PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING NCLEX
REVIEW QUESTIONS SET
1 EXAM VERIFIED Q&A
Instructions
All answers are underlined and all questions are in bold.
Questions
A 16-year-old girl is admitted for her first psychotic
break. Her parents feel very guilty. What is your best
nursing response?
A. No one really knows the cause of schizophrenia. It
is not your fault and is not due to anything you did in
the past. It is important to understand this, to support
your daughter, and to find support for yourselves.
,B. Does anyone in your family have schizophrenia, as
this disease is known to be genetic?
C. You may feel bad now, but there are so many other
bad things out there, such as cancer and paralysis.
D. Let me share with you some websites to help you
deal with your guilt. <answer>A. No one really knows the
cause of schizophrenia. It is not your fault and is not due
to anything you did in the past. It is important to
understand this, to support your daughter, and to find
support for yourselves.
Rationale: Schizophrenia has a multifocal origin and its
cause may include a genetic component. Support is
needed for both patients and caregivers.
A 21-year-old patient has a diagnosis of schizophrenia
and is stuporous, yet exhibits sudden, excessive
motor activity with repetitive sit-ups. What is this
behavior called?
A. Delusional.
B. Hallucinogenic.
C. Paranoid.
D. Catatonic. <answer>D. Catatonic.
,Rationale: Catatonic schizophrenia occurs suddenly and
includes motor immobility or excessive motor activity.
A 22-year-old female is admitted to the unit following a
suicide attempt. She has a 2-week history of
depression as well as a history of abusing multiple
substances and anorexia nervosa. What is your first
nursing priority?
A. Socialization.
B. Contracting for eating behavior.
C. Safety.
D. Administering the Beck depression scale.
<answer>C. Safety.
Rationale: Safety is the major principle underlying
psychiatric nursing.
A 22-year-old female was admitted to the mental
health unit with major depression and suicidal
ideation. She has a history of cutting her wrists
intermittently throughout the last 2 years. On days 1
and 2, the patient stays in her room and eats only 20%
of her meals. On day 3, she eats 80% of her meals and
is talking to others in group. The nurse should
consider that the patient is
, A. Showing improvement.
B. Highly suicidal.
C. Exhibiting mood swings.
D. In need of electroshock therapy. <answer>A.
Showing improvement.
Rationale: The patient improvement is based on
increased socialization and increased appetite.
A 35-year-old male patient has been brought to your
hospital unit after making a suicide attempt at his
workplace. Which of the following interventions can
you legally implement?
A. Call the patient's girlfriend and inform her of his
admission and visiting hours.
B. Physically search the patient for weapons and
harmful materials.
C. Call the patient's boss at work and report him as in
need of extended medical leave.
D. Place the patient in four-point restraints and begin
an IV for sedation. <answer>B. Physically search the
patient for weapons and harmful materials.
HEALTH NURSING NCLEX
REVIEW QUESTIONS SET
1 EXAM VERIFIED Q&A
Instructions
All answers are underlined and all questions are in bold.
Questions
A 16-year-old girl is admitted for her first psychotic
break. Her parents feel very guilty. What is your best
nursing response?
A. No one really knows the cause of schizophrenia. It
is not your fault and is not due to anything you did in
the past. It is important to understand this, to support
your daughter, and to find support for yourselves.
,B. Does anyone in your family have schizophrenia, as
this disease is known to be genetic?
C. You may feel bad now, but there are so many other
bad things out there, such as cancer and paralysis.
D. Let me share with you some websites to help you
deal with your guilt. <answer>A. No one really knows the
cause of schizophrenia. It is not your fault and is not due
to anything you did in the past. It is important to
understand this, to support your daughter, and to find
support for yourselves.
Rationale: Schizophrenia has a multifocal origin and its
cause may include a genetic component. Support is
needed for both patients and caregivers.
A 21-year-old patient has a diagnosis of schizophrenia
and is stuporous, yet exhibits sudden, excessive
motor activity with repetitive sit-ups. What is this
behavior called?
A. Delusional.
B. Hallucinogenic.
C. Paranoid.
D. Catatonic. <answer>D. Catatonic.
,Rationale: Catatonic schizophrenia occurs suddenly and
includes motor immobility or excessive motor activity.
A 22-year-old female is admitted to the unit following a
suicide attempt. She has a 2-week history of
depression as well as a history of abusing multiple
substances and anorexia nervosa. What is your first
nursing priority?
A. Socialization.
B. Contracting for eating behavior.
C. Safety.
D. Administering the Beck depression scale.
<answer>C. Safety.
Rationale: Safety is the major principle underlying
psychiatric nursing.
A 22-year-old female was admitted to the mental
health unit with major depression and suicidal
ideation. She has a history of cutting her wrists
intermittently throughout the last 2 years. On days 1
and 2, the patient stays in her room and eats only 20%
of her meals. On day 3, she eats 80% of her meals and
is talking to others in group. The nurse should
consider that the patient is
, A. Showing improvement.
B. Highly suicidal.
C. Exhibiting mood swings.
D. In need of electroshock therapy. <answer>A.
Showing improvement.
Rationale: The patient improvement is based on
increased socialization and increased appetite.
A 35-year-old male patient has been brought to your
hospital unit after making a suicide attempt at his
workplace. Which of the following interventions can
you legally implement?
A. Call the patient's girlfriend and inform her of his
admission and visiting hours.
B. Physically search the patient for weapons and
harmful materials.
C. Call the patient's boss at work and report him as in
need of extended medical leave.
D. Place the patient in four-point restraints and begin
an IV for sedation. <answer>B. Physically search the
patient for weapons and harmful materials.
