MH-TB: 13 Crisis Intervention

After threatening to jump off a bridge, a client is brought to an emergency department by police. To assess for suicide potential, which question should a nurse ask first? A. Are you currently thinking about harming yourself? B. Why do you want to harm yourself? C. Have you thought about the consequences of your actions? D. Who is your emergency contact person?

ANS: A The nurse should first assess the client for current suicidal thoughts to minimize risk of harm and provide appropriate interventions. A suicidal client is experiencing a psychiatric emergency. The crisis team should prioritize safety by assessing the client for thoughts of self-harm.

Which of the following nursing statements and/or questions represent appropriate communication to assess an individual in crisis? Select all that apply. A. Tell me what happened. B. What coping methods have you used, and did they work? C. Describe to me what your life was like before this happened. D. Lets focus on the current problem. E. Ill assist you in selecting functional coping strategies.

ANS: A, B, C In the assessment phase, the nurse should gather information regarding the precipitating stressor and the resulting crisis. Focusing on the current problem and selecting functional coping strategies are nursing interventions rather than assessments.

Which of the following are effective interventions that a nurse should utilize when caring for an inpatient client who expresses anger inappropriately? Select all that apply. A. Maintain a calm demeanor. B. Clearly delineate the consequences of the behavior. C. Use therapeutic touch to convey empathy. D. Set limits on the behavior. E. Teach the client to avoid I statements related to expression of feelings.

ANS: A, B, D The nurse should determine that when working with an inpatient client who expresses anger inappropriately, it is important to maintain a calm demeanor, clearly define the consequences, and set limits on the behavior. The use of therapeutic touch may not be appropriate and could escalate the clients anger.

A despondent client, who has recently lost her husband of 30 years, tearfully states, Ill feel a lot better if I sell my house and move away. Which nursing reply is most appropriate? A. Im confident you know whats best for you. B. This may not be the best time for you to make such an important decision. C. Your children will be terribly disappointed. D. Tell me why you want to make this change.

ANS: B During crisis intervention, the nurse should guide the client through a problem-solving process. The nurse should help the individual confront the source of the problem, encourage the individual to discuss changes he or she would like to make, and encourage exploration of feelings about aspects of the crisis that cannot be changed. The nurse should also assist the client in determining whether any changes are realistic and if timing of change is appropriate. This response encourages the client to think through what may be an impulsive decision.

An inpatient client with a known history of violence suddenly begins to pace. Which client behavior should alert a nurse to escalating anger and aggression? A. The client requests prn medications. B. The client has a tense facial expression and body language. C. The client refuses to eat lunch. D. The client sits in group therapy with back to peers.

ANS: B The nurse should assess that tense facial expressions and body language may indicate that a clients anger is escalating. The nurse should conduct a thorough assessment of the clients past and current violent behaviors and develop interventions for de-escalation

A wife brings her husband to an emergency department after an attempt to hang himself. He is a full-time student and works 8 hours at night to support his family. He states, I cant function any longer under all this stress. Which type of crisis is the client experiencing? A. Maturational/developmental crisis B. Psychiatric emergency crisis C. Anticipated life transition crisis D. Traumatic stress crisis

ANS: B The nurse should determine that the client is experiencing a psychiatric emergency crisis. Psychiatric emergencies occur when crisis situations result in severe impairment, incompetence, or inability to assume personal responsibility.

What is the best nursing rationale for holding a debriefing session with clients and staff after clients have witnessed a peer being taken down after a violent outburst? A. To reinforce unit rules with the client population B. To create protocols for the future release of tensions associated with anger C. To process feelings and concerns related to the witnessed intervention D. To discuss the client problems that led to inappropriate expressions of anger

ANS: C The nurse should determine that the purpose for holding a debriefing session with clients and staff after clients have witnessed a peer being taken down after a violent outburst is to process feelings and concerns related to the witnessed intervention.

A high school student has learned that she cannot graduate. Her boyfriend will be attending a college out of state that she planned to also attend. She is admitted to a psychiatric unit after overdosing on Tylenol. Which is the correctly written priority nursing diagnosis for this client? A. Ineffective coping R/T situational crisis AEB powerlessness B. Anxiety R/T fear of failure C. Risk for self-directed violence R/T hopelessness D. Risk for low self-esteem R/T loss events AEB suicidal ideations

ANS: C The priority nursing diagnosis for this client is Risk for self-directed violence R/T hopelessness. Nurses should prioritize diagnoses and outcomes on the basis of potential safety risk to the client and/or others. Nursing diagnoses should be correctly written to include evidence if actual and no evidence if the diagnosis is determined to be potential.

An involuntarily committed client, when offered a dinner tray, pushes it off the bedside table onto the floor. Which intervention should a nurse prioritize to address this behavior? A. Initiate forced medication protocol. B. Help the client to explore the source of anger. C. Ignore the act to avoid reinforcing the behavior. D. With staff support and a show of solidarity, set firm limits on the behavior.

ANS: D The most appropriate nursing intervention is to set firm limits on the behavior. Pushing food onto the floor does not warrant forced medication because the behavior is not a direct safety concern. Exploring the source of anger may be appropriate after the client has gained emotional control. Ignoring the act may further upset the client and does not reinforce appropriate behavior.

A college student who was nearly raped while jogging completes a series of appointments with a rape crisis nurse. At the final session, which client statement most clearly suggests that the goals of crisis intervention have been met? A. Youve really been helpful. Can I count on you for continued support? B. I dont work out anymore. C. Im really glad I didnt go home. It would have been hard to come back. D. I carry mace when I jog. It makes me feel safe and secure.

ANS: D The nurse should evaluate that the client who has developed adaptive coping strategies has achieved the goals of crisis intervention.

A client comes to a psychiatric clinic, experiencing sudden extreme fatigue and decreased sleep and appetite. The client works 12 hours a day and rates anxiety as 8/10 on a numeric scale. What correctly written long-term outcome is realistic in addressing this clients crisis? A. The client will change his or her type A personality traits to more adaptive ones by week 1. B. The client will list five positive self-attributes. C. The client will examine how childhood events led to an overachieving orientation. D. The client will return to previous adaptive levels of functioning by week 6.

ANS: D The nurse should identify that a realistic long-term outcome for this client would be to return to previous adaptive levels of functioning. The nurse should work with the client to develop attainable outcomes that reflect the immediacy of the situation. To be correctly written, an outcome must be client-centered, specific, measurable, realistic, and contain a time frame.

A mother is concerned about her ability to perform in her new role. She is quite anxious and refuses to leave the postpartum unit. To offer effective client care, a nurse should recognize which information about this type of crisis? A. This type of crisis is precipitated by unexpected external stressors. B. This type of crisis is precipitated by preexisting psychopathology. C. This type of crisis is precipitated by an acute response to an external situational stressor. D. This type of crisis is precipitated by normal life-cycle transitions that overwhelm the client.

ANS: D The nurse should understand that this type of crisis is precipitated by normal life-cycle transitions that overwhelm the client. Reassurance and guidance should be provided as needed, and the client should be referred to services that can provide assistance.