Question

A client who has been harassed at her place of work tells the nurse, "Every time I think of my job, I get a debilitating headache and have to go lie down to make the pain go away." Which nursing intervention will the nurse perform to practice according to the Gate Control Theory?

Answer 1

To practice according to the Gate Control Theory, the nurse can utilize the nursing intervention of distraction to redirect the client's attention away from the pain-inducing stimuli and potentially reduce the intensity of the headache.

Step-by-step explanation:

To practice according to the Gate Control Theory, the nurse can utilize the nursing intervention of distraction with the client who experiences debilitating headaches when thinking about her job. Distraction involves redirecting the client's attention away from the pain-inducing stimuli to something else.

For example, the nurse can suggest engaging in enjoyable activities or hobbies that can divert the client's focus and potentially reduce the intensity of the headache. This intervention aims to modulate pain perception by activating the large sensory fibers that can close the gate and inhibit the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

By incorporating distraction techniques, the nurse can help alleviate the client's pain and promote a more positive experience around the topic of her job.