Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

Why is nursing care for clients with dual disorders often challenging?

1. Rarely requires medication

2. Frequent relapses

3. Clients often refuse treatment

4. Simple symptom management

The correct answer is: Frequent relapses

Nursing care for clients with dual disorders is particularly challenging due to the frequent relapses that these individuals experience. Dual disorders refer to the coexistence of a mental health issue and a substance use disorder, complicating the treatment process. Patients may struggle to maintain stability because the interplay between their mental health and substance use can destabilize their recovery efforts. Relapses can occur for a variety of reasons, including high levels of stress, environmental triggers, or insufficient coping mechanisms, which may stem from either disorder. Nurses must navigate these complexities and adjust care plans dynamically to address both conditions effectively. This requires substantial ongoing assessment, intervention strategies, and support, making it fundamentally more complex than managing either condition in isolation. The other options do not capture the multifaceted nature of the challenges in nursing care for clients with dual disorders. These individuals often require comprehensive, integrated care approaches, which makes the ongoing management of their conditions a significant aspect of nursing responsibility.