Final answer:
A nurse should anticipate finding traits such as a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy, and arrogance during an assessment of a patient with narcissistic personality disorder. Utilizing tools like the MMPI may assist in obtaining a detailed personality profile.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is preparing for an interview with a patient diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder, the nurse should anticipate certain characteristic assessment findings. Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Patients may present with exaggerated self-importance, preoccupation with fantasies of success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love; a belief that they are special and unique; a sense of entitlement; interpersonal exploitativeness; a lack of empathy; envy of others; and arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
The nurse may also utilize tools like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to gather more data on the patient's personality traits. An understanding of the patient's personality will aid in creating a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship and in planning individualized care.