Therapeutic Communication & Treatment Modalities Flashcards
After the fourth group meeting, the informal leader makes the statement that she believes she can help the group more than the assigned facilitator and has better credentials. Identify the group dynamics and stage of development.
The informal leader is “testing” which is a behavior indicative of a new group trying to establish trust. This group is still in the orientation phase of development.
On an inpatient psychiatric unit, clients are expected to get up at a certain time, attend breakfast at a certain time, and arrive for their medications at the correct time. What form of therapy is incorporated into this unit?
Milieu Therapy (psychotherapy in which the patient’s social environment is controlled or manipulated with a view to preventing self-destructive behavior)
The wife of a man killed in a motor vehicle accident has just arrived at the emergency department and is told of her husband’s death. What nursing actions are appropriate for dealing with this crisis?
Take her to a quiet room, and ask her if there are family members, friends, or clergy you can call for her. Assess her need for medication and discuss it with health care provider. Stay with her, be firm and directive, and assess previous successful coping strategies
A 10-year-old is admitted to the children’s unit of the psychiatric facility after stabbing his sister. His behavior is extremely aggressive with the other children on the unit. Using a behavior-modification approach with positive reinforcement, design a treatment plan for this child.
Assess what activities he enjoys. Set up a token system; when he displays non-agressive behavior, he earns a token good toward participating in the activity selected. He loses a token when he becomes aggressive.
The 10-year-old, his sister, his mother, and the mother’s live-in boyfriend are asked to attend a therapy meeting. Who is the “client” who will be treated during this session?
The entire family
A 66-year-old woman is admitted to the psychiatric unit with agitated depression. She has not responded to antidepressants in the past. What would be the medical treatment of choice for this client?
ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)
- A procedure in which electric currents are passed through the brain, intentionally triggering a brief seizure
- ECT seems to cause changes in brain chemistry that can quickly reverse symptoms of certain mental illnesses
Describe the nurse’s role in preparing clients for ECT (electroconvulsive therapy)
Give accurate, nonjudgmental information about the treatment. Explore client’s concerns. Check emergency equipment. Be sure suction equipment and O2 are available.
Describe the nursing interventions used to care for a client during and after ECT
Maintain patient airway. Check vital signs every 15 minutes until client is alert. Remain with client following treatment until client is conscious. Reorient if client is confused.
