PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A 12-year-old child who has a history of school failure and
destructive acting out is admitted to a child psychiatric unit with
the diagnosis of conduct disorder. The youngest of three
children, the child is identified by both the parents and the
siblings as the family problem. The nurse recognizes the
family's pattern of relating to the child as: Correct Answer
Scapegoating
A 13-year-old boy who recently was suspended from school for
consistently bullying other children is brought to the pediatric
mental health clinic by his mother. The child is assessed by the
psychiatrist and referred to a psychologist for psychological
testing. The day after the tests are completed, the mother returns
to the clinic and asks the nurse for results of the tests. The nurse
should: Correct Answer Refer the mother to the psychiatrist
A 17-year-old client is admitted to the hospital because of
weight loss and malnutrition, and the health care provider
diagnoses anorexia nervosa. After the client's physical condition
is stabilized, the provider, in conjunction with the client and
parents, decides to institute a behavior-modification program.
What component of behavior modification verbalized by one of
the parents leads the nurse to conclude that the parent has an
understanding of the therapy? Correct Answer Rewarding
positive behavior
A 17-year-old teenager is found to have leukemia. Which
statements by the teenager reflect Piaget's cognitive processes
,associated with adolescence? (Select all that apply.) Correct
Answer "I'm going to do my best to fight this awful disease."
"Now I can't go to the prom because I have this stupid disease."
"This illness is serious, but with treatment I think I have a
chance to get better."
A 20-year-old woman is brought to an emergency department
after having been raped. She is very anxious and cannot recall
any of the circumstances surrounding the assault or provide the
police with a description of the rapist. The nurse knows that the
defense mechanism being utilized by this woman is: Correct
Answer Repression
A 2½-year-old child is admitted for treatment of injuries
supposedly sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs. Child
abuse is suspected. What statements might the nurse expect from
a parent who engages in child abuse? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer "Every time I turn around the kid is falling over
something."
"I can't understand it. He didn't have a problem using the stairs
without my help before this."
A 3-year-old child is found to have a pervasive developmental
disorder not otherwise specified (autistic disorder). What should
the nurse consider most unusual for the child to demonstrate?
Correct Answer Responsiveness to the parents
A 30-year-old female client asks the nurse to change her room,
stating that she hates her roommate and can't stand to be in the
same room with her. Just as she finishes speaking, her roommate
enters and the client tells her she missed her and has been all
,over the unit looking for her. The nurse recognizes that the client
is using: Correct Answer Reaction formation
A 30-year-old woman reports to the mental health clinic on the
recommendation of her primary health care provider. She has
been unable to carry out everyday activities because of increased
pain in her lower back and legs. Numerous neurological and
orthopedic workups indicate that her symptoms seem excessive
when compared with the physical problems shown on physical
examination and repeated MRIs and x-rays. She says that no one
understands how difficult it has been to care for her 32-year-old
husband, who has an inoperable brain tumor and is undergoing
chemotherapy. In light of the history and symptoms, what
disorder should the nurse suspect? Correct Answer Conversion
A 4-year-old child is found to have attention deficit-
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What information about the
child's behavior should the nurse expect when obtaining a health
history from the parents? (Select all that apply.) Correct Answer
Impulsiveness
Excessive talking
Playing video games for hours on end
Failure to follow through or finish tasks
A 6-year-old child has been wetting the bed at night since the
birth of a baby brother. What defense mechanism is the child
using to cope with the stress of accepting a new family member?
Correct Answer Regression
A 6-year-old child who has autism exhibits frequent spinning
and hand-flapping behaviors. What should the nurse teach the
, parents to do to limit these actions? Correct Answer Use
another activity to distract the child
A 67-year-old man with type 2 diabetes sadly confides in the
nurse that he has been unable to have an erection for several
years. What is the best response by the nurse? Correct Answer
"You sound upset about not being able to have an erection."
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the clinic by the mother, who
tells the nurse that her child has been having trouble in school,
has difficulty concentrating, and is falling behind in schoolwork
since she and her husband separated 6 months ago. The mother
reports that lately her child has not been eating dinner, and she
often hears him crying when he is alone. What basis for these
behaviors should the nurse consider? Correct Answer The child
may be blaming himself for his parents' breakup.
