Varcarolis-Chapter 22 Sexual Violence
A nurse works with a person who was raped four years ago. This person says, "It took a long
time for me to recover from that horrible experience." Which term should the nurse use when
referring to this person?
a. Victim
b. Survivor
c. Plaintiff
d. Perpetrator - ANSANS: B
A survivor is an individual who has experience sexual assault, participated in interventions, and
is moving forward in life. Victim refers to a person who experienced a recent sexual assault.
Plaintiff refers to a person bringing a civil complaint to the court system. Perpetrator refers to a
person who commits a crime.
A person was abducted and raped at gunpoint. The nurse observes this person is confused,
talks rapidly in disconnected phrases, and is unable to concentrate or make simple decisions.
What is the person's level of anxiety?
a. Weak
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Severe - ANSANS: D
Anxiety is the result of a personal threat to the victim's safety and security. In this case, the
person's symptoms of rapid, dissociated speech, confusion, and indecisiveness indicate severe
anxiety. "Weak" is not a level of anxiety. Mild and moderate levels of anxiety allow the person to
function at a higher level.
A person was abducted and raped at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. Which assessment
finding best indicates the person is in the acute phase of rape trauma syndrome?
a. Confusion and disbelief
b. Decreased motor activity
c. Flashbacks and dreams
d. Fears and phobias - ANSANS: A
Shock, emotional numbness, confusion, disbelief, restlessness, and agitated motor activity
depict the acute phase of rape trauma syndrome. Flashbacks, dreams, fears, and phobias occur
in the long-term reorganization phase of rape trauma syndrome. Decreased motor activity, by
itself, is not indicative of any particular phase.
A nurse interviews a person abducted and raped at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. The
person says, "I can't talk about it. Nothing happened. I have to forget!" What is the person's
present coping strategy?
a. Somatic reaction
b. Repression
, c. Projection
d. Denial - ANSANS: D
Disbelief is a common finding during the acute stage following sexual assault. Denial is
evidence of the disbelief. This mechanism may be unconsciously used to protect the person
from the emotionally overwhelming reality of rape. The patient's statements do not reflect
somatic symptoms, repression, or projection.
A child was abducted and raped. Which personal reaction by the nurse could interfere with the
child's care?
a. Anger
b. Concern
c. Empathy
d. Compassion - ANSANS: A
Feelings of empathy, concern, and compassion are helpful. Anger, on the other hand, may make
objectivity impossible.
A nurse working in the county jail interviews a man who recently committed a violent sexual
assault against a woman. Which comment from this perpetrator is most likely?
a. "She was very beautiful."
b. "I gave her what she wanted."
c. "I have issues with my mother."
d. "I've been depressed for a long time." - ANSANS: B
Rape involves a need for control, power, degradation, and dominance over others. The correct
response shows a lack of remorse or guilt, which is a common characteristic of an antisocial
personality. The incorrect responses show an appreciation for women, psychological conflict,
and self-disclosure, which are not expected from a perpetrator of sexual assault.
A rape victim asks an emergency department nurse, "Maybe I did something to cause this
attack. Was it my fault?" Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic?
a. Pose questions about the rape, helping the patient explore why it happened.
b. Reassure the victim that the outcome of the situation will be positive.
c. Make decisions for the victim because of the temporary confusion.
d. Support the victim to separate issues of vulnerability from blame. - ANSANS: D
Although the victim may have made choices that increased vulnerability, the victim is not to
blame for the rape. The incorrect options either suggest the use of a nontherapeutic
communication technique or do not permit the victim to restore control. No confusion is evident.
