C HAPTER 35: F AMILY I NTERVENTIONS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psych iatric-Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Parents of a teenager recentl y diagnosed with serious mental illness
express dismay. One parent says, Our hopes for our childs future are
ruined. We probabl y wont ever have grandchildren. The nurse will use
interventions to assist with:
a. denial.
b. grieving.
c. acting out.
d. manipulation.
ANS: B
Grief is a common reaction to having a famil y member diagnosed with
mental illness. The grief stems from actual or potential losses, such as
the famil ys abilit y to function, financial well -being, and alt ered future.
Data do not support choosing any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 630 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. Parents of a teenager recentl y diagnosed with serious m ental illness
express dismay. One parent says, Our child acts so strangel y that we dont
, invite friends to our home. We quit taking vacations. Sometimes we dont
get any sleep. Which nursing diagnosis best applies?
a. Impaired parenting
b. Dysfunctional grieving
c. Impaired social interaction
d. Interrupted famil y processes
ANS: D
Interrupted famil y processes are evident in the face of disruptions in
famil y functioning as a result of having a mentall y ill member.
Assessment data best support this diagno sis. Data are insufficient to
support the other diagnoses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 631 TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis/Anal ysis
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. A famil y expresses helplessness related to dealing wit h a mentall y ill
members odd behaviors, mood swings, and argumentativeness. An
effective nursing intervention for this famil y would be to:
a. express sympathy for their situation.
b. involve local social service agencies.
c. explain symptoms of relapse.
d. role-play difficult situations.
ANS: D
Helping a famil y learn to set limits and deal with difficult behaviors
can often be accomplished by using role - playing situations, which give
, famil y members the opportunit y to try new, more effective approaches .
The other options would not provide learning opportunities.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 631 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Parents of a mentall y ill teenager say, We have never k nown anyone who
was mentall y ill. We have no one to talk to because none of our friends
understand the problems we are facing. Select the nurses most helpful
intervention.
a. Refer the parents to a support group.
b. Build the parents self -concept as coping parents.
c. Teach the parents techniques of therapeutic communication.
d. Facilitate achievement of normal developmental tasks of the famil y.
ANS: A
The need for support is evident. Referrals are made when working with
families whose needs are unmet. A support group, such as through the
National Alliance on Mentall y Illness (NAMI), will provide the parents
with support of others with similar experiences and with whom they
can share feelings and experiences. The distracters are less relevant to
providing a network of support.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) REF: 635
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psych iatric-Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Parents of a teenager recentl y diagnosed with serious mental illness
express dismay. One parent says, Our hopes for our childs future are
ruined. We probabl y wont ever have grandchildren. The nurse will use
interventions to assist with:
a. denial.
b. grieving.
c. acting out.
d. manipulation.
ANS: B
Grief is a common reaction to having a famil y member diagnosed with
mental illness. The grief stems from actual or potential losses, such as
the famil ys abilit y to function, financial well -being, and alt ered future.
Data do not support choosing any of the other options.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 630 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. Parents of a teenager recentl y diagnosed with serious m ental illness
express dismay. One parent says, Our child acts so strangel y that we dont
, invite friends to our home. We quit taking vacations. Sometimes we dont
get any sleep. Which nursing diagnosis best applies?
a. Impaired parenting
b. Dysfunctional grieving
c. Impaired social interaction
d. Interrupted famil y processes
ANS: D
Interrupted famil y processes are evident in the face of disruptions in
famil y functioning as a result of having a mentall y ill member.
Assessment data best support this diagno sis. Data are insufficient to
support the other diagnoses.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 631 TOP: Nursing Process: Diagnosis/Anal ysis
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
3. A famil y expresses helplessness related to dealing wit h a mentall y ill
members odd behaviors, mood swings, and argumentativeness. An
effective nursing intervention for this famil y would be to:
a. express sympathy for their situation.
b. involve local social service agencies.
c. explain symptoms of relapse.
d. role-play difficult situations.
ANS: D
Helping a famil y learn to set limits and deal with difficult behaviors
can often be accomplished by using role - playing situations, which give
, famil y members the opportunit y to try new, more effective approaches .
The other options would not provide learning opportunities.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 631 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
4. Parents of a mentall y ill teenager say, We have never k nown anyone who
was mentall y ill. We have no one to talk to because none of our friends
understand the problems we are facing. Select the nurses most helpful
intervention.
a. Refer the parents to a support group.
b. Build the parents self -concept as coping parents.
c. Teach the parents techniques of therapeutic communication.
d. Facilitate achievement of normal developmental tasks of the famil y.
ANS: A
The need for support is evident. Referrals are made when working with
families whose needs are unmet. A support group, such as through the
National Alliance on Mentall y Illness (NAMI), will provide the parents
with support of others with similar experiences and with whom they
can share feelings and experiences. The distracters are less relevant to
providing a network of support.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) REF: 635
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
