Question

The 16-year-old client presents to the dermatology clinic with a diagnosis of acne vulgaris. The client says to the nurse, "I don't know what else to do! I wash my face twice a day. I wear noncomedogenic makeup. I shower after I work out. I guess I'm just going to have acne on my face forever." Which responses by the nurse would be appropriate? Select all that apply.

1."You need to try witch hazel."
2."I understand. When I was your age, I had acne problems, too."
3."You feel like there's nothing else you can do to cure your acne."
4."Your acne really isn't that bad! Our last client's acne was much worse."
5."You seem frustrated by your acne. Please tell me what it is about your acne that is frustrating."

Answer 1

Appropriate nurse responses to a client with acne include showing empathy, validating their feelings, and encouraging them to talk more about their frustrations. The nurse should assure the client that effective treatments are available and that seeing a dermatologist can help personalize care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse's appropriate responses to a 16-year-old client with acne vulgaris expressing frustration over their skin condition would be empathetic and supportive. The suitable replies would be:

1. "I understand. When I was your age, I had acne problems, too." - This shows empathy and understanding.
2. "You feel like there's nothing else you can do to cure your acne." - This is an empathetic statement that validates the client's feelings.
3. "You seem frustrated by your acne. Please tell me what it is about your acne that is frustrating." - This invites the client to share more about their experience, which can be therapeutic.

Suggesting 'witch hazel' without a medical evaluation is not appropriate, and comparing to others may minimize the client's feelings. It's important for the nurse to encourage the client that treatment for acne is available and a dermatologist can provide more effective prescription medications or other medical treatments tailored to their individual needs.