PSYCHIATRIC NURSING EXAM 2 | QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS | 100% PASS
A patient became severely depressed when the last of six children moved out of the
home 4 months ago. The patient repeatedly says, No one cares about me. Im not worth
anything. Which response by the nurse would be the most helpful?
a. Things will look brighter soon. Everyone feels down once in a while.
b. The staff here cares about you and wants to try to help you get better.
c. It is difficult for others to care about you when you repeatedly say negative things
about yourself.
d. Ill sit with you for 10 minutes now and return for 10 minutes at lunchtime and again at
2:30 this afternoon. - d
A patient became depressed after the last of six children moved out of the home 4
months ago. The patient has been self-neglectful, slept poorly, lost weight, and
repeatedly says, No one cares about me anymore. Im not worth anything. Select an
appropriate initial outcome for the nursing diagnosis: Situational low self-esteem, related
to feelings of abandonment. The patient will:
a. verbalize realistic positive characteristics about self by (date)
b. consent to take antidepressant medication regularly by (date)
c. initiate social interaction with another person daily by (date)
d. identify two personal behaviors that alienate others by (date). - a
A nurse wants to reinforce positive self-esteem for a patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. Today, the patient is wearing a new shirt and has neat, clean hair.
Which remark is most appropriate?
a. You look nice this morning.
b. You are wearing a new shirt.
c. I like the shirt youre wearing.
d. You must be feeling better today. - b
An adult diagnosed with major depressive disorder was treated with medication and
cognitive behavioral therapy. The patient now recognizes how passivity contributed to
the depression. Which intervention should the nurse suggest?
a. Social skills training
b. Relaxation training classes
c. Use of complementary therapy
d. Learning desensitization techniques - a
A priority nursing intervention for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is:
a. distracting the patient from self-absorption.
b. carefully and inconspicuously observing the patient around the clock.
,c. allowing the patient to spend long periods alone in self-reflection.
d. offering opportunities for the patient to assume a leadership role in the therapeutic
milieu. - b
When counseling patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, an advanced
practice nurse will address the negative thought patterns by using:
a. psychoanalytic therapy.
b. desensitization therapy.
c. cognitive behavioral therapy.
d. alternative and complementary therapies. - c
A patient says to the nurse, My life does not have any happiness in it anymore. I once
enjoyed holidays, but now theyre just another day. How would the nurse document the
complaint?
a. Vegetative symptom
b. Anhedonia
c. Euphoria
d. Anergia - b
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is taking a tricyclic antidepressant.
The patient says, I dont think I can keep taking these pills. They make me so dizzy,
especially when I stand up. The nurse should:
a. explain how to manage postural hypotension, and educate the patient that side
effects go away after several weeks.
b. tell the patient that the side effects are a minor inconvenience compared with the
feelings of depression.
c. withhold the drug, force oral fluids, and notify the health care provider to examine the
patient.
d. teach the patient how to use pursed-lip breathing. - a
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
200 mg every night at bedtime. Which assessment finding would prompt the nurse to
collaborate with the health care provider regarding potentially hazardous side effects of
this drug?
a. Dry mouth
b. Blurred vision
c. Nasal congestion
d. Urinary retention - d
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, Bad things that
happen are always my fault. To assist the patient in reframing this overgeneralization,
the nurse should respond:
a. I really doubt that one person can be blamed for all the bad things that happen.
b. Lets look at one bad thing that happened to see if another explanation exists.
c. You are being exceptionally hard on yourself when you say those things.
d. How does your belief in fate relate to your cultural heritage? - b
,A nurse worked with a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who was
severely withdrawn and dependent on others. After 3 weeks, the patient did not
improve. The nurse is at risk for feelings of:
a. overinvolvement.
b. guilt and despair.
c. interest and pleasure.
d. mineffectiveness mand mfrustration. m- m md
A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mbegins mselective mserotonin
mreuptake minhibitor m(SSRI) mantidepressant mtherapy. mPriority minformation mgiven mto mthe
mpatient mand mfamily mshould minclude ma mdirective mto:
a. mavoid mexposure mto mbright msunlight.
b. mreport mincreased msuicidal mthoughts.
c. mrestrict msodium mintake mto m1 mg mdaily.
d. mmaintain ma mtyramine-free mdiet. m- m mb
A mnurse mteaching ma mpatient mabout ma mtyramine-restricted mdiet mwould mapprove mwhich
mmeal?
