Question about Kaplan decision tree.

[south102001]

I'm studying for my nclex and attempting to use the decision tree. My question is I'm having problems when I get to the Maslow's part of picking between physical and psychosocial. Does anyone have any good ideas on deciding what is physical and what is psychosocial. All help is appreciated.

[RedhairedNurse, BSN, RN]

I don't really understand your question. Can you be more specific? Physiological complications usually always come before psychosocial.

[ivyBSN-RN27]

yeah physiological first before psychosocial

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

moved to the NCLEX forum

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

I know one thing. Pain according to Kaplan is psychosocial and not physical.

[caliotter3]

Most anything that refers to an alteration of functioning in a body system is going to be physiological. When they are talking about thoughts, feelings, emotions, interpersonal relationships, or family dynamics, it will be psychosocial. And, as previously stated, physiological problems need intervention before worrying about thoughts or feelings.

[south102001]

Ok here is a better explanation.

In kaplan decision tree. without being to specific. sorry hope this is allowed.

step 1: topic

step 2: A or I

step 3 Physical or psychosocial

So my question is what is the best definition for each. What things are physical and what things are psycho social.

Ok here is an example question

The nurse is caringn for a client who had a cholecystectomy. Which of the following observations is most important for nurse to report in shift reports.

1. resting after receiving IM pain med

2. No bowel sounds present

3. IV infusing at 100 cc

4. Breath sounds decreased in both lower lobes.

The answer is # 4

1 is psychosocial

2 is physical

3 is physical

4 is physical

basically my problem is I'm not able to determine which ones are which, so I can narrow it down using the system.

thanks for any help

[south102001]

Am I looking at it wrong. Should I be thinking Physiological and psychosocial

instead of physical and psychosocial.

Thanks for everyone who has responded and for those who do in the future.

[Shinelite]

Hi , I just finished reviewing for the NCLEX with Kaplan, so I am going to attempt to explain the Maslow system. The psychosocial answers are those that respond to the way a person feels or their thought process. An example would describe someone's anxiety level or state of mania. Those that are physical correlate with the pathophysiology of the body and its systems for example bleeding, signs of infection. Review the first level of Maslow's hierachy and you will get a good sense of the basic needs that must be met for a person first.

[Shinelite]

There are actually a few more steps to answer this question. You did the first part correct by deciding which answers are psychosocial and eliminate that one. The next step is to look at the remaining answers and determine which one can be eliminated and that would be #3 it has no relevance because we are looking for the MOST important. Out of the remaining two answers which is Most Important which means now you apply the ABC rule and you will come up with the correct answer of #4. When using Maslow sometimes you have to apply the ABC rule to validate the question.