A patient with severe burn 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 action by the nurse will best help to diffuse the patient's anger?
A) Stop the dressing change and say, "I will leave the supplies so that you can change your own dressing."
B) Continue the dressing change and say, "This dressing change is necessary because you were careless with fire."
C) Discontinue the dressing change, tell the patient, "I will return when you gain control of yourself," and leave the room.
D) Continue the dressing change and say, "Dressing changes are needed to prevent infection. What are your ideas about how to make it less painful?"

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse should not respond personally to the patient's comments. The correct answer objectively gives the patient information that may lead to lowering his anger and engages the patient in problem solving. The incorrect options will escalate the patient's anger by belittling or escalating the patient's sense of powerlessness. Dressing changes are needed for the patient's physiological integrity; therefore, the nurse should not abandon the responsibility to perform them.

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