a. mMashed mpotatoes, mground mbeef mpatty, mcorn, mgreen mbeans, mapple mpie
b. mAvocado msalad, mham, mcreamed mpotatoes, masparagus, mchocolate mcake
c. mMacaroni mand mcheese, mhot mdogs, mbanana mbread, mcaffeinated mcoffee
d. mNoodles mwith mcheddar mcheese msauce, msmoked msausage, mlettuce msalad, myeast mrolls
m - m ma
What mis mthe mfocus mof mpriority mnursing minterventions mfor mthe mperiod mimmediately mafter
melectroconvulsive mtherapy mtreatment?
a. mSupporting mphysiologic mstability
b. mReducing mdisorientation mand mconfusion
c. mMonitoring mpupillary mresponses
d. mAssisting mthe mpatient mto midentify mand mtest mnegative mthoughts m- m ma
A mnurse mprovided mmedication meducation mfor ma mpatient mwho mtakes mphenelzine m(Nardil)
mfor mdepression. mWhich mbehavior mindicates meffective mlearning? mThe mpatient:
a. mmonitors msodium mintake mand mweight mdaily.
b. mwears msupport mstockings mand melevates mthe mlegs mwhen msitting.
c. mconsults mthe mpharmacist mwhen mselecting mover-the-counter mmedications.
d. mcan midentify mfoods mwith mhigh mselenium mcontent, mwhich mshould mbe mavoided. m- m mc
A mpatients memployment mis mterminated mand mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mresults. mThe
mpatient msays mto mthe mnurse, mIm mnot mworth mthe mtime myou mspend mwith mme. mIm mthe mmost
museless mperson min mthe mworld. mWhich mnursing mdiagnosis mapplies?a. mPowerlessness
b. mDefensive mcoping
c. mSituational mlow mself-esteem
d. mDisturbed mpersonal midentity m- m mc
, A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mdoes mnot minteract mwith mothers
mexcept mwhen maddressed mand mthen monly min mmonosyllables. mThe mnurse m wants mto mshow
mnonjudgmental macceptance mand msupport mfor mthe mpatient. mSelect mthe mnurses mmost
meffective mapproach mto m communication.
a. mMake mobservations.
b. mAsk mthe mpatient mdirect mquestions.
c. mPhrase mquestions mto mrequire myes mor mno manswers.
d. mFrequently mreassure mthe mpatient mto mreduce mguilt mfeelings. m- m ma
A mpatient mbeing mtreated mfor mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mhas mtaken m300 mmg
mamitriptyline m(Elavil) mdaily mfor ma myear. mThe mpatient mcalls mthe mcase mmanager mat mthe
mclinic mand msays, mI mstopped mtaking mmy mantidepressant m2 mdays mago. mNow mI mam mhaving
mcold msweats, mnausea, ma mrapid mheartbeat, mand mnightmares. mThe mnurse mshould madvise
mthe mpatient:
a. mGo mto mthe mnearest memergency mdepartment mimmediately.
b. mDo mnot mto mbe malarmed. mTake mtwo maspirin mand mdrink mplenty mof mfluids.
c. mTake mone mdose mof mthe mantidepressant. mCome mto mthe mclinic mto msee mthe mhealth mcare
mprovider.
d. mResume mtaking mthe mantidepressant mfor m2 mmore mweeks, mand mthen mdiscontinue mit
magain. m- m mc
Which mdocumentation mindicates mthe mtreatment mplan mof ma mpatient mdiagnosed mwith
mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mwas meffective?
a. mSlept m6 mhours muninterrupted. mSang mwith mactivity mgroup. mAnticipates mseeing
mgrandchild.
b. mSlept m10 mhours muninterrupted. mAttended mcraft mgroup; mstated mproject mwas ma mfailure,
mjust mlike mme.
c. mSlept m5 mhours mwith mbrief minterruptions. mPersonal mhygiene madequate mwith
massistance. mWeight mloss mof m1 mpound.
d. mSlept m7 mhours muninterrupted. mPreoccupied mwith mperceived minadequacies. mStates, mI
mfeel mtired mall mthe mtime. m- m ma
A mwoman mgave mbirth mto ma mhealthy mnewborn m1 mmonth mago. mThe mpatient mnow mreports
mshe mcannot mcope mand mis munable mto msleep mor meat. mShe msays, mI mfeel mlike ma mfailure.
mThis mbaby mis mthe mroot mof mmy mproblems. mThe mpriority mnursing mdiagnosis mis:
a. mInsomnia
b. mIneffective mcoping
c. mSituational mlow mself-esteem
d. mRisk mfor mother-directed mviolence m- m md
A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mrepeatedly mtells mstaff mmembers,
mI mhave mcancer. mIts mmy mpunishment mfor mbeing ma mbad mperson. mDiagnostic mtests mreveal
mno mcancer. mSelect mthe mpriority mnursing mdiagnosis.