A rape victim tells the nurse, "I should not have been out on the street alone." Which is the
nurse's most therapeutic response?
a. "Rape can happen anywhere."
b. "Blaming yourself only increases your anxiety and discomfort."
c. "You believe this would not have happened if you had not been alone?"
d. "You are right. You should not have been alone on the street at night." - ANSANS: C
A nurse works with a person who was raped four years ago. This person says, "It took a long
time for me to recover from that horrible experience." Which term should the nurse use when
referring to this person?
a. Victim
b. Survivor
c. Plaintiff
d. Perpetrator - ANSANS: B
A survivor is an individual who has experience sexual assault, participated in interventions, and
is moving forward in life. Victim refers to a person who experienced a recent sexual assault.
Plaintiff refers to a person bringing a civil complaint to the court system. Perpetrator refers to a
person who commits a crime.
A person was abducted and raped at gunpoint. The nurse observes this person is confused,
talks rapidly in disconnected phrases, and is unable to concentrate or make simple decisions.
What is the person's level of anxiety?
a. Weak
b. Mild
c. Moderate
d. Severe - ANSANS: D
Anxiety is the result of a personal threat to the victim's safety and security. In this case, the
person's symptoms of rapid, dissociated speech, confusion, and indecisiveness indicate severe
anxiety. "Weak" is not a level of anxiety. Mild and moderate levels of anxiety allow the person to
function at a higher level.
A person was abducted and raped at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. Which assessment
finding best indicates the person is in the acute phase of rape trauma syndrome?
a. Confusion and disbelief
b. Decreased motor activity
c. Flashbacks and dreams
d. Fears and phobias - ANSANS: A
Shock, emotional numbness, confusion, disbelief, restlessness, and agitated motor activity
depict the acute phase of rape trauma syndrome. Flashbacks, dreams, fears, and phobias occur
in the long-term reorganization phase of rape trauma syndrome. Decreased motor activity, by
itself, is not indicative of any particular phase.
A nurse interviews a person abducted and raped at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. The
person says, "I can't talk about it. Nothing happened. I have to forget!" What is the person's
present coping strategy?
a. Somatic reaction
b. Repression
, c. Projection
d. Denial - ANSANS: D
Disbelief is a common finding during the acute stage following sexual assault. Denial is
evidence of the disbelief. This mechanism may be unconsciously used to protect the person
from the emotionally overwhelming reality of rape. The patient's statements do not reflect
somatic symptoms, repression, or projection.
A child was abducted and raped. Which personal reaction by the nurse could interfere with the
child's care?
a. Anger
b. Concern
c. Empathy
d. Compassion - ANSANS: A
Feelings of empathy, concern, and compassion are helpful. Anger, on the other hand, may make
objectivity impossible.
A nurse working in the county jail interviews a man who recently committed a violent sexual
assault against a woman. Which comment from this perpetrator is most likely?
a. "She was very beautiful."
b. "I gave her what she wanted."
c. "I have issues with my mother."
d. "I've been depressed for a long time." - ANSANS: B
Rape involves a need for control, power, degradation, and dominance over others. The correct
response shows a lack of remorse or guilt, which is a common characteristic of an antisocial
personality. The incorrect responses show an appreciation for women, psychological conflict,
and self-disclosure, which are not expected from a perpetrator of sexual assault.
A rape victim asks an emergency department nurse, "Maybe I did something to cause this
attack. Was it my fault?" Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic?
a. Pose questions about the rape, helping the patient explore why it happened.
b. Reassure the victim that the outcome of the situation will be positive.
c. Make decisions for the victim because of the temporary confusion.
d. Support the victim to separate issues of vulnerability from blame. - ANSANS: D
Although the victim may have made choices that increased vulnerability, the victim is not to
blame for the rape. The incorrect options either suggest the use of a nontherapeutic
communication technique or do not permit the victim to restore control. No confusion is evident.
A rape victim tells the nurse, "I should not have been out on the street alone." Which is the
nurse's most therapeutic response?
a. "Rape can happen anywhere."
b. "Blaming yourself only increases your anxiety and discomfort."
c. "You believe this would not have happened if you had not been alone?"
d. "You are right. You should not have been alone on the street at night." - ANSANS: C
