A patient experiencing the sudden onset of blindness is diagnosed with a conversion dis-order. Which nursing intervention would be most therapeutic?
a. Suggesting to the patient that this is possibly malingering
b. Assisting him to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist
c. Providing nursing care in a supportive but matter-of-fact manner
d. Providing an occupational therapy consult to address the needs of a blind person
ANS: C
Interacting in a supportive but matter-of-fact way reduces the potential for any secondary reward on the part of the patient. The patient is not feigning illness, so is not a malingerer. An appointment with an eye doctor is not needed since the source of the blindness is not physi-cal. The person is not permanently blind, so occupational therapy at this point is not a priority.
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