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Question

Difficulty: EasyStress Management

A client waiting for a biopsy procedure is wringing their hands, pacing the hallway, and tells the nurse, "I am so stressed and terrified about what they might find today." Which initial nursing action is the priority to help the client manage their acute stress?

  1. Say to the client, "It sounds like you are very concerned. Tell me more about what you are feeling right now."Answer
  2. B
    Tell the client, "Try not to worry; most of these biopsies come back completely normal."
  3. C
    Ask the client, "Why are you pacing the hallway instead of resting in your room before the procedure?"
  4. D
    Contact the healthcare provider immediately to request a prescription for a sedative medication.

Answer

The most appropriate action is to validate the client's concerns and encourage them to express their feelings by saying, "It sounds like you are very concerned. Tell me more about what you are feeling right now."
The correct response utilizes active listening, validation, and open-ended questioning. By stating, "It sounds like you are very concerned," the nurse validates the client's emotional state. Adding, "Tell me more..." provides a broad opening that empowers the client to verbalize their specific fears, which is the crucial first step in reducing acute situational stress.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Assess the client's current behavioral and verbal cues.
The client is pacing, wringing hands, and verbally expressing intense fear about an impending procedure.
Identifying the severity of the stress response guides the choice of intervention.
2
Identify the priority nursing intervention for acute situational stress.
The nurse must use therapeutic communication to establish trust and allow the client to explore their fears.
Before teaching coping mechanisms or administering medications, the nurse must assess the specific cause of the anxiety through open-ended exploration.
3
Evaluate the available options against principles of therapeutic communication.
The option offering a broad opening and reflecting feelings is selected over options using false reassurance, "why" questions, or premature pharmacological interventions.
Therapeutic communication is the foundational independent nursing action for stress management.

Key Concept

Therapeutic Communication in Stress Management
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Stress Management

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