An 80-year-old woman who lives alone has begun calling friends and complaining in an exaggerated
fashion about minor aches and pains.
Her physician found no significant medical problems. Over the
course of a month, she obtained a number of prescriptions for pain medication, none of which
seemed to be effective. Friends counseled her that aches are a normal part of life for the elderly and
tried unsuccessfully to involve her in activities. She often suggested that she would be better off
dead, to which one friend responded "Well, perhaps. It would get you out of your misery.". As she
became increasingly "needy" and demanding of attention, friends agreed that her behavior made
them uncomfortable and began to call and visit less. The woman took four pain pills and called a
neighbor, saying she had overdosed. After medical clearance, the client will be monitored at the
mental health clinic. Nursing interventions that have been agreed on for the client include hope
instillation, coping enhancement, and support system enhancement. Measures designed to enhance
the client's support system include (more than one answer may be correct)
A. providing services in a caring manner.
B. providing a referral to a self-help group.
C. teaching cognitive restructuring.
D. encouraging relationships with friends.
E. identifying areas of hope in life.
F. arranging situations that foster autonomy.
A, B, D
Rationale: These options are relevant to support system enhancement. Option C relates to changing
faulty cognitive patterns. Option E relates to hope instillation. Option F relates to coping
enhancement.
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