NCO STRESS AND COPING EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Which information would the nurse provide to maintain a positive self-image during treatment
of a 13-year-old with idiopathic scoliosis who is upset about the treatment regimen and is
worried about being different from peers?
Remind the client of consequences if he or she refuses treatment.
Help investigate appropriate clothing to minimize appearance of the brace.
Disregard negative characteristics and focus on positive attributes.
Refer the client for psychological counseling until the treatment program is completed. -
ANS Rationale
Clothes can be selected to minimize the appearance of a brace, especially if an effort is made to
wear current styles. Reminding the child how they will look without treatment has a negative
connotation that emphasizes the problem. Focusing only on positive attributes may be
misinterpreted as unqualified praise; adults should give honest appraisals of both positive and
negative attributes. There are no data to indicate that the child will not adjust to the treatment
regimen
Which action by the nurse would be therapeutic after obtaining the consent of an adolescent
girl who is concerned about her body image after amputation of a leg for bone cancer?
Encouraging her peers to visit
Keeping her lower body covered
Placing her in a room by herself
Limiting her visitors to the family - ANS Peer acceptance is crucial during this period; friends
must have the opportunity to accept the client with one leg. Concealment does not help the
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,adolescent or others accept the loss. Isolating the adolescent will increase feelings of alienation
and being different. An adolescent needs to relate to and be accepted by peers and family.
Which response would the nurse give when an adolescent who has had a leg amputated
because of bone cancer begins to experience phantom limb sensations?
By withholding the medication to help prevent addiction
By stating that the limb has been removed and that the pain is psychological
By acknowledging that the pain is real and administering medication to relieve it
By explaining that the phantom limb sensation will subside within a few more days - ANS Pain
medication is required, along with intensive supportive nursing care. To the client the pain is
real, requiring pain medication; addiction is not a concern at this time. Explaining that the pain
is psychological in origin does not help relieve the pain; medication and emotional support are
required. The pain may not recede within a few days; pain medication should be administered.
Which intervention would the nurse add to the plan of care for a client who engages in
ritualistic behavior?
Redirect the client's energy into activities to help others.
Teach the client that the behavior is not serving a realistic purpose.
Administer antianxiety medications that block out the memory of internal fears.
Help the client understand that the behavior is caused by maladaptive coping with increased
anxiety. - ANS The nurse would help the client understand that the behavior is caused by
maladaptive coping with increased anxiety. Helping clients understand that a behavior is being
used to control anxiety usually makes them more amenable to psychotherapy. Redirecting the
client's energy into activities to help others is inappropriate. Treatment includes activities to
help the client, not others. The client usually understands already that the behavior is not
serving a realistic purpose. Although antianxiety medication can be given, it is not to block out
the memory of internal fears. It is to help decrease the anxiety to manageable levels. However,
antidepressants have been proven to be more helpful.
Which nursing intervention would help a client who exhibits physical symptoms when stressed?
Limiting discussions about the problem
Providing information regarding medical care
Teaching the client how to eliminate stress at home
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Assisting the client in developing new coping mechanisms - ANS The nurse would assist the
client in developing new coping mechanisms. Until the client learns new ways of coping with
stress and anxiety, this pattern of behavior will continue. Learning new ways of coping with
stress will help break this physiological pattern. Limiting discussion will avoid the problem.
Providing information about medical care will reinforce the sick role. A certain amount of stress
is present in everyday family situations; the elimination of stress is impossible.
Place the five stages of grieving identified and described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in order of
progression from first to last.
1.Denial
2.Bargaining
3.Anger
4.Depression
5.Acceptance - ANS Initially when someone is coping with grief, there is a refusal to believe
that the loss has occurred or is going to occur (denial), and individuals are in a state of shock. As
awareness of the loss increases, people usually become angry and cannot understand why this
is happening. Coping then moves into the stage of bargaining, in which the dying or grieving
person attempts to avoid the loss by gaining more time. This is followed by depression, when
loss and grief become undeniable. Finally, individuals may progress to the stage of acceptance
after coming to terms with the loss.
Which reason would be likely for a client's anger and acting out when the nurse interrupts the
hand-washing ritual of a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Has overwhelming feelings of anxiety
Resents the nurse's authoritarian manner
Is clashing with the nurse's personality
Reflects an aggressive characteristic - ANS The client has overwhelming feelings of anxiety.
