A 24-year-old client suffered a traumatic amputation of their right dominant hand in an industrial accident earlier today. After recovering from anesthesia, the client points to their backpack and says to the nurse, "Could you hand me my sketchbook and pencils? I need to finish a portrait for my gallery show tomorrow." Which of the following is the most therapeutic nursing response?
- Art seems to be a major part of your life. How are you feeling about everything that has happened today?Cevap
- BYour right hand was amputated in the accident, so you will not be able to work on the portrait tonight.
- CWhy are you worried about a gallery show when you just survived a life-threatening industrial accident?
- DTry not to worry; physical and occupational therapy will teach you how to paint beautifully with your left hand.
Cevap
The most therapeutic response is to acknowledge the importance of art to the client and use open-ended communication to explore their current feelings, allowing them to process the trauma at their own pace.
The client is using denial, an initial coping mechanism that acts as a psychological shock absorber against the overwhelming reality of the traumatic amputation. The correct response acknowledges what is important to the client and uses an open-ended question to gently focus on their emotions. This therapeutic approach does not validate the unrealistic plan, nor does it harshly confront the denial, allowing the client a safe space to process the profound loss at a tolerable pace.
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Anahtar Kavram
Therapeutic Communication for Denial as a Coping Mechanism