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Chapter 21 What Would You Do?

You are the RN working with twenty-four-year-old Carey, who is diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder. Carey has withdrawn from college courses due to inability to drive to school and stay seated through class because of back pain. You evaluate Carey’s medical record, which contains diagnostic imaging, vital signs, and blood work, all with normal results. You find no medical history of injury. Carey’s self-report: “I have something wrong with my back. The doctors can’t figure out what is wrong with me.” Carey sits slumped in the chair with downcast gaze and states, “Only my mom understands me. She takes care of me.”

1. How will you show nursing sensitivity to the client’s report?
2. From where should you be gathering your information for a full and accurate assessment of this client and what information might you obtain?
3. Which assessment questions would be important to ask Carey in gathering information for a full and accurate assessment?
4. What are some signs and symptoms that might suggest the presence of SSD in this client?
5. What are some potentially helpful interventions for this client?

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Mental Health for Undergraduate Nursing Copyright © 2025 by Russelyn Connor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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