N322 Mental Health Nursing Exam 2 Practice Questions & Answers Already Solved

A mature, professional couple plans a large wedding in a city 100 miles from their home. Which response is most likely to be associated with this experience? A. Distress B. Eustress C. Acute stress D. Depersonalization - Answer B. Eustress A college student has been experiencing significant stress associated with academic demands. Last month, the student began attending yoga sessions three times a week. Which outcome indicates this activity has been successful? A. The student reports improved feelings of well-being. B. The student increases use of caffeine to enhance concentration. C. The student reports, "Now I am sleeping about 10 hours every day." D. The student says, "I withdrew from two courses to reduce my academic load." - Answer A. The student reports improved feelings of well-being. An adult required a heart transplant 5 years ago. Multiple medical complications followed, resulting in persistent irritability, depression, and insomnia. The adult's spouse says, "I've walked on eggshells for five years, never knowing when something else will go wrong." What is the nurse's priority intervention regarding the spouse? A. Explore the spouse's feelings, showing care and compassion. B. Encourage the spouse to attend a community support group. C. Teach stress reduction and relaxation techniques to the spouse. D. Refer the spouse to the primary care provider or health assessment. - Answer D. Refer the spouse to the primary care provider or health assessment. A veteran of the war in Afghanistan tells the nurse, "Everyday, something happens that makes me feel like I'm still there. My family has grown impatient with me. They say it's time for me to move on from that time in my life but I can't." What is the nurse's first priority? A. Assess the veteran for suicide risk. B. Refer the veteran for specialized mental health services. C. Assess the veteran for evidence of traumatic brain injury. D. Refer the veteran's family to a posttraumatic stress disorder group. - Answer A. Assess the veteran for suicide risk. An individual lives in a community adjacent to a military base. Loud jets fly overhead multiple times daily. The person tells the nurse, "They're so loud I can't hear myself think." What is the nurse's best first action? A. Direct the individual to report the jet noise to local authorities. B. Teach relaxation and stress reduction techniques to the individual. C. Assess the individual or sensory impairments, particularly auditory. D. Encourage the individual to form a community action group to oppose noise pollution. - Answer B. Teach relaxation and stress reduction techniques to the individual. Friends invite an adult diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to go on a mountain hike next week. The adult replies, "I can't go because I don't have any hiking shoes." In actuality, this adult fears difficulty with blood glucose management during strenuous activity. Which defense mechanism is evident? A. Displacement B. Rationalization C. Passive aggression D. Reaction formation - Answer B. Rationalization A nurse analyzes reports from our adult patients of frightening events they encountered. Which patient's report most clearly indicates that the resulting fear was mentally healthy? A. "I saw a large spider crawling along my kitchen wall." B. "I was at the mall when a gunman began firing an assault weapon." C. "I was at home when a storm with heavy thunder and lightning lasted over an hour." D. "I was trapped on an elevator that stopped between floors when the power went out." - Answer B. "I was at the mall when a gunman began firing an assault weapon." A nursing student arrives late for a clinical experience and is not wearing the correct attire. When the instructor privately criticizes the behavior, the student responds, "I'm always the one who gets caught. You're going to cause me to fail." Select the instructor's best response. A. "Other students get caught as well." B. "I am not trying to cause you to fail. I am here to help you." C. "I am sorry you feel that way. I try to treat all my students equally." D. "The requirements for this experience were discussed during our orientation." - Answer D. "The requirements for this experience were discussed during our orientation." Select the best example of altruism. A. After recovering from a gunshot wound, a police officer attends a local support group. B. After recovering from open heart surgery, an individual plays tennis three times a week. C. An individual who received a liver transplant volunteers at a local organ procurement agency. D. An individual with a long-standing fear of animals volunteers at a community animal shelter. - Answer The correct answer could either be C or D C. An individual who received a liver transplant volunteers at a local organ procurement agency. D. An individual with a long-standing fear of animals volunteers at a community animal shelter. An outpatient psychiatric nurse assesses a patient diagnosed with hoarding disorder. The patient has lost 12 pounds in the past two months, appears disheveled, and is wearing dirty clothing with poor hygiene. What is the nurse's priority action? A. Review the patient's medication regimen. B. Ask the patient, "What types of foods have you been eating?" C. Refer the patient to a psychologist for cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). D. Schedule a home visit to assess the safety