fall that resulted in a broken hip. In addition, the patient, who has diabetes, is developing problems with vision and hearing. The patient seems increasingly withdrawn and depressed. The nurse determines that the patient is at risk for spiritual distress. Which intervention would be most appropriate?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because exploring the impact of the mobility, sight, and hearing changes on the patient allows the nurse to address the patient's holistic needs, including spiritual distress. By understanding the patient's perspective on these changes, the nurse can provide support tailored to the patient's concerns, fostering a sense of connection and understanding. Choice A is incorrect because focusing solely on childhood religious experiences may not address the current issues the patient is facing. Choice B is inappropriate as it imposes the nurse's religious beliefs on the patient. Choice C is also incorrect as it assumes a specific religious approach without considering the patient's individual beliefs and needs.

Question 5 of 5

A nurse has just completed a suicide risk assessment of a 76-year-old widowed man. In addition to documenting the presence or absence of suicidal thoughts, plan, and means, the nurse would also document which of the following?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use of substances 6 hours before the assessment. This is important to assess as substance use can increase the risk of impulsive behavior and exacerbate suicidal thoughts. It is crucial to determine if the individual has recently used substances as it may impact their judgment and decision-making. The other choices are not directly related to immediate risk assessment for suicide. Speech patterns (B) may provide insight into the individual's mental state, but substance use takes precedence in assessing immediate risk. Availability of support resources (C) is important for long-term prevention but does not address immediate risk. The amount of sleep in the past 24 hours (D) may impact mental health but does not directly assess immediate risk of suicide.

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