Which of the following best describes the nurse's role in addressing a patient's psychological needs during h… - RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -2nd)

RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -2nd)

Nursing Foundation

Medium

Appeared in: RRB Nsg. Superintendent-2026 (Shift -2nd)

Explanation

Hospitalization is a major life stressor that often triggers psychological responses like anxiety, fear, and depression.
Providing emotional support and active listening are core components of therapeutic communication, a fundamental nursing skill for addressing psychosocial needs.
Nurses spend the most time with patients, placing them in an ideal position to build rapport and facilitate the verbalization of feelings, which helps reduce tension and promote coping.
Addressing a patient's psychological state is essential for providing holistic care, which considers the patient as a whole person, not just a medical condition.

Option A: This is a pharmacological intervention. While some medications address psychological symptoms, the nurse's role is much broader than just administering them. It focuses on a task rather than the holistic process of support.
Option C: This is a routine physical assessment. Monitoring vital signs tracks physiological function (heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and does not directly address the patient's emotional or mental state.
Option D: This intervention addresses the patient's nutritional needs, which is a component of their physical health. It does not directly relate to their psychological or emotional well-being.

Visual 1: Infographic - A diagram showing a nurse engaged in active listening with a patient, with callouts for key techniques: maintaining eye contact, nodding, asking open-ended questions, and summarizing the patient's feelings.
Visual 2: Flowchart - The process of providing psychological support: Assess (observe for anxiety/fear) -> Engage (build rapport) -> Listen (active listening) -> Validate (acknowledge feelings) -> Support (offer coping strategies/reassurance).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Nurse's role in providing psychosocial care during hospitalization to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
Effective psychological support improves patient satisfaction, reduces anxiety, and can lead to better adherence to medical treatment and faster recovery.
Nurses are uniquely positioned to provide this support as they spend the most time with patients and can build a therapeutic relationship, which is a cornerstone of effective care.
Failure to address psychological needs can lead to increased patient distress, non-compliance, and a prolonged hospital stay.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question stem, which is 'psychological needs'.
Next, analyze each option to determine which domain of nursing care it addresses: psychological, physiological, pharmacological, or nutritional.
Evaluate the options: Administering medications (pharmacological), monitoring vitals (physiological), and ensuring dietary restrictions (nutritional) are all primarily focused on the patient's physical health.
Recognize that 'providing emotional support and active listening' is the only option that directly targets the patient's mental and emotional state.
Select this option as it is the best description of a psychological intervention among the choices.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Nurse's role in providing psychosocial care during hospitalization.
Stem keywords: nurse's role, psychological needs, hospitalization
Lead-in keywords: best describes
Negative lead-in flag: false

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