NUR 253 Exam 3 | Actual test Questions
and Answers | 2025 Update | 100%
Correct-Galen
Module I: Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders (Questions 1–28)
1. A client who witnessed a serious car accident 10 days ago reports nightmares, intrusive
memories, and hypervigilance. Which disorder should the nurse suspect first?
A. Panic disorder
B. Acute stress disorder
C. Post-traumatic stress disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acute stress disorder (ASD) occurs 3 days to 1 month after a traumatic event and
includes intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance. PTSD requires
symptoms lasting longer than 1 month. This client's symptoms have lasted only 10 days, fitting
the ASD timeframe.
2. What is the key feature that distinguishes acute stress disorder from post-traumatic stress
disorder?
A. The type of traumatic event
B. The duration and timing of symptoms
C. The client's age
D. The presence of anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Both disorders can be triggered by trauma and share similar symptoms, but the
diagnosis is differentiated primarily by timing (ASD: 3 days to 1 month post-trauma; PTSD: more
than 1 month) and duration.
,3. A client with PTSD reports recurring nightmares related to a past assault. What is the
nurse's most therapeutic response?
A. "You need to stop thinking about that."
B. "Try to forget what happened."
C. "These nightmares sound very distressing. Tell me what happens during them."
D. "Nightmares are not related to PTSD."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This response acknowledges the client's distress and uses therapeutic
exploration to encourage expression without minimizing the trauma. Options A and B are
blocking communication, and option D provides incorrect information.
4. Which of the following is a common manifestation of PTSD?
A. Hypervigilance
B. Increased appetite only
C. Persistent elevated mood
D. Complete absence of anxiety
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PTSD involves intrusive memories, avoidance, negative cognition/mood changes,
and hyperarousal symptoms (hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, irritability, sleep disturbance).
Increased appetite, elevated mood, and absence of anxiety do not fit PTSD.
5. A client with PTSD becomes visibly anxious after hearing a loud noise that reminds them of
the trauma. What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client to ignore the sound
B. Help the client identify the stimulus that triggered the trauma response
C. Leave the client alone
D. Question the client's memory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Identifying triggers and helping the client restore a sense of safety is a key
component of trauma-informed care. Leaving the client alone or questioning their memory may
worsen distress.
,6. Which behavior is an example of avoidance in PTSD?
A. Repeatedly discussing the trauma
B. Avoiding places associated with the traumatic event
C. Increasing social involvement
D. Actively seeking reminders of the event
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Avoidance involves deliberately avoiding trauma-related memories, feelings,
people, places, or activities. Options A, C, and D are the opposite of avoidance.
7. Which of the following is classified as a hyperarousal symptom of PTSD?
A. Hypervigilance
B. Euphoria
C. Compulsive checking
D. Dementia-related amnesia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, irritability, sleep disturbance, and difficulty
concentrating are arousal alterations in PTSD. Euphoria, compulsive checking, and dementia-
related amnesia do not belong to this category.
8. A client suddenly travels away from home and cannot recall their identity or important
autobiographical information. Which disorder best fits these manifestations?
A. Dissociative amnesia
B. Dissociative fugue
C. Dissociative identity disorder
D. Depersonalization disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dissociative fugue is characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from
home or work, with inability to recall identity and some or all past information, possibly
assuming a new identity. Dissociative amnesia does not involve travel behavior.
, 9. Which is the most appropriate nursing approach in trauma-informed care?
A. Forcing the client to describe the trauma in detail
B. Promoting safety, choice, collaboration, and control
C. Avoiding explanation of procedures
D. Using confrontation to uncover memories
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma-informed care emphasizes safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration,
and client choice while avoiding retraumatization. Forcing trauma description or using
confrontation may cause retraumatization.
10. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a PTSD flashback?
A. Tell the client the experience is imaginary
B. Ground the client in the current environment
C. Encourage complete isolation
D. Aggressively challenge the memory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounding techniques help the client distinguish the current environment from
trauma memories and reorient to the present. Denying the experience or leaving the client
alone may worsen distress.
11. Which nurse statement reflects trauma-informed communication?
A. "You must tell me everything that happened."
B. "You can decide what you are willing to discuss right now."
C. "Avoid thinking about the trauma."
D. "You should be over this by now."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Giving the client appropriate control and choice supports psychological safety
and avoids unnecessary retraumatization. Options A, C, and D each dismiss the client's
autonomy or feelings.
and Answers | 2025 Update | 100%
Correct-Galen
Module I: Trauma & Stressor-Related Disorders (Questions 1–28)
1. A client who witnessed a serious car accident 10 days ago reports nightmares, intrusive
memories, and hypervigilance. Which disorder should the nurse suspect first?