of the patient's living conditions. - Answer D. Schedule a home visit to assess the safety of the patient's living conditions. A patient at a general medical clinic tells the nurse, "I have so many ailments that I need to see six different doctors. None of them has discovered what is really wrong with me." Which comment should the nurse offer next? A. "Let's review all the medications you currently take." B. "Tell me about allergic reactions you've had to medication." C. "Selecting one primary care provider would be better for you." D. "I'm not sure I understand how you can afford these expenses." - Answer A. "Let's review all the medications you currently take." Rationale: The actual response should be to first explore the patient's feelings about what it has been like to see six doctors and none of them discovering what is wrong. A combat veteran from two tours of the war in Afghanistan tells the nurse, "Some guys in my unit have posttraumatic stress disorder, but I never had any problems other than my hearing is not as good as it once was." Which explanation for this comment should the nurse consider? A. The veteran wants to demonstrate toughness and strength. B. The veteran shows indicators of derealization and depersonalization. C. The veteran may be rationalizing this reaction to memories of combat. D. The veteran may have amnesia associated with the combat experience. - Answer D. The veteran may have amnesia associated with the combat experience. Rationale: Although this may be true, Dr. Clark thinks more information should have been provided as it does not automatically mean the veteran was exposed to an explosive device. She knows many veterans who have suffered hearing loss as a result of long-term exposure to other loud experiences. A patient diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder is hospitalized on an acute care psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt. During a team meeting, which staff nurse's comment should prompt the nursing supervisor to intervene? (Select all that apply.) A. "I have never taken care of a patient diagnosed with this disorder." B. "I think this patient was misdiagnosed and probably has schizophrenia." C. "I find myself more fascinated and engaged with this patient than others." D. "I recently read an autobiographical book about someone with this problem." - Answer B. "I think this patient was misdiagnosed and probably has schizophrenia." C. "I find myself more fascinated and engaged with this patient than others." Rationale: The response from the nurse who does not believe in the diagnosis may also impair the care the nurse provides to the patient. A nurse in an outpatient medical clinic talks to a patient with a long history of malingering and doctor-shopping. The patient continues to express complaints of multiple problems. Select the nurse's best comment to the patient. A. "The treatment team believes you would benefit more from seeing a mental health professional." B. "The treatment team discussed your case and wants to begin a special case management program for you." C. "Because you take a number of medications, it would be safer to have them all filled at the same pharmacy." D. "Diagnostic testing has shown no medical problems and you are using more than your fair share of health care services." - Answer B. "The treatment team discussed your case and wants to begin a special case management program for you." A patient in the emergency department was seen or the third time in a month with complaints of tremors and paresthesia in the lower extremities. Conversion disorder was diagnosed. While preparing for discharge, the patient says, "Now I'm having chest pain but it's probably nothing." How should the nurse respond? A. Assess the patient's most current laboratory values. B. Interrupt the discharge and arrange additional medical evaluation of the patient. C. Remind the patient, "The diagnostic tests showed you did not have a medical problem." D. Tell the patient, "Being in the emergency department a long time can be very distressing." - Answer B. Interrupt the discharge and arrange additional medical evaluation of the patient. A person shoplifts merchandise from a community cancer thrift shop. When confronted, the thief replies, "All this stuff was donated, so I can take it." This comment suggests features of which personality disorder? A. Antisocial B. Histrionic C. Borderline D. Schizotypical - Answer A. Antisocial After a power outage, a facility must serve a dinner of sandwiches and fruit to patients. Which comment is most likely from a patient diagnosed with a narcissistic personality disorder? A. "These sandwiches are probably contaminated with bacteria." B. "I suppose it's the best we can hope for under these circumstances." C. "You should have ordered a to-go meal from a local restaurant for me." D. "I would rather wait until the dietary department can prepare a meal." - Answer C. "You should have ordered a to-go meal from a local restaurant for me." A nurse plans care for a patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Which nursing diagnosis is most likely to apply to this patient? A. Ineffective relationships related to frequent splitting B. Social isolation related to fear of embarrassment or rejection C. Ineffective impulse control related to violence as evidenced by cruelty to animals D. Disturbed thought processes related to recurrent suspiciousness of people and situations - Answer The nurse assesses