NSG 322/NSG322 Exam 1 V2 | Behavioral
Health Nursing Q&A with Rationale |
Grand Canyon University
1. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination on a patient. The patient reports feeling
‘on top of the world.’ The nurse observes the patient laughing and smiling frequently. How
should the nurse document the patient’s affect?
A. Incongruent
B. Congruent
C. Flat
D. Blunted
Answer: B
Rationale: Congruent affect occurs when the patient’s outward emotional expression
matches their subjective report of their mood. In this case, the patient’s report of feeling ‘on
top of the world’ matches the laughter and smiling. Documenting this accurately helps the
healthcare team understand the patient’s emotional stability.
2. A patient tells the nurse, ‘I am not sure if I should take this medication. My mother said it
might be dangerous.’ The nurse responds, ‘You are concerned about what your mother thinks
regarding the safety of the medication?’ Which therapeutic technique is the nurse using?
A. Clarifying
,B. Reflecting
C. Summarizing
D. Restating
Answer: D
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the patient has said to
ensure the nurse understands correctly. It provides the patient with the opportunity to
confirm or correct the nurse’s perception. This technique encourages the patient to
continue the conversation and explore their feelings further.
3. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’ response and is
often elevated in patients with anxiety disorders?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a catecholamine that plays a key role in the body’s stress
response. High levels are often associated with states of hyperarousal, anxiety, and panic. It
is one of the primary targets for various psychiatric medications used to manage mood and
anxiety.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for depression. The patient states, ‘I just
can’t see things getting better. I’ve always been a failure.’ According to Beck’s cognitive
theory, this is an example of:
A. Reaction formation
B. Transference
C. Learned helplessness
D. Cognitive distortion
Answer: D
Rationale: Cognitive distortions are irrational or exaggerated thought patterns that can
contribute to emotional distress. This patient’s statement reflects a ‘global’ negative view of
self and the future, which is a hallmark of depressive thinking. Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) aims to help patients identify and challenge these specific distortions.
5. A patient is admitted involuntarily to a behavioral health unit because they are a danger to
themselves. Which patient right is typically maintained even during involuntary
hospitalization?
A. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
B. The right to leave the hospital at any time
C. The right to possess all personal belongings
D. The right to unlimited visitors
Health Nursing Q&A with Rationale |
Grand Canyon University
1. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination on a patient. The patient reports feeling
‘on top of the world.’ The nurse observes the patient laughing and smiling frequently. How
should the nurse document the patient’s affect?
A. Incongruent
B. Congruent
C. Flat
D. Blunted
Answer: B
Rationale: Congruent affect occurs when the patient’s outward emotional expression
matches their subjective report of their mood. In this case, the patient’s report of feeling ‘on
top of the world’ matches the laughter and smiling. Documenting this accurately helps the
healthcare team understand the patient’s emotional stability.
2. A patient tells the nurse, ‘I am not sure if I should take this medication. My mother said it
might be dangerous.’ The nurse responds, ‘You are concerned about what your mother thinks
regarding the safety of the medication?’ Which therapeutic technique is the nurse using?
A. Clarifying
,B. Reflecting
C. Summarizing
D. Restating
Answer: D
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the patient has said to
ensure the nurse understands correctly. It provides the patient with the opportunity to
confirm or correct the nurse’s perception. This technique encourages the patient to
continue the conversation and explore their feelings further.
3. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’ response and is
often elevated in patients with anxiety disorders?
A. Dopamine
B. Norepinephrine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Answer: B
Rationale: Norepinephrine is a catecholamine that plays a key role in the body’s stress
response. High levels are often associated with states of hyperarousal, anxiety, and panic. It
is one of the primary targets for various psychiatric medications used to manage mood and
anxiety.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient who is being treated for depression. The patient states, ‘I just
can’t see things getting better. I’ve always been a failure.’ According to Beck’s cognitive
theory, this is an example of:
A. Reaction formation
B. Transference
C. Learned helplessness
D. Cognitive distortion
Answer: D
Rationale: Cognitive distortions are irrational or exaggerated thought patterns that can
contribute to emotional distress. This patient’s statement reflects a ‘global’ negative view of
self and the future, which is a hallmark of depressive thinking. Cognitive Behavioral
Therapy (CBT) aims to help patients identify and challenge these specific distortions.
5. A patient is admitted involuntarily to a behavioral health unit because they are a danger to
themselves. Which patient right is typically maintained even during involuntary
hospitalization?
A. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
B. The right to leave the hospital at any time
C. The right to possess all personal belongings
D. The right to unlimited visitors
