Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is providing care for a student who was involved in a school violence
incidence. The student becomes agitated and angry on the anniversary of the event.
Which action by the nurse is most helpful to the student?
a. Administer the physician-prescribed dose of propranolol (Inderal).
b. Gently and quietly try to soothe the student verbally and physically.
c. Call for a psychotherapist to come and assist the student with posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
d. Offer verbal support and encourage the student to express feelings.
ANS: D
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 346
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder > Nursing
Interventions
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Synthesis [Creating]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Research shows that administering a dose of propranolol
(Inderal) right after a trauma decreases the risk for PTSD. At the time of the
event’s anniversary, the time has passed for this intervention to be effective.
B. This is incorrect. The student is exhibiting signs of PTSD and may be having a
flashback. The nurse should not attempt to interact with a patient who is
experiencing a flashback. If the nurse touches or talks to the patient, the nurse
can become a part of the flashback and could be in physical danger.
C. This is incorrect. It is likely the student is under the care of a psychotherapist for
PTSD caused by a violent event. Calling for the psychotherapist to come and
assist the student does not address the student’s immediate needs.
D. This is correct. If the possibility of a flashback passes or resolves, the nurse needs
to offer the student verbal support and ask the student to talk about feelings.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
,2. The school nurse is called to attend to a child who is 10 years of age. The teacher reports
the child panicked when asked to present a verbal book report to the class. Which
intervention will the nurse initiate with the child?
a. Take the child to the clinic and report the event to the parents.
b. Place the child on a clinic bed and allow some alone time.
c. Walk with the child in the hallway and provide reassurance.
d. Join the teacher in attempting to find the source of panic.
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 345
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Panic Disorder > Nursing Interventions
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Synthesis [Creating]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Taking the child to the clinic and informing the parents about
the event is not an intervention that will assist the child with current feelings of
panic.
B. This is incorrect. When a panic attack occurs, the person affected does not need
to be alone. The nurse should stay with the child and offer reassurance that the
nurse will not leave.
C. This is correct. The nurse’s initial intervention is to assist the patient to an
environment with minimal stimulation, such as a hallway. Walking with the
patient will provide a physical outlet for panic.
D. This is incorrect. When experiencing a panic attack, the person affected is
frequently unable to describe the feeling or identify the cause. The nurse needs to
stay with the child, offer assurance, and remain in a quiet environment with the
child.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
3. A parent brings a toddler to a pediatric clinic for advice about dealing with a fear of
water. The parent shares that the toddler screams and throws a tantrum if anyone attempts
to get her into a pool. The nurse also learns of an incident when the toddler was pushed
into a pool. Which recommendation will the nurse make to help the toddler overcome this
phobia?
a. Make sure the toddler has a safe flotation device.
, b. Talk calmly as the toddler is taken slowly into the pool.
c. Plan recreation activities that do not involve water.
d. Allow the toddler to decide her own approach to the pool.
ANS: D
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 345
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Phobia
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Making sure the toddler has a safe flotation device is
appropriate for water safety; however, it will not help the toddler overcome a
phobia about water.
B. This is incorrect. Talking calmly while taking the toddler into the pool may be an
attempt at exposure therapy; however, this action may compound and intensify
the anxiety related to the phobia.
C. This is incorrect. The toddler is already exhibiting avoidance behavior by
screaming and throwing a tantrum. The complete avoidance of recreational water
may reinforce the toddler’s phobia.
D. This is correct. The best advice by the nurse is to allow the toddler to decide her
own approach to the pool. Initial behavior may involve playing in the kiddy pool,
placing her feet in the shallow end of the pool, or sitting on the pool steps. The
parents should encourage any positive behavior and protect the toddler from
additional negative experiences.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
4. The nurse is performing a well-baby check on an infant at 6 months of age. The mother
shares that the infant sometimes seems unhappy. Which question is most important for
the nurse to ask the mother?
a. “Is it easy to make the baby laugh if he seems unhappy?”
b. “Can you cheer him up by playing with his favorite toys?”
c. “Do you ever remember feelings of being depressed or sad?”
d. “Are you noticing any problems with him eating or sleeping?”
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
1. The nurse is providing care for a student who was involved in a school violence
incidence. The student becomes agitated and angry on the anniversary of the event.
