Editing Mental Health and Psychosocial Nursing – LPN Flashcards (section)

== Coping, Grief, and Development ==

;What is a defense mechanism, and name four common ones
:An unconscious way of reducing anxiety. Denial (refusing a painful reality), regression (returning to earlier behavior, such as a toilet-trained child wetting the bed during hospitalization), projection (attributing one's own feelings to someone else), and displacement (shifting anger to a safer target).

;What is a crisis, and how long does it usually last?
:A crisis occurs when a person's usual coping fails against a perceived threat. It is time-limited, generally resolving within about 4 to 6 weeks, and help focuses on the immediate problem and practical short-term steps.

;What should the nurse avoid saying to a grieving client?
:Clichés such as "at least he is no longer suffering," "everything happens for a reason," and "I know exactly how you feel." Instead, be present, use silence, use the deceased person's name, and allow the full range of feelings including anger and relief.

;How do children commonly show emotional distress?
:Through the body and behavior rather than words: stomachaches, headaches, sleep problems, school refusal, irritability, clinginess, and regression such as bedwetting or thumb sucking. Play and drawing help them express feelings.

;What should the LPN watch for in an older adult who has recently moved into long-term care?
:Relocation stress syndrome: withdrawal, sadness, confusion, sleep disturbance, and poor appetite. Provide familiar personal items, a consistent routine, choices where possible, frequent orientation, and report significant changes to the registered nurse.

;Why is it important to screen older adults for depression?
:Depression in older adults often looks like physical complaints, irritability, or memory problems rather than reported sadness, and older adults have high rates of completed suicide. Report any statement about wanting to die, however casual it sounds.

[[Category:Mental Health and Psychosocial Nursing]]
[[Category:Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN)]]
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