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Question

Difficulty: MediumCrisis Intervention

An occupational health nurse is called to the human resources department to assist an employee who was just informed of their unexpected, immediate termination after 20 years with the company. The employee is sitting rigidly in a chair, hyperventilating, staring blankly, and repeating, "This cannot be happening. How will I feed my children?" Which of the following is the priority nursing action?

  1. Escort the employee to a quiet, private room and remain present while offering a glass of water.Answer
  2. B
    Assess the employee's past coping mechanisms for dealing with significant life changes.
  3. C
    Reassure the employee that their extensive work experience will help them find a new job quickly.
  4. D
    Provide immediate referrals for local unemployment assistance and financial counseling.

Answer

The correct action is to escort the employee to a quiet, private room and remain present while offering a glass of water.
During the initial phase of a crisis, the client's anxiety level is often severe to panic. The absolute priority is to ensure safety and physiological stabilization while decreasing environmental stimuli. Remaining present with the client in a quiet environment and providing a simple grounding action, such as offering a drink of water, addresses immediate Maslow's basic needs and helps de-escalate the panic state.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's current presentation.
The client is exhibiting signs of acute severe anxiety and panic (hyperventilation, rigidity, repetitive speech) due to a sudden situational crisis.
Identifying the current phase of the crisis determines the appropriate level of intervention required.
2
Apply crisis intervention prioritization principles.
Immediate physiological and psychological safety takes precedence over long-term planning, teaching, or psychosocial assessment.
A client in severe anxiety has a significantly narrowed perceptual field and cannot process new information or engage in problem-solving.
3
Select the intervention that directly addresses immediate stabilization.
Moving the client to a quiet area reduces environmental stimuli, and offering water addresses basic physiological needs while grounding the client.
This promotes immediate safety and de-escalation, laying the foundation for further therapeutic work.

Key Concept

Crisis Intervention Prioritization
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Topics

Crisis Intervention

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