Question 1

The nurse is assisting a person to develop a positive attitude toward exercise. Which of the following nursing interventions would be most successful when working with this person?

Accepted Answer

Formal exercise programs are no more effective than walking 30 to 60 minutes a day for 3 to 5 days a week. Exercise is beneficial at any stage of life.

Question 2

A nurse is explaining the relaxation response to a person. Which of the following statements would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?

Accepted Answer

The relaxation response causes blood pressure and pulse rate to lower and muscles to relax. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system has the opposite result.

Question 3

A nurse is defining stress to a person. Which of the following statements should the nurse should make?

Accepted Answer

Any event that requires a change in behavior is stressful. Some stressful events are beneficial to health and not inherently harmful. Many stressors cannot be controlled.

Question 4

A nurse is assisting a person to cope with stress. Which statement by the nurse would be the most helpful?

Accepted Answer

Self-awareness is necessary to evaluate the meaning of an event and can only be assessed by asking the person to think about the meaning of the event.

Question 5

The nurse conducted a community health education program about the benefits and limitations of alternative therapies. The nurse recognizes that learning has occurred when a participant makes which of the following statements?

Accepted Answer

Acupuncture is a technique that requires administration by a trained acupuncturist. Hypnosis should not be used for people with severe mental illness. Reiki is not a massage technique.

Question 6

A nurse has stated that the person she is working with demonstrates stress hardiness. Which of the following individuals is most likely being described?

Accepted Answer

Stress hardiness is characterized by feeling in control of situations, viewing stressors as challenging rather than negative events, and using effective coping techniques.

Question 7

A nurse is providing education to a community support group about ways to decrease stress. Which of the following would be the initial nursing intervention discussed by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

The priority nursing intervention is to help the person become aware of the effects of stress on physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The other interventions are used after the person becomes aware of the individual reaction to stress.

Question 8

Which of the following statements concerning spirituality is correct?

Accepted Answer

Religion and spirituality are complementary but not the same. Spirituality is possible without a religious affiliation. Although spirituality can help one cope with stress, depression may still result.

Question 9

A nurse is educating a client about the four-step approach to active listening. Which of the following actions should the nurse suggest the client take first?

Accepted Answer

Active listening requires the listener to hear what the person is saying, mirror his or her feelings, listening to the person's response, and communicate in a nonaggressive manner.

Question 10

A nurse is helping a person reduce stress-disinhibition related to poor dietary choices. Which of the following nursing interventions would be most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Working with people to develop a realistic, culturally sensitive, healthy eating plan is more likely to produce lasting results than simply dictating what he or she should eat.

Question 11

A nurse is discussing the various types of stress to a group of adults. Which of the following would be used as an example of eustress?

Accepted Answer

Eustress is useful, not harmful. Although a myocardial infarction (MI) is stressful physically and psychologically, joining a cardiac rehab program in response to the MI will improve cardiac and overall health and well-being. The other examples indicate unhealthy coping strategies.

Question 12

A nurse is collecting health assessment data about a person's coping mechanisms in relation to stressors. Who would provide the best source of this information?

Accepted Answer

People are the best source of information related to their coping skills.

Question 13

A nurse is caring for a person who has experienced a minor injury following a fall. Which of the following physiological responses to stress would the nurse anticipate?

Accepted Answer

Activation of the neuroendocrine system in response to stress results in elevated blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and an increased blood supply to large muscles.

Question 14

Which of the following statements concerning enjoying healthy activities is true?

Accepted Answer

Hobbies, and other pleasurable activities, help people balance a stressful life.

Question 15

A nurse is describing adults who are in the "sandwich generation." Which of the following provides the best description of this term?

Accepted Answer

Because of current trends of delayed parenting and increased life span, more middle-aged adults are in the "sandwich generation," in which they carry the responsibility to care for their children and aging parents.

Question 16

The nurse is conducting community education about stress. Which of the following statements should be made by the nurse?

Accepted Answer

Stress may be either harmful or helpful. Long-term stress is harmful. A moderate amount of stress is a motivator.

Question 17

A nurse is counseling a person on how to effectively deal with stress. Which of the following actions would the nurse recommend the person take first?

Accepted Answer

To prevent negative consequences of stress, the person must first recognize signs of stress. He or she must then pay attention to these stressors, develop coping skills, and finally use the coping skills.

Question 18

A nurse is demonstrating how to use effective communication when dealing with conflict. Which of the following statements would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?

Accepted Answer

Effective communication relies on assertive communication, which requires an assertive statement (emotion), expressed feelings (behavior), and perceived rights (explanation).

Question 19

A nurse responded to a natural disaster and used expressive writing as a means of coping with the stress related to this experience. Which of the following benefits of expressive writing should the nurse expect?

Accepted Answer

Expressive writing helps one reflect on the personal meaning of an experience. Feelings of sadness or anxiety may accompany journal writing as events are analyzed.

Question 20

A nurse is helping a man restructure his eating, sleeping, exercise, and thinking patterns to reduce stress. Which of the following nursing interventions would be most effective for this person?

Accepted Answer

Before any meaningful change in behavior can take place, one must have an awareness of, and reflection about, personal behavior.

Quiz 13: Stress Management