Victims of Abuse and Neglect

A college student was sexually assaulted when out on a date. After several weeks of crisis intervention therapy, which client statement should indicate to a nurse that the student is handling this situation in a healthy manner? A. I know that it was not my fault. B. My boyfriend has trouble controlling his sexual urges. C. If I dont put myself in a dating situation, I wont be at risk. D. Next time I will think twice about wearing a sexy dress.

A. I know that it was not my fault. The client who realizes that sexual assault was not her fault is handling the situation in a healthy manner. The nurse should provide nonjudgmental listening and communicate statements that instill trust and validate self-worth.

When planning care for women in abusive relationships, which of the following information is important for the nurse to consider? Select all that apply. A. It often takes several attempts before a woman leaves an abusive situation. B. Substance abuse is a common factor in abusive relationships. C. Until children reach school age, they are usually not affected by parental discord. D. Women in abusive relationships usually feel isolated and unsupported. E. Economic factors rarely play a role in the decision to stay in abusive relationships.

A. It often takes several attempts before a woman leaves an abusive situation. B. Substance abuse is a common factor in abusive relationships. D. Women in abusive relationships usually feel isolated and unsupported. When planning care for women who have been victims of domestic abuse, the nurse should be aware that it often takes several attempts before a woman leaves an abusive situation, that substance abuse is a common factor in abusive relationships, and that women in abusive relationships usually feel isolated and unsupported. Children can be affected by domestic violence from infancy, and economic factors often play a role in the victims decision to stay.

Which of the following nursing diagnoses would be expected for an adult survivor of incest? Select all that apply. A. Low self-esteem B. Powerlessness C. Disturbed personal identity D. Knowledge deficit E. Noncompliance

A. Low self-esteem B. Powerlessness An adult survivor of incest would most likely have low self-esteem and a sense of powerlessness. Adult survivors of incest are at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction, somatization disorders, compulsive sexual behavior disorders, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders. Disturbed personal identity refers to an inability to distinguish between self and nonself and is seen in disorders such as autistic disorders, borderline personality disorders, dissociative disorders, and gender identity disorders.

Which statement made by an emergency department nurse indicates accurate knowledge of domestic violence? A. Power and control are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. B. Poor communication and social isolation are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. C. Erratic relationships and vulnerability are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. D. Emotional injury and learned helplessness are central to the dynamic of domestic violence.

A. Power and control are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. The nurse accurately states that power and control are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. Battering is defined as a pattern of coercive control founded on physical and/or sexual violence or threat of violence. The typical abuser is very possessive and perceives the victim as a possession.

Which assessment data should a school nurse recognize as signs of physical neglect? A. The child is often absent from school and seems apathetic and tired. B. The child is very insecure and has poor self-esteem. C. The child has multiple bruises on various body parts. D. The child has sophisticated knowledge of sexual behaviors.

A. The child is often absent from school and seems apathetic and tired. The nurse should recognize that a child who is often absent from school and seems apathetic and tired might be a victim of neglect. Other indicators of neglect are stealing food or money, lacking medical or dental care, being consistently dirty, lacking sufficient clothing, or stating that there is no one home to provide care.

A kindergarten student is frequently violent toward other children. A school nurse notices bruises and burns on the childs face and arms. What other symptom should indicate to the nurse that the child might have been physically abused? A. The child shrinks at the approach of adults. B. The child begs or steals food or money. C. The child is frequently absent from school. D. The child is delayed in physical and emotional development.

A. The child shrinks at the approach of adults. The nurse should determine that a child who shrinks at the approach of adults in addition to having bruises and burns might be a victim of abuse. Whether or not the adult intended to harm the child, maltreatment should be considered.

An anorexic client states to a nurse, My father has recently moved back to town. Since that time the client has experienced insomnia, nightmares, and panic attacks that occur nightly. She has never married or dated and lives alone. What should the nurse suspect? A. Possible major depressive disorder B. Possible history of childhood incest C. Possible histrionic personality disorder D. Possible history of childhood bulimia

B. Possible history of childhood incest The nurse should suspect that this client might have a history of childhood incest. Adult survivors of incest are at risk for developing posttraumatic stress disorder, sexual dysfunction, somatization disorders, compulsive sexual behavior disorders, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and substance abuse disorders.

A client is brought to an emergency department after being violently raped. Which nursing action is appropriate? A. Discourage the client from discussing the event, as this may lead to further emotional trauma. B. Remain nonjudgmental and actively listen to the clients description of the event. C. Meet the clients self-care needs by assisting with showering and perineal care. D. Provide cues, based on police information, to encourage further description of the event.

B. Remain nonjudgmental and actively listen to the clients description of the event. The most appropriate nursing action is to remain nonjudgmental and actively listen to the clients description of the event. It is important to also communicate to the victim that he or she is safe and that it is not his or her fault. Nonjudgmental listening provides an avenue for client catharsis needed in order to begin the process of healing.

