Question

A patient has difficulty expressing anger appropriately. The nurse encourages the patient to set realistic goals by stating:

a. "You seem to have problems expressing anger in a nonaggressive way."
b. "I thought you sounded angry when I told you it was time for group."
c. "What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?"
d. "What bothers you about your actions when you get angry?"

Answer 1

The best response to help the patient set realistic goals about expressing anger would be (c) "What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?" as it promotes introspection and goal setting, which are important for personal growth and can reduce the risk of verbal aggression and improve health outcomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question pertains to a situation involving a nurse encouraging a patient to set realistic goals for expressing anger in a more appropriate way. Considering the background provided and the importance of effective communication in conflict resolution, the response that encourages the patient to set goals by prompting them to introspect would be most beneficial. Hence, the best response might be (c) "What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?" as it invites the patient to analyze their current behavior and consider alternatives. This promotes self-reflection, which is a critical step for personal growth and developing healthier patterns of emotional expression.

In contrast, response (a) may simply assert the existence of a problem, response (b) assumes feelings which may or may not have been there, and response (d) might lead the patient to reflect on consequences but not necessarily on methods for change. Encouraging self-reflection and goal setting is in line with the findings that caregivers with less training and higher levels of depression or psychiatric disorders are at a higher risk of verbal aggression. Training and support in managing emotions can improve the quality of care and reduce the likelihood of verbal aggression forming part of conflict resolution.

Moreover, anger management is a crucial aspect of maintaining one's physical health, as studies have shown that chronic anger can significantly increase the risk of heart disease. Demonstrating that the nurse's approach in inviting the patient to self-reflect and set goals for expressing anger could have important health benefits beyond improving interpersonal relations.