Psychotic Disorders no. 4020

Psychotic Disorders no. 4020

QUESTION: A client with borderline personality disorder becomes angry when he is told that today's psychotherapy session with the nurse will be delayed 30 minutes because of an emergency. When the session finally begins, the client expresses anger. Which response by the nurse would be most helpful in dealing with the client's anger?

✘O a.) "If it had been your emergency, I would have made the other client wait."
✘O b.) "I know it's frustrating to wait. I'm sorry this happened."
✓O c.) "You had to wait. Can we talk about how this is making you feel right now?"
✘O d.) "I really care about you and I'll never let this happen again."

RATIONALE

RATIONALE: This response may diffuse the client's anger by helping to maintain a therapeutic relationship and addressing the client's feelings. Option 1 wouldn't address the client's anger. Option 2 is incorrect because the client with a borderline personality disorder blames others for things that happen, so apologizing reinforces the client's misconceptions. The nurse can't promise that a delay will never occur again, as in option 4, because such matters are outside the nurse's control.
NURSING PROCESS STEP: Implementation
CLIENT NEEDS CATEGORY: Psychosocial integrity
CLIENT NEEDS SUBCATEGORY: None
COGNITIVE LEVEL: Application