A nursing student asks an emergency department nurse, Why does a rapist use a weapon during the act of rape? Which nursing reply is most accurate? A. A weapon is used to increase the victimizers security. B. A weapon is used to inflict physical harm. C. A weapon is used to terrorize and subdue the victim. D. A weapon is used to mirror learned family behavior patterns.

C. A weapon is used to terrorize and subdue the victim. The nurse should explain that a rapist uses weapons to terrorize and subdue the victim. Rape is the expression of power and dominance by means of sexual violence. Rape can occur over a broad spectrum of experience, from violent attack to insistence on sexual intercourse by an acquaintance or spouse.

A client who has been raped is crying, pacing, and cursing her attacker in an emergency department. Which behavioral defense should a nurse recognize? A. Controlled response pattern B. Compounded rape reaction C. Expressed response pattern D. Silent rape reaction

C. Expressed response pattern The nurse should recognize that this client is exhibiting an expressed response pattern. In the expressed response pattern, feelings of fear, anger, and anxiety are expressed through crying, sobbing, smiling, restlessness, and tension. In the controlled response pattern, the clients feelings are masked or hidden, and a calm, composed, or subdued affect is seen.

A woman comes to an emergency department with a broken nose and multiple bruises after being beaten by her husband. She states, The beatings have been getting worse, and Im afraid that next time he might kill me. Which is the appropriate nursing reply? A. Leopards dont change their spots, and neither will he. B. There are things you can do to prevent him from losing control. C. Lets talk about your options so that you dont have to go home. D. Why dont we call the police so that they can confront your husband with his behavior?

C. Lets talk about your options so that you dont have to go home. The most appropriate reply by the nurse is to talk with the client about options so that the client does not have to return to the abusive environment. It is essential that clients make decisions independently without the nurse being the rescuer. Imposing judgments and giving advice is nontherapeutic.

When questioned about bruises, a woman states, It was an accident. My husband just had a bad day at work. Hes being so gentle now and even brought me flowers. Hes going to get a new job, so it wont happen again. This client is in which phase of the cycle of battering? A. Phase I: The tension-building phase B. Phase II: The acute battering incident phase C. Phase III: The honeymoon phase D. Phase IV: The resolution and reorganization phase

C. Phase III: The honeymoon phase The client is in the honeymoon phase of the cycle of battering. In this phase, the batterer becomes extremely loving, kind, and contrite. Promises are often made that the abuse will not happen again.

In the emergency department, a raped client appears calm and exhibits a blunt affect. The client answers a nurses questions in a monotone using single words. How should the nurse interpret this clients responses? A. The client may be lying about the incident. B. The client may be experiencing a silent rape reaction. C. The client may be demonstrating a controlled response pattern. D. The client may be having a compounded rape reaction.

C. The client may be demonstrating a controlled response pattern. This client is most likely demonstrating a controlled response pattern. In a controlled response pattern, the clients feelings are masked or hidden, and a calm, composed, or subdued affect is seen. In the expressed response pattern, feelings of fear, anger, and anxiety are expressed through crying, sobbing, smiling, restlessness, and tension.

Which teaching should the nurse in an employee assistance program provide to an employee who exhibits symptoms of domestic physical abuse? A. Have ready access to a gun and learn how to use it B. Research lawyers who can aid in divorce proceedings C. File charges of assault and battery D. Have ready access to the number of a safe house for battered women

D. Have ready access to the number of a safe house for battered women The nurse should provide information about safe houses for battered women when working with a client who has symptoms of domestic physical abuse. Many women feel powerless within the abusive relationship and may be staying in the abusive relationship out of fear for their lives.

A woman describes a history of physical and emotional abuse in intimate relationships. Which additional factor should a nurse suspect? A. The woman may be exhibiting a controlled response pattern. B. The woman may have a history of childhood neglect. C. The woman may be exhibiting codependent characteristics. D. The woman might be a victim of incest.

D. The woman might be a victim of incest. The nurse should suspect that this client might be a victim of incest. Women in abusive relationships often grew up in abusive homes.

A client who is in a severely abusive relationship is admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit. The client fears for her life. A staff nurse asks, Why doesnt she just leave him? Which is the nursing supervisors most appropriate reply? A. These clients dont know life any other way, and change is not an option until they have improved insight. B. These clients have limited skills and few vocational abilities to be able to make it on their own. C. These clients often have a lack of financial independence to support themselves and their children, and most have religious beliefs prohibiting divorce and separation. D. These clients are paralyzed into inaction by a combination of physical threats and a sense of powerlessness.

D. These clients are paralyzed into inaction by a combination of physical threats and a sense of powerlessness. The nursing supervisor is accurate when stating that clients in severely abusive relationships are paralyzed into inaction by a combination of physical threats and a sense of powerlessness. Women often choose to stay with an abusive partner for some of the following reasons: for the children, financial reasons, fear of retaliation, lack of a support network, religious reasons, and/or hopelessness.