When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept
the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication
response to this patient?
A. "I see."
B. "Really?"
C. "You haven't slept the last couple of nights?"
D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - ANSWER-C
The nurse observes a patient pacing in the hall. Which statement by the nurse may help the
patient recognize his anxiety?
A. "I guess you're worried about something, aren't you?
B. "Can I get you some medication to help calm you?"
C. "Have you been pacing for a long time?"
D. "I notice that you're pacing. How are you feeling?" - ANSWER-D
A male patient tells the nurse he was involved in a car accident while he was intoxicated. What
would be the most therapeutic response from nurse?
A. "Why didn't you get someone else to drive you?"
B. "Tell me how you feel about the accident."
C. "You should know better than to drink and drive."
D. "I recommend that you attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting." - ANSWER-B
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at
the locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong
here." What defense mechanism is the patient implementing?
, A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ANSWER-A
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship. The
nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes - ANSWER-B
The nurse is teaching a patient and her family about the causes of depression. Which of the
following causative factors should the nurse emphasize as the most significant?
A Brain structure abnormalities
B Chemical imbalance
C Social environment
D Recessive gene transmission - ANSWER-B
An individual with depression has a deficiency in which neurotransmitters, based on the
biogenic amine theory?
A Dopamine and thyroxin
B GABA and acetylcholine
C Cortisone and epinephrine
D Serotonin and norepinephrine - ANSWER-D
The community nurse is speaking to a group of new mothers as part of a primary prevention
program. Which self-measures would be most helpful as a strategy to decrease the occurrence
of mood disorders?