RASMUSSEN: MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
2 WITH CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1)3A3patient3with3schizophrenia3begins3to3talks3about3"volmers"3or3about3"frangul
arity"3hiding3in3the3warehouse3at3work.3The3term3"volmers"3should3be3documente
d3as3-3answer--3A3neologism
2)3A3patient3with3suicidal3impulses3is3placed3on3the3highest3level3of3suicide3prec
autions.3Which3measures3should3be3incorporated3into3the3plan3of3care3by3the3nu
rse3caring3for3the3patient?3(More3than3one3answer3is3correct.)3-3answer-
A.Maintain3arm's-length,3one-on-one3nursing3observation3around3the3clock.
b.3Allow3no3glass3or3metal3on3meal3trays.
f.3Remove3all3potentially3harmful3objects3from3the3patient's3possession.
3)3A3patient3diagnosed3with3schizophrenia3anxiously3says,3"I3can3see3the3left3sid
e3of3my3body3merging3with3the3wall,3then3my3face3appears3and3disappears3in3th
e3mirror."3While3listening,3the3nurse3should:3-3answer-
maintain3a3normal3social3interaction3distance3from3the3patient.
4)3Which3statement3indicates3a3patient3with3major3depression3is3most3likely3outlo
ok3on3life3during3the3acute3phase3of3the3illness?3-3answer-
During3an3acute3phase3of3major3depression,3the3client3may3feel3worthless3and3d
eserve3bad3things3to3happen3personally.
5)3A3patient3diagnosed3with3bipolar3disorder3is3in3the3maintenance3phase3of3treat
ment.3The3patient3asks,3"Do3I3have3to3keep3taking3this3lithium3even3though3my3
mood3is3stable3now?"3Select3the3nurse's3appropriate3response.3-3answer-
b.3"Taking3the3medication3every3day3helps3reduce3the3risk3of3a3relapse."
6)3A3person3has3had3difficulty3keeping3a3job3because3of3arguing3with3co-
workers3and3accusing3them3of3conspiracy.3Today3the3person3shouts,3"They're3all
3plotting3to3destroy3me.3Isn't3that3true?"3Select3the3nurse's3most3therapeutic3resp
onse.3-3answer-
b.3"Feeling3that3people3want3to3destroy3you3must3be3very3frightening."
7)3A3patient3is3undergoing3a3series3of3diagnostic3tests.3The3patient3says,3"Nothin
g3is3wrong3with3me3except3a3stubborn3chest3cold."3The3spouse3reports3the3patie
, nt3smokes3and3coughs3a3lot,3has3lost3153pounds,3and3is3easily3fatigued.3Which3
defense3mechanism3is3the3patient3using?3-3answer-Denial
8)3A3cab3driver,3stuck3in3traffic,3becomes3lightheaded,3tremulous,3diaphoretic,3tac
hycardia3and3dyspneic.3A3workup3in3an3emergency3department3reveals3no3pathol
ogy.3Which3medical3diagnosis3should3a3nurse3suspect,3and3what3nursing3diagnosi
s3should3be3the3nurse's3first3priority?3-3answer-
Panic3disorder3and3a3nursing3diagnosis3of3anxiety
9)3The3nurse3is3providing3health3teaching3for3a3patient3who3has3been3prescribed
3Phenelzine3(Nardil)3for3depression3and3provides3a3written3list3of3foods3that3shou
ld3not3be3eaten3while3taking3this3medication.3What3is3the3potential3problem3if3the
3patient3is3not3compliant3with3these3dietary3restrictions?3-3answer-
hypertensive3crisis
foods3with3tyramine3in3it3-3answer-
Aged3meats3or3aged3cheeses,3protein3extracts,3sour3cream,3alcohol,3anchovies,3li
ver,3sausages,3overripe3figs,3bananas,3avocados,3chocolate,3soy3sauce,3bean3cur
d,3natural3yogurt,3fava3beans—tyramine-containing3foods—
may3precipitate3hypertensive3crisis.3Avoid3chocolate3or3caffeine.3
Herbal:3Ginseng,3ephedra,3ma3huang,3St.3John's3wort3may3cause3hypertensive3cri
sis.
For3depression3that3is3refractory3to3TCAs.3Avoid3certain3foods3such3as3-3answer-
cheese,3sour3cream,3wine,3beer,3figs,3anchovies,3shrimp,3bananas,3and3chocolate,
3and3avoid3drugs3(e.g.,3TCAs).
Risk3for3hypertensive3crisis:
Avoid3self-medication.3WHY?3-3answer-
OTC3preparations3containing3dextromethorphan,3sympathomimetic3agents,3or3antihi
stamines3(e.g.,3cough,3cold,3and3hay3fever3remedies,3appetite3suppressants)3can3
precipitate3severe3hypertensive3reactions3if3taken3during3therapy3or3within32-
33wk3after3discontinuation3of3an3MAO3inhibitor.
10)3Which3piece3of3subjective3data3obtained3during3the3nurse's3psychosocial3ass
essment3of3a3client3experiencing3severe3anxiety3would3indicate3the3possibility3of3
obsessive-compulsive3disorder?3-3answer-
a.3"I3have3to3keep3checking3to3see3where3my3car3keys3are."
11)3The3nurse3is3evaluating3the3effectiveness3of3psychotropic3medication3on3nega
tive3symptoms3of3psychosis.3The3nurse3looks3for3a3decrease3in3which3of3the3foll
owing?3-3answer-A:3Affective3flattening.
