A patient shares with a nurse, "Since I moved from Florida to New York, I get depressed right before the winter holidays and it lasts for weeks. Is there anything I can do besides taking pills?" The most therapeutic nursing response is:
a. "Consider phototherapy since it's likely you are experiencing seasonal affective disorder (SAD).".
b. "I'm not clear about what you are saying. Please tell me more about what you are experiencing.".
c. "If you have a biochemically based depression, you will need antidepressant medication if you want to see improvement.".
d. "If you want dramatic results, ECT (electroconvulsive therapy) works the fastest and can usually be done on an outpatient basis.".
B
Phototherapy has been demonstrated to help patients affected by SAD. However, the question provides no information about whether the patient has been diagnosed with depression and little data about the clinical manifestations except that the patient speaks of having a depressed mood during the winter. Although much of this data fits SAD, it can fit other entities as well. The most therapeutic nursing intervention is the one that attempts to gather more baseline data from the patient rather than one that involves premature intervention.
You might also like to view...
In providing personal hygiene for a Hindu patient from India, the nurse should:
a. not serve meat. b. shampoo the patient's hair weekly. c. give a daily bath. d. cut nails monthly.
Holistic nursing is practiced in every practice setting. Because of this, no matter what the health care setting, what should the nurse be prepared to do?
A) Help others follow the policies of the institution they are working in B) Practice nursing according to Peplau's theory C) Be prepared to initiate interventions to address the psychosocial needs of each client D) Care for the physical needs of the patient exclusively
A patient's medication order indicates that he
is to receive a dose of cosyntropin (Cortrosyn). The nurse is aware that this drug is used to diagnose which condition? a. Adrenocortical insufficiency b. Diabetes insipidus c. Myasthenia gravis d. Pituitary dwarfism
A nurse is making an open bed for a mobile client. Which should the nurse ensure so
that the client can easily get into the bed? A) Pull the covers up to the head of the bed B) Cover the top sheet with a blanket C) Fan-fold the top linens to the bottom third of the bed D) Allow the bed to remain at a higher level