RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM WITH 100
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
1) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" or about
"frangularity" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be
documented as - ANSWER-- A neologism
2) A patient with suicidal impulses is placed on the highest level of suicide
precautions. Which measures should be incorporated into the plan of care by the
nurse caring for the patient? (More than one answer is correct.) - ANSWER-
A.Maintain arm's-length, one-on-one nursing observation around the clock.
b. Allow no glass or metal on meal trays.
f. Remove all potentially harmful objects from the patient's possession.
3) A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia anxiously says, "I can see the left side of
my body merging with the wall, then my face appears and disappears in the
mirror." While listening, the nurse should: - ANSWER-maintain a normal social
interaction distance from the patient.
4) Which statement indicates a patient with major depression is most likely outlook
on life during the acute phase of the illness? - ANSWER-During an acute phase of
major depression, the client may feel worthless and deserve bad things to happen
personally.
5) A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder is in the maintenance phase of
treatment. The patient asks, "Do I have to keep taking this lithium even though my
mood is stable now?" Select the nurse's appropriate response. - ANSWER-b.
"Taking the medication every day helps reduce the risk of a relapse."
,6) A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response. -
ANSWER-b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
7) A patient is undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. The patient says, "Nothing is
wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse reports the patient
smokes and coughs a lot, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense
mechanism is the patient using? - ANSWER-Denial
8) A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic,
tachycardia and dyspneic. A workup in an emergency department reveals no
pathology. Which medical diagnosis should a nurse suspect, and what nursing
diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority? - ANSWER-Panic disorder and a
nursing diagnosis of anxiety
9) The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient who has been prescribed
Phenelzine (Nardil) for depression and provides a written list of foods that should
not be eaten while taking this medication. What is the potential problem if the
patient is not compliant with these dietary restrictions? - ANSWER-hypertensive
crisis
foods with tyramine in it - ANSWER-Aged meats or aged cheeses, protein
extracts, sour cream, alcohol, anchovies, liver, sausages, overripe figs, bananas,
avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd, natural yogurt, fava beans—tyramine-
containing foods—may precipitate hypertensive crisis. Avoid chocolate or
caffeine.
Herbal: Ginseng, ephedra, ma huang, St. John's wort may cause hypertensive
crisis.
, For depression that is refractory to TCAs. Avoid certain foods such as -
ANSWER-cheese, sour cream, wine, beer, figs, anchovies, shrimp, bananas, and
chocolate, and avoid drugs (e.g., TCAs).
Risk for hypertensive crisis:
Avoid self-medication. WHY? - ANSWER-OTC preparations containing
dextromethorphan, sympathomimetic agents, or antihistamines (e.g., cough, cold,
and hay fever remedies, appetite suppressants) can precipitate severe hypertensive
reactions if taken during therapy or within 2-3 wk after discontinuation of an MAO
inhibitor.
10) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility of
obsessive-compulsive disorder? - ANSWER-a. "I have to keep checking to see
where my car keys are."
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of psychotropic medication on
negative symptoms of psychosis. The nurse looks for a decrease in which of the
following? - ANSWER-A: Affective flattening.
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of an antipsychotic on negative
symptoms of psychosis. Which of the following symptoms would be classified as
negative symptoms of psychosis? - ANSWER-Blunted affect
Poverty of thought
Loss of motivation
Inability to experience pleasure or joy
12) A 39-year-old woman is recently divorced and is learning to cope with
additional stressors. Which of the following best demonstrate(s) that she is
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS
1) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" or about
"frangularity" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be
documented as - ANSWER-- A neologism
2) A patient with suicidal impulses is placed on the highest level of suicide
precautions. Which measures should be incorporated into the plan of care by the
nurse caring for the patient? (More than one answer is correct.) - ANSWER-
A.Maintain arm's-length, one-on-one nursing observation around the clock.
b. Allow no glass or metal on meal trays.
f. Remove all potentially harmful objects from the patient's possession.
3) A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia anxiously says, "I can see the left side of
my body merging with the wall, then my face appears and disappears in the
mirror." While listening, the nurse should: - ANSWER-maintain a normal social
interaction distance from the patient.
4) Which statement indicates a patient with major depression is most likely outlook
on life during the acute phase of the illness? - ANSWER-During an acute phase of
major depression, the client may feel worthless and deserve bad things to happen
personally.
5) A patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder is in the maintenance phase of
treatment. The patient asks, "Do I have to keep taking this lithium even though my
mood is stable now?" Select the nurse's appropriate response. - ANSWER-b.
"Taking the medication every day helps reduce the risk of a relapse."
,6) A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response. -
ANSWER-b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
7) A patient is undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. The patient says, "Nothing is
wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse reports the patient
smokes and coughs a lot, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense
mechanism is the patient using? - ANSWER-Denial
8) A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic,
tachycardia and dyspneic. A workup in an emergency department reveals no
pathology. Which medical diagnosis should a nurse suspect, and what nursing
diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority? - ANSWER-Panic disorder and a
nursing diagnosis of anxiety
9) The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient who has been prescribed
Phenelzine (Nardil) for depression and provides a written list of foods that should
not be eaten while taking this medication. What is the potential problem if the
patient is not compliant with these dietary restrictions? - ANSWER-hypertensive
crisis
foods with tyramine in it - ANSWER-Aged meats or aged cheeses, protein
extracts, sour cream, alcohol, anchovies, liver, sausages, overripe figs, bananas,
avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd, natural yogurt, fava beans—tyramine-
containing foods—may precipitate hypertensive crisis. Avoid chocolate or
caffeine.
Herbal: Ginseng, ephedra, ma huang, St. John's wort may cause hypertensive
crisis.
, For depression that is refractory to TCAs. Avoid certain foods such as -
ANSWER-cheese, sour cream, wine, beer, figs, anchovies, shrimp, bananas, and
chocolate, and avoid drugs (e.g., TCAs).
Risk for hypertensive crisis:
Avoid self-medication. WHY? - ANSWER-OTC preparations containing
dextromethorphan, sympathomimetic agents, or antihistamines (e.g., cough, cold,
and hay fever remedies, appetite suppressants) can precipitate severe hypertensive
reactions if taken during therapy or within 2-3 wk after discontinuation of an MAO
inhibitor.
10) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility of
obsessive-compulsive disorder? - ANSWER-a. "I have to keep checking to see
where my car keys are."
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of psychotropic medication on
negative symptoms of psychosis. The nurse looks for a decrease in which of the
following? - ANSWER-A: Affective flattening.
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of an antipsychotic on negative
symptoms of psychosis. Which of the following symptoms would be classified as
negative symptoms of psychosis? - ANSWER-Blunted affect
Poverty of thought
Loss of motivation
Inability to experience pleasure or joy
12) A 39-year-old woman is recently divorced and is learning to cope with
additional stressors. Which of the following best demonstrate(s) that she is
