Question

A young adult patient constantly seeks attention from the nurses, stomping away from the nurses' station and pouting when requests are refused. Which of the following responses by the nurse is MOST appropriate?

1) Encourage the patient to establish trust with one staff person with whom therapeutic interventions should occur.
2) Give the patient unsolicited attention when the patient is exhibiting acceptable behaviors.
3) Ignore the patient when the patient exhibits attention-seeking behavior.
4) Rotate the staff so that the patient will learn to relate to more than one nurse.

Answer 1

The most appropriate response by the nurse to a young adult patient's attention-seeking behavior is to encourage the patient to build a therapeutic relationship with one staff person.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the situation where a young adult patient is constantly seeking attention and displaying manipulative behavior, the most appropriate response by the nurse is to encourage the patient to establish trust with one staff person with whom therapeutic interventions should occur. This approach can help in creating a stable environment and a sense of security for the patient. Given that the patient may have underlying issues such as an avoidant attachment style, likely resulting from having a caregiver who was insensitive and inattentive, as theorized by Ainsworth, forming a consistent therapeutic relationship with one caregiver can help address the patient's emotional and behavioral needs in a manner that promotes healing and development of healthier social interactions.