NUR 405 Exam 1 UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and CORRECT
Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing ANS: D
occasional feelings of sadness because of the recent The nurse should assess that the client's daily functioning is not impaired. The
death of a beloved pet. The client's appetite, sleep client who experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding
patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How within normal expectations. Without significant impairment, the client's distress
should the nurse interpret the client's behaviors? does not indicate a mental illness.
A. The client's behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the
form of depression.
B. The client's behaviors are extensive, which indicates the
presence of mental illness.
C. The client's behaviors are not congruent with cultural
norms.
D. The client's behaviors demonstrate no functional
impairment, indicating no mental illness.
2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client ANS: B
is at risk for developing a mental disorder? The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental disorder when
A. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The
reflective of the DSM-5 criteria DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a mental disorder, there must
B. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled be significant disturbance in cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior that
with interference in daily functioning reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological or developmental
C. When the client communicates significant distress processes underlying mental functioning. These disorders are usually associated
D. When the client uses defense mechanisms as ego with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important
protection activities. The client's ability to communicate distress would be considered a
positive attribute
3. A nurse is assessing 15-year-old identical twins who ANS: A
respond very differently to stress. One twin becomes Responses to stress are variable among individuals and may be influenced by
anxious and irritable, while the other withdraws and cries. perception, past experience, and environmental factors in addition to genetic
How should the nurse explain these different responses factors.
to stress to the parents?
A. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute;
individual responses to stress vary.
B. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to
similar stressors.
C. Identical twins should share the same temperament
and respond similarly to stress.
D. Environmental influences weigh more heavily than
genetic influences on reactions to stress.
4. A client has a history of excessive drinking, which has ANS: B
led to multiple arrests for driving under the influence The nurse should recognize that the client is using rationalization, a common
(DUI). The client states, "I work hard to provide for my defense mechanism. The client is attempting to make excuses and create logical
family. I don't see why I can't drink to relax." The nurse reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors.
recognizes the use of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Sublimation
,5. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most ANS: A
receptive to psychiatric treatment? The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place a high
A. A Jewish, female journalist importance on preventative health care and would consider mental health as
B. A Baptist, homeless male equally important as physical health. Women are also more likely than men to
C. A Catholic, black male seek treatment for mental health problems.
D. A Protestant, Swedish business executive
6. A new psychiatric nurse states, "This client's use of ANS: A
defense mechanisms should be eliminated." Which is a The nurse should know that defense mechanisms serve the purpose of reducing
correct evaluation of this nurse's statement? anxiety during times of stress. A client with no defense mechanisms may have a
A. Defense mechanisms can be self-protective responses lower tolerance for stress, predisposing him or her to anxiety disorders. Defense
to stress and need not be eliminated. mechanisms should be confronted when they impede the client from developing
B. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the healthy coping skills.
ego to manage anxiety and should always be eliminated.
C. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak
ego integrity, should be discouraged and not eliminated.
D. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego
and should be fostered and encouraged.
, 7. During an intake assessment, a nurse asks both ANS: C
physiological and psychosocial questions. The client The nurse should attempt to educate the client on the negative effects of
angrily responds, "I'm here for my heart, not my head excessive stress on medical conditions. It is not appropriate to skip either
problems." Which is the nurse's best response? physiological or psychosocial questions, as this would lead to an inaccurate
A. "It's just a routine part of our assessment. All clients are assessment.
asked these same questions."
B. "Why are you concerned about these types of
questions?"
C. "Psychological factors, like excessive stress, have been
found to affect medical conditions."
D. "We can skip these questions, if you like. It isn't
imperative that we complete this section."
8. Which statement reflects a student nurse's accurate ANS: B
understanding of the concepts of mental health and The student nurse should understand that mental health and mental illness are
mental illness? multidimensional and culturally defined. It is important for nurses to be aware of
A. "The concepts are rigid and religiously based." cultural norms when evaluating a client's mental state.
B. "The concepts are multidimensional and culturally
defined."
