Building Therapeutic Relationships
Building Therapeutic Relationships ( 7 Questions)
A nurse is caring for a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is experiencing flashbacks of a traumatic event. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement to help the client cope with flashbacks?
Ask the client to describe the details of the traumatic event. - This is an inappropriate intervention that may worsen the client's distress and retraumatize them. It is important for the nurse to respect the client's boundaries and avoid pressuring them to discuss or relive the traumatic event unless the client initiates the conversation and feels comfortable doing so.
Teach the client relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
Rationale: Flashbacks are vivid and intrusive recollections of a traumatic event that occur involuntarily and cause distress to the client. Flashbacks can be triggered by reminders of the trauma, such as sights, sounds, smells, or emotions. The nurse should help the client cope with flashbacks by teaching them relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, which can help reduce anxiety and physiological arousal. The nurse should also stay with the client until they are calm and oriented.
Remind the client that they are safe and that the flashbacks are not real. - While it is important to reassure the client that they are safe, simply reminding them that the flashbacks are not real may not be sufficient to alleviate their distress. Flashbacks can be very real and overwhelming for individuals with PTSD, and dismissing their experiences may invalidate their feelings. Instead, the nurse should focus on providing support, validation, and coping strategies such as relaxation techniques to help the client manage and reduce the intensity of their flashbacks
All of the above. - This is an incorrect option, as asking the client to describe the details of the traumatic event and reminding them that the flashbacks are not real are not appropriate interventions for coping with flashbacks in clients with PTSD. Teaching relaxation techniques, however, is an effective and appropriate intervention for managing and coping with flashbacks.
Correct answer: B) Teach the client relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation.
Rationale: Flashbacks are vivid and intrusive recollections of a traumatic event that occur involuntarily and cause distress to the client. Flashbacks can be triggered by reminders of the trauma, such as sights, sounds, smells, or emotions. The nurse should help the client cope with flashbacks by teaching them relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation, which can help reduce anxiety and physiological arousal. The nurse should also stay with the client until they are calm and oriented.
Incorrect options:
A) Ask the client to describe the details of the traumatic event. - This is an inappropriate intervention that may worsen the client's distress and retraumatize them. It is important for the nurse to respect the client's boundaries and avoid pressuring them to discuss or relive the traumatic event unless the client initiates the conversation and feels comfortable doing so.
C) Remind the client that they are safe and that the flashbacks are not real. - While it is important to reassure the client that they are safe, simply reminding them that the flashbacks are not real may not be sufficient to alleviate their distress. Flashbacks can be very real and overwhelming for individuals with PTSD, and dismissing their experiences may invalidate their feelings. Instead, the nurse should focus on providing support, validation, and coping strategies such as relaxation techniques to help the client manage and reduce the intensity of their flashbacks.
D) All of the above. - This is an incorrect option, as asking the client to describe the details of the traumatic event and reminding them that the flashbacks are not real are not appropriate interventions for coping with flashbacks in clients with PTSD. Teaching relaxation techniques, however, is an effective and appropriate intervention for managing and coping with flashbacks.