a. mPowerlessness
b. mRisk mfor msuicide
c. mStress moverload
AND ANSWERS | 100% PASS
A patient became severely depressed when the last of six children moved out of the
home 4 months ago. The patient repeatedly says, No one cares about me. Im not worth
anything. Which response by the nurse would be the most helpful?
a. Things will look brighter soon. Everyone feels down once in a while.
b. The staff here cares about you and wants to try to help you get better.
c. It is difficult for others to care about you when you repeatedly say negative things
about yourself.
d. Ill sit with you for 10 minutes now and return for 10 minutes at lunchtime and again at
2:30 this afternoon. - d
A patient became depressed after the last of six children moved out of the home 4
months ago. The patient has been self-neglectful, slept poorly, lost weight, and
repeatedly says, No one cares about me anymore. Im not worth anything. Select an
appropriate initial outcome for the nursing diagnosis: Situational low self-esteem, related
to feelings of abandonment. The patient will:
a. verbalize realistic positive characteristics about self by (date)
b. consent to take antidepressant medication regularly by (date)
c. initiate social interaction with another person daily by (date)
d. identify two personal behaviors that alienate others by (date). - a
A nurse wants to reinforce positive self-esteem for a patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. Today, the patient is wearing a new shirt and has neat, clean hair.
Which remark is most appropriate?
a. You look nice this morning.
b. You are wearing a new shirt.
c. I like the shirt youre wearing.
d. You must be feeling better today. - b
An adult diagnosed with major depressive disorder was treated with medication and
cognitive behavioral therapy. The patient now recognizes how passivity contributed to
the depression. Which intervention should the nurse suggest?
a. Social skills training
b. Relaxation training classes
c. Use of complementary therapy
d. Learning desensitization techniques - a
A priority nursing intervention for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is:
a. distracting the patient from self-absorption.
b. carefully and inconspicuously observing the patient around the clock.
,c. allowing the patient to spend long periods alone in self-reflection.
d. offering opportunities for the patient to assume a leadership role in the therapeutic
milieu. - b
When counseling patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder, an advanced
practice nurse will address the negative thought patterns by using:
a. psychoanalytic therapy.
b. desensitization therapy.
c. cognitive behavioral therapy.
d. alternative and complementary therapies. - c
A patient says to the nurse, My life does not have any happiness in it anymore. I once
enjoyed holidays, but now theyre just another day. How would the nurse document the
complaint?
a. Vegetative symptom
b. Anhedonia
c. Euphoria
d. Anergia - b
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is taking a tricyclic antidepressant.
The patient says, I dont think I can keep taking these pills. They make me so dizzy,
especially when I stand up. The nurse should:
a. explain how to manage postural hypotension, and educate the patient that side
effects go away after several weeks.
b. tell the patient that the side effects are a minor inconvenience compared with the
feelings of depression.
c. withhold the drug, force oral fluids, and notify the health care provider to examine the
patient.
d. teach the patient how to use pursed-lip breathing. - a
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder is receiving imipramine (Tofranil)
200 mg every night at bedtime. Which assessment finding would prompt the nurse to
collaborate with the health care provider regarding potentially hazardous side effects of
this drug?
a. Dry mouth
b. Blurred vision
c. Nasal congestion
d. Urinary retention - d
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, Bad things that
happen are always my fault. To assist the patient in reframing this overgeneralization,
the nurse should respond:
a. I really doubt that one person can be blamed for all the bad things that happen.
b. Lets look at one bad thing that happened to see if another explanation exists.
c. You are being exceptionally hard on yourself when you say those things.
d. How does your belief in fate relate to your cultural heritage? - b
,A nurse worked with a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who was
severely withdrawn and dependent on others. After 3 weeks, the patient did not
improve. The nurse is at risk for feelings of:
a. overinvolvement.
b. guilt and despair.
c. interest and pleasure.
d. mineffectiveness mand mfrustration. m- m md
A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mbegins mselective mserotonin
mreuptake minhibitor m(SSRI) mantidepressant mtherapy. mPriority minformation mgiven mto mthe
mpatient mand mfamily mshould minclude ma mdirective mto:
a. mavoid mexposure mto mbright msunlight.
b. mreport mincreased msuicidal mthoughts.
c. mrestrict msodium mintake mto m1 mg mdaily.
d. mmaintain ma mtyramine-free mdiet. m- m mb
A mnurse mteaching ma mpatient mabout ma mtyramine-restricted mdiet mwould mapprove mwhich
mmeal?
a. mMashed mpotatoes, mground mbeef mpatty, mcorn, mgreen mbeans, mapple mpie
b. mAvocado msalad, mham, mcreamed mpotatoes, masparagus, mchocolate mcake
c. mMacaroni mand mcheese, mhot mdogs, mbanana mbread, mcaffeinated mcoffee
d. mNoodles mwith mcheddar mcheese msauce, msmoked msausage, mlettuce msalad, myeast mrolls
m - m ma
What mis mthe mfocus mof mpriority mnursing minterventions mfor mthe mperiod mimmediately mafter
melectroconvulsive mtherapy mtreatment?