C. "The concepts are universal and unchanging."
D. "The concepts are unidimensional and fixed."
9. A mental health technician asks the nurse, "How do ANS: A
psychiatrists determine which diagnosis to give a The DSM-5 is an organized manual describing mental disorders and the criteria
patient?" Which of these responses by the nurse would that determine whether a given diagnosis is appropriate. It is published by the
be most accurate? American Psychiatric Association (APA). It intends to facilitate accurate and
A. Psychiatrists use pre-established criteria from the reliable medical diagnosis and treatment. Item C describes nursing rather than
APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental medical diagnosis.
Disorders (DSM-5).
B. Hospital policy dictates how psychiatrists diagnose
mental disorders.
C. Psychiatrists assess the patient and identify diagnoses
based on the patient's unhealthy responses and
contributing factors.
D. The American Medical Association identifies 10
diagnostic labels that psychiatrists can choose from.
10. The nurse is preparing to provide medication ANS: B
instruction for a patient. Which of the following Mild anxiety sharpens the senses, increases the perceptual field, and results in
understandings about anxiety will be essential to heightened awareness of the environment. Learning is enhanced. As anxiety
effective instruction? increases, attention span decreases and learning becomes more difficult.
A. Learning is best when anxiety is moderate to severe.
B. Learning is enhanced when anxiety is mild.
C. Panic level anxiety helps the nurse teach better.
D. Severe anxiety is characterized by intense
concentration and enhances the attention span.
11. Which of the following are identified as psychoneurotic ANS: A
responses to severe anxiety as they appear in the DSM- Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by preoccupation with physical
5? symptoms for which there is no demonstrable organic pathology. One of the
A. Somatic symptom disorders diagnostic criteria is a high level of anxiety about health concerns or illness.
B. Grief responses
C. Psychosis
D. Bipolar disorder
Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing ANS: D
occasional feelings of sadness because of the recent The nurse should assess that the client's daily functioning is not impaired. The
death of a beloved pet. The client's appetite, sleep client who experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding
patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How within normal expectations. Without significant impairment, the client's distress
should the nurse interpret the client's behaviors? does not indicate a mental illness.
A. The client's behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the
form of depression.
B. The client's behaviors are extensive, which indicates the
presence of mental illness.
C. The client's behaviors are not congruent with cultural
norms.
D. The client's behaviors demonstrate no functional
impairment, indicating no mental illness.
2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client ANS: B
is at risk for developing a mental disorder? The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental disorder when
A. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The
reflective of the DSM-5 criteria DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a mental disorder, there must
B. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled be significant disturbance in cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior that
with interference in daily functioning reflects a dysfunction in the psychological, biological or developmental
C. When the client communicates significant distress processes underlying mental functioning. These disorders are usually associated
D. When the client uses defense mechanisms as ego with significant distress or disability in social, occupational, or other important
protection activities. The client's ability to communicate distress would be considered a
positive attribute
3. A nurse is assessing 15-year-old identical twins who ANS: A
respond very differently to stress. One twin becomes Responses to stress are variable among individuals and may be influenced by
anxious and irritable, while the other withdraws and cries. perception, past experience, and environmental factors in addition to genetic
How should the nurse explain these different responses factors.
to stress to the parents?
A. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute;
individual responses to stress vary.
B. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to
similar stressors.
C. Identical twins should share the same temperament
and respond similarly to stress.
D. Environmental influences weigh more heavily than
genetic influences on reactions to stress.
