Which nursing intervention best aligns with the transactional model of stress assessment?

• A. Administering sedatives to reduce anxiety
• B. Assessing how the patient appraises the stressor and their coping resources
• C. Providing only physical therapy
• D. Ignoring the patient's perceptions

Answer: (B)

The transactional model of stress focuses on how a person evaluates a potential stressor (appraisal) and what resources they have to cope with it. In practice, this means the nurse should explore the patient’s interpretation of the stressor and identify coping strategies and supports that can be mobilized. By assessing how the patient perceives the stressor and what coping resources they have, you can tailor interventions to modify their appraisal or bolster their resources, which is the heart of this model.

This is why assessing how the patient appraises the stressor and their coping resources is the best fit. It directly engages with the patient’s subjective experience and the dynamic interaction between person and environment that the transactional model emphasizes, guiding strategies that enhance coping and potentially reframe the stressor.

Sedatives focus on symptom relief rather than the appraisal-process or resource-building. Providing only physical therapy addresses physical aspects but not the cognitive appraisal or coping resources central to this model. Ignoring the patient’s perceptions neglects the core transactional element of how stress is experienced and managed.