Question 1

A nurse is assessing an Indigenous client for self-esteem following a suicide attempt. The nurse notices that he does not maintain eye contact and is hesitant at answering questions. The nurse documents this as:

Accepted Answer

In many Indigenous cultures, direct eye contact is seen as disrespectful and can be considered confrontational. Additionally, hesitancy in answering questions is also a cultural norm in many Indigenous communities as it is seen as taking time to reflect before responding. Therefore, these behaviors may be considered a normal cultural behavior rather than an indicator of low self-esteem or other psychological factors.

Question 2

Which statement should the nurse make first when assessing the client's self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Asking the client to describe themselves as a person directly addresses their self-concept and allows the nurse to gain insight into how the client views themselves. Questions about family, work, or leisure activities may provide additional information, but are not as directly related to the client's self-concept.

Question 3

Which statement, made by the client, would indicate a "me-centred" self-concept?

Accepted Answer

A "me-centred" self-concept focuses on the individual's belief in their own agency and the impact of their personal decisions on their life. Statement C, "My future is based on the decisions I make today," reflects this perspective by emphasizing the individual's role in shaping their own future through their choices.

Question 4

The nurse is assisting a client in setting goals as a strategy to reinforce strengths. What intervention should the nurse employ?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging the client to set attainable goals, even if small, allows for small successes to reinforce strengths and build self-confidence towards achieving larger goals in the future. It is important to ensure that the goals are realistic and achievable within a reasonable timeframe in order to prevent the client from feeling overwhelmed or discouraged.

Question 5

During assessment, the client frequently refers to her Indigenous Australian cultural background. The nurse assesses that the client's culture is a strong part of which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The client's cultural background is most likely a strong part of their personal identity, as Indigenous Australian culture is often closely tied to personal and collective identity, history, and heritage. While culture may play a role in other areas such as role-performance, body image, and self-esteem, personal identity is likely the most closely related.

Question 6

A rare malignancy will require the amputation of an adolescent client's leg. The client refuses the surgery, stating: "I would rather die than have my leg amputated". The nurse plans future interventions based upon which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Adolescents are often very concerned about body image, which can significantly impact their decision-making and emotional responses to medical procedures like amputation.

Question 7

During the assessment interview, the client is quiet and answers questions only minimally. What action should the nurse take in regard to this apparent unwillingness to share information?

Accepted Answer

It is important to consider any cultural implications that may be affecting the client's willingness to share information. Some cultures value quietness or reserve and may view overly personal questioning as intrusive or disrespectful. The nurse should approach the situation with cultural sensitivity and respect, and may need to modify their approach to better align with the client's cultural views. Documenting the client's lack of cooperation is also a necessary step, but assuming that the client has something to hide or bringing in another nurse may worsen their discomfort and reluctance to speak.

Question 8

The adolescent male client who weighs 45 kilograms tells the nurse that he is considering taking "some herbal stuff" to increase his muscle mass and make him stronger. The nurse should interpret this statement as an indication that this client has which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The adolescent male client's statement suggests that he may be experiencing a contrast between his current reality and his desired ideal self, which may include a desire to have a more muscular physique. This desire may be influenced by societal ideals of masculinity and strength, which can be particularly salient during adolescence. Referral to a psychologist or concerns about logical thinking or a strong need for admiration may not be warranted based on this statement alone.

Question 9

The clinical nurse consultant/unit coordinator has instituted a series of classes on self-concept development for staff nurses. Why is it important that the classes include information to improve the nurses' self-concept as well as information to use with clients?

Accepted Answer

Nurses with positive self-concept are better able to help clients. When nurses have a positive self-concept, they are better equipped to provide the highest level of care to their clients. Nurses who are confident in their abilities are more likely to communicate effectively with clients, work collaboratively with other healthcare providers, and provide safe and effective care. By providing information to improve their self-concept, the clinical nurse consultant/unit coordinator is ultimately improving the quality of care provided to clients.

Question 10

Which of the following is not a component of self-concept?

Accepted Answer

Self-awareness is a component of self-concept. The other three components include self-knowledge (such as beliefs and attitudes about oneself), self-appraisal (evaluation of one's own abilities and accomplishments), and self-expectations (goals and aspirations for oneself).

Question 11

A client who has recently lost the 34 kilograms recommended by his doctor continues to dress in loose, baggy clothing and frequently refers to himself as "fat". The nurse interprets this finding as most likely indicating which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The client's behavior of dressing in baggy clothes and referring to himself as "fat" even after significant weight loss indicates a disturbance in body image. This could be due to a number of factors, such as a history of obesity and negative self-image, and may require further assessment and support from healthcare professionals. Fear of success, role confusion, and lack of education are unlikely to be the primary factors affecting the client's behavior in this situation.

