The nurse in charge of an inpatient psychiatric unit finds himself frustrated and angry with a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which of the following steps should the nurse take?

Question

A) Confront the client firmly but compassionately about how the client's behavior makes him feel
B) Direct the client to another staff member when the client tries to interact
C) Examine his own feelings to discover the source of his anger and speak with a colleague
D) Ignore the feelings and move on, prioritizing the client's needs

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback:
Working with clients who have personality disorders is difficult. For this reason, nurses may find it helpful to discuss their emotional reactions to clients who have personality disorders with knowledgeable and trusted nurse colleagues. Doing so can facilitate nurses working through negative countertransferences, resulting in their tolerating and accepting feelings of irritation and anger as natural reactions to clients with personality disorders. This realization can increase the nurse's own self-awareness and sense of emotional control.