NURS 256 exam 2 material Questions
with 100% Verified Answers UPDATED!!!!.
Stress, Coping & Defense Mechanisms
1. Which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome occurs first after exposure to a stressor?
A. Resistance
B. Exhaustion
C. Alarm
D. Recovery
Answer: C. Alarm
Rationale: The alarm stage is the body's immediate response to a stressor and involves
activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
2. Which physiologic response is expected during the alarm stage of stress?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased epinephrine release
C. Decreased respiratory rate
D. Increased gastrointestinal activity
Answer: B. Increased epinephrine release
Rationale: The alarm reaction activates the sympathetic nervous system, producing increased
heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and catecholamine release.
3. During the resistance stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body primarily
attempts to:
A. Adapt to the continuing stressor
B. Immediately shut down all stress responses
C. Eliminate all cortisol production
D. Return to the alarm stage
Answer: A. Adapt to the continuing stressor
,Rationale: During resistance, the body attempts to maintain physiologic adaptation while
coping with the ongoing stressor.
4. Prolonged exposure to severe stress without adequate recovery may eventually result in
which stage?
A. Alarm
B. Resistance
C. Exhaustion
D. Adaptation
Answer: C. Exhaustion
Rationale: Exhaustion occurs when the body's resources for coping with prolonged stress
become depleted.
5. Which intervention is most appropriate for teaching a client a simple relaxation technique?
A. Encourage rapid shallow breathing
B. Teach slow diaphragmatic breathing
C. Encourage avoidance of all stressors
D. Recommend increasing caffeine intake
Answer: B. Teach slow diaphragmatic breathing
Rationale: Slow diaphragmatic breathing promotes relaxation and decreases physiologic
arousal.
6. Which behavior demonstrates adaptive coping?
A. Using alcohol whenever stressed
B. Isolating from everyone
C. Exercising regularly
D. Refusing to discuss problems
Answer: C. Exercising regularly
Rationale: Regular physical activity can reduce stress and promote healthy coping.
,7. A client says, "I am frustrated about my divorce, so I started exercising every evening."
Which coping strategy is demonstrated?
A. Maladaptive coping
B. Adaptive coping
C. Regression
D. Projection
Answer: B. Adaptive coping
Rationale: The client is directing distress into a healthy activity rather than using a harmful
behavior.
8. A client who is angry with the healthcare provider goes home and yells at a family member.
Which defense mechanism is this?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Sublimation
D. Rationalization
Answer: B. Displacement
Rationale: Displacement occurs when emotions toward one person or situation are redirected
toward a safer target.
9. A client who is angry at a coworker states, "My coworker is the one who hates everyone."
Which defense mechanism is demonstrated?
A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Suppression
D. Sublimation
Answer: A. Projection
Rationale: Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to
another person.
, 10. A client explains repeatedly missing appointments by saying, "The clinic is too difficult to
get to anyway." Which defense mechanism is most likely?
A. Denial
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Dissociation
Answer: B. Rationalization
Rationale: Rationalization involves creating seemingly logical explanations to justify behavior.
11. A hospitalized adult begins speaking in a childlike voice and asking the nurse to perform
tasks they normally do independently. Which defense mechanism is this?
A. Regression
B. Projection
C. Sublimation
D. Intellectualization
Answer: A. Regression
Rationale: Regression involves reverting to behaviors associated with an earlier developmental
stage.
12. Which defense mechanism involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially
acceptable activities?
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Projection
D. Displacement
Answer: B. Sublimation
Rationale: Sublimation redirects unacceptable impulses into constructive and socially
acceptable behavior.
13. A client says, "I know the diagnosis is serious, but there is nothing wrong with me." Which
defense mechanism is most evident?
with 100% Verified Answers UPDATED!!!!.
Stress, Coping & Defense Mechanisms
1. Which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome occurs first after exposure to a stressor?
A. Resistance
B. Exhaustion
C. Alarm
D. Recovery
Answer: C. Alarm
Rationale: The alarm stage is the body's immediate response to a stressor and involves
activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
2. Which physiologic response is expected during the alarm stage of stress?
A. Decreased heart rate
B. Increased epinephrine release
C. Decreased respiratory rate
D. Increased gastrointestinal activity
Answer: B. Increased epinephrine release
Rationale: The alarm reaction activates the sympathetic nervous system, producing increased
heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and catecholamine release.
3. During the resistance stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, the body primarily
attempts to:
A. Adapt to the continuing stressor
B. Immediately shut down all stress responses
C. Eliminate all cortisol production
D. Return to the alarm stage
Answer: A. Adapt to the continuing stressor
,Rationale: During resistance, the body attempts to maintain physiologic adaptation while
coping with the ongoing stressor.
4. Prolonged exposure to severe stress without adequate recovery may eventually result in
which stage?
A. Alarm
B. Resistance
C. Exhaustion
D. Adaptation
Answer: C. Exhaustion
Rationale: Exhaustion occurs when the body's resources for coping with prolonged stress
become depleted.
5. Which intervention is most appropriate for teaching a client a simple relaxation technique?
A. Encourage rapid shallow breathing
B. Teach slow diaphragmatic breathing
C. Encourage avoidance of all stressors
D. Recommend increasing caffeine intake
Answer: B. Teach slow diaphragmatic breathing
Rationale: Slow diaphragmatic breathing promotes relaxation and decreases physiologic
arousal.
6. Which behavior demonstrates adaptive coping?
A. Using alcohol whenever stressed
B. Isolating from everyone
C. Exercising regularly
D. Refusing to discuss problems
Answer: C. Exercising regularly
Rationale: Regular physical activity can reduce stress and promote healthy coping.
,7. A client says, "I am frustrated about my divorce, so I started exercising every evening."
Which coping strategy is demonstrated?
A. Maladaptive coping
B. Adaptive coping
C. Regression
D. Projection
Answer: B. Adaptive coping
Rationale: The client is directing distress into a healthy activity rather than using a harmful
behavior.
8. A client who is angry with the healthcare provider goes home and yells at a family member.
Which defense mechanism is this?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Sublimation
D. Rationalization
Answer: B. Displacement
Rationale: Displacement occurs when emotions toward one person or situation are redirected
toward a safer target.
9. A client who is angry at a coworker states, "My coworker is the one who hates everyone."
Which defense mechanism is demonstrated?
A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Suppression
D. Sublimation
Answer: A. Projection
Rationale: Projection involves attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to
another person.
, 10. A client explains repeatedly missing appointments by saying, "The clinic is too difficult to
get to anyway." Which defense mechanism is most likely?
A. Denial
B. Rationalization
C. Regression
D. Dissociation
Answer: B. Rationalization
Rationale: Rationalization involves creating seemingly logical explanations to justify behavior.
11. A hospitalized adult begins speaking in a childlike voice and asking the nurse to perform
tasks they normally do independently. Which defense mechanism is this?
A. Regression
B. Projection
C. Sublimation
D. Intellectualization
Answer: A. Regression
Rationale: Regression involves reverting to behaviors associated with an earlier developmental
stage.
12. Which defense mechanism involves channeling unacceptable impulses into socially
acceptable activities?
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Projection
D. Displacement
Answer: B. Sublimation
Rationale: Sublimation redirects unacceptable impulses into constructive and socially
acceptable behavior.
13. A client says, "I know the diagnosis is serious, but there is nothing wrong with me." Which
defense mechanism is most evident?
