Chapter 9 - Crisis Intervention
A new mother is concerned about her ability to perform her parental role. She
is quite anxious and ambivalent about leaving the postpartum unit. To offer
effective client care, a nurse should be familiar with what information about
this type of crisis?
1. This type of crisis is precipitated by unexpected external stressors.
2. This type of crisis is precipitated by preexisting psychopathology.
3. This type of crisis is precipitated by an acute response to an external
situational stressor.
4. This type of crisis is precipitated by normal life-cycle transitions that
overwhelm the client. - correct answer ✔ANS: 4
Rationale: 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.
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 can't function any longer under all this stress." Which
type of crisis is the client experiencing?
1. Maturational/developmental crisis
2. Psychiatric emergency crisis
3. Anticipated life transition crisis
4. Traumatic stress crisis - correct answer ✔ANS: 2
Rationale: 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 an inability to assume
personal responsibility.
, 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 long-term outcome is realistic in
addressing this client's crisis?
1. The client will change his type A personality traits to more adaptive ones by
one week.
2. The client will list five positive self-attributes.
3. The client will examine how childhood events led to his overachieving
orientation.
4. The client will return to previous adaptive levels of functioning by week six. -
correct answer ✔ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should identify that a realistic long-term outcome for this
client is to return to previous adaptive levels of functioning. The nurse should
work with the client to develop attainable outcomes that reflect immediacy of
the situation.
A high school student has learned that she cannot graduate. Her boyfriend will
be attending a college out of state that she planned to attend. She is admitted
to a psychiatric unit after overdosing on Tylenol. Which is the priority nursing
diagnosis for this client?
1. Ineffective coping R/T situational crisis AEB powerlessness
2. Anxiety R/T fear of failure
3. Risk for self-directed violence R/T hopelessness
4. Risk for low self-esteem R/T loss events AEB suicidal ideations - correct
answer ✔ANS: 3
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis for this client is risk for self-directed
violence R/T hopelessness. Nurses should prioritize diagnoses and outcomes
based on potential safety risk to the client or others.
After threatening to jump off of 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 new mother is concerned about her ability to perform her parental role. She
is quite anxious and ambivalent about leaving the postpartum unit. To offer
effective client care, a nurse should be familiar with what information about
this type of crisis?
1. This type of crisis is precipitated by unexpected external stressors.
2. This type of crisis is precipitated by preexisting psychopathology.
3. This type of crisis is precipitated by an acute response to an external
situational stressor.
4. This type of crisis is precipitated by normal life-cycle transitions that
overwhelm the client. - correct answer ✔ANS: 4
Rationale: 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.
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 can't function any longer under all this stress." Which
type of crisis is the client experiencing?
1. Maturational/developmental crisis
2. Psychiatric emergency crisis
3. Anticipated life transition crisis
4. Traumatic stress crisis - correct answer ✔ANS: 2
Rationale: 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 an inability to assume
personal responsibility.
, 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 long-term outcome is realistic in
addressing this client's crisis?
1. The client will change his type A personality traits to more adaptive ones by
one week.
2. The client will list five positive self-attributes.
3. The client will examine how childhood events led to his overachieving
orientation.
4. The client will return to previous adaptive levels of functioning by week six. -
correct answer ✔ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should identify that a realistic long-term outcome for this
client is to return to previous adaptive levels of functioning. The nurse should
work with the client to develop attainable outcomes that reflect immediacy of
the situation.
A high school student has learned that she cannot graduate. Her boyfriend will
be attending a college out of state that she planned to attend. She is admitted
to a psychiatric unit after overdosing on Tylenol. Which is the priority nursing
diagnosis for this client?
1. Ineffective coping R/T situational crisis AEB powerlessness
2. Anxiety R/T fear of failure
3. Risk for self-directed violence R/T hopelessness
4. Risk for low self-esteem R/T loss events AEB suicidal ideations - correct
answer ✔ANS: 3
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis for this client is risk for self-directed
violence R/T hopelessness. Nurses should prioritize diagnoses and outcomes
based on potential safety risk to the client or others.
After threatening to jump off of a bridge, a client is brought to an emergency
department by police. To assess for suicide potential, which question should a
nurse ask first?
