A patient with severe physical injuries is irritable, angry, and belittles the nurses. As a nurse changes a dressing, the patient screams, "Don't touch me! You are so stupid. You will make it worse!" Which intervention uses a cognitive technique to help this patient?
A) Discontinue the dressing change without comments and leave the room.
B) Stop the dressing change, saying, "Perhaps you would like to change your own dressing."
C) Continue the dressing change, saying, "Do you know this dressing change is needed so your wound will not get infected?"
D) Continue the dressing change, saying, "Unfortunately, you have no choice. Your doctor ordered this dressing change."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Anger is cognitively driven. The correct answer helps the patient test his cognitions and may help lower his anger. The incorrect options will escalate the patient's anger by belittling or escalating the patient's sense of powerlessness.

A Patient with Severe Physical Injuries Is Irritable, Angry, and Belittles