Coping

Coping refers to the strategies a person uses to manage stress, and it can be adaptive (exercise, talking, problem-solving) or maladaptive (substance use, denial, withdrawal). The nurse’s role is to identify and reinforce the client’s existing healthy coping mechanisms rather than impose new ones, especially during a crisis when familiar strategies are most accessible. Recognizing maladaptive patterns early lets the nurse intervene and connect the client with appropriate support before coping fails.