4. A client has a history of excessive drinking, which has ANS: B
led to multiple arrests for driving under the influence The nurse should recognize that the client is using rationalization, a common
(DUI). The client states, "I work hard to provide for my defense mechanism. The client is attempting to make excuses and create logical
family. I don't see why I can't drink to relax." The nurse reasons to justify unacceptable feelings or behaviors.
recognizes the use of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Sublimation
,5. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most ANS: A
receptive to psychiatric treatment? The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place a high
A. A Jewish, female journalist importance on preventative health care and would consider mental health as
B. A Baptist, homeless male equally important as physical health. Women are also more likely than men to
C. A Catholic, black male seek treatment for mental health problems.
D. A Protestant, Swedish business executive
6. A new psychiatric nurse states, "This client's use of ANS: A
defense mechanisms should be eliminated." Which is a The nurse should know that defense mechanisms serve the purpose of reducing
correct evaluation of this nurse's statement? anxiety during times of stress. A client with no defense mechanisms may have a
A. Defense mechanisms can be self-protective responses lower tolerance for stress, predisposing him or her to anxiety disorders. Defense
to stress and need not be eliminated. mechanisms should be confronted when they impede the client from developing
B. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the healthy coping skills.
ego to manage anxiety and should always be eliminated.
C. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak
ego integrity, should be discouraged and not eliminated.
D. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego
and should be fostered and encouraged.
, 7. During an intake assessment, a nurse asks both ANS: C
physiological and psychosocial questions. The client The nurse should attempt to educate the client on the negative effects of
angrily responds, "I'm here for my heart, not my head excessive stress on medical conditions. It is not appropriate to skip either
problems." Which is the nurse's best response? physiological or psychosocial questions, as this would lead to an inaccurate
A. "It's just a routine part of our assessment. All clients are assessment.
asked these same questions."
B. "Why are you concerned about these types of
questions?"
C. "Psychological factors, like excessive stress, have been
found to affect medical conditions."
D. "We can skip these questions, if you like. It isn't
imperative that we complete this section."
8. Which statement reflects a student nurse's accurate ANS: B
understanding of the concepts of mental health and The student nurse should understand that mental health and mental illness are
mental illness? multidimensional and culturally defined. It is important for nurses to be aware of
A. "The concepts are rigid and religiously based." cultural norms when evaluating a client's mental state.
B. "The concepts are multidimensional and culturally
defined."
C. "The concepts are universal and unchanging."
D. "The concepts are unidimensional and fixed."
9. A mental health technician asks the nurse, "How do ANS: A
psychiatrists determine which diagnosis to give a The DSM-5 is an organized manual describing mental disorders and the criteria
patient?" Which of these responses by the nurse would that determine whether a given diagnosis is appropriate. It is published by the
be most accurate? American Psychiatric Association (APA). It intends to facilitate accurate and
A. Psychiatrists use pre-established criteria from the reliable medical diagnosis and treatment. Item C describes nursing rather than
APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental medical diagnosis.
Disorders (DSM-5).
B. Hospital policy dictates how psychiatrists diagnose
mental disorders.
C. Psychiatrists assess the patient and identify diagnoses
based on the patient's unhealthy responses and
contributing factors.
D. The American Medical Association identifies 10
diagnostic labels that psychiatrists can choose from.
10. The nurse is preparing to provide medication ANS: B
instruction for a patient. Which of the following Mild anxiety sharpens the senses, increases the perceptual field, and results in
understandings about anxiety will be essential to heightened awareness of the environment. Learning is enhanced. As anxiety
effective instruction? increases, attention span decreases and learning becomes more difficult.
A. Learning is best when anxiety is moderate to severe.
B. Learning is enhanced when anxiety is mild.
C. Panic level anxiety helps the nurse teach better.
D. Severe anxiety is characterized by intense
concentration and enhances the attention span.
11. Which of the following are identified as psychoneurotic ANS: A
responses to severe anxiety as they appear in the DSM- Somatic symptom disorder is characterized by preoccupation with physical
5? symptoms for which there is no demonstrable organic pathology. One of the
A. Somatic symptom disorders diagnostic criteria is a high level of anxiety about health concerns or illness.
B. Grief responses
C. Psychosis
D. Bipolar disorder
