Exam 1: The Concept of Stress Adaptation

A nurse is working with a client who has recently been under a great deal of stress. Which nursing recommendations would be most helpful when assisting the client in coping with stress? (Select all that apply.)

An unemployed college graduate is experiencing severe anxiety over not finding a teaching position and has difficulty with independent problem solving. During a routine physical examination, the graduate confides in the clinic nurse. Which is the most appropriate nursing intervention?

When an individual's stress response is sustained over a long period of time, which physiological effect of the endocrine system should a nurse anticipate?

A client has experienced the death of a close family member and at the same time becomes unemployed. This situation has resulted in a 6-month score of 110 on the Miller and Rahe Recent Life Changes Questionnaire. How should the nurse evaluate this client data?

Which symptom should a nurse identify as typical of the "fight-or-flight" response?

A nurse is interviewing a distressed client who relates being fired after 15 years of loyal employment. Which of the following questions would best assist the nurse to determine the client's appraisal of the situation? (Select all that apply.)

A school nurse is assessing a distraught female high school student who is overly concerned because her parents can't afford horseback riding lessons. How should the nurse interpret the student's reaction to her perceived problem?

Meditation has been shown to be an effective stress management technique. When meditation is effective, what should a nurse expect to assess?

A nurse is evaluating a client's response to stress. What would indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing a secondary appraisal of the stressful event?

A nursing student finds that she comes down with a sinus infection toward the end of every semester. When this occurs which stage of stress is the student most likely experiencing?

A school nurse is assessing a female high school student who is overly concerned about her appearance. The client's mother states, "That's not something to be stressed about!" Which is the most appropriate nursing response?

A client who experiences stress on a regular basis asks a nurse what causes these feelings. Which is the most appropriate nursing response?

A bright student confides in the school nurse about conflicts related to attending college, or working to add needed financial support to the family. Which coping strategy is most appropriate for the nurse to recommend to the student at this time?

Which client statement should alert a nurse that a client may be responding maladaptively to stress?

A physically and emotionally healthy client has just been fired. During a routine office visit he states to a nurse: "Perhaps this was the best thing to happen. Maybe I'll look into pursuing an art degree." How should the nurse characterize the client's appraisal of the job loss stressor?

Research undertaken by Miller and Rahe in 1997 demonstrated a correlation between the effects of life change and illness. This research led to the development of the Recent Life Changes Questionnaire (RLCQ). Which principle most limits the effectiveness of this tool?

A nursing instructor is teaching about diseases of adaptation and when they are likely to occur. When questioned about situations that precipitate these diseases, which student statement indicates that learning has occurred?

A distraught, single, first-time mother cries and says to a nurse, "How can I go to work if I can't afford childcare!" What is the nurse's initial action in assisting the client with the problem-solving process?