The ritual reduces anxiety; when not permitted to complete the ritual, a client with an
obsessive-compulsive disorder will experience increased anxiety, frustration, and anger, and he
or she may act out. The client is experiencing anxiety not related to the nurse's manner,
personality clash, or an aggressive characteristic.
Which type of group is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Social group
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Self-help group
Resocialization group
Psychotherapeutic group - ANS AA is a self-help group of people who meet to attain and
maintain sobriety. A social group centers on building interpersonal relationships through
participation in mutual activities. A resocialization group centers on increasing social skills that
may be diminished or lacking. A psychotherapeutic group treats mental and emotional disorders
with the use of psychological techniques and always has a member of the health care profession
as its leader.
An 8-year-old child has experienced the death of a sister. The child begins to ask many questions
about what happens to the body after death. The parent asks whether this is abnormal or
morbid behavior picked up from playing video games. Which is the best response by the nurse?
"Playing video games can cause morbid behaviors."
"Children handle the event of death more realistically than adults do."
"School-aged children are inquisitive and ask a lot of questions about death."
"Giggling, attracting attention, and playing are the usual ways of dealing with death." -
ANS School-aged children handle death by asking questions and gaining information. Playing
video games does not change the essential ways in which children deal with the deaths of loved
ones. Children are unable to understand the finality of death until they have reached school
age; they begin to think about it in idealistic ways by adolescence. Giggling and playing are a
preschooler's reactions to death.
A parent asks the nurse what to do when the toddler has temper tantrums. Which play
materials would the nurse suggest that the child be offered as another means of expressing
anger?
Ball and bat
Wad of clay
Punching bag
Pegs and pounding board - ANS A pounding board with pegs to hammer into holes is a safe
toy for toddlers because it is fairly large, easy to manipulate, and sturdy. It also provides an
acceptable way for anger to be expressed. The child's motor and hand-eye coordination are too
immature for the child to use a ball and bat. A wad of clay is not as effective for releasing anger
as a pounding board. A punching bag is appropriate for an older child with more mature motor
coordination to compensate for a moving object.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
Which information would the nurse provide to maintain a positive self-image during treatment
of a 13-year-old with idiopathic scoliosis who is upset about the treatment regimen and is
worried about being different from peers?
Remind the client of consequences if he or she refuses treatment.
Help investigate appropriate clothing to minimize appearance of the brace.
Disregard negative characteristics and focus on positive attributes.
Refer the client for psychological counseling until the treatment program is completed. -
ANS Rationale
Clothes can be selected to minimize the appearance of a brace, especially if an effort is made to
wear current styles. Reminding the child how they will look without treatment has a negative
connotation that emphasizes the problem. Focusing only on positive attributes may be
misinterpreted as unqualified praise; adults should give honest appraisals of both positive and
negative attributes. There are no data to indicate that the child will not adjust to the treatment
regimen
Which action by the nurse would be therapeutic after obtaining the consent of an adolescent
girl who is concerned about her body image after amputation of a leg for bone cancer?
Encouraging her peers to visit
Keeping her lower body covered
Placing her in a room by herself
Limiting her visitors to the family - ANS Peer acceptance is crucial during this period; friends
must have the opportunity to accept the client with one leg. Concealment does not help the
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,adolescent or others accept the loss. Isolating the adolescent will increase feelings of alienation
and being different. An adolescent needs to relate to and be accepted by peers and family.
Which response would the nurse give when an adolescent who has had a leg amputated
because of bone cancer begins to experience phantom limb sensations?
By withholding the medication to help prevent addiction
By stating that the limb has been removed and that the pain is psychological
By acknowledging that the pain is real and administering medication to relieve it
By explaining that the phantom limb sensation will subside within a few more days - ANS Pain
medication is required, along with intensive supportive nursing care. To the client the pain is
real, requiring pain medication; addiction is not a concern at this time. Explaining that the pain
is psychological in origin does not help relieve the pain; medication and emotional support are
required. The pain may not recede within a few days; pain medication should be administered.
Which intervention would the nurse add to the plan of care for a client who engages in
ritualistic behavior?
Redirect the client's energy into activities to help others.
Teach the client that the behavior is not serving a realistic purpose.
