Nursing Response to Aggressive Patient Behavior

A patient becomes verbally aggressive, raising their voice and using profanity. Which is the most appropriate initial response by the nurse?

A 6-year-old client has multiple bruises on their arms and legs. The parent doesn’t let the child respond to questions. Which is the most appropriate next step?

A nurse is caring for a 3-year-old patient who appears underweight, has poor hygiene, and lacks well-child visits. Which action should the nurse take?

A 10-year-old patient discloses that their uncle has been touching them inappropriately. Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A nurse suspects a child is being emotionally abused by a parent who frequently belittles and criticizes the child. What action should the nurse take?

An 82-year-old client with dementia has various pressure ulcers, bruises, and a fractured wrist. The caregiver reports the client fell. What is the best action by the nurse?

A nurse is caring for an older adult who appears malnourished with poor hygiene. The family/primary caregiver seems overwhelmed. What action is best?

A nurse is educating a group of healthcare staff about identifying signs of domestic violence. Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?

A nurse notices a patient clenching their fists and pacing around the room. Which action should the nurse take first?

A nurse is assessing a 30-year-old patient with multiple bruises and injuries in various stages of healing. Which action should the nurse take first?

During a wellness visit, a patient tells the nurse that their partner isolates them from friends and family. What is the nurse's priority response?

A patient arrives in the emergency department reporting they were sexually assaulted. Which action should the nurse take first?

The nurse is discharging a patient who was recently sexually assaulted. Which statement by the nurse is most appropriate?

A college student tells the nurse they were sexually assaulted at a party and feel scared to seek help due to fear. What is the nurse’s best response?

A college student tells the nurse they were sexually assaulted at a party and feel scared to seek help due to fear. What is the nurse’s best response?

A patient is admitted for alcohol withdrawal. Which assessment finding is most indicative of delirium tremens?

A patient is prescribed disulfiram for alcohol use disorder. Which instruction should the nurse provide?

A nurse is assessing a patient for potential substance use disorder. Which finding is most suggestive of opioid intoxication?

A patient is admitted for treatment of cocaine use disorder. Which nursing intervention is a priority during the acute withdrawal phase?

A patient is prescribed buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. Which instruction is most important for the nurse to provide?

A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which finding is an early sign of delirium tremens?

A patient with a history of cocaine use is admitted for chest pain. Which assessment finding is most suggestive of stimulant toxicity?

A nurse is discharging a patient who completed inpatient treatment for alcohol use disorder. Which statement indicates a need for further teaching?

A patient is prescribed naltrexone for opioid use disorder. How does this drug help the client maintain sobriety?

A nurse is assessing a patient for potential substance use disorder. Which finding is most suggestive of benzodiazepine intoxication?

A nurse is assessing a patient who is exhibiting signs of methamphetamine intoxication. Which of the following symptoms would the nurse expect?

A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing opioid withdrawal. Which symptom requires immediate medical attention?

A patient with a history of intravenous drug use is admitted with cellulitis. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

A nurse is providing education to a patient who has been prescribed methadone. Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

A nurse is discharging a patient after detoxing from opioids. Which statement indicates a need for further education?

A 26-year-old patient who abuses heroin states, “I’ve been using more heroin lately because I’ve begun to need more to feel the effect I want.” What effect does this statement describe?

Which statement is true regarding substance addiction and medical comorbidity?

A 19-year-old college sophomore who has been using cocaine and alcohol heavily for 5 months is admitted for observation after admitting to suicidal ideation with a plan to the college counselor. What would be an appropriate priority outcome for this client’s treatment plan while in the hospital?

The treatment team meets to discuss a client’s plan of care. Which of the following factors will be priorities when planning interventions?

A client being prepared for discharge tells the nurse, “Dr. Jacobson is putting me on some medication called naltrexone. How will that help me?” Which response is appropriate teaching regarding naltrexone?

What term is used to identify a syndrome that occurs after stopping the long-term use of a drug?

The term tolerance, as it relates to substance abuse, refers to which situation?

Benzodiazepines are useful for treating alcohol withdrawal because they are associated with which action?

A client who is dependent on alcohol tells the nurse, “Alcohol is no problem for me. I can quit anytime I want to.” The nurse can assess this statement as indicating which defense mechanism?

Which signs and symptoms are associated with opioid withdrawal?

