C HAPTER 29: S EXUAL A SSAULT
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Editio n
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse interviews a 17 -year-old male victim of sexual assault. The victim
is reluctant to talk abou t the experience. Which comment should the nurse
offer to this victim?
a. Male victims of sexual assault are usuall y better equipped than
women to deal with the emotional pain that occurs.
b. Male victims of sexual assault often experience physical injuries
and are assaulted by more than one person.
c. Do you have any male friends who have also been victims of sexual
assault?
d. Why do you think you became a victim of sexual assault?
ANS: B
Few rape survivors seek help, even with serious injury; so, it is
important for the nurse to help the victim discuss the experience. The
correct response therapeuticall y gives information to this victim. A
male rape victim is more likel y to experience physical trauma and to
have been victimized by several assailants. Males experien ce the same
devastation, physical injury, and emotional consequences as females.
Although they may cover their responses, they too benefit from care
and treatment. Why questions represent probing, which is a non -
therapeutic communication technique. The vic tim may or may not have
friends who have had this experience, but its important to talk about
his feelings rather than theirs.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 539 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosoci al Integrity
2. A nurse works a rape telephone hotline. Communication with potential
victims should focus on:
a. explaining immediate steps victims should take.
b. providing callers with a sympathetic listener.
c. obtaining information for law enforcement.
d. arranging counseling.
ANS: A
The telephone counselor establishes where the victim is and what has
happened and provides the necessary information to enable the victim
to decide what steps to take immediatel y. Counseling is not the focus
until immediate problems ar e resolved. The victim remains anonymous.
The other distracters are inappropriate or incorrect because counselors
are trained to be empathetic rather than sympathetic.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 541 TOP: Nursing Proces s: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. A nurse cares for a rape victim who was given a drink that contained
flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) by an assailant. Which intervention has
priorit y? Monitoring for:
a. coma.
b. seizures.
, c. hypotonia.
d. respiratory depression.
ANS: D
Monitoring for respiratory depression takes priorit y over hypotonia,
seizures, or coma.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 540 TOP: Nursing Process: Intervention MSC:
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y
4. Which situation describes consensual sex rather than rape?
a. A husband forces vaginal sex when he comes home intoxicated from
a part y. The wife objects.
b. A womans lover pleads with her to have oral sex. She gives in but
later regrets the decision.
c. A person is beaten, robbed, and forcibl y subjected to anal
penetration by an assailant.
d. A dentist gives anesthesia for a procedure and then has intercourse
with the unconscious patient.
ANS: B
Onl y the key describes a scenario in which the sexual contac t is
consensual. Consensual sex is not considered rape if the participants
are of legal age.
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Editio n
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse interviews a 17 -year-old male victim of sexual assault. The victim
is reluctant to talk abou t the experience. Which comment should the nurse
offer to this victim?
a. Male victims of sexual assault are usuall y better equipped than
women to deal with the emotional pain that occurs.
b. Male victims of sexual assault often experience physical injuries
and are assaulted by more than one person.
c. Do you have any male friends who have also been victims of sexual
assault?
d. Why do you think you became a victim of sexual assault?
ANS: B
Few rape survivors seek help, even with serious injury; so, it is
important for the nurse to help the victim discuss the experience. The
correct response therapeuticall y gives information to this victim. A
male rape victim is more likel y to experience physical trauma and to
have been victimized by several assailants. Males experien ce the same
devastation, physical injury, and emotional consequences as females.
Although they may cover their responses, they too benefit from care
and treatment. Why questions represent probing, which is a non -
therapeutic communication technique. The vic tim may or may not have
friends who have had this experience, but its important to talk about
his feelings rather than theirs.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 539 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosoci al Integrity
2. A nurse works a rape telephone hotline. Communication with potential
victims should focus on:
a. explaining immediate steps victims should take.
b. providing callers with a sympathetic listener.
c. obtaining information for law enforcement.
d. arranging counseling.
ANS: A
The telephone counselor establishes where the victim is and what has
happened and provides the necessary information to enable the victim
to decide what steps to take immediatel y. Counseling is not the focus
until immediate problems ar e resolved. The victim remains anonymous.
The other distracters are inappropriate or incorrect because counselors
are trained to be empathetic rather than sympathetic.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 541 TOP: Nursing Proces s: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. A nurse cares for a rape victim who was given a drink that contained
flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) by an assailant. Which intervention has
priorit y? Monitoring for:
a. coma.
b. seizures.
, c. hypotonia.
d. respiratory depression.
ANS: D
Monitoring for respiratory depression takes priorit y over hypotonia,
seizures, or coma.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 540 TOP: Nursing Process: Intervention MSC:
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y
4. Which situation describes consensual sex rather than rape?
a. A husband forces vaginal sex when he comes home intoxicated from
a part y. The wife objects.
b. A womans lover pleads with her to have oral sex. She gives in but
later regrets the decision.
c. A person is beaten, robbed, and forcibl y subjected to anal
penetration by an assailant.
d. A dentist gives anesthesia for a procedure and then has intercourse
with the unconscious patient.
ANS: B
Onl y the key describes a scenario in which the sexual contac t is
consensual. Consensual sex is not considered rape if the participants
are of legal age.
