Question

The nurse is assessing a patient who is demonstrating symptoms of severe stress. The nurse interviews the patient to learn whether the patient is using any maladaptive coping skills to reduce stress. Which questions should the nurse ask?

A. "Do you engage in physical activity to manage stress?"
B. "Are you able to discuss your feelings with someone you trust?"
C. "Have you considered medication to cope with stress?"
D. "Do you avoid social interactions when stressed?"

Answer 1

To assess a patient's maladaptive coping skills for severe stress, a nurse should inquire about physical activity, social interaction, and ability to discuss feelings, which reflect problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies.

Step-by-step explanation:

When The nurse is assessing a patient who is demonstrating symptoms of severe stress, it's crucial to identify any maladaptive coping skills the patient might be using to reduce stress. The nurse can ask questions that focus on both problem-focused and emotion-focused coping such as A) "Do you engage in physical activity to manage stress?", which relates to a healthy stress reduction technique; B) "Are you able to discuss your feelings with someone you trust?", which taps into the importance of social support; and D)

"Do you avoid social interactions when stressed?", which could indicate avoidance as an emotion-focused coping style. Question C) "Have you considered medication to cope with stress?" could be explored, but typically, a nurse would assess non-medical coping strategies first unless medication is a clinically recommended part of the patient’s treatment plan.