Relaxation Therapy Nclex Questions

A nurse working for a large corporation is teaching relaxation therapy to employees. Which relaxation technique should the nurse initially teach? A. Deep-breathing exercises B. Mental imagery C. Biofeedback D. Meditation

ANS: A Deep breathing is a simple skill and is basic to other relaxation techniques and therefore should be taught first.

Which action should a nurse take prior to educating clients about relaxation techniques? A. Assisting the client in identifying triggers or sources of stress B. Performing a physical examination to qualify the client as a candidate for this therapy C. Obtaining an order from the physician D. Educating the client's family so they can be active participants in the therapy

ANS: A Initially helping clients to identify triggers and sources of stress will enable the client to anticipate the need for implementing relaxation techniques at appropriate times.

A client diagnosed with major depressive disorder refuses to get out of bed. Which nursing statement appropriately educates the client about the benefits of physical activity? A. "Depression is caused by the lack of certain brain chemicals that can increase with exercise." B. "Physical activity is good for everyone regardless of their diagnosis." C. "Low-intensity exercise is more beneficial than high-impact exercise." D. "When you are physically active, it helps to lower your beta endorphins."

ANS: A Physical activity can stimulate the secretion of norepinephrine and serotonin. Depression has been linked to low levels of these neurotransmitters.

After suffering a myocardial infarction, a 37-year-old executive demands premature discharge from the hospital. He tells the nurse, "Just give me my prescriptions and let me get back to work." Which is the most appropriate nursing reply? A. "To ensure improved health, we need to discuss diet, medication, exercise, and lifestyle changes before you are discharged." B. "You will not be allowed to leave the hospital without getting your physician's approval for early discharge." C. "We will discharge you quickly so that the stress you are experiencing will not cause more serious heart damage." D. "Prior to discharge, we will need to discuss job stress, your finances, and the possibility of an early retirement."

ANS: A The client's statements reflect a great deal of stress that can contribute to further cardiovascular disease. Helping him to look at a variety of measures to improve his health would be most beneficial.

A nurse is teaching principles of mental imagery to a group. On which relaxing environments should the nurse appropriately recommend client focus? (Select all that apply.) A. Visualizing the seashore B. Visualizing a snowy cabin C. Driving home from the beach on Sunday evening D. Floating through the air on a cloud E. Lying at home in front of the fireplace

ANS: A, B, D, E Any environment that the client finds relaxing is appropriate. It is unlikely that a client would consider driving home from the beach on Sunday evening to be a relaxing environment.

A client who has been referred for stress management asks the nurse, "Which one of these relaxation techniques requires reimbursement from my health insurance?" Which is the appropriate nursing reply? A. "Meditation requires reimbursement from health insurance." B. "Biofeedback requires reimbursement from health insurance." C. "Physical exercise requires reimbursement from health insurance." D. "Deep breathing requires reimbursement from health insurance."

ANS: B Biofeedback is costly and would require reimbursement from health insurance. It requires the use of a machine that gives immediate information about the client's physical state and a biofeedback technician to interpret the results.

A nurse is teaching a client deep breathing exercises. The client asks, "Why do I need to make that funny shape with my lips when I breathe out?" What is the most appropriate nursing reply? A. "You can actually exhale anyway you like; the lip shape is not important." B. "Pursed lip breathing helps you control the exhalation and helps to keep your airways open." C. "Don't worry about the lip shape; concentrate instead on the pace of your breathing." D. "The shape of the lip decreases the cough and choking reflex."

ANS: B Pursed lip breathing is controlled, allowing for longer exhalation because it is more effective in keeping the airways open.

Which response is known to be a physiological manifestation of relaxation? A. Increased levels of norepinephrine B. Pupil dilation C. Reduced metabolic rate D. Increased levels of blood sugar

ANS: C During relaxation, the metabolic rate decreases.

A client asks a nurse what is the difference between modified (or passive) progressive relaxation and progressive relaxation. Which is the most appropriate nursing reply? A. "There is an increased focus on deep breathing in the modified version." B. "Only large muscle groups are targeted in the modified version." C. "There is no muscle contraction in the modified version." D. "The modified version is for clients with preexisting cardiovascular disease."

ANS: C In modified (or passive) progressive relaxation, the muscles are not tensed before relaxing them.

The nurse should recognize that improvement in concentration and attention occurs with which relaxation technique? A. Biofeedback B. Physical exercise C. Meditation D. Mental imagery

ANS: C Meditation has been found to improve concentration and attention.

Which positive physical benefit would relaxation provide for a client who has experienced stress-related asthma? A. Decreased neurotransmitters B. Decreased blood pressure C. Increased oxygen saturation levels D. Decreased alpha brain waves

ANS: C Relaxation results in increased lung capacity and stable respiratory rate leading to increased oxygen saturation levels.

A client who has been undergoing stress management training asks a nurse how long practicing stress reduction should last. Which is the most appropriate nursing reply? A. "Until this stressor has resolved." B. "Usually it takes several months before stress is eliminated." C. "Whenever you feel better, you can stop." D. "Managing stress is a lifelong function."

ANS: D Management of stress must be considered a lifelong function. Nurses can help individuals recognize the sources of stress in their lives and identify methods of adaptive coping.

During a psychoeducational group on stress management, a client asks about meditation. Which nursing statement is most accurate regarding meditation? A. "It is a procedure whereby various muscle groups are contracted and relaxed, bringing about an overall sense of relaxation." B. "The procedure is one whereby you use your imagination to relax and reduce the tension in your body." C. "The purpose is to become aware of one's bodily processes and to bring them under conscious control." D. "The goal is to gain mastery and control over one's attention, bringing about a special state of consciousness."

ANS: D Meditation creates a special state of consciousness because attention is concentrated on one thought or object.

Which should a nurse recognize as the reason that physical exercise is an effective relaxation technique? A. Physical exercise stresses and strengthens the cardiovascular system. B. Physical exercise decreases the metabolic rate. C. Physical exercise decreases levels of norepinephrine in the brain. D. Physical exercise provides a natural outlet for releasing muscle tension.

ANS: D Physical exercise is an effective relaxation technique because it provides a natural outlet for releasing muscle tension produced by the body when stressed.

A nurse is caring for a client who has suffered a stress-related myocardial infarction. Which client statement indicates that the client is ready to learn about the relationship of stress to physical illness? A. "I just need to take my blood pressure medication religiously." B. "The first thing I will do, will be to cut down on my smoking." C. "My father had six heart attacks and survived them all. I plan to do the same." D. "I eat well and exercise. What else do you think could have led to my heart attack?"

ANS: D This response shows that the client is seeking information to improve his health and signals openness to change.