Psychosocial Emergencies Flashcards

A nurse is caring for a 10-year-old brought in after witnessing his sibling's drowning death. Which intervention BEST supports the child's immediate psychological needs?

Answer: Provide a calm presence, validate feelings, and allow the child to express emotions at his own pace

Providing a calm, validating presence and allowing the child to set the emotional pace supports healthy acute grief and reduces trauma responses.

An 8-year-old with selective mutism is brought to the ED for an unrelated injury. Which approach BEST facilitates communication during assessment?

Answer: Allow the child to communicate through writing, drawing, or pointing

Offering alternative communication methods such as writing, drawing, or pointing respects the child's condition and enables effective assessment.

A 15-year-old presents after being cyberbullied and expresses passive suicidal ideation ('I wish I were dead'). The nurse's PRIORITY action is:

Answer: Conduct a structured suicide risk assessment and determine safety plan needs

Any expression of suicidal ideation requires a structured risk assessment to determine intent, plan, means, and appropriate level of care.

Which of the following is a PROTECTIVE factor against suicide completion in adolescents?

Answer: Strong family connectedness and support

Strong family connectedness is one of the most robust protective factors against adolescent suicide, buffering the impact of stressors.

A 5-year-old is brought to the ED after disclosing abuse. The caregiver who may be the abuser is in the waiting room. According to mandated reporter obligations, the nurse should:

Answer: Immediately report suspicion of abuse to child protective services as required by law

Nurses are mandated reporters and are legally required to immediately report suspected child abuse to child protective services regardless of physician involvement.

A 12-year-old with generalized anxiety disorder presents to the ED with palpitations, shortness of breath, and trembling. After cardiac and respiratory causes are ruled out, the nurse explains that her symptoms are most likely caused by:

Answer: Physiological arousal from the anxiety response activating the sympathetic nervous system

Anxiety activates the sympathetic nervous system, producing somatic symptoms including palpitations, dyspnea, and trembling through the fight-or-flight response.

Which of the following is the MOST appropriate way to involve parents in the care of a suicidal adolescent in the ED?

Answer: Include parents in safety planning while balancing the adolescent's need for appropriate confidentiality

Collaborative safety planning that includes parents while respecting developmentally appropriate confidentiality improves adherence and outcomes.