While assessing a client’s ability to cope after being diagnosed with

While assessing a client’s ability to cope after being diagnosed with a chronic illness, the client admits to an increase in drinking and smoking. The nurse recognizes the client is utilizing which type of coping strategy?

1. Short term
2. Long term
3. Adaptive
4. Effective

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: Short-term coping strategies can reduce stress to a tolerable limit temporarily, but are ineffective ways to deal with reality permanently. They can even have a destructive or detrimental effect on the person. An example of short-term strategies is using alcoholic beverages or drugs.
Rationale 2: Long-term coping strategies can be constructive and practical, and include talking with others, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, balancing leisure time with working, and using problem solving in decision making instead of anger or other nonconstructive responses.
Rationale 3: Adaptive coping helps the person to deal effectively with stressful events and minimizes the distress associated with them.
Rationale 4: Effective coping results in adaptation.