Nursing-Nurse.Com

Coping Mechanisms
•    People use coping mechanisms, also called ego defense mechanisms, to relieve anxiety.
•    They are usually unconscious; that is, the client is not aware of their use.
•    Watch for excessive use of these mechanisms.
Therapeutic Communication
•    Show positive regard for the client.
•    Give eye contact without staring.
•    Show empathy and genuine caring.
•    Show respect.
•    Use open-ended questions.
•    Be aware of your own body language. Appear relaxed. Use an open body posture. Do not cross your arms.
•    Respect confidentiality.
Grief
•    The distinction between grieving and depression can be a matter of degree. Look for signs of clinical depression.
•    Grieving takes time; the amount of time varies with individuals.
•    The stages of grief are not linear; they may come and go.
•    Grief follows death; but also follows divorce, loss of job, loss of financial status, loss of limb or other physical disability, etc.
•    Chronic grief is an exaggerated, prolonged grief response characterized by efforts to keep the deceased alive; chronic grief does not reach resolution. The mourner is unable to get on with life.
•    Pay attention to culturally diverse ways of responding to grief. This is important in assessment of grief reaction and in respecting the customs and rituals of a cultural group.
•    Encourage client and family to talk about their feelings.
•    Beware of personal reaction to death and over identification with client. When necessary, seek assistance to cope with personal issues.
•    Teach clients and their families about the up-and-down process of grieving.
•    Refer to appropriate support groups
Stress Management
•    Severity of reaction to a stressor depends on how it is interpreted/perceived by the individual, the meaning or significance given to it.
•    Learn about support groups in your community for appropriate referral.
•    Stress is a normal part of life. People differ in how they cope with stressors.
•    Physical and emotional stressors trigger the same stress response; however the magnitude of the response may vary.
•    There are individual differences in response to same stress.
•    Duration and intensity of physiologic indicators are directly related to the duration and intensity of the stress.
•    Stress is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
•    Prolonged stress decreases the adaptive capacity of the body.
•    There are limits to a client’s ability to handle stress.
•    Schizophrenia is the most common psychotic disorder. It originates from complex genetic, biological, and psychosocial factors.
•    Extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotic medications must be treated.
•    Depression can be mild, moderate, or severe.
•    Mild depression is often undiagnosed.
•    Antidepressants take 2 to 3 weeks to take effect.
•    Many people have fleeting thoughts of killing themselves at some point in their lives.
•    Cognitive Triad of Depression - negative view of self, negative view of the world, negative view of the future.
•    Anorexia nervosa and bulimia are conditions that primarily occur among adolescent and young women.
•    The 3 phases of a therapeutic relationship are: (1) initial phase, (2) working phase and (3) termination phase.