Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN-RN Psychosocial Needs and Development Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 72-year-old client is admitted to a long-term care facility. The client expresses feelings of sadness and states, 'I feel like my life has had no purpose.' According to Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, which of the following is the client experiencing?
- Stagnation
- Despair (Correct answer)
- Isolation
- Role Confusion
Correct answer: Despair
According to Erikson's theory, the developmental stage for older adults (65 years to death) is 'Ego Integrity vs. Despair.' A person who feels their life has been useless or has regrets is experiencing despair. Stagnation is part of the middle adulthood stage, Isolation is part of the young adulthood stage, and Role Confusion is part of the adolescent stage.
Question 2: A nurse is caring for a 45-year-old client who recently received a diagnosis of a chronic illness. The client is withdrawn and has not been adhering to the treatment plan. Which of the following psychosocial needs is the highest priority for the nurse to address?
- Self-actualization
- Esteem and recognition
- Coping and adaptation (Correct answer)
- Love and belonging
Correct answer: Coping and adaptation
While all the listed needs are important, the client's withdrawal and non-adherence to treatment indicate a primary struggle with coping and adapting to a major life change. Addressing the client's coping mechanisms is crucial for their physical and emotional well-being and is a prerequisite for addressing higher-level needs like esteem or self-actualization.
Question 3: Which of the following interventions by a nurse best promotes the psychosocial well-being of a hospitalized adolescent client?
- Encouraging frequent family visits to reduce feelings of loneliness.
- Providing detailed medical information to increase their sense of control.
- Allowing friends to visit and providing access to social media. (Correct answer)
- Scheduling structured quiet time for rest and reflection.
Correct answer: Allowing friends to visit and providing access to social media.
Adolescents are in the 'Identity vs. Role Confusion' stage of development, where peer relationships are extremely important for developing a sense of self. Allowing interaction with friends and access to social media helps maintain these crucial social connections and promotes a sense of normalcy, which is vital for their psychosocial health during hospitalization.
Question 4: A 30-year-old client is recovering from a major surgery that has resulted in a significant change in body image. The client refuses to look at the surgical site. This behavior is an example of which defense mechanism?
- Projection
- Sublimation
- Denial (Correct answer)
- Rationalization
Correct answer: Denial
Denial is the refusal to accept reality or fact, acting as if a painful event, thought, or feeling did not exist. By refusing to look at the surgical site, the client is avoiding the reality of their changed body image. This is a common early coping mechanism following a traumatic event.
Question 5: A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who has recently lost their spouse. According to the principles of psychosocial care, which action should the nurse take first?
- Refer the client to a bereavement support group.
- Encourage the client to focus on positive memories.
- Assess the client's personal coping mechanisms and support systems. (Correct answer)
- Provide education on the normal stages of grief and loss.
Correct answer: Assess the client's personal coping mechanisms and support systems.
The nursing process always begins with assessment. Before implementing any interventions, the nurse must first assess the client's individual coping style, the strength of their existing support system (family, friends), and their cultural or spiritual beliefs related to loss. This information is essential for creating a personalized and effective plan of care.
Question 6: According to Erikson's stages of development, a 25-year-old client who expresses difficulty forming meaningful relationships with others is likely struggling with which psychosocial crisis?
- Trust vs. Mistrust
- Initiative vs. Guilt
- Identity vs. Role Confusion
- Intimacy vs. Isolation (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Intimacy vs. Isolation
The young adulthood stage (approximately 19 to 40 years) is characterized by the psychosocial crisis of 'Intimacy vs. Isolation.' During this time, individuals focus on forming close, committed relationships with other people. Difficulty in this stage can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Nursing Acceleration Challenge Exam I PN-RN Psychosocial Needs and Development Questions and Answers 1
A 72-year-old client is admitted to a long-term care facility.
The client expresses feelings of sadness and states, 'I feel like my life has had no purpose.' According to Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, which of the following is the client experiencing?