A community health nurse is making a home visit to a postpartum woman. The nurse suspects that the woman may be experiencing depression. During a home postpartum visit, a community health nurse suspects that the woman is experiencing depression. Which response would be most appropriate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Getting adequate sleep is important, because sleep deprivation exacerbates psychiatric symptoms. Napping when the baby naps, resting when possible throughout the day, and going to bed early (albeit with the knowledge that sleep may be interrupted two or more times to feed the infant) will provide more hours of rest and sleep. Caffeine can lead to sleep disturbance, and alcohol is a depressant that has been implicated in depression. The elimination of both is a simple yet helpful suggestion. The statement about telling the woman not worry discounts her feelings. In addition, it also may increase her anxiety because she may be worried about hurting the baby. The statement about ability to be the perfect housekeeper while on maternity leave is counterproductive because perfectionism has been identified as a risk factor for postpartum depression.

A Community Health Nurse Is Making a Home Visit to a Postpartum