Week 3 (Crisis Intervention)
Which statement is true regarding crisis intervention?
B. Allowing time for the patient and family to place events in sequence and
verbalize feelings is important.
Rationale: Allowing time for the patient and family to place events in sequence
and verbalize feelings results in improved mastery of the stressor and
decreases the likelihood of long-term sequelae. A direct approach is desirable
because it helps the confused, scared, or overwhelmed patient focus.
Posttraumatic stress disorder occurs among individuals of all ages, and older
adult patients may be a source of strength to younger people. Involving family
members is desirable because it provides emotional support, enhances a
feeling of normalcy, and provides additional assessment data.
The risk of posttraumatic stress disorder may be decreased by which action?
D. Providing prompt intervention
Rationale: Immediacy is one of the cornerstones of crisis intervention. Not all
older adult patients experience dementia or confusion as a result of crisis, so
an extensive cognitive assessment is not necessary. Inpatient admission is
not necessary for all patients who have experienced a crisis; crisis
interventionists provide services with the expectation that the individual will
rapidly return to normal function and that encouraging self-help may prevent
sequelae. Providing a sedative may be required, but sedatives do not
decrease the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder.
, A family of two parents and three children present for assessment at the
emergency department after a house fire. The home requires only minor
repairs and is habitable. After meeting the children's physical needs, what
should the parent be advised to do?
D. Return the children to their usual chore, mealtime, and bedtime schedules.
Rationale: Returning to usual routines decreases anxiety and increases
feelings of mastery. Keeping the children out of school and distracting the
children does not address the children’s needs. Verbalizing feelings or
expressing them with drawings or creative play helps children to recover from
crisis. Children and adolescents respond to parental stress levels, and most
do not require psychiatric care.
A young woman presents with a facial laceration and multiple contusions. She
states she has been assaulted, but becomes increasingly tearful as she tries
to tell her story. What should the primary intervention be?
D. Assess the patient for head and body injury.
Rationale: The primary action should be to assess the patient for injury.
Although the patient may require antianxiety medication, an assessment
should be performed first. Asking the patient to recount the events of the
attack can increase her anxiety. A quiet place should be found to assess the
patient to decrease his or her potential for distraction and anxiety; the nurses’
station is not an appropriate area for this.
Upon assessment after a motor vehicle crash, an uninjured patient is without
suicidal or homicidal ideation. The patient's thoughts are well organized, and
the patient's mood is within normal limits. What should be done next?
Which statement is true regarding crisis intervention?
B. Allowing time for the patient and family to place events in sequence and
verbalize feelings is important.
Rationale: Allowing time for the patient and family to place events in sequence
and verbalize feelings results in improved mastery of the stressor and
decreases the likelihood of long-term sequelae. A direct approach is desirable
because it helps the confused, scared, or overwhelmed patient focus.
Posttraumatic stress disorder occurs among individuals of all ages, and older
adult patients may be a source of strength to younger people. Involving family
members is desirable because it provides emotional support, enhances a
feeling of normalcy, and provides additional assessment data.
The risk of posttraumatic stress disorder may be decreased by which action?
D. Providing prompt intervention
Rationale: Immediacy is one of the cornerstones of crisis intervention. Not all
older adult patients experience dementia or confusion as a result of crisis, so
an extensive cognitive assessment is not necessary. Inpatient admission is
not necessary for all patients who have experienced a crisis; crisis
interventionists provide services with the expectation that the individual will
rapidly return to normal function and that encouraging self-help may prevent
sequelae. Providing a sedative may be required, but sedatives do not
decrease the risk of posttraumatic stress disorder.
, A family of two parents and three children present for assessment at the
emergency department after a house fire. The home requires only minor
repairs and is habitable. After meeting the children's physical needs, what
should the parent be advised to do?
D. Return the children to their usual chore, mealtime, and bedtime schedules.
Rationale: Returning to usual routines decreases anxiety and increases
feelings of mastery. Keeping the children out of school and distracting the
children does not address the children’s needs. Verbalizing feelings or
expressing them with drawings or creative play helps children to recover from
crisis. Children and adolescents respond to parental stress levels, and most
do not require psychiatric care.
A young woman presents with a facial laceration and multiple contusions. She
states she has been assaulted, but becomes increasingly tearful as she tries
to tell her story. What should the primary intervention be?
D. Assess the patient for head and body injury.
Rationale: The primary action should be to assess the patient for injury.
Although the patient may require antianxiety medication, an assessment
should be performed first. Asking the patient to recount the events of the
attack can increase her anxiety. A quiet place should be found to assess the
patient to decrease his or her potential for distraction and anxiety; the nurses’
station is not an appropriate area for this.
Upon assessment after a motor vehicle crash, an uninjured patient is without
suicidal or homicidal ideation. The patient's thoughts are well organized, and
the patient's mood is within normal limits. What should be done next?
