Psych Final Exam NCLEX Questions and
Correct Answers
A 22-year-old patient has a history of panic attacks and is having one in your care
right now due to a recent health diagnosis. What would be your priority intervention?
a. The nurse should sit in silence with the patient
b. The nurse should leave the patient alone until they are calm
c. The nurse should take the patient to a small, quiet, and non-stimulating
environment
d.The nurse should offer PRN medications
✓ ~~~ c. The nurse should take the patient to a small, quiet, and non-stimulating
environment
When a patient is in the midst of a panic attack, which intervention would need
interference by the charge nurse?
a. The nurse is talking to the patient in a comforting manner
b. The nurse is making the patient's safety a priority
c. The nurse is reassuring the patient that this is anxiety and that it will pass
d. The nurse leaves the patient and tells them they will return when they have
calmed down
✓ ~~~ d. The nurse leaves the patient and tells them they will return when they have
calmed down
,A client is experiencing a severe panic attack. Which nursing intervention should be
implemented immediately to meet this client's need?
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation exercises
B. Place the client in a prone position
C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of safety
D. Administer the ordered PRN buspirone
✓ ~~~ C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of safety
A client is prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for acute panic attacks. What client history
should cause a nurse to question this order?
A. History of alcohol dependence
B. History of personality disorder
C. History of schizophrenia
D. History of hypertension
✓ ~~~ A. History of alcohol dependence
What is a desired outcome for Major Depressive Disorder?
a. Free from self-harm
b. Independently carrying out ADLs
c. Balance of rest, sleep, activity
d. Medication compliance
,e.All of the above
✓ ~~~ e.All of the above
What is the most frequently prescribed pharmacological intervention for a patient
suffering from Major Depressive Disorder?
a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
b. Tricyclic Antidepressants
c. Atypical Antidepressants
d.MAOI Antidepressants
✓ ~~~ a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Which statement or action by the patient's partner is indicative of the honeymoon
phase?
a.) I've changed and I won't let that happen to you again.
b.) I can't believe you left the dishes in the sink again after I told you to do them
yesterday.
c.) I don't even think you care about me anymore.
d.) Giving the silent treatment
✓ ~~~ a.) I've changed and I won't let that happen to you again.
Which sequence of events does the nurse recognize as the cycle of violence
, a.) Violent episode→ honeymoon phase→ tension building→ violent episode
b.) Abuse→ denial→ anger→ bargaining→ abuse
c.) Abused as a child→ learns from parenting techniques → abuses own children
✓ ~~~ a.) Violent episode→ honeymoon phase→ tension building→ violent episode
When caring for a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the nurse
identifies which of the following medications as an FDA-approved treatment for this
disorder?
A. Diazepam
B. Sertraline
C. Risperidone
D.Alprazolam
✓ ~~~ B. Sertraline
A patient has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a
violent attack that occurred while walking to her vehicle late at night 2 months ago.
The patient explains that she now experiences feelings of fear and stress during the
evening, as well as increasing difficulty falling asleep. The nurse should implement
which of the following interventions for this patient?
A. Encourage the patient to identify details of the event, in order to find specific
concerns to focus the discussion on.
Correct Answers
A 22-year-old patient has a history of panic attacks and is having one in your care
right now due to a recent health diagnosis. What would be your priority intervention?
a. The nurse should sit in silence with the patient
b. The nurse should leave the patient alone until they are calm
c. The nurse should take the patient to a small, quiet, and non-stimulating
environment
d.The nurse should offer PRN medications
✓ ~~~ c. The nurse should take the patient to a small, quiet, and non-stimulating
environment
When a patient is in the midst of a panic attack, which intervention would need
interference by the charge nurse?
a. The nurse is talking to the patient in a comforting manner
b. The nurse is making the patient's safety a priority
c. The nurse is reassuring the patient that this is anxiety and that it will pass
d. The nurse leaves the patient and tells them they will return when they have
calmed down
✓ ~~~ d. The nurse leaves the patient and tells them they will return when they have
calmed down
,A client is experiencing a severe panic attack. Which nursing intervention should be
implemented immediately to meet this client's need?
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation exercises
B. Place the client in a prone position
C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of safety
D. Administer the ordered PRN buspirone
✓ ~~~ C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of safety
A client is prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for acute panic attacks. What client history
should cause a nurse to question this order?
A. History of alcohol dependence
B. History of personality disorder
C. History of schizophrenia
D. History of hypertension
✓ ~~~ A. History of alcohol dependence
What is a desired outcome for Major Depressive Disorder?
a. Free from self-harm
b. Independently carrying out ADLs
c. Balance of rest, sleep, activity
d. Medication compliance
,e.All of the above
✓ ~~~ e.All of the above
What is the most frequently prescribed pharmacological intervention for a patient
suffering from Major Depressive Disorder?
a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
b. Tricyclic Antidepressants
c. Atypical Antidepressants
d.MAOI Antidepressants
✓ ~~~ a. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Which statement or action by the patient's partner is indicative of the honeymoon
phase?
a.) I've changed and I won't let that happen to you again.
b.) I can't believe you left the dishes in the sink again after I told you to do them
yesterday.
c.) I don't even think you care about me anymore.
d.) Giving the silent treatment
✓ ~~~ a.) I've changed and I won't let that happen to you again.
Which sequence of events does the nurse recognize as the cycle of violence
, a.) Violent episode→ honeymoon phase→ tension building→ violent episode
b.) Abuse→ denial→ anger→ bargaining→ abuse
c.) Abused as a child→ learns from parenting techniques → abuses own children
✓ ~~~ a.) Violent episode→ honeymoon phase→ tension building→ violent episode
When caring for a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the nurse
identifies which of the following medications as an FDA-approved treatment for this
disorder?
A. Diazepam
B. Sertraline
C. Risperidone
D.Alprazolam
✓ ~~~ B. Sertraline
A patient has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a
violent attack that occurred while walking to her vehicle late at night 2 months ago.
The patient explains that she now experiences feelings of fear and stress during the
evening, as well as increasing difficulty falling asleep. The nurse should implement
which of the following interventions for this patient?
A. Encourage the patient to identify details of the event, in order to find specific
concerns to focus the discussion on.
