Varcarolis Ch. 5: Settings for Psychiatric
Care Exam Practice Questions and
Answers | All Correct
Planning for patients with mental illness is facilitated by understanding
that inpatient hospitalization is generally reserved for patients who:
a. present a clear danger to self or others.
b. are noncompliant with medications at home.
c. have no support systems in the community.
d. develop new symptoms during the course of an illness. - Answer️️ -a.
present a clear danger to self or others.
Hospitalization is justified when the patient is a danger to self or others,
has dangerously decompensated, or needs intensive medical treatment.
The incorrect options do not necessarily describe patients who require
inpatient treatment.
A patient is hospitalized for a reaction to a psychotropic medication and
then is closely monitored for 24 hours. During a predischarge visit, the case
manager learns the patient received a notice of eviction on the day of
admission. The most appropriate intervention for the case manager is to:
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a. cancel the patients discharge from the hospital.
b. contact the landlord who evicted the patient to discuss the situation.
c. arrange a temporary place for the patient to stay until new housing can
be arranged.
d. document that the adverse medication reaction was feigned because the
patient had nowhere to live. - Answer️️ -c. arrange a temporary place for
the patient to stay until new housing can be arranged.
The case manager should intervene by arranging temporary shelter for the
patient until suitable housing can be found. This is part of the coordination
and delivery of services that falls under the case manager role. The other
options are not viable alternatives.
A multidisciplinary health care team meets 12 hours after an adolescent is
hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Members of the team report their
assessments. What outcome can be expected from this meeting?
a. A treatment plan will be formulated.
b. The health care provider will order neuroimaging studies.
c. The team will request a court-appointed advocate for the patient.
d. Assessment of the patients need for placement outside the home will be
undertaken. - Answer️️ -a. A treatment plan will be formulated.
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Treatment plans are formulated early in the course of treatment to
streamline the treatment process and reduce costs. It is too early to
determine the need for alternative post-discharge living arrangements.
Neuroimaging is not indicated for this scenario.
The relapse of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is related to
medication noncompliance. The patient is hospitalized for 5 days,
medication is restarted, and the patients thoughts are now more organized.
The patients family members are upset and say, Its too soon for discharge.
Hospitalization is needed for at least a month. The nurse should:
a. call the psychiatrist to come explain the discharge rationale.
b. explain that health insurance will not pay for a longer stay for the
patient.
c. call security to handle the disturbance and escort the family off the unit.
d. explain that the patient will continue to improve if medication is taken
regularly. - Answer️️ -d. explain that the patient will continue to improve
if medication is taken regularly.
Patients no longer stay in the hospital until every vestige of a symptom
disappears. The nurse must assume responsibility to advocate for the
patients right to the least restrictive setting as soon as the symptoms are
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under control and for the right of citizens to control health care costs. The
health care provider will use the same rationale. Shifting blame will not
change the discharge. Calling security is unnecessary. The nurse can
handle this matter.
A nurse assesses an inpatient psychiatric unit, noting that exits are free
from obstruction, no one is smoking, the janitors closet is locked, and all
sharp objects are being used under staff supervision. These observations
relate to:
a. management of milieu safety.
b. coordinating care of patients.
c. management of the interpersonal climate.
d. use of therapeutic intervention strategies. - Answer️️ -a. management
of milieu safety.
Members of the nursing staff are responsible for all aspects of milieu
management. The observations mentioned in this question directly relate to
the safety of the unit. The other options, although part of the nurses
concerns, are unrelated to the observations cited.
The following patients are seen in the emergency department. The
psychiatric unit has one bed available. Which patient should the admitting
officer recommend for admission to the hospital? The patient who:
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a. is experiencing dry mouth and tremor related to side effects of
haloperidol (Haldol).
b. is experiencing anxiety and a sad mood after a separation from a spouse
of 10 years.
c. self-inflicted a superficial cut on the forearm after a family argument.
d. is a single parent and hears voices saying, Smother your infant. -
Answer️️ -d. is a single parent and hears voices saying, Smother your
infant.
Admission to the hospital would be justified by the risk of patient danger
to self or others. The other patients have issues that can be handled with
less restrictive alternatives than hospitalization.
A student nurse prepares to administer oral medications to a patient
diagnosed with major depressive disorder, but the patient refuses the
medication. The student nurse should:
a. tell the patient, Ill get an unsatisfactory grade if I dont give you the
medication.
b. tell the patient, Refusing your medication is not permitted. You are
required to take it.
c. discuss the patients concerns about the medication, and report to the
staff nurse.
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d. document the patients refusal of the medication without further
comment. - Answer️️ -c. discuss the patients concerns about the
medication, and report to the staff nurse.
The patient has the right to refuse medication in most cases. The patients
reason for refusing should be ascertained, and the refusal should be
reported to a unit nurse. Sometimes refusals are based on unpleasant side
effects that can be ameliorated. Threats and manipulation are
inappropriate. Medication refusal should be reported to permit appropriate
intervention.