Question 12

The client's wife complains to the nurse that it seems as if her husband is not making much progress in developing a more positive self-esteem. What statement by the nurse would be appropriate?

Accepted Answer

Developing positive self-esteem is a process that takes time and is not easily evaluated. The statement acknowledges the client's wife's concerns while also explaining that progress in this area may not be immediately noticeable. The other options may come across as blaming or invalidating the client's efforts.

Question 13

Which nursing intervention would be helpful when caring for a client who has negative self-esteem?

Accepted Answer

Designing a series of "small successes" for the client would be helpful in improving their self-esteem because it allows them to experience a sense of accomplishment and feel good about themselves. Telling the client how much easier life would be with positive self-esteem can come across as condescending and unhelpful. Constantly praising the client may only provide temporary relief for their low self-esteem, and correcting them when negativity arises may reinforce their negative thoughts and feelings.

Question 14

The newly graduated nurse is working with a mentor who has been a nurse for 25 years. The mentor tells the new graduate, "I learn something new about nursing every day". What does this indicate about the mentor's self-awareness?

Accepted Answer

The mentor's statement shows that she recognizes that self-awareness is a continuous process and that one can always learn more about nursing. This indicates desirable behavior because it shows the mentor's willingness to continue growing and developing as a nurse.

Question 15

Which common characteristic of persons with low self-esteem can make it difficult for the nurse to effectively intervene?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which common characteristic of persons with low...

Question 16

The nurse's global self-esteem is very low after a week of taking care of several clients who have unexpectedly died. What fact about self-esteem should this nurse remember?

Accepted Answer

It is normal for self-esteem to fluctuate related to daily events and problems. The nurse should remember that their self-esteem can be affected by situational factors, but it does not necessarily mean that their overall self-esteem has permanently decreased. It is important to work on building and maintaining self-esteem through positive self-talk and self-care practices. Focusing on errors that contributed to client death may be important for professional growth and development, but it should not be the main focus when it comes to self-esteem. Basic self-esteem is the minimal level of self-acceptance required for human survival and is typically stable, even during difficult times. Functional self-esteem, on the other hand, can be influenced by situational factors and may change throughout one's life.

Question 17

The nurse is conducting a thorough psychosocial assessment of a client who presents with complaints of fatigue, tearfulness and relationship difficulties. What action by the nurse would support accurate assessment?

Accepted Answer

Investigating the client's culture prior to the interview is essential to conducting a thorough and accurate psychosocial assessment. Understanding cultural differences and how they impact a client's perception of their symptoms and problems can help the nurse understand and interpret the client's responses more accurately. This can lead to a better treatment plan that is more tailored to the client's needs. Starting the interview with a series of yes/no questions (A) may limit the scope of the assessment, and taking detailed notes (C) is standard practice but does not necessarily support accuracy. Asking as many questions as possible (D) can be overwhelming for the client and may not allow for deeper exploration of specific issues.

Question 18

The nurse is teaching a new parents class about self-esteem development in infants. Which information should be included?

Accepted Answer

Responding to the baby's needs promptly and consistently is crucial to the development of self-esteem in infants. This helps the baby feel secure and valued, which lays the foundation for healthy self-esteem in the future. Using firm, loving discipline and keeping the baby on a strict feeding schedule are not relevant to self-esteem development in infants. Letting the baby cry for extended periods of time without intervention can actually have a negative impact on self-esteem development.

Question 19

Which statement, made by a new mother, would indicate to the nurse that there is potential for lowered self-esteem due to role ambiguity?

Accepted Answer

The statement "I don't know if I know how to be a mother" suggests that the new mother is struggling with role ambiguity and may experience lowered self-esteem as a result.

Question 20

The nurse and client had set the following expected outcome: "At the next clinic visit, the client will report participation in three activities to increase self-esteem". At today's visit, the client is unable to meet the stated outcome. What should be the nurse's next action?

Accepted Answer

The nurse should explore the possible reasons for not meeting the outcome before taking any further action. This will help the nurse understand why the client was unable to achieve the outcome and allow for any necessary revisions to the plan of care. Identifying new interventions, re-evaluating the accuracy of the outcome statement, and collaborating with the client to write a new expected outcome may be necessary actions, but they should be done after exploring the reasons for not meeting the outcome.

Quiz 40: Self-Concept