The nurse is working in a drug rehabilitation clinic and is in the process of admitting a patient for “detox.” What sho

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The nurse is working in a drug rehabilitation clinic and is in the process of admitting a patient for
“detox.” What should the nurse do next?

a. Identify the patient’s stage of change.
b. Realize that the patient is ready to change.
c. Teach the patient that choices will have to change.
d. Instruct the patient that relapses will not be tolerated.
ANS: A
The nurse should identify the stage of change and assess where the patient is currently in this
situation. To be most effective, nursing interventions should match the stage of change. The nurse
cannot realize the patient is ready for change because only a minority of people are actually in the
action stage of changing. While teaching that choices will have to change, it will follow later after the
nurse has determined which stage the person is in. As individuals attempt a change in behavior,
relapse followed by recycling through the stages occurs frequently.