Chapter 10: Crisis Intervention

Amanda's mobile home was destroyed by a tornado. Amanda received only minor injuries but is experiencing disabling anxiety in the aftermath of the event. What is this type of crisis called? a. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress b. Maturational or developmental crisis c. Dispositional crisis d. Crisis of anticipated life transitions

a. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress

A female patient is admitted to the emergency department with complaints of domestic violence. She tells the nurse that her husband often takes his anger out on her and that she fears for her life. The nurse knows that the patient's crisis falls into which class? a. Dispositional crises b. Crises of anticipated life transitions c. Maturational and developmental crises d. Psychiatric emergencies

a. Dispositional crises

Jenny reported to the high school nurse that her mother drinks too much. She is drunk every afternoon when Jenny gets home from school. Jenny is afraid to invite friends over because of her mother's behavior. The most appropriate nursing intervention with Jenny would be to a. Make arrangements for her to start attending Alateen meetings. b. Help her identify the positive things in her life and recognize that her situation could be a lot worse than it is. c. Teach her about the effects of alcohol on the body and that it can be hereditary. d. Refer her to a psychiatrist for private therapy to learn to deal with her home situation.

a. Make arrangements for her to start attending Alateen meetings.

A patient is angry with the nurse for taking a long time to enter his room after using his call light. He asks for his pain medication and the nurse says "I'll be back in just a moment!" The patient sarcastically responds, "Sure you will." This behavior can be classified as a. Mild aggression b. Moderate aggression c. Severe aggression d. Rational response

a. Mild aggression

Which of the following features is not true regarding disasters? Select all that apply. a. Spiritual distress is not a common issue following a disaster. b. Disasters can be natural or man-made. c. Children are particularly vulnerable when it comes to coping after a disaster. d. Children understand that the world will return to normal after a disaster. e. Disasters overwhelm local resources. f. Disasters may consist of infinite disruptions.

a. Spiritual distress is not a common issue. d. Children understand that the world will return to normal after a disaster f. Disasters may consist of infinite disruptions.

The nurse attends a conference meeting regarding crisis intervention. Which of the following statements by the nurse requires follow-up? a. "Crises are personal by nature. What may be considered a crisis situation by one individual may not be so for another." b. "The development of a crisis situation follows a relatively unpredictable course." c. "Crises are acute and will be resolved within a brief period." d. "The therapist, or other intervener, becomes a part of the individual's life situation."

b. "The development of a crisis situation follows a relatively unpredictable course."

Marie, age 56, is the mother of five children. Her youngest child, who had been living at home and attending the local college, recently graduated and accepted a job in another state. Marie has never worked outside the home and has devoted her life to satisfying the needs of her husband and children. Since the departure of her last child from home, Marie has become increasingly dependent. Her husband is very concerned and takes her to the local mental health center. What is this type of crisis called? a. Dispositional crisis b. Crisis of anticipated life transitions c. Psychiatric emergency d. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress

b. Crisis of anticipated life transitions

Amanda's mobile home was destroyed by a tornado. Amanda received only minor injuries but is experiencing disabling anxiety in the aftermath of the event. The most appropriate crisis intervention with Amanda would be to a. Encourage her to recognize how lucky she is to be alive. b. Discuss stages of grief and feelings associated with each. c. Identify community resources that can help Amanda. d. Suggest that she find a place to live that provides a storm shelter.

b. Discuss stages of grief and feelings associated with each.

The most appropriate nursing intervention with Ginger (from question 7) would be to: a. Suggest she move to a college closer to home. b. Work with Ginger on unresolved dependency issues. c. Help her find someone in the college town from whom she could seek assistance rather than calling her mother regularly. d. Recommend that the college physician prescribe an antianxiety medication for Ginger.

b. Work with Ginger on unresolved dependency issues.

Which of the following is true regarding the crisis intervention team (CIT)? Select all that apply. a. It is a police training program available in every state. b. Select police officers are trained to use de-escalation techniques to prevent fatalities. c. It was developed because a mentally ill man was shot by police. d. It was developed because a mentally ill man killed a police officer. e. a & d. f. All of the above.

b. select police officers are trained to use de-escalation techniques to prevent fatalities c. it was developed because a man with a mental illness was shot by police

Which of the following is a correct assumption regarding the concept of crisis? a. Crises occur only in individuals with psychopathology. b. The stressful event that precipitates crisis is seldom identifiable. c. A crisis situation contains the potential for psychological growth or deterioration. d. Crises are chronic situations that recur many times during an individuals's life.

c. A crisis situation contains the potential for psychological growth or deterioration.

A woman, aged 29, is admitted to the mental health hospital and diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation. Her husband, aged 32, died in a tragic car accident 2 months prior to her admission. The nurse understands that the patient is experiencing a. Dispositional crises b. Crises of anticipated life transitions c. Crises resulting from traumatic stress d. Psychiatric emergencies

c. Crises resulting from traumatic stress

Jenny reported to the high school nurse that her mother drinks too much. She is drunk every afternoon when Jenny gets home from school. Jenny is afraid to invite friends over because of her mother's behavior. What is this type of crisis called? a. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress b. Maturational or developmental crisis c. Dispositional crisis d. Crisis reflecting psychopathology

c. Dispositional crisis

Andrew, a New York City firefighter, and his entire unit responded to the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Working as a team, he and his best friend, Carlo, entered the area together. Carlo was killed when the building collapsed. Andrew was injured but survived. Since that time, Andrew has had frequent nightmares and anxiety attacks. He says to the mental health worker, "I don't know why Carlo had to die and I didn't!" This statement by Andrew suggests that he is experiencing a. Spiritual distress. b. Night terrors. c. Survivor's guilt. d. Suicidal ideation.

c. Survivor's guilt.

Which of the following is the desired outcome of working with an individual who has witnessed a traumatic event and is now experiencing panic anxiety? a. The individual will experience no anxiety b. The individual will demonstrate hope for the future. c. The individual will identify that anxiety is at a manageable level. d. The individual will verbalize acceptance of self as worthy.

c. The individual will identify that anxiety is at a manageable level.

The most appropriate nursing intervention with Marie (from question 9) would be to: a. Refer her to her family physician for a complete physical examination b. Suggest she seek outside employment now that her children have left home. c. Identify convenient support systems for times when she is feeling particularly despondent. d. Begin grief work and assist her to recognize areas of self-worth separate and apart from her children.

d. Begin grief work and assist her to recognize areas of self-worth separate and apart from her children.

Crises occur when an individual a. Is exposed to a precipitating stressor. b. Perceives a stressor to be threatening. c. Has no support systems. d. Experiences a stressor and perceives coping strategies to be ineffective

d. Experiences a stressor and perceives coping strategies to be ineffective

Ginger, age 19 and an only child, left 3 months ago to attend a college of her choice 500 miles away from her parents. It is Ginger's first time away from home. She has difficulty making decisions and will not undertake anything new without first consulting her mother. They talk on the phone almost every day. Ginger has recently started having anxiety attacks. She consults the nurse practitioner in the student health center. What is this type of crisis called? a. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress b. Dispositional crisis c. Psychiatric emergency d. Maturational or developmental crisis

d. Maturational or developmental crisis

Intervention with Andrew (from question 12) would include: a. Encouraging expressions of feelings. b. Antianxiety medications. c. Participation in a support group. d. a & c. e. All of the above.

e. All of the above.