Administer antianxiety medications that block out the memory of internal fears.
Help the client understand that the behavior is caused by maladaptive coping with increased
anxiety. - ANS The nurse would help the client understand that the behavior is caused by
maladaptive coping with increased anxiety. Helping clients understand that a behavior is being
used to control anxiety usually makes them more amenable to psychotherapy. Redirecting the
client's energy into activities to help others is inappropriate. Treatment includes activities to
help the client, not others. The client usually understands already that the behavior is not
serving a realistic purpose. Although antianxiety medication can be given, it is not to block out
the memory of internal fears. It is to help decrease the anxiety to manageable levels. However,
antidepressants have been proven to be more helpful.
Which nursing intervention would help a client who exhibits physical symptoms when stressed?
Limiting discussions about the problem
Providing information regarding medical care
Teaching the client how to eliminate stress at home
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,Assisting the client in developing new coping mechanisms - ANS The nurse would assist the
client in developing new coping mechanisms. Until the client learns new ways of coping with
stress and anxiety, this pattern of behavior will continue. Learning new ways of coping with
stress will help break this physiological pattern. Limiting discussion will avoid the problem.
Providing information about medical care will reinforce the sick role. A certain amount of stress
is present in everyday family situations; the elimination of stress is impossible.
Place the five stages of grieving identified and described by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross in order of
progression from first to last.
1.Denial
2.Bargaining
3.Anger
4.Depression
5.Acceptance - ANS Initially when someone is coping with grief, there is a refusal to believe
that the loss has occurred or is going to occur (denial), and individuals are in a state of shock. As
awareness of the loss increases, people usually become angry and cannot understand why this
is happening. Coping then moves into the stage of bargaining, in which the dying or grieving
person attempts to avoid the loss by gaining more time. This is followed by depression, when
loss and grief become undeniable. Finally, individuals may progress to the stage of acceptance
after coming to terms with the loss.
Which reason would be likely for a client's anger and acting out when the nurse interrupts the
hand-washing ritual of a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder?
Has overwhelming feelings of anxiety
Resents the nurse's authoritarian manner
Is clashing with the nurse's personality
Reflects an aggressive characteristic - ANS The client has overwhelming feelings of anxiety.
The ritual reduces anxiety; when not permitted to complete the ritual, a client with an
obsessive-compulsive disorder will experience increased anxiety, frustration, and anger, and he
or she may act out. The client is experiencing anxiety not related to the nurse's manner,
personality clash, or an aggressive characteristic.
Which type of group is Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
Social group
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Self-help group
Resocialization group
Psychotherapeutic group - ANS AA is a self-help group of people who meet to attain and
maintain sobriety. A social group centers on building interpersonal relationships through
participation in mutual activities. A resocialization group centers on increasing social skills that
may be diminished or lacking. A psychotherapeutic group treats mental and emotional disorders
with the use of psychological techniques and always has a member of the health care profession
as its leader.
An 8-year-old child has experienced the death of a sister. The child begins to ask many questions
about what happens to the body after death. The parent asks whether this is abnormal or
morbid behavior picked up from playing video games. Which is the best response by the nurse?
"Playing video games can cause morbid behaviors."
"Children handle the event of death more realistically than adults do."
"School-aged children are inquisitive and ask a lot of questions about death."
"Giggling, attracting attention, and playing are the usual ways of dealing with death." -
ANS School-aged children handle death by asking questions and gaining information. Playing
video games does not change the essential ways in which children deal with the deaths of loved
ones. Children are unable to understand the finality of death until they have reached school
age; they begin to think about it in idealistic ways by adolescence. Giggling and playing are a
preschooler's reactions to death.
A parent asks the nurse what to do when the toddler has temper tantrums. Which play
materials would the nurse suggest that the child be offered as another means of expressing
anger?
Ball and bat
Wad of clay
Punching bag
Pegs and pounding board - ANS A pounding board with pegs to hammer into holes is a safe
toy for toddlers because it is fairly large, easy to manipulate, and sturdy. It also provides an
acceptable way for anger to be expressed. The child's motor and hand-eye coordination are too
immature for the child to use a ball and bat. A wad of clay is not as effective for releasing anger
as a pounding board. A punching bag is appropriate for an older child with more mature motor
coordination to compensate for a moving object.
@2026/2027 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
