Psychosocial IntegrityQuestion 1587 of 2368
A client laughs while describing a recent traumatic event. How should the nurse interpret this behavior?
- It shows the client is not being truthful
- It may be a response to trauma, and it does not mean the client is lying
- It shows the event was not distressing to the client
- It means the client should be asked to stop describing the event
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Correct answer: It may be a response to trauma, and it does not mean the client is lying
People respond to trauma in different ways, including responses that seem unfitting such as laughter, ambivalence or denial.
Source: Nursing Skills, 2nd edition (Open RN, Chippewa Valley Technical College, 2023), Health History: Violence and Trauma. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Practice the topic "Psychosocial Integrity"Questions last reviewed: 18 October 2026