According to the Recent Life Changes Questionnaire, which situation would most necessitate a complete assessment of a person's stress status and coping abilities?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer to this question is option C) A person returning to college after an employer ceased operations. This situation would most necessitate a complete assessment of a person's stress status and coping abilities because it involves a significant life change that not only impacts the individual's financial stability but also their sense of identity and future prospects. Returning to college after losing a job due to company closure can lead to feelings of uncertainty, financial strain, self-doubt, and the need to adapt to a new routine and environment. This transition can significantly increase stress levels and require the individual to develop new coping strategies to manage the challenges they are facing. Option A) about being assigned more responsibility at work may cause stress, but it does not necessarily indicate a major life change that would warrant a complete assessment of stress status and coping abilities. Option B) about a parent relocating for a job change also involves a significant life event, but it may not be as impactful on the individual's overall well-being and coping abilities as losing a job and returning to school. Option D) about a man separating from his wife due to marital problems is indeed a stressful life event, but it is more focused on interpersonal relationships rather than a broad assessment of stress and coping abilities related to major life changes like job loss and educational transitions. In an educational context, understanding how different life events can impact an individual's stress levels and coping mechanisms is crucial for healthcare professionals, especially in the field of behavioral nursing. By recognizing the significance of certain life events and their potential effects on an individual's mental health, nurses can provide targeted support and interventions to help patients navigate these challenging situations effectively.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, the most appropriate question for the nurse to ask the patient with a tentative diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder is option D: "Do you find it difficult to control your worrying?" This question is the most suitable as it directly addresses a key symptom of generalized anxiety disorder, which is excessive and uncontrollable worrying. Option A is incorrect because it pertains more to post-traumatic stress disorder rather than generalized anxiety disorder. Option B is more indicative of social anxiety disorder, which is a different condition from generalized anxiety disorder. Option C is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder, not generalized anxiety disorder. Educationally, understanding the rationale behind selecting the correct question is crucial for nurses in assessing and differentiating various mental health conditions. By asking targeted questions related to specific symptoms, nurses can provide more accurate assessments, leading to appropriate interventions and support for patients with mental health issues. This approach enhances patient care and ensures proper management of conditions like generalized anxiety disorder.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Teaching about symptoms of anxiety, their relation to precipitating stressors, and, in this case, the positive effects of anxiety will serve to reassure the patient. Advising the patient to discuss the experience with a health care provider implies that the patient has a serious problem. Listening without comment will do no harm but deprives the patient of health teaching. Antioxidant vitamin supplements are not useful in this scenario.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In this scenario, the correct nursing diagnosis that most likely applies to an adult who is socially withdrawn and hoards is "A) Ineffective home maintenance." This diagnosis is appropriate because the individual's behaviors indicate difficulties in maintaining a safe and healthy living environment due to social withdrawal and hoarding tendencies. Option B, "Situational low self-esteem," and option C, "Chronic low self-esteem," are incorrect in this context because the symptoms described do not directly point to self-esteem issues. While low self-esteem can contribute to behavioral health issues, the primary concern in this case is the individual's ability to maintain their living environment. Option D, "Disturbed body image," is also incorrect because this diagnosis is typically associated with perceptions related to one's physical appearance, which is not the primary concern indicated by the individual's behavior of social withdrawal and hoarding. From an educational perspective, understanding how to analyze behavioral symptoms and connect them to appropriate nursing diagnoses is crucial for effective patient care. Nurses need to be able to assess behaviors, understand their implications, and apply appropriate diagnoses to provide targeted interventions and support for individuals experiencing mental health challenges.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Disruptions in ability to perform activities of daily living, confusion, and anxiety are often apparent in patients with amnesia. Offering simple directions to promote activities of daily living and reduce confusion helps increase feelings of safety and security. A calm, secure, predictable, protective environment is also helpful when a person is dealing with a great deal of uncertainty. Recollection of memories should proceed at its own pace, and the patient should only gradually be given information about her past. Asking questions that require recall that the patient does not possess will only add frustration. Quiet, undemanding activities should be provided as the patient tolerates them and should be balanced with rest periods; the patient's time should not be loaded with demanding or stimulating activities.