Personality and Mood Disorders Q 85
The nurse acts as a patient advocate when she does one of the following:
A. She encourages the client to express her feelings regarding her experience.
B. She assesses the client for injuries.
C. She postpones the physical assessment until the client is calm.
D. Explains to the client that her reactions are normal.
Correct Answer: C. She postpones the physical assessment until the client is calm
The nurse acts as a patient advocate as she protects the client from psychological harm. Nurse advocates support the patient’s best interests while respecting the family’s important role. Advocates become facilitators when patients and family members need to discuss uncomfortable information or explore its implications. Nurses may sometimes need to advocate for patients against their families.
Option A: The nurse acts as a counselor. A need for counseling is a clinical judgment made by the nurse, and his/her response will be immediate situational counseling, continuing counseling sessions, or referral. Types of counseling situations that the nursing professional may encounter are outlined, including four escapes utilized by students, such as substance abuse, suicide, fear of AIDS, and anorexia/bulimia. Since students do utilize health services, the nurse counselor with a holistic view of nursing care, which includes health education and counseling, has an opportunity and a responsibility to act upon this knowledge.
Option B: The nurse acts as a technician. Nurse technicians are medical care providers who give basic medical care to patients. A nurse tech generally works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Also known as nursing attendants or nursing aides, they provide important services to help the registered nurses complete their tasks.
Option D: This exemplifies the role of a teacher. Nurse educators are registered nurses with advanced education who are also teachers. Most work for several, if not many, years before deciding to turn to a career teaching future nurses. Most nurse educators have extensive clinical experience, and many continue caring for patients after becoming educators.