11)3The3nurse3is3evaluating3the3effectiveness3of3an3antipsychotic3on3negative3sy
mptoms3of3psychosis.3Which3of3the3following3symptoms3would3be3classified3as3n
egative3symptoms3of3psychosis?3-3answer-Blunted3affect
2 WITH CORRECT QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
1)3A3patient3with3schizophrenia3begins3to3talks3about3"volmers"3or3about3"frangul
arity"3hiding3in3the3warehouse3at3work.3The3term3"volmers"3should3be3documente
d3as3-3answer--3A3neologism
2)3A3patient3with3suicidal3impulses3is3placed3on3the3highest3level3of3suicide3prec
autions.3Which3measures3should3be3incorporated3into3the3plan3of3care3by3the3nu
rse3caring3for3the3patient?3(More3than3one3answer3is3correct.)3-3answer-
A.Maintain3arm's-length,3one-on-one3nursing3observation3around3the3clock.
b.3Allow3no3glass3or3metal3on3meal3trays.
f.3Remove3all3potentially3harmful3objects3from3the3patient's3possession.
3)3A3patient3diagnosed3with3schizophrenia3anxiously3says,3"I3can3see3the3left3sid
e3of3my3body3merging3with3the3wall,3then3my3face3appears3and3disappears3in3th
e3mirror."3While3listening,3the3nurse3should:3-3answer-
maintain3a3normal3social3interaction3distance3from3the3patient.
4)3Which3statement3indicates3a3patient3with3major3depression3is3most3likely3outlo
ok3on3life3during3the3acute3phase3of3the3illness?3-3answer-
During3an3acute3phase3of3major3depression,3the3client3may3feel3worthless3and3d
eserve3bad3things3to3happen3personally.
5)3A3patient3diagnosed3with3bipolar3disorder3is3in3the3maintenance3phase3of3treat
ment.3The3patient3asks,3"Do3I3have3to3keep3taking3this3lithium3even3though3my3
mood3is3stable3now?"3Select3the3nurse's3appropriate3response.3-3answer-
b.3"Taking3the3medication3every3day3helps3reduce3the3risk3of3a3relapse."
6)3A3person3has3had3difficulty3keeping3a3job3because3of3arguing3with3co-
workers3and3accusing3them3of3conspiracy.3Today3the3person3shouts,3"They're3all
3plotting3to3destroy3me.3Isn't3that3true?"3Select3the3nurse's3most3therapeutic3resp
onse.3-3answer-
b.3"Feeling3that3people3want3to3destroy3you3must3be3very3frightening."
7)3A3patient3is3undergoing3a3series3of3diagnostic3tests.3The3patient3says,3"Nothin
g3is3wrong3with3me3except3a3stubborn3chest3cold."3The3spouse3reports3the3patie
, nt3smokes3and3coughs3a3lot,3has3lost3153pounds,3and3is3easily3fatigued.3Which3
defense3mechanism3is3the3patient3using?3-3answer-Denial
8)3A3cab3driver,3stuck3in3traffic,3becomes3lightheaded,3tremulous,3diaphoretic,3tac
hycardia3and3dyspneic.3A3workup3in3an3emergency3department3reveals3no3pathol
ogy.3Which3medical3diagnosis3should3a3nurse3suspect,3and3what3nursing3diagnosi
s3should3be3the3nurse's3first3priority?3-3answer-
Panic3disorder3and3a3nursing3diagnosis3of3anxiety
9)3The3nurse3is3providing3health3teaching3for3a3patient3who3has3been3prescribed
3Phenelzine3(Nardil)3for3depression3and3provides3a3written3list3of3foods3that3shou
ld3not3be3eaten3while3taking3this3medication.3What3is3the3potential3problem3if3the
3patient3is3not3compliant3with3these3dietary3restrictions?3-3answer-
hypertensive3crisis
foods3with3tyramine3in3it3-3answer-
Aged3meats3or3aged3cheeses,3protein3extracts,3sour3cream,3alcohol,3anchovies,3li
ver,3sausages,3overripe3figs,3bananas,3avocados,3chocolate,3soy3sauce,3bean3cur
d,3natural3yogurt,3fava3beans—tyramine-containing3foods—
may3precipitate3hypertensive3crisis.3Avoid3chocolate3or3caffeine.3
Herbal:3Ginseng,3ephedra,3ma3huang,3St.3John's3wort3may3cause3hypertensive3cri
sis.
For3depression3that3is3refractory3to3TCAs.3Avoid3certain3foods3such3as3-3answer-
cheese,3sour3cream,3wine,3beer,3figs,3anchovies,3shrimp,3bananas,3and3chocolate,
3and3avoid3drugs3(e.g.,3TCAs).
Risk3for3hypertensive3crisis:
Avoid3self-medication.3WHY?3-3answer-
OTC3preparations3containing3dextromethorphan,3sympathomimetic3agents,3or3antihi
stamines3(e.g.,3cough,3cold,3and3hay3fever3remedies,3appetite3suppressants)3can3
precipitate3severe3hypertensive3reactions3if3taken3during3therapy3or3within32-
33wk3after3discontinuation3of3an3MAO3inhibitor.
10)3Which3piece3of3subjective3data3obtained3during3the3nurse's3psychosocial3ass
essment3of3a3client3experiencing3severe3anxiety3would3indicate3the3possibility3of3
obsessive-compulsive3disorder?3-3answer-
a.3"I3have3to3keep3checking3to3see3where3my3car3keys3are."
11)3The3nurse3is3evaluating3the3effectiveness3of3psychotropic3medication3on3nega
tive3symptoms3of3psychosis.3The3nurse3looks3for3a3decrease3in3which3of3the3foll
owing?3-3answer-A:3Affective3flattening.
11)3The3nurse3is3evaluating3the3effectiveness3of3an3antipsychotic3on3negative3sy
mptoms3of3psychosis.3Which3of3the3following3symptoms3would3be3classified3as3n
egative3symptoms3of3psychosis?3-3answer-Blunted3affect