A nurse surveys the medical records for violations of patients rights. Which
finding signals a violation?
a. No treatment plan is present in record.
b. Patient belongings are searched at admission.
c. Physical restraint is used to prevent harm to self.
d. Patient is placed on one-to-one continuous observation. - Answer️️ -a.
No treatment plan is present in record.
The patient has the right to have a treatment plan. Inspecting a patients
belongings is a safety measure. Patients have the right to a safe
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environment, including the right to be protected against impulses to harm
self that occur as a result of a mental disorder.
Which principle takes priority for the psychiatric inpatient staff when
addressing behavioral crises?
a. Resolve behavioral crises using the least restrictive intervention possible.
b. Rights of the majority of patients supersede the rights of individual
patients.
c. Swift intervention is justified to maintain the integrity of the therapeutic
milieu.
d. Allow patients opportunities to regain control without intervention if the
safety of other patients is not compromised. - Answer️️ -a. Resolve
behavioral crises using the least restrictive intervention possible.
The rule of using the least restrictive treatment or intervention possible to
achieve the desired outcome is the patients legal right. Planned
interventions are nearly always preferable. Intervention may be necessary
when the patient threatens harm to self.
To provide comprehensive care to patients, which competency is more
important for a nurse who works in a community mental health center than
a psychiatric nurse who works in an inpatient unit?
a. Problem-solving skills
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b. Calm and caring manner
c. Ability to cross service systems
d. Knowledge of psychopharmacology - Answer️️ -c. Ability to cross
service systems
A community mental health nurse must be able to work with schools,
corrections facilities, shelters, health care providers, and employers. The
mental health nurse working in an inpatient unit needs only to be able to
work within the single setting. Problem-solving skills are needed by all
nurses. Nurses in both settings must have knowledge of
psychopharmacology.
A suspicious and socially isolated patient lives alone, eats one meal a day
at a nearby shelter, and spends the remaining daily food allowance on
cigarettes. Select the community psychiatric nurses best in
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©SOPHIABENNETT@2024-2025 Monday, August 26, 2024 6:09 AM
Varcarolis Ch. 5: Settings for Psychiatric
Care Exam Practice Questions and
Answers | All Correct
Planning for patients with mental illness is facilitated by understanding
that inpatient hospitalization is generally reserved for patients who:
a. present a clear danger to self or others.
b. are noncompliant with medications at home.
c. have no support systems in the community.
d. develop new symptoms during the course of an illness. - Answer✔️✔️-a.
present a clear danger to self or others.
Hospitalization is justified when the patient is a danger to self or others,
has dangerously decompensated, or needs intensive medical treatment.
The incorrect options do not necessarily describe patients who require
inpatient treatment.
A patient is hospitalized for a reaction to a psychotropic medication and
then is closely monitored for 24 hours. During a predischarge visit, the case
manager learns the patient received a notice of eviction on the day of
admission. The most appropriate intervention for the case manager is to:
1
, ©SOPHIABENNETT@2024-2025 Monday, August 26, 2024 6:09 AM
a. cancel the patients discharge from the hospital.
b. contact the landlord who evicted the patient to discuss the situation.
c. arrange a temporary place for the patient to stay until new housing can
be arranged.
d. document that the adverse medication reaction was feigned because the
patient had nowhere to live. - Answer✔️✔️-c. arrange a temporary place for
the patient to stay until new housing can be arranged.
The case manager should intervene by arranging temporary shelter for the
patient until suitable housing can be found. This is part of the coordination
and delivery of services that falls under the case manager role. The other
options are not viable alternatives.
A multidisciplinary health care team meets 12 hours after an adolescent is
hospitalized after a suicide attempt. Members of the team report their
assessments. What outcome can be expected from this meeting?
a. A treatment plan will be formulated.
b. The health care provider will order neuroimaging studies.
c. The team will request a court-appointed advocate for the patient.
d. Assessment of the patients need for placement outside the home will be
undertaken. - Answer✔️✔️-a. A treatment plan will be formulated.
2
, ©SOPHIABENNETT@2024-2025 Monday, August 26, 2024 6:09 AM
Treatment plans are formulated early in the course of treatment to
streamline the treatment process and reduce costs. It is too early to
determine the need for alternative post-discharge living arrangements.
Neuroimaging is not indicated for this scenario.
The relapse of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is related to
medication noncompliance. The patient is hospitalized for 5 days,
medication is restarted, and the patients thoughts are now more organized.
The patients family members are upset and say, Its too soon for discharge.
Hospitalization is needed for at least a month. The nurse should:
a. call the psychiatrist to come explain the discharge rationale.
b. explain that health insurance will not pay for a longer stay for the
patient.
c. call security to handle the disturbance and escort the family off the unit.
d. explain that the patient will continue to improve if medication is taken
regularly. - Answer✔️✔️-d. explain that the patient will continue to improve
if medication is taken regularly.
Patients no longer stay in the hospital until every vestige of a symptom
disappears. The nurse must assume responsibility to advocate for the
patients right to the least restrictive setting as soon as the symptoms are
3