A young woman reports that although she has no memory of the event, she believes that she was raped. This raises suspicion that she unknowingly ingested what substance? (Select all that apply.)

Nursing assessment of an alcohol-dependent client 6 to 8 hours after the last drink would most likely reveal the presence of which early sign of alcohol withdrawal?

Cocaine exerts which of the following effects on a client?

What is an appropriate long-term client-centered goal/outcome for a recovering substance abuser?

What statement made by a client taking disulfiram reveals a need for further teaching?

A client has a 4-year history of using cocaine intranasally. When brought to the hospital in an unconscious state, what nursing measure should be included in the client’s plan of care?

A client brought to the emergency department after phenylcyclohexylpiperidine (PCP) ingestion is both verbally and physically abusive. What nursing intervention should be implemented to best assure the safety of the client and the milieu? (Select all that apply.)

A client is sitting with arms crossed over their chest, with their left leg is rapidly moving up and down, and there is an angry facial expression. When approached by the nurse, the client states harshly, “I’m fine! Everything’s great.” Which statement related to communication should the nurse focus on when working with this client?

A client is presenting with behaviors that indicate anger. When approached, the client states harshly, “I’m fine! Everything’s great.” Which response should the nurse provide to the client?

When preparing to hold an admission interview with a client, the nurse pulls up a chair and sits facing the client with their knees almost touching. When the nurse leans in close to speak, the client becomes visibly flustered and gets up and leaves the room. What is the most likely explanation for client’s behavior?

Which of the following statements represent a nontherapeutic communication technique? (Select all that apply.)

A 55-year-old client recently came to the United States from England on a work visa. The client was admitted for severe depression following the death of a life partner weeks ago. While discussing the death and its effects the client shows little emotion. Which of the following explanations is most plausible for this lack of emotion?

How is anger best defined?

Which event is most likely to contribute to a client’s escalating anger?

Which neurotransmitter imbalance has been shown to be related to impulsive aggression?

Nurses coping with angry clients may find it helpful to remember that anger and aggression begin as feelings of which personal characteristic?

Which assessment finding is the best predictor of violence in a newly admitted client?

Which nursing diagnosis is the priority when planning care for a client who displays considerable anger and occasional aggression?

The risk of elder abuse in a home is best determined by conducting which assessment?

An abuse victim tearfully tells the nurse in the emergency department, “Don’t tell my husband that you know he beats me because if he thinks anyone knows, he will beat me again.” Based on this information, what is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis?

Which behavior demonstrated by a woman attempting to escape a chronically abusive relationship presents the greatest personal risk?

When the nurse believes the cycle of abuse is escalating and that a woman may be in severe physical danger, what should the priority nursing intervention be?

A 4-year-old child tells the nurse, “I’m a bad boy. Daddy always says I’m not worth a second look.” This situation can be an example of which form of abuse?

An elderly woman who has been abused by her caregiver daughter tells the nurse, “You don’t have to worry about me. My daughter cried and apologized. She promised me she will never hit me again.” The nurse recognizes that the client is describing which stage of the cycle of violence?

To best assure the safety of a 3-year-old child whose parent admits to finding it difficult to control his/her anger, what is the most appropriate short-term goal for the parent?

Which nursing intervention is best directed at the psychological needs of a physically abused client?

Which child is at lowest risk for abuse?

Which statement made by a parent of a child diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome would be assessed as a risk factor for family violence?

Who is the act of rape is best described?

To provide discharge treatment and support, the nurse should realize that the most common outcome of acquaintance rape is which psychosocial dysfunction?

Care planning for the rape victim is facilitated if the nurse understands that rape trauma syndrome is actually a variant of which psychiatric disorder?

Which statement reflects a truth about rape?

Anticipatory teaching of a rape victim should include information that a common survivor problem?

The emergency department nurse planning care for a rape survivor must realize that the emotional reaction displayed by many rape victims during the initial assessment and treatment is which emotion?

A 28-year-old married client who is seeking treatment after being raped tearfully asks the nurse, “What if I am pregnant?” The nurse’s response should be guided by what knowledge?

Which statement best illustrates support in giving care to a patient who has just been sexually assaulted?

It has been 6 months since a woman was raped. Which statement by the client would indicate that counseling has helped her to achieve an important long-term outcome?

Which of the following statements by a woman who was sexually assaulted a year ago would indicate that she has recovered from the trauma?

Which of the following are myths surrounding rape? (Select all that apply.)