Comprehensive Rasmussen Mental
Health Exam 2 Study Guide: 300
Questions with Verified Answers
Already Graded A+[MOST RECENT]
1. Neologism Identification
• Question: A patient with schizophrenia begins to talk about
"volmers" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term "volmers"
should be documented as:
• Answer: a. neologism
• Rationale: A neologism is a newly coined word that has a special
meaning to the patient. "Volmer" is not a recognized word.
Concrete thinking is the inability to think abstractly, thought
insertion is the belief that thoughts are implanted, and an idea of
reference is a delusion where trivial events have personal
significance .
2. Highest Level Suicide Precautions
• Question: A patient with suicidal impulses is placed on the highest
level of suicide precautions. Which measures should be
incorporated into the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
• 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.
• Rationale: One-on-one observation is essential for patients with
poor impulse control. Removing harmful objects and using plastic
dishes are precautions taken to prevent self-harm. The other
options describe less stringent precaution levels .
3. Maintaining Personal Space
, • Question: 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: d. maintain a normal social interaction distance from the
patient.
• Rationale: The patient is describing phenomena indicating
personal boundary difficulties. The nurse should maintain an
appropriate social distance and not touch the patient, as physical
closeness could precipitate panic .
4. Outlook in Major Depression
• Question: Which statement indicates a patient with major
depression's 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. Lithium Maintenance Therapy
• Question: 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."
• Rationale: Lithium is often prescribed long-term, even during
maintenance phases, to prevent recurrence of manic or depressive
episodes .
6. Therapeutic Communication for Delusions
• Question: A 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."
, • Rationale: The most therapeutic approach is to validate the
patient's feelings without confirming the delusional content.
Arguing about reality can increase anxiety .
7. Defense Mechanism Identification
• Question: A patient is undergoing tests. The patient says, "Nothing
is wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse
reports the patient smokes, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily
fatigued. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?
• Answer: c. Denial
• Rationale: Denial is the unconscious blocking of threatening or
painful information. Regression involves behaviors from an earlier
stage, displacement shifts feelings to a neutral object, and
projection attributes one's own feelings to others .
8. Command Hallucinations
• Question: When assessing a patient with schizophrenia who is
experiencing auditory hallucinations, what is the priority question
for the nurse to ask?
• Answer: Ask if the voices are telling the patient to harm
themselves or others.
• Rationale: A command hallucination could result in injury. It is
critical to establish if the voices are commanding self-harm or
harm to others .
9. PTSD Symptom Cluster
• Question: A client with PTSD is having intrusive memories,
nightmares, and flashbacks. Which symptom cluster does this
represent?
• Answer: c. Re-experiencing
• Rationale: PTSD symptoms are grouped into four clusters: re-
experiencing (intrusive memories, nightmares), avoidance, negative
alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal .
10. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
, • Question: A client with generalized anxiety disorder is learning
relaxation techniques. Which statement indicates understanding?
• Answer: A) "I should tense and relax each muscle group from head
to toe."
• Rationale: Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) involves tensing
and relaxing muscle groups. Clients should practice regularly, not
only during high anxiety .
11. Persecutory Delusion
• Question: A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is
monitoring my thoughts through a chip in my brain." Which is the
client experiencing?
• Answer: B) Delusion of persecution
• Rationale: A delusion of persecution involves the belief that one is
being targeted, harassed, or conspired against .
12. Alogia, Avolition, Flat Affect
• Question: A client with schizophrenia exhibits alogia, avolition, and
flat affect. Which type of symptoms are these?
• Answer: B) Negative symptoms
• Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a decrease or loss of
normal functions: alogia (poverty of speech), avolition (lack of
motivation), and flat affect (reduced emotional expression) .
13. Clozapine Monitoring
• Question: A client with schizophrenia has been prescribed
clozapine (Clozaril). Which lab test must be monitored regularly?
• Answer: C) Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
• Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis (severe
neutropenia). Regular monitoring of absolute neutrophil count
(ANC) is required .
14. Haloperidol Adverse Effects
• Question: A client with schizophrenia is started on haloperidol
(Haldol). Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor for as a
priority?