A client arrives at the mental health clinic disheveled, agitated,
and demanding that the nurse "do something to make these
feeling stop." What clinical manifestation is evident? Correct
Answer Feelings of panic
A client believes that doorknobs are contaminated and refuses to
touch them except with a paper tissue. What nursing
intervention will be most therapeutic for this client? Correct
Answer Supplying the client with tissues to maintain function
until the anxiety eases
A client comes to a mental health center with severe anxiety,
evidenced by crying, hand-wringing, and pacing. What should
QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
A 12-year-old child who has a history of school failure and
destructive acting out is admitted to a child psychiatric unit with
the diagnosis of conduct disorder. The youngest of three
children, the child is identified by both the parents and the
siblings as the family problem. The nurse recognizes the
family's pattern of relating to the child as: Correct Answer
Scapegoating
A 13-year-old boy who recently was suspended from school for
consistently bullying other children is brought to the pediatric
mental health clinic by his mother. The child is assessed by the
psychiatrist and referred to a psychologist for psychological
testing. The day after the tests are completed, the mother returns
to the clinic and asks the nurse for results of the tests. The nurse
should: Correct Answer Refer the mother to the psychiatrist
A 17-year-old client is admitted to the hospital because of
weight loss and malnutrition, and the health care provider
diagnoses anorexia nervosa. After the client's physical condition
is stabilized, the provider, in conjunction with the client and
parents, decides to institute a behavior-modification program.
What component of behavior modification verbalized by one of
the parents leads the nurse to conclude that the parent has an
understanding of the therapy? Correct Answer Rewarding
positive behavior
A 17-year-old teenager is found to have leukemia. Which
statements by the teenager reflect Piaget's cognitive processes
,associated with adolescence? (Select all that apply.) Correct
Answer "I'm going to do my best to fight this awful disease."
"Now I can't go to the prom because I have this stupid disease."
"This illness is serious, but with treatment I think I have a
chance to get better."
A 20-year-old woman is brought to an emergency department
after having been raped. She is very anxious and cannot recall
any of the circumstances surrounding the assault or provide the
police with a description of the rapist. The nurse knows that the
defense mechanism being utilized by this woman is: Correct
Answer Repression
A 2½-year-old child is admitted for treatment of injuries
supposedly sustained in a fall down a flight of stairs. Child
abuse is suspected. What statements might the nurse expect from
a parent who engages in child abuse? (Select all that apply.)
Correct Answer "Every time I turn around the kid is falling over
something."
"I can't understand it. He didn't have a problem using the stairs
without my help before this."
A 3-year-old child is found to have a pervasive developmental
disorder not otherwise specified (autistic disorder). What should
the nurse consider most unusual for the child to demonstrate?
Correct Answer Responsiveness to the parents
A 30-year-old female client asks the nurse to change her room,
stating that she hates her roommate and can't stand to be in the
same room with her. Just as she finishes speaking, her roommate
enters and the client tells her she missed her and has been all
,over the unit looking for her. The nurse recognizes that the client
is using: Correct Answer Reaction formation
A 30-year-old woman reports to the mental health clinic on the
recommendation of her primary health care provider. She has
been unable to carry out everyday activities because of increased
pain in her lower back and legs. Numerous neurological and
orthopedic workups indicate that her symptoms seem excessive
when compared with the physical problems shown on physical
examination and repeated MRIs and x-rays. She says that no one
understands how difficult it has been to care for her 32-year-old
husband, who has an inoperable brain tumor and is undergoing
chemotherapy. In light of the history and symptoms, what
disorder should the nurse suspect? Correct Answer Conversion
A 4-year-old child is found to have attention deficit-
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What information about the
child's behavior should the nurse expect when obtaining a health
history from the parents? (Select all that apply.) Correct Answer
Impulsiveness
Excessive talking
Playing video games for hours on end
Failure to follow through or finish tasks
A 6-year-old child has been wetting the bed at night since the
birth of a baby brother. What defense mechanism is the child
using to cope with the stress of accepting a new family member?
Correct Answer Regression
A 6-year-old child who has autism exhibits frequent spinning
and hand-flapping behaviors. What should the nurse teach the
, parents to do to limit these actions? Correct Answer Use
another activity to distract the child
A 67-year-old man with type 2 diabetes sadly confides in the
nurse that he has been unable to have an erection for several
years. What is the best response by the nurse? Correct Answer
"You sound upset about not being able to have an erection."
A 7-year-old boy is brought to the clinic by the mother, who
tells the nurse that her child has been having trouble in school,
has difficulty concentrating, and is falling behind in schoolwork
since she and her husband separated 6 months ago. The mother
reports that lately her child has not been eating dinner, and she
often hears him crying when he is alone. What basis for these
behaviors should the nurse consider? Correct Answer The child
may be blaming himself for his parents' breakup.
A client arrives at the mental health clinic disheveled, agitated,
and demanding that the nurse "do something to make these
feeling stop." What clinical manifestation is evident? Correct
Answer Feelings of panic
A client believes that doorknobs are contaminated and refuses to
touch them except with a paper tissue. What nursing
intervention will be most therapeutic for this client? Correct
Answer Supplying the client with tissues to maintain function
until the anxiety eases
A client comes to a mental health center with severe anxiety,
evidenced by crying, hand-wringing, and pacing. What should
