Deck 38: Stress and Coping

Question 1

Which sociocultural finding in the history of a patient will alert the nurse to a possible developmental problem?

A) Family relocation
B) Childhood obesity
C) Prolonged poverty
D) Loss of stamina

Answer 1

Prolonged poverty

Question 2

A nurse is helping parents who have a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Which strategy will the nurse share with the parents to reduce stress regarding homework assignments?

A) Time-management skills
B) Speech articulation skills
C) Routine preventative health visits
D) Assertiveness training for the family

Answer 2

Time-management skills

Question 3

A preadolescent patient is experiencing maturational stress. Which area will the nurse focus on when planning care?

A) Identity issues
B) Self-esteem issues
C) Physical appearance
D) Major changing life events

Answer 3

Self-esteem issues

Question 4

An adult who was in a motor vehicle accident is brought into the emergency department by paramedics, who report the following in-transit vital signs: Oral temperature: 99.0° F
Pulse: 102 beats/min
Respiratory rate: 26 breaths/min
Blood pressure: 140/106
Which hormones should the nurse consider as the most likely causes of the abnormal vital signs?

A) ADH and ACTH
B) ACTH and epinephrine
C) ADH and norepinephrine
D) Epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 5

A senior college student visits the college health clinic about a freshman student living on the same dormitory floor. The senior student reports that the freshman is crying and is not adjusting to college life. The clinic nurse recognizes this as a combination of situational and maturational stress factors. Which is the best response by the nurse?

A) "Let's call 911 because this freshman student is suicidal."
B) "Give the freshman student this list of university and community resources."
C) "I recommend that you help the freshman student start packing bags to go home."
D) "You must make an appointment for the freshman student to obtain medications."

Question 6

An adult male reports new-onset, seizure-like activity. An EEG and a neurology consultant's report rule out a seizure disorder. It is determined the patient is using conversion. Which action should the nurse take next?

A) Suggest acupuncture.
B) Confront the patient on malingering.
C) Obtain history of any recent life stressors.
D) Recommend a regular exercise program.

Question 7

A nurse is teaching the staff about a nursing theory that views a person, family, or community developing a normal line of defense. Which theory is the nurse describing?

A) Ego defense model
B) Immunity model
C) Neuman Systems Model
D) Pender's Health Promotion Model

Question 8

After a natural disaster occurred, an emergency worker referred a family for crisis intervention services. One family member refused to attend the services, stating, "No way, I'm not crazy." What is the nurse's best response?

A) "Many times disasters can create mental health problems, so you really should participate with your family."
B) "Seeking this kind of help does not mean that you have a mental illness; it is a short-term problem-solving technique."
C) "Don't worry now. The psychiatrists are well trained to help."
D) "This will help your family communicate better."

Question 9

A nurse is caring for a patient with stress and is in the evaluation stage of the critical thinking model. Which actions will the nurse take?

A) Select nursing interventions and promote patient's adaptation to stress.
B) Establish short- and long-term goals with the patient experiencing stress.
C) Identify stress management interventions and achieve expected outcomes.
D) Reassess patient's stress-related symptoms and compare with expected outcomes.

Question 10

A nurse is teaching guided imagery to a prenatal class. Which technique did the nurse describe?

A) Singing
B) Massaging back
C) Listening to music
D) Using sensory peaceful words

Question 11

In a natural disaster relief facility, the nurse observes that an older-adult male has a recovery plan, while a 25-year-old male is still overwhelmed by the disaster situation. A nurse is planning care for both patients. Which factors will the nurse consider about the different coping reactions?

A) Restorative care factors
B) Strong financial resource factors
C) Maturational and situational factors
D) Immaturity and intelligence factors

Question 12

A trauma survivor is requesting sleep medication because of "bad dreams." The nurse is concerned that the patient may be experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which question is a priority for the nurse to ask the patient?

A) "Are you reliving your trauma?"
B) "Are you having chest pain?"
C) "Can you describe your phobias?"
D) "Can you tell me when you wake up?"

Question 13

A nurse is teaching the staff about the general adaptation syndrome. In which order will the nurse list the stages, beginning with the first stage?
1) Resistance
2) Exhaustion
3) Alarm

A) 3, 1, 2
B) 3, 2, 1
C) 1, 3, 2
D) 1, 2, 3

Question 14

Despite working in a highly stressful nursing unit and accepting additional shifts, a new nurse has a strategy to prevent burnout. Which strategy will be best for the nurse to use?

A) Delegate complex nursing tasks to nursing assistive personnel.
B) Strengthen friendships outside the workplace.
C) Write for 10 minutes in a journal every day.
D) Use progressive muscle relaxation.

Question 15

A woman who was sexually assaulted a month ago presents to the emergency department with reports of recurrent nightmares, fear of going to sleep, repeated vivid memories of the sexual assault, and inability to feel much emotion. Which medical problem will the nurse expect to see documented in the chart?

A) General adaptation syndrome
B) Post-traumatic stress disorder
C) Acute stress disorder
D) Alarm reaction

Question 16

A young male patient is diagnosed with testicular cancer. Which action will the nurse take first?

A) Provide information to the patient.
B) Allow time for the patient's friends.
C) Ask about the patient's priority needs.
D) Find support for the family and patient.

Question 17

A nurse is planning care for a patient that uses displacement. Which information should the nurse consider when planning interventions?

A) This copes with stress directly.
B) This evaluates an event for its personal meaning.
C) This protects against feelings of worthlessness and anxiety.
D) This triggers the stress control functions of the medulla oblongata.

Question 18

The nurse teaches stress-reduction and relaxation training to a health education group of patients after cardiac bypass surgery. Which level of intervention is the nurse using?

A) Primary
B) Secondary
C) Tertiary
D) Quad

Question 19

A female teen with celiac disease continues to eat food she knows will make her ill several hours after ingestion. While planning care, the nurse considers maturational and tertiary-level interventions. Which intervention will the nurse add to the care plan?

A) Teach the teen about the food pyramid.
B) Administer antidiarrheal medications with meals.
C) Gently admonish the teen and her parents regarding the consistently poor diet choices.
D) Assist the teen in meeting dietary restrictions while eating foods similar to those eaten by her friends.

Question 20

A patient in a motor vehicle accident states, "I did not run the red light," despite very clear evidence on the street surveillance tape. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?

A) Denial
B) Conversion
C) Dissociation
D) Compensation

Question 21

A nurse is assessing a patient with prolonged stress. Which conditions will the nurse monitor for in this patient? (Select all that apply.)

A) Cancer
B) Diabetes
C) Infections
D) Allostasis
E) Low blood pressure