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    Hesi rn psychology proctored exam (mental health)

    Patient Data Drag from the options to complete the sentence. After listening to the client's symptoms, the nurse realizes that she likely has _____ related to _____ .

    Explanation & Rationale

    • Acute stress disorder: The client is experiencing intrusive thoughts, recurrent memories of a traumatic event, and difficulty sleeping shortly after a severe disaster. These symptoms align with acute stress disorder, which often occurs within days to weeks following a traumatic event. Recognizing this condition is important because early intervention can reduce symptom severity and prevent progression to post-traumatic stress disorder. • Separation anxiety: Separation anxiety typically involves excessive worry about being away from attachment figures and is more common in children or individuals with attachment concerns. The client’s distress is tied to a traumatic event, not fear of separation from a caregiver, making this diagnosis less appropriate. • Phobia: Phobias involve intense, irrational fear of specific objects or situations unrelated to past trauma. The client’s intrusive thoughts and sleep disruption are connected to a real traumatic event, not a generalized or situational fear response. • Hallucinations: The client does not report seeing or hearing things that are not present. Her symptoms are intrusive memories and distressing thoughts, which are cognitive and emotional, not perceptual, ruling out hallucinations. • Traumatic stress exposure: The precipitating factor for the client’s symptoms is the collapse of her house during a hurricane, a highly traumatic event. Exposure to life-threatening situations or significant loss triggers intense emotional and physiological responses. Identifying the trauma as the cause allows the nurse to tailor interventions focused on psychological support, safety, and stress reduction. • Overstimulation: While environmental noise may exacerbate distress, overstimulation is not the primary cause of her intrusive thoughts or emotional dysregulation. The trauma itself is the initiating factor. • Undiagnosed mental health disorder: Although prior mental health conditions may exist, the client’s symptoms clearly follow a traumatic event, supporting an acute stress response rather than an underlying undiagnosed disorder. • Side effects of medication: There is no evidence that the client’s IV antibiotics or other medications are causing intrusive thoughts, nightmares, or sleep disturbances. Symptoms are linked to psychological trauma rather than pharmacologic side effects.

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