UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022 (Shift-2)
Community Health Nursing
Medium
At a disaster site, which is the most appropriate basic action by a nurse to approach distressed victims?
Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022 (Shift-2)
Explanation
- The initial approach to a distressed victim in a disaster is guided by the principles of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
- The first step in PFA is 'Contact and Engagement,' which involves establishing a humane, compassionate, and non-intrusive connection.
- Providing basic empathy and respecting the victim's dignity creates a sense of emotional safety, which is essential before any other intervention can be effective.
- This action acknowledges the person's experience, reduces feelings of isolation, and builds the trust needed for the nurse to provide further help.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Assessing mental status is a formal clinical evaluation. It is a necessary component of care but not the first action when approaching a victim. An initial approach focused on assessment can feel intrusive and clinical, hindering the establishment of trust.
- Option B: Providing antidepressants is a pharmacological intervention that is outside the scope of immediate nursing actions in a disaster. It requires a medical diagnosis and prescription and is used for persistent psychiatric conditions, not acute distress.
- Option C: Removing physical hazards is a critical component of ensuring scene safety for both the rescuer and the victim. However, this action precedes the direct interpersonal approach to the victim. The question asks for the action used to approach the victim, not to secure the environment.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Knowing Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Disaster Nursing helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
- Psychological First Aid is a fundamental skill for nurses in all settings, not just large-scale disasters. It is applicable in emergency departments, clinics, and hospital wards when dealing with any patient or family member experiencing acute distress.
- The ability to establish a rapid, empathetic connection is the foundation of therapeutic communication and is critical for patient compliance and positive outcomes.
- What if? If the distressed victim was also physically injured and bleeding profusely, the nurse's priority would shift to the ABCs (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) of physical first aid. The nurse would simultaneously provide verbal reassurance (empathy) while controlling the bleeding, blending PFA with life-saving physical care.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the 'most appropriate basic action' when 'approaching' a victim. This signals a question about priorities and the initial step in an interaction.
- Analyze the context: a 'disaster site' with 'distressed victims'. This points towards crisis intervention and psychological support.
- Evaluate the options based on the nursing process and crisis intervention principles. The first step is always to establish a safe and therapeutic relationship.
- Option D (empathy and dignity) focuses on establishing that initial human connection and safety, which is the foundation of Psychological First Aid (PFA).
- Options A (assessment), B (medication), and C (hazard removal) are all important actions in disaster response, but they represent different stages. Hazard removal comes before approach, and formal assessment and medication come after initial contact and stabilization.
- Therefore, the most fundamental and initial interpersonal action is to provide empathy and dignity.
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Disaster Nursing
- Stem keywords: disaster site, distressed victims, basic action, nurse
- Lead-in keywords: most appropriate
Question ID
QGpQW6lPJnpzjUab-VOBRF
Reference Book
E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) pp. 8634-8636, 8631-8633
E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart A (pp 26-327 of 982) p. 195-197
Practise the full UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022 (Shift-2)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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