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NCLEX · Crisis and Grief

During a community disaster with mass casualties, the mental health nurse is providing psychological first aid. What is the primary goal of psychological first aid?

Correct answer

Reduce initial distress, meet immediate needs, and foster adaptive coping and a sense of safety — psychological first aid is supportive, practical, and aims to stabilize, not to provide formal therapy or force people to process the trauma

  1. A Provide formal psychotherapy on-site
  2. B Reduce initial distress, meet immediate needs, and foster adaptive coping and a sense of safety — psychological first aid is supportive, practical, and aims to stabilize, not to provide formal therapy or force people to process the trauma
  3. C Diagnose mental health disorders
  4. D Identify who needs psychiatric hospitalization

Why this is the answer

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID (PFA): An evidence-informed approach for helping people in the immediate aftermath of disaster or trauma. PRIMARY GOALS: Reduce initial distress; meet immediate practical needs (safety, food, shelter, information); foster adaptive coping and resilience; connect people with support and resources; promote a sense of safety, calm, connectedness, self-efficacy, and hope; PFA PRINCIPLES: Provide comfort and practical support; do NOT force people to talk about or 'process' the event (premature debriefing can be harmful); listen if they want to share; respect culture and individual coping; protect from further harm; reunite with loved ones; provide accurate information; NOT PFA: Formal psychotherapy; mandatory critical incident debriefing (no longer recommended — can interfere with natural recovery); diagnosing; pathologizing normal stress reactions; TRIAGE: Identify those needing higher-level care while supporting the majority who will recover with basic support; nursing role: provide practical and emotional support, ensure safety and basic needs, foster coping, connect to resources, avoid forcing trauma processing.
Source: NCLEX-RN Psychosocial — Crisis, Psychological First Aid

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