Crisis Intervention Sherpath Lesson
Questions and Answers
Place the descriptions of the phases of crisis development in order:
1. Suicidal behavior or violence can result
2. Panic-level anxiety develops
3. Individual is introduced to stressful situation
4. The individuals anxiety level increases
3. Introduced to stressful situation
4. Anxiety level increases
2. Panic-level anxiety develops
1. Suicidal behavior or violence can result
A nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the emergency department after a sexual assault. Which is
important for the nurse to remember when caring for this patient?
A. The patient has experienced a situational crisis.
B. The patient will require antianxiety medication.
C. The patient has experienced a maturational crisis.
D. The patient has experienced an adventitious crisis.
Which is an example of a situational crisis?
A. A young woman loses her home as the result of a divorce.
B. An older adult male is a victim of a robbery at the grocery store.
C. A pre-teen has trouble coping with the new challenges of middle school.
D. A woman loses her hearing as a result of an explosion caused by a terrorist.
A. A young woman loses her home as the result of a divorce.
Situational crises involve life events such as divorce, death of a loved one, and loss of a job.
Which question should the nurse ask to assess situational supports for a patient experiencing a crisis
event?
A. "Do you have thoughts of harming yourself?"
B. Do you typically drink alcohol to calm your nerves?"
C. "How would you rate your anxiety on a scale of 1-10?"
D. "Are there family members available to help you at this time?"
D. "Are there family members available to help you at this time?
Determining family support is an important part of assessing situational supports available to the
patient.
A patient is faced with an unexpected event and has begun to experience severe anxiety with
disorganization and suicidal ideation. The nurse understands the patient is in which crisis phase?
A. Phase 1
B. Phase 2
C. Phase 3
D. Phase 4
D. Phase 4
A patient in phase 4 would have extreme anxiety and might demonstrate disorganization and suicidal
ideation.
, A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing a situational crisis. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Assess current coping strategies.
B. Plan outcome goals with the patient.
C. Conduct an assessment of suicidal ideation.
D. Determine the patient's current support system.
C. Conduct an assessment of suicidal ideation.
The priority action is to assess the patient for risk to self or others, which may be expressed as suicidal
ideation.
The nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient who is a survivor of an office fire. The patient has been
physically stabilized but is experiencing symptoms of anxiety. Which would be the best intervention
for this patient?
A. Teaching fire prevention strategies
B. Conducting an office safety workshop
C. Assessing the patient's safety systems
D. Arranging for the patient to go to outpatient therapy
C. Assessing the patient's safety systems
Assessing whether the patient's anxiety level is lessened within a safe and secure environment is the
nurse's major focus in secondary care. Then, the nurse can collaborate with the patient to determine
the availability of a support system and identify the patient's coping styles
The nurse is assessing a patient who was a victim of an earthquake. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. The patient states he no longer has a home
B. Patient is experiencing symptoms of panic-level anxiety
C. The patient has been seen by the triage nurse and has a covered wound on his forearm
D. The patient states he has been unable to locate any of his family members since the event
B. Patient is experiencing symptoms of panic-level anxiety
The priorities of secondary care are maintaining patient safety and assessing the patient's coping
styles.
A nurse is planning care for a group of survivors of a terrorist attack. Which activity would best aid in
the recovery process?
A. Teach stress management techniques
B. Educate the group on future disaster preparedness
C. Encourage use of antianxiety medication as needed
D. Perform a walkthrough of the site of the attack with the group
A. Teach stress management techniques.
Adequate stress management would aid in the healing process after a terrorist attack.
A nurse who is part of a mobile disaster unit is assisting in the care of a community after an
earthquake and is assigned the duty of triage. Which describes a duty of a triage nurse?
A. Educates patients about anxiety
B. Counsels patient regarding follow up visits
Questions and Answers
Place the descriptions of the phases of crisis development in order:
1. Suicidal behavior or violence can result
2. Panic-level anxiety develops
3. Individual is introduced to stressful situation
4. The individuals anxiety level increases
3. Introduced to stressful situation
4. Anxiety level increases
2. Panic-level anxiety develops
1. Suicidal behavior or violence can result
A nurse is caring for a patient admitted to the emergency department after a sexual assault. Which is
important for the nurse to remember when caring for this patient?
A. The patient has experienced a situational crisis.
B. The patient will require antianxiety medication.
C. The patient has experienced a maturational crisis.
D. The patient has experienced an adventitious crisis.
Which is an example of a situational crisis?
A. A young woman loses her home as the result of a divorce.
B. An older adult male is a victim of a robbery at the grocery store.
C. A pre-teen has trouble coping with the new challenges of middle school.
D. A woman loses her hearing as a result of an explosion caused by a terrorist.
A. A young woman loses her home as the result of a divorce.
Situational crises involve life events such as divorce, death of a loved one, and loss of a job.
Which question should the nurse ask to assess situational supports for a patient experiencing a crisis
event?
A. "Do you have thoughts of harming yourself?"
B. Do you typically drink alcohol to calm your nerves?"
C. "How would you rate your anxiety on a scale of 1-10?"
D. "Are there family members available to help you at this time?"
D. "Are there family members available to help you at this time?
Determining family support is an important part of assessing situational supports available to the
patient.
A patient is faced with an unexpected event and has begun to experience severe anxiety with
disorganization and suicidal ideation. The nurse understands the patient is in which crisis phase?
A. Phase 1
B. Phase 2
C. Phase 3
D. Phase 4
D. Phase 4
A patient in phase 4 would have extreme anxiety and might demonstrate disorganization and suicidal
ideation.
, A nurse is caring for a patient experiencing a situational crisis. What is the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Assess current coping strategies.
B. Plan outcome goals with the patient.
C. Conduct an assessment of suicidal ideation.
D. Determine the patient's current support system.
C. Conduct an assessment of suicidal ideation.
The priority action is to assess the patient for risk to self or others, which may be expressed as suicidal
ideation.
The nurse is caring for a hospitalized patient who is a survivor of an office fire. The patient has been
physically stabilized but is experiencing symptoms of anxiety. Which would be the best intervention
for this patient?
A. Teaching fire prevention strategies
B. Conducting an office safety workshop
C. Assessing the patient's safety systems
D. Arranging for the patient to go to outpatient therapy
C. Assessing the patient's safety systems
Assessing whether the patient's anxiety level is lessened within a safe and secure environment is the
nurse's major focus in secondary care. Then, the nurse can collaborate with the patient to determine
the availability of a support system and identify the patient's coping styles
The nurse is assessing a patient who was a victim of an earthquake. Which assessment finding
requires immediate intervention by the nurse?
A. The patient states he no longer has a home
B. Patient is experiencing symptoms of panic-level anxiety
C. The patient has been seen by the triage nurse and has a covered wound on his forearm
D. The patient states he has been unable to locate any of his family members since the event
B. Patient is experiencing symptoms of panic-level anxiety
The priorities of secondary care are maintaining patient safety and assessing the patient's coping
styles.
A nurse is planning care for a group of survivors of a terrorist attack. Which activity would best aid in
the recovery process?
A. Teach stress management techniques
B. Educate the group on future disaster preparedness
C. Encourage use of antianxiety medication as needed
D. Perform a walkthrough of the site of the attack with the group
A. Teach stress management techniques.
Adequate stress management would aid in the healing process after a terrorist attack.
A nurse who is part of a mobile disaster unit is assisting in the care of a community after an
earthquake and is assigned the duty of triage. Which describes a duty of a triage nurse?
A. Educates patients about anxiety
B. Counsels patient regarding follow up visits
