,Violence and Trauma
1. For a victim of spousal abuse, a deterrent to leaving the abusive situation is the
events that occur in which stage?
a.Tension-building
b.Honeymoon
c.Processing
d.Battering
ANS: B
2. A disabled father drinks heavily most days and then abuses the mother of two school-
age children. The children's teacher reports they are withdrawn with classmates. Which
nursing diagnosis applies to this family?
a.Readiness for enhanced family coping
b.Hopelessness, related to chronic depression
c.Dysfunctional family coping, related to abusive patterns
d.Interrupted family processes, related to changes in family roles
ANS: C
3. A woman who has been repeatedly abused by her partner comes to the emergency
department with severe contusions. She tells the nurse, "He almost killed me this time. I
guess I should do something." What is the nurse's priority intervention?
a.Document the woman's injuries.
b.Help the patient devise a safety or escape plan.
c.Encourage the patient to take independent action.
d.Provide referrals contingent on the patient leaving the abuser.
ANS: B
4. Which intervention would be most therapeutic as a nurse cares for a victim of partner
abuse?
a. Validate the truthfulness of the victim's comments.
b. Avoid pressuring the victim or disparaging the abuser.
c.Acknowledge the victim's inability to change the situation.
d.Encourage the partner to stay with the victim during an interview.
ANS: B
,5. A survivor of childhood abuse is hospitalized following an episode of wrist cutting. The
patient has a history of binge-purge eating disorder as well as difficulty trusting and
relating to others. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
a.Set limits on self-harmful behavior.
b.Foster belief in and valuing of family unity.
c.Confront abnormal eating patterns and self-mutilation.
d.Encourage discussion of personal responsibilities associated with abuse.
ANS: A
6. A woman comes to the clinic with neck pain. There's a bald spot on her scalp. She
explains that she caught her hair in a door, which pulled it out and caused her neck
injury. The partner wants to stay with the injured woman. What is the nurse's best
action?
a.Encourage the partner to remain with the woman to provide emotional support.
b.Require the partner to stay the waiting room when the woman is examined.
c.Call hospital security to have them stand by to prevent violence.
d.Report the situation to local law enforcement authorities.
ANS: B
7. Choose the initial desired outcome for a person who was a victim of mind control and
torture. The person will:
a.make independent decisions for self.
b.repress emotions experienced during event.
c.reestablish relationships with support persons.
d.use desensitization strategies to restore equilibrium.
ANS: C
8. A male victim of gang rape comes to the emergency department. The victim is
severely anxious, but the nurse will not be able to care for the patient for at least 20
minutes based on the current patient load. Select the nurse's best action.
a.Assign a female nursing assistant to remain with the patient in a private cubicle.
b.Assign a male nursing assistant to help the patient undress in a private cubicle.
c.Direct hospital security personnel to monitor the patient in the waiting room.
d.Notify law enforcement authorities immediately.
ANS: A
, 9. The nurse cares for a victim of a violent assault and battery. What is the most
therapeutic intervention?
a. Discourage expression of feelings until the victim enters the recoil stage.
b.Use accepting, nurturing, and empathetic communication techniques.
c.Educate the victim about strategies to avoid attacks in the future.
d.Maintain a matter-of-fact manner and remain objective.
ANS: B
10. A nurse caring for victims of violence plans care based on an understanding that
after the initial impact, most victims begin to react emotionally to effects of the trauma.
This second stage of recovery is known as:
a.disorganization.
b.reorganization.
c.retribution.
d.recoil.
ANS: D
11. Which comment by the nurse would best support relationship building with a victim
of partner abuse?
a. "You are feeling violated because you thought you could trust your partner."
b. "I'm here for you. I want you to tell me about the bad things that happened to you."
c. "I was very worried about you. I knew you were living in a potentially violent situation."
d. "Abusers often target people who are passive. I will refer you to an assertiveness
class."
ANS: A
12. In preparing a care plan for an abuse victim, it is most important to include a long-
term outcome that addresses the need to:
a.move the individual from victim to survivor status.
b. provide support groups for long-term assistance.
c.use empathy to establish rapport and build trust.
d.shift blame for the incident from patient to perpetrator.