a new patient suspected of having a schizotypal personality disorder. Which assessment question is this patient most likely to answer affirmatively? A. "Do some types of situations frighten you?" B. "Do you often have episodes of prolonged crying?" C. "Is anyone in your family diagnosed with a mental illness?" D. "Is it ever very important for you to do everything correctly?" - Answer C. "Is anyone in your family diagnosed with a mental illness?" A mental health nurse assesses a patient diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Which comorbid problem is most important for the nurse to include in the assessment? A. Generalized anxiety B. Alcohol use and abuse C. Compulsions and phobias D. Dysfunctional sleep patterns - Answer B. Alcohol use and abuse The school nurse assesses four adolescents, all of whom outwardly appear healthy. Which adolescent meets one criterion for anorexia nervosa with mild severity? A. 5'2" tall; weight 104 pounds B. 5'7" tall; weight 110 pounds C. 5'5" tall; weight 114 pounds D. 5'8" tall; weight 127 pounds - Answer B. 5'7" tall; weight 110 pounds A nurse assesses four adolescents diagnosed with various eating disorders. Which comment would the nurse expect from the adolescent diagnosed with anorexia nervosa? A. "I look good because when I overeat, I purge myself." B. "I love sweets. I make myself throw up so I can eat more." C. "I've lost 60 pounds but I'm still a size 2. I want to be a size 0." D. "I've hidden my eating disorder from everyone, even my parents." - Answer C. "I've lost 60 pounds but I'm still a size 2. I want to be a size 0." While weighing patients on an eating disorders unit, the nurse overhears a psychiatric technician say, "I wish I had an eating disorder; maybe I'd lose a little weight." What is the nurse's best action? A. Report the clinical observation to the nursing supervisor B. Ask the psychiatric technician, "What did you mean by that comment?" C. Privately discuss the importance of sensitivity with the psychiatric technician D. Immediately interrupt the interaction between the patient and psychiatric technician - Answer C. Privately discuss the importance of sensitivity with the psychiatric technician Shortly after hospitalization, an adolescent diagnosed with anorexia says to the nurse, "Being fat is the worst thing in the world. I hope it never happens to me." Which response by the nurse is appropriate? A. "You need to gain weight to become healthier." B. "Your world would not change if you gained a few pounds." C. "Tell me how your world would be different if you were fat." D. "Your attractiveness is not defined by a number on the scales." - Answer C. "Tell me how your world would be different if you were fat." A patient is hospitalized with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. The nurse reviews the patient's laboratory results below: Na+ 143 mEq/L K+ 3.1 mEq/L Cl- 102 mEq/L Mg+ 2.2 mEq/L Ca+ 8.4 mg/dL PO4- 3.0 mg/dL The nurse should take which action next? A. Measure the patient's body temperature B. Inspect the patient's skin and sclera for jaundice C. Assess the patient's mucous membranes for erosion D. Auscultate the patient's heart rate, rhythm and sounds - Answer D. Auscultate the patient's heart rate, rhythm and sounds The nurse interviews the parents of a 7 year old child diagnosed with moderate autism spectrum disorder. Which comment from the parents best describes autistic behaviors? A. "My child occasionally has temper tantrums." B. "Sometimes my child wakes up with nightmares." C. "My child swings for hours on our backyard gym set." D. "Toilet training was more difficult for this child than my other children." - Answer C. "My child swings for hours on our backyard gym set." or D. "Toilet training was more difficult for this child than my other children." The question is asking for specific behaviors. A nurse plans to lead a group in a residential facility for kindergarten-aged, abused children. Which strategy should the nurse incorporate? A. Building a house using blocks B. Telling a story about a child who felt sad C. Drawing pictures of fun activities at a park D. Reading and discussing a book about abused children - Answer B. Telling a story about a child who felt sad Which scenario presents the highest risk for a pregnancy resulting in offspring with an intellectual developmental disability (IDD)? (Select all that apply.) A. 18 year old mother who received no prenatal care B. 32 year old woman diagnosed with anorexia nervosa C. 26 year old father with a history of episodic alcohol abuse D. 38 year old father diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder - Answer A. 18 year old mother who received no prenatal care B. 32 year old woman diagnosed with anorexia nervosa Rationale: Since fetal malnutrition is a risk factor, both an individual with anorexia and a teenager with no prenatal care could have nutritional intakes that may result in fetal malnutrition. A community mental health nurse talks with a 6 year old child whose divorced parents have shared custody. Which initial question will best help the nurse explore the child's perception of home life? A. "Is your life different from your friends' lives?" B. "Are you happiest at your mother's or your father's house?" C. "Do you find it hard to move back and forth between two homes?" D. "What are some of the good and bad things about living in two homes?" - Answer D. "What are some of the good and bad things about living in two homes?"