A 20-year-old homosexual man enters the emergency department after being beaten and sexually abused by a group of teenagers
Throughout the assessment, he does not appear visibly upset and cooperates matter-of-factly. The nurse attributes the client's affect to which of the following explanations?
A) The client has already processed his emotions around the assault successfully.
B) The reaction is abnormal and suggests an underlying psychological problem.
C) As victims of social stigma, homosexuals are better prepared to deal with the emotional issues surrounding sexual assault.
D) The client's affect is a normal reaction and may represent an effort to regain control.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Whether the survivor is emotional or stoic, the nurse expresses concern; no response is considered to be "inappropriate" or "abnormal." An accepting and caring attitude is critical for the survivor to begin to trust the nurse. Sometimes just being present with a survivor is the most therapeutic thing a nurse can do to help the person feel safe and comfortable. Empowerment also is important, and the nurse may communicate this by respecting the survivor's right to self-determination. The victim's sexual orientation should not color the nurse's appraisal of his or her response to rape.
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