Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumStress Management

A public health nurse is conducting a home visit for a newly relocated client who reports severe insomnia, daily fatigue, and overwhelming stress related to adapting to the new cultural environment. The client tearfully states, "Everything here is too difficult, and I feel like I will never belong." Which of the following is the priority nursing action?

  1. Validate the client's feelings of being overwhelmed and assess the coping strategies they have successfully used in the past.Answer
  2. B
    Reassure the client that their stress is merely temporary and will completely disappear once they find a job.
  3. C
    Assume the client's fatigue is solely a cultural expression of emotional distress and omit an individualized physical assessment.
  4. D
    Delegate the initial evaluation of the client's psychosocial stress triggers to an accompanying unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP).

Answer

Validate the client's feelings of being overwhelmed and assess the coping strategies they have successfully used in the past.
The first step in assisting a client with stress management is to assess their current coping mechanisms. By validating the client's feelings, the nurse builds a therapeutic relationship. Exploring previously successful coping strategies empowers the client and provides a baseline for developing a personalized stress management plan.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the client's presentation
The client is experiencing severe acculturative stress, presenting with both psychological (feeling overwhelmed) and physiological (insomnia, fatigue) symptoms.
Understanding the holistic impact of stress is required to determine the appropriate intervention.
2
Evaluate the nursing process and therapeutic communication principles
The priority action is to validate the client's feelings and conduct a thorough assessment of their current coping mechanisms.
Before developing a stress management plan, the nurse must assess the client's baseline coping skills and avoid making assumptions.
3
Review the distractors for safety and communication errors
The other options involve false reassurance, cultural stereotyping, and improper delegation.
Eliminating non-therapeutic and unsafe actions confirms the correct choice.

Key Concept

Nursing Assessment of Stress and Coping
Rate this question

Topics

Stress Management

More questions from this topic