Which action by the nurse is most helpful to the student?
a. Administer the physician-prescribed dose of propranolol (Inderal).
b. Gently and quietly try to soothe the student verbally and physically.
c. Call for a psychotherapist to come and assist the student with posttraumatic stress
disorder (PTSD).
d. Offer verbal support and encourage the student to express feelings.
ANS: D
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 346
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder > Nursing
Interventions
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Synthesis [Creating]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Research shows that administering a dose of propranolol
(Inderal) right after a trauma decreases the risk for PTSD. At the time of the
event’s anniversary, the time has passed for this intervention to be effective.
B. This is incorrect. The student is exhibiting signs of PTSD and may be having a
flashback. The nurse should not attempt to interact with a patient who is
experiencing a flashback. If the nurse touches or talks to the patient, the nurse
can become a part of the flashback and could be in physical danger.
C. This is incorrect. It is likely the student is under the care of a psychotherapist for
PTSD caused by a violent event. Calling for the psychotherapist to come and
assist the student does not address the student’s immediate needs.
D. This is correct. If the possibility of a flashback passes or resolves, the nurse needs
to offer the student verbal support and ask the student to talk about feelings.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
,2. The school nurse is called to attend to a child who is 10 years of age. The teacher reports
the child panicked when asked to present a verbal book report to the class. Which
intervention will the nurse initiate with the child?
a. Take the child to the clinic and report the event to the parents.
b. Place the child on a clinic bed and allow some alone time.
c. Walk with the child in the hallway and provide reassurance.
d. Join the teacher in attempting to find the source of panic.
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 345
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Panic Disorder > Nursing Interventions
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Synthesis [Creating]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty: Moderate
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Taking the child to the clinic and informing the parents about
the event is not an intervention that will assist the child with current feelings of
panic.
B. This is incorrect. When a panic attack occurs, the person affected does not need
to be alone. The nurse should stay with the child and offer reassurance that the
nurse will not leave.
C. This is correct. The nurse’s initial intervention is to assist the patient to an
environment with minimal stimulation, such as a hallway. Walking with the
patient will provide a physical outlet for panic.
D. This is incorrect. When experiencing a panic attack, the person affected is
frequently unable to describe the feeling or identify the cause. The nurse needs to
stay with the child, offer assurance, and remain in a quiet environment with the
child.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
3. A parent brings a toddler to a pediatric clinic for advice about dealing with a fear of
water. The parent shares that the toddler screams and throws a tantrum if anyone attempts
to get her into a pool. The nurse also learns of an incident when the toddler was pushed
into a pool. Which recommendation will the nurse make to help the toddler overcome this
phobia?
a. Make sure the toddler has a safe flotation device.
, b. Talk calmly as the toddler is taken slowly into the pool.
c. Plan recreation activities that do not involve water.
d. Allow the toddler to decide her own approach to the pool.
ANS: D
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
Chapter Learning Objective: 6. Explain five anxiety disorders diagnosed in children
and their recommended treatments.
Page: 345
Heading: Anxiety Disorders > Phobia
Integrated Processes: Nursing Process
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analysis [Analyzing]
Concept: Stress and Coping
Difficulty: Difficult
Feedback
A. This is incorrect. Making sure the toddler has a safe flotation device is
appropriate for water safety; however, it will not help the toddler overcome a
phobia about water.
B. This is incorrect. Talking calmly while taking the toddler into the pool may be an
attempt at exposure therapy; however, this action may compound and intensify
the anxiety related to the phobia.
C. This is incorrect. The toddler is already exhibiting avoidance behavior by
screaming and throwing a tantrum. The complete avoidance of recreational water
may reinforce the toddler’s phobia.
D. This is correct. The best advice by the nurse is to allow the toddler to decide her
own approach to the pool. Initial behavior may involve playing in the kiddy pool,
placing her feet in the shallow end of the pool, or sitting on the pool steps. The
parents should encourage any positive behavior and protect the toddler from
additional negative experiences.
PTS: 1 CON: Stress and Coping
4. The nurse is performing a well-baby check on an infant at 6 months of age. The mother
shares that the infant sometimes seems unhappy. Which question is most important for
the nurse to ask the mother?
a. “Is it easy to make the baby laugh if he seems unhappy?”
b. “Can you cheer him up by playing with his favorite toys?”
c. “Do you ever remember feelings of being depressed or sad?”
d. “Are you noticing any problems with him eating or sleeping?”
ANS: C
Chapter: Chapter 15 Mental Health Disorders
