WKU NURS 335 EXAM 3 2026/2027 – HEALTH ASSESSMENT STUDY GUIDE,
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
The parents of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ask the nurse to tell them
what sorts of therapies are likely to be employed for the child. The nurse's response should include
information about which of the following?
a. Using aversion therapy and valproic acid (Depakote)
b. Using role play and donepezil (Aricept)
c. Providing supportive therapy and lorazepam (Ativan)
d. Minimizing environmental stimuli and methylphenidate (Ritalin) - correct answer ✔✔d. Minimizing
environmental stimuli and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
The nurse is caring for an autistic child who continually repeats phrases spoken by the nurse. In addition
to describing this behavior in a documentation note, what medical term can the nurse use to refer to this
behavior?
a. Echolalia
b. Aphasia
c. Apraxia
d. Clang associations - correct answer ✔✔a. Echolalia
The 10-year-old client and parents arrive for an out-patient appointment. The child has been taking
haloperidol (Haldol) for one year. Which statement by the parents should the nurse promptly report to
the physician?
a. "Is it possible for our child to have that Parkinson-like problem? There's drooling and stiffness."
b. "Lately he's been eating much more than usual, and has gained quite a bit of weight."
c. "We noticed unusual mouth, lip, and trunk movements that weren't there until recently."
d. "We don't really notice much improvement in his symptoms." - correct answer ✔✔c. "We noticed
unusual mouth, lip, and trunk movements that weren't there until recently."
The nurse is caring for a child with autism who has been hospitalized. The child rocks continuously.
Before the nurse takes any action, what primary piece of data might she want to obtain?
a. How long has the rocking been occurring?
b. What are the consequences of the rocking behavior?
c. Does the rocking behavior result in any injury to the child?
d. Does the rocking behavior interfere with his functional capacity? - correct answer ✔✔c. Does the
rocking behavior result in any injury to the child?
The nurse is caring for a child with autism who has been hospitalized. The child rocks continuously, but
the rocking does not seem to present any risk to the child's safety. The nurse should take which action?
a. Hold the child until he stops rocking
b. Allow the child's rocking behavior to continue
,c. Place the child in "time out" to extinguish the rocking behavior
d. Distract the child with a different task to perform - correct answer ✔✔b. Allow the child's rocking
behavior to continue
When the client is a hospitalized child with autism, which approach should the nurse include in the plan
of care?
a. Provide a consistent structured environment with predictable routines.
b. Provide a variety of stimulating activities for the child to express his creativity.
c. Schedule routine field trips to explore her environment.
d. Place her in time out when she engages in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors. - correct answer ✔✔a.
Provide a consistent structured environment with predictable routines.
The child with conduct disorder is prone to physical acting out behaviors. Which nursing intervention is
most likely to prevent an episode of acting out?
a. Intervene promptly when behaviors predict onset of aggression.
b. Provide immediate positive reinforcement for acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.
c. Plan activities that provide opportunities for success.
d. Give the child unconditional positive regard for positive behaviors. - correct answer ✔✔c. Plan
activities that provide opportunities for success.
The client with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is receiving dextroamphetamine and
amphetamine (Adderall). What information is important for the nurse to teach the client and family?
a. "Remember to take your medication every night before bed."
b. "Make sure to avoid caffeinated beverages."
c. "You don't need to take your medication on the weekends."
d. "It may increase your appetite leading to weight gain - so make healthy food choices." - correct answer
✔✔b. "Make sure to avoid caffeinated beverages."
When the nurse informs an adolescent client that a scheduled parental visit will not occur, the client
throws a cup at the nurse. In order to best respond to this behavior, the nurse should conclude that the
client is displaying which of the following?
a. Reaction formation
b. Denial
c. Projection
d. Displacement - correct answer ✔✔d. displacement
The client is a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who is receiving
methylphenidate (Ritalin). The nurse teaches the parents to carefully monitor which of the following in
the child?
a. Oral health
b. Height and weight
c. Mood and affect
d. Blood pressure and pulse - correct answer ✔✔b. Height and weight
, The parents of a 10-year-old take the child to the mental health clinic. The nurse establishes rapport and
credibility with the child by asking the child about which of the following?
a. Behavioral symptoms
b. Relationships with family and friends
c. Past medical problems
d. Hobbies and interests - correct answer ✔✔d. Hobbies and interests
The nurse is providing community education about autism to a group of parents. The nurse concludes
that teaching has been effective if the parents describe which of the following as common behavioral
signs of autism?
a. Indifference to being held or hugged
b. Overly imaginative and creative play
c. Precocious development of language
d. Clingy behavior toward parents. - correct answer ✔✔a. Indifference to being held or hugged
The nurse is conducting an in-service education session about the relationship between anxiety and
bulimia nervosa. The nurse best describes the relationship by saying, "When the client has bulimia
nervosa, an increase in the anxiety level will generally result in:
a. Rigidly controlling what he/she eats."
b. Overeating."
c. Binging and purging."
d. Engaging in high-risk behaviors." - correct answer ✔✔c. Binging and purging."
When assessing an adolescent client for depression, it is most important for the nurse to recognize that
depression in adolescents is often:
a. Similar in presentation to adults.
b. Masked by aggressive or risky behaviors.
c. Typically situational in origin and not as serious as adults.
d. An indication of family dysfunction. - correct answer ✔✔b. Masked by aggressive or risky behaviors.
The client has Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. To which of the following client personality
characteristics should the nurse give the most attention when planning care for this client?
Odd/eccentric
Lacking in reality orientation
Dramatic/erratic
Anxious/fearful - correct answer ✔✔Anxious/fearful
The client has Antisocial Personality Disorder. Which of the following nursing interventions should be a
critical part of the plan of care developed by the nurse?
Maintaining consistent limits
Identifying alternatives for dealing with impulses to self-mutilate
PRACTICE QUESTIONS & TEST PREP
The parents of a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) ask the nurse to tell them
what sorts of therapies are likely to be employed for the child. The nurse's response should include
information about which of the following?
a. Using aversion therapy and valproic acid (Depakote)
b. Using role play and donepezil (Aricept)
c. Providing supportive therapy and lorazepam (Ativan)
d. Minimizing environmental stimuli and methylphenidate (Ritalin) - correct answer ✔✔d. Minimizing
environmental stimuli and methylphenidate (Ritalin)
The nurse is caring for an autistic child who continually repeats phrases spoken by the nurse. In addition
to describing this behavior in a documentation note, what medical term can the nurse use to refer to this
behavior?
a. Echolalia
b. Aphasia
c. Apraxia
d. Clang associations - correct answer ✔✔a. Echolalia
The 10-year-old client and parents arrive for an out-patient appointment. The child has been taking
haloperidol (Haldol) for one year. Which statement by the parents should the nurse promptly report to
the physician?
a. "Is it possible for our child to have that Parkinson-like problem? There's drooling and stiffness."
b. "Lately he's been eating