Health Exam 2 Study Guide: 300
Questions with Verified Answers
Already Graded A+[MOST RECENT]
1. Neologism Identification
• Question: A patient with schizophrenia begins to talk about
"volmers" hiding in the warehouse at work. The term "volmers"
should be documented as:
• Answer: a. neologism
• Rationale: A neologism is a newly coined word that has a special
meaning to the patient. "Volmer" is not a recognized word.
Concrete thinking is the inability to think abstractly, thought
insertion is the belief that thoughts are implanted, and an idea of
reference is a delusion where trivial events have personal
significance .
2. Highest Level Suicide Precautions
• Question: A patient with suicidal impulses is placed on the highest
level of suicide precautions. Which measures should be
incorporated into the plan of care? (Select all that apply.)
• 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.
• Rationale: One-on-one observation is essential for patients with
poor impulse control. Removing harmful objects and using plastic
dishes are precautions taken to prevent self-harm. The other
options describe less stringent precaution levels .
3. Maintaining Personal Space
, • Question: 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: d. maintain a normal social interaction distance from the
patient.
• Rationale: The patient is describing phenomena indicating
personal boundary difficulties. The nurse should maintain an
appropriate social distance and not touch the patient, as physical
closeness could precipitate panic .
4. Outlook in Major Depression
• Question: Which statement indicates a patient with major
depression's 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. Lithium Maintenance Therapy
• Question: 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."
• Rationale: Lithium is often prescribed long-term, even during
maintenance phases, to prevent recurrence of manic or depressive
episodes .
6. Therapeutic Communication for Delusions
• Question: A 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."
, • Rationale: The most therapeutic approach is to validate the
patient's feelings without confirming the delusional content.
Arguing about reality can increase anxiety .
7. Defense Mechanism Identification
• Question: A patient is undergoing tests. The patient says, "Nothing
is wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse
reports the patient smokes, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily
fatigued. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?
• Answer: c. Denial
• Rationale: Denial is the unconscious blocking of threatening or
painful information. Regression involves behaviors from an earlier
stage, displacement shifts feelings to a neutral object, and
projection attributes one's own feelings to others .
8. Command Hallucinations
• Question: When assessing a patient with schizophrenia who is
experiencing auditory hallucinations, what is the priority question
for the nurse to ask?
• Answer: Ask if the voices are telling the patient to harm
themselves or others.
• Rationale: A command hallucination could result in injury. It is
critical to establish if the voices are commanding self-harm or
harm to others .
9. PTSD Symptom Cluster
• Question: A client with PTSD is having intrusive memories,
nightmares, and flashbacks. Which symptom cluster does this
represent?
• Answer: c. Re-experiencing
• Rationale: PTSD symptoms are grouped into four clusters: re-
experiencing (intrusive memories, nightmares), avoidance, negative
alterations in cognition and mood, and hyperarousal .
10. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
, • Question: A client with generalized anxiety disorder is learning
relaxation techniques. Which statement indicates understanding?
• Answer: A) "I should tense and relax each muscle group from head
to toe."
• Rationale: Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) involves tensing
and relaxing muscle groups. Clients should practice regularly, not
only during high anxiety .
11. Persecutory Delusion
• Question: A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is
monitoring my thoughts through a chip in my brain." Which is the
client experiencing?
• Answer: B) Delusion of persecution
• Rationale: A delusion of persecution involves the belief that one is
being targeted, harassed, or conspired against .
12. Alogia, Avolition, Flat Affect
• Question: A client with schizophrenia exhibits alogia, avolition, and
flat affect. Which type of symptoms are these?
• Answer: B) Negative symptoms
• Rationale: Negative symptoms represent a decrease or loss of
normal functions: alogia (poverty of speech), avolition (lack of
motivation), and flat affect (reduced emotional expression) .
13. Clozapine Monitoring
• Question: A client with schizophrenia has been prescribed
clozapine (Clozaril). Which lab test must be monitored regularly?
• Answer: C) Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
• Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis (severe
neutropenia). Regular monitoring of absolute neutrophil count
(ANC) is required .
14. Haloperidol Adverse Effects
• Question: A client with schizophrenia is started on haloperidol
(Haldol). Which adverse effect should the nurse monitor for as a
priority?
