A patient is irritable, restless and experiencing difficulty in breathing. The nurse immediately administers oxygen therapy. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, which level of need is being addressed by providing oxygen?

1. A

   Love and belongingness

2. B

   Safety and security

3. C

   Physiological needs

4. D

   Self-esteem

Appeared in: NORCET-11 Prelims

Explanation

• Physiological needs are the most basic and urgent in Maslow's hierarchy.
• Oxygen is a core physiological need essential for survival.
• Nursing interventions prioritize physiological needs first in emergencies.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Love and belongingness needs relate to relationships, affection, and social connections, not basic survival needs like oxygen.
• Option B: Safety and security needs involve protection from harm, stability, and security, not the immediate biological need for oxygen.
• Option D: Self-esteem needs involve respect, confidence, and recognition, which are higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Prioritize focused assessment, early escalation, and real-time monitoring when managing Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and prioritization of physiological needs in nursing care in acute care settings.
• Nurses must always prioritize physiological needs, such as airway and breathing, in emergency situations.
• Failure to address oxygen needs can lead to rapid deterioration and life-threatening complications.
• What if? If the patient had stable breathing but was anxious about safety, the nurse would address safety and security needs next.

How to Approach the Question

• Identify the clinical intervention (oxygen therapy) and its purpose.
• Recall Maslow's hierarchy and the order of needs.
• Match the intervention to the correct level (physiological needs).
• Eliminate distractors by considering what each level of need represents.
• Choose the option that directly addresses the most basic human requirement in the scenario.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and prioritization of physiological needs in nursing care
• Stem keywords: irritable, restless, difficulty in breathing, oxygen therapy, Maslow's Hierarchy
• Lead-in keywords: level of need, being addressed
• Clinical cues: difficulty in breathing indicates urgent physiological compromise

Question ID

QFnMO8XlTbDDjpzVVbrsbW

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Psychology Applied Sreevani 6e Sem1 p. 211-213