Stress and Stress Management Flashcards
An adult patient arrived in the emergency department (ED) with minor facial lacerations after a
motor vehicle accident and has an initial blood pressure (BP) of 182/94. Which action by the
nurse ismostappropriate?
Recheck the blood pressure after the patient is stabilized and has received treatment.
A female patient who initially came to the clinic with incontinence was recently diagnosed
with endometrial cancer. She is usually well organized and calm but the nurse who is giving her
preoperative instructions observes that she is irritable, has difficulty concentrating, and yells at
her husband. Which action should the nurse take?
Try to calm patient and reinforce and repeat teaching about the surgery.
An adult patient who is hospitalized following a motorcycle accident when a car ran a red light
tells the nurse, “I didn’t sleep last night because I worried about missing work at my new job and
losing my insurance coverage.” Which nursing diagnosis is appropriate to include in the plan of
care?
Anxiety
- A patient is extremely anxious about having a biopsy on a femoral lymph node in the groin
area. Which relaxation technique would bebestfor the nurse to use at this time?
Relaxation breathing
A patient who suffers from frequent migraines tells the nurse, “My life feels chaotic and out of
my control. I will not be able to manage if anything else happens.” Which response should the
nurse makeinitially?
“Tell me more about how your life has been recently.”
6.A nurse prepares an adult patient with a severe burn injury for a dressing change. The nurse
knows that this is a painful procedure and wants to provide music to help the patient relax.
Which action isbestfor the nurse to take?
Ask the patient about music preferences.
7.The nurse teaches a patient who is experiencing stress at work how to use imagery as a
relaxation technique. Which statement by the nurse would bemostappropriate?
“Think of a place where you feel peaceful and comfortable.”
8.An overweight female patient who had enjoyed active outdoor activities is stressed because
she is limited in what she can do because she has osteoarthritis in her hips. Which action by the
nurse willbestassist the patient to cope with this situation?
d. Encourage the patient to think about how weight loss might improve symptoms.
9.A hospitalized patient with diabetes tells the nurse, “I don’t understand why I can keep my
blood sugar under control at home with diet alone, but when I get sick, my blood sugar goes up.
This is so frustrating.” Which response by the nurse ismostappropriate?
b. “Stressors such as illness cause the release of hormones that increase blood glucose.”
10.A middle-aged male patient with usually well-controlled hypertension and diabetes visits the
clinic. Today he has a blood pressure of 174/94 and a blood glucose level of 190 mg/dL. What
additional patient information may indicate that an intervention by the nurse is needed?
The patient reports that he and his wife are getting divorced and are in a custody battle over
their 12-year-old son.
11.A patient who is taking antiretroviral medication to control human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) infection tells the nurse about feeling mild depression and anxiety. Which additional
information about the patient ismostimportant to communicate to the health care provider?
b. The patient uses over-the-counter St. John’s wort.
1.A patient who is hospitalized with a pelvic fracture after a motor vehicle accident just received
news that the driver of the car died from multiple injuries. What actions should the nurse take
based on knowledge of the physiologic stress reactions that may occur in this patient
b. Ask about epigastric pain.
c. Observe for decreased appetite.
d. Check for elevated blood glucose levels.