ANS: A
1. For a victim of spousal abuse, a deterrent to leaving the abusive situation is the
events that occur in which stage?
a.Tension-building
b.Honeymoon
c.Processing
d.Battering
ANS: B
2. A disabled father drinks heavily most days and then abuses the mother of two school-
age children. The children's teacher reports they are withdrawn with classmates. Which
nursing diagnosis applies to this family?
a.Readiness for enhanced family coping
b.Hopelessness, related to chronic depression
c.Dysfunctional family coping, related to abusive patterns
d.Interrupted family processes, related to changes in family roles
ANS: C
3. A woman who has been repeatedly abused by her partner comes to the emergency
department with severe contusions. She tells the nurse, "He almost killed me this time. I
guess I should do something." What is the nurse's priority intervention?
a.Document the woman's injuries.
b.Help the patient devise a safety or escape plan.
c.Encourage the patient to take independent action.
d.Provide referrals contingent on the patient leaving the abuser.
ANS: B
4. Which intervention would be most therapeutic as a nurse cares for a victim of partner
abuse?
a. Validate the truthfulness of the victim's comments.
b. Avoid pressuring the victim or disparaging the abuser.
c.Acknowledge the victim's inability to change the situation.
d.Encourage the partner to stay with the victim during an interview.
ANS: B
,5. A survivor of childhood abuse is hospitalized following an episode of wrist cutting. The
patient has a history of binge-purge eating disorder as well as difficulty trusting and
relating to others. What is the nurse's priority intervention?
a.Set limits on self-harmful behavior.
b.Foster belief in and valuing of family unity.
c.Confront abnormal eating patterns and self-mutilation.
d.Encourage discussion of personal responsibilities associated with abuse.
ANS: A
6. A woman comes to the clinic with neck pain. There's a bald spot on her scalp. She
explains that she caught her hair in a door, which pulled it out and caused her neck
injury. The partner wants to stay with the injured woman. What is the nurse's best
action?
a.Encourage the partner to remain with the woman to provide emotional support.
b.Require the partner to stay the waiting room when the woman is examined.
c.Call hospital security to have them stand by to prevent violence.
d.Report the situation to local law enforcement authorities.
ANS: B
7. Choose the initial desired outcome for a person who was a victim of mind control and
torture. The person will:
a.make independent decisions for self.
b.repress emotions experienced during event.
c.reestablish relationships with support persons.
d.use desensitization strategies to restore equilibrium.
ANS: C
8. A male victim of gang rape comes to the emergency department. The victim is
severely anxious, but the nurse will not be able to care for the patient for at least 20
minutes based on the current patient load. Select the nurse's best action.
a.Assign a female nursing assistant to remain with the patient in a private cubicle.
b.Assign a male nursing assistant to help the patient undress in a private cubicle.
c.Direct hospital security personnel to monitor the patient in the waiting room.
d.Notify law enforcement authorities immediately.
ANS: A
, 9. The nurse cares for a victim of a violent assault and battery. What is the most
therapeutic intervention?
a. Discourage expression of feelings until the victim enters the recoil stage.
b.Use accepting, nurturing, and empathetic communication techniques.
c.Educate the victim about strategies to avoid attacks in the future.
d.Maintain a matter-of-fact manner and remain objective.
ANS: B
10. A nurse caring for victims of violence plans care based on an understanding that
after the initial impact, most victims begin to react emotionally to effects of the trauma.
This second stage of recovery is known as:
a.disorganization.
b.reorganization.
c.retribution.
d.recoil.
ANS: D
11. Which comment by the nurse would best support relationship building with a victim
of partner abuse?
a. "You are feeling violated because you thought you could trust your partner."
b. "I'm here for you. I want you to tell me about the bad things that happened to you."
c. "I was very worried about you. I knew you were living in a potentially violent situation."
d. "Abusers often target people who are passive. I will refer you to an assertiveness
class."
ANS: A
12. In preparing a care plan for an abuse victim, it is most important to include a long-
term outcome that addresses the need to:
a.move the individual from victim to survivor status.
b. provide support groups for long-term assistance.
c.use empathy to establish rapport and build trust.
d.shift blame for the incident from patient to perpetrator.
ANS: A