a. mSupporting mphysiologic mstability
b. mReducing mdisorientation mand mconfusion
c. mMonitoring mpupillary mresponses
d. mAssisting mthe mpatient mto midentify mand mtest mnegative mthoughts m- m ma
A mnurse mprovided mmedication meducation mfor ma mpatient mwho mtakes mphenelzine m(Nardil)
mfor mdepression. mWhich mbehavior mindicates meffective mlearning? mThe mpatient:
a. mmonitors msodium mintake mand mweight mdaily.
b. mwears msupport mstockings mand melevates mthe mlegs mwhen msitting.
c. mconsults mthe mpharmacist mwhen mselecting mover-the-counter mmedications.
d. mcan midentify mfoods mwith mhigh mselenium mcontent, mwhich mshould mbe mavoided. m- m mc
A mpatients memployment mis mterminated mand mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mresults. mThe
mpatient msays mto mthe mnurse, mIm mnot mworth mthe mtime myou mspend mwith mme. mIm mthe mmost
museless mperson min mthe mworld. mWhich mnursing mdiagnosis mapplies?a. mPowerlessness
b. mDefensive mcoping
c. mSituational mlow mself-esteem
d. mDisturbed mpersonal midentity m- m mc
, A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mdoes mnot minteract mwith mothers
mexcept mwhen maddressed mand mthen monly min mmonosyllables. mThe mnurse m wants mto mshow
mnonjudgmental macceptance mand msupport mfor mthe mpatient. mSelect mthe mnurses mmost
meffective mapproach mto m communication.
a. mMake mobservations.
b. mAsk mthe mpatient mdirect mquestions.
c. mPhrase mquestions mto mrequire myes mor mno manswers.
d. mFrequently mreassure mthe mpatient mto mreduce mguilt mfeelings. m- m ma
A mpatient mbeing mtreated mfor mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mhas mtaken m300 mmg
mamitriptyline m(Elavil) mdaily mfor ma myear. mThe mpatient mcalls mthe mcase mmanager mat mthe
mclinic mand msays, mI mstopped mtaking mmy mantidepressant m2 mdays mago. mNow mI mam mhaving
mcold msweats, mnausea, ma mrapid mheartbeat, mand mnightmares. mThe mnurse mshould madvise
mthe mpatient:
a. mGo mto mthe mnearest memergency mdepartment mimmediately.
b. mDo mnot mto mbe malarmed. mTake mtwo maspirin mand mdrink mplenty mof mfluids.
c. mTake mone mdose mof mthe mantidepressant. mCome mto mthe mclinic mto msee mthe mhealth mcare
mprovider.
d. mResume mtaking mthe mantidepressant mfor m2 mmore mweeks, mand mthen mdiscontinue mit
magain. m- m mc
Which mdocumentation mindicates mthe mtreatment mplan mof ma mpatient mdiagnosed mwith
mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mwas meffective?
a. mSlept m6 mhours muninterrupted. mSang mwith mactivity mgroup. mAnticipates mseeing
mgrandchild.
b. mSlept m10 mhours muninterrupted. mAttended mcraft mgroup; mstated mproject mwas ma mfailure,
mjust mlike mme.
c. mSlept m5 mhours mwith mbrief minterruptions. mPersonal mhygiene madequate mwith
massistance. mWeight mloss mof m1 mpound.
d. mSlept m7 mhours muninterrupted. mPreoccupied mwith mperceived minadequacies. mStates, mI
mfeel mtired mall mthe mtime. m- m ma
A mwoman mgave mbirth mto ma mhealthy mnewborn m1 mmonth mago. mThe mpatient mnow mreports
mshe mcannot mcope mand mis munable mto msleep mor meat. mShe msays, mI mfeel mlike ma mfailure.
mThis mbaby mis mthe mroot mof mmy mproblems. mThe mpriority mnursing mdiagnosis mis:
a. mInsomnia
b. mIneffective mcoping
c. mSituational mlow mself-esteem
d. mRisk mfor mother-directed mviolence m- m md
A mpatient mdiagnosed mwith mmajor mdepressive mdisorder mrepeatedly mtells mstaff mmembers,
mI mhave mcancer. mIts mmy mpunishment mfor mbeing ma mbad mperson. mDiagnostic mtests mreveal
mno mcancer. mSelect mthe mpriority mnursing mdiagnosis.
a. mPowerlessness
b. mRisk mfor msuicide
c. mStress moverload