A. Panic disorder
B. Acute stress disorder
C. Post-traumatic stress disorder
D. Generalized anxiety disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acute stress disorder (ASD) occurs 3 days to 1 month after a traumatic event and
includes intrusive memories, nightmares, avoidance, and hypervigilance. PTSD requires
symptoms lasting longer than 1 month. This client's symptoms have lasted only 10 days, fitting
the ASD timeframe.
2. What is the key feature that distinguishes acute stress disorder from post-traumatic stress
disorder?
A. The type of traumatic event
B. The duration and timing of symptoms
C. The client's age
D. The presence of anxiety
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Both disorders can be triggered by trauma and share similar symptoms, but the
diagnosis is differentiated primarily by timing (ASD: 3 days to 1 month post-trauma; PTSD: more
than 1 month) and duration.
,3. A client with PTSD reports recurring nightmares related to a past assault. What is the
nurse's most therapeutic response?
A. "You need to stop thinking about that."
B. "Try to forget what happened."
C. "These nightmares sound very distressing. Tell me what happens during them."
D. "Nightmares are not related to PTSD."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: This response acknowledges the client's distress and uses therapeutic
exploration to encourage expression without minimizing the trauma. Options A and B are
blocking communication, and option D provides incorrect information.
4. Which of the following is a common manifestation of PTSD?
A. Hypervigilance
B. Increased appetite only
C. Persistent elevated mood
D. Complete absence of anxiety
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: PTSD involves intrusive memories, avoidance, negative cognition/mood changes,
and hyperarousal symptoms (hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, irritability, sleep disturbance).
Increased appetite, elevated mood, and absence of anxiety do not fit PTSD.
5. A client with PTSD becomes visibly anxious after hearing a loud noise that reminds them of
the trauma. What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client to ignore the sound
B. Help the client identify the stimulus that triggered the trauma response
C. Leave the client alone
D. Question the client's memory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Identifying triggers and helping the client restore a sense of safety is a key
component of trauma-informed care. Leaving the client alone or questioning their memory may
worsen distress.
,6. Which behavior is an example of avoidance in PTSD?
A. Repeatedly discussing the trauma
B. Avoiding places associated with the traumatic event
C. Increasing social involvement
D. Actively seeking reminders of the event
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Avoidance involves deliberately avoiding trauma-related memories, feelings,
people, places, or activities. Options A, C, and D are the opposite of avoidance.
7. Which of the following is classified as a hyperarousal symptom of PTSD?
A. Hypervigilance
B. Euphoria
C. Compulsive checking
D. Dementia-related amnesia
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hypervigilance, exaggerated startle, irritability, sleep disturbance, and difficulty
concentrating are arousal alterations in PTSD. Euphoria, compulsive checking, and dementia-
related amnesia do not belong to this category.
8. A client suddenly travels away from home and cannot recall their identity or important
autobiographical information. Which disorder best fits these manifestations?
A. Dissociative amnesia
B. Dissociative fugue
C. Dissociative identity disorder
D. Depersonalization disorder
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Dissociative fugue is characterized by sudden, unexpected travel away from
home or work, with inability to recall identity and some or all past information, possibly
assuming a new identity. Dissociative amnesia does not involve travel behavior.
, 9. Which is the most appropriate nursing approach in trauma-informed care?
A. Forcing the client to describe the trauma in detail
B. Promoting safety, choice, collaboration, and control
C. Avoiding explanation of procedures
D. Using confrontation to uncover memories
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma-informed care emphasizes safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration,
and client choice while avoiding retraumatization. Forcing trauma description or using
confrontation may cause retraumatization.
10. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a PTSD flashback?
A. Tell the client the experience is imaginary
B. Ground the client in the current environment
C. Encourage complete isolation
D. Aggressively challenge the memory
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Grounding techniques help the client distinguish the current environment from
trauma memories and reorient to the present. Denying the experience or leaving the client
alone may worsen distress.
11. Which nurse statement reflects trauma-informed communication?
A. "You must tell me everything that happened."
B. "You can decide what you are willing to discuss right now."
C. "Avoid thinking about the trauma."
D. "You should be over this by now."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Giving the client appropriate control and choice supports psychological safety
and avoids unnecessary retraumatization. Options A, C, and D each dismiss the client's
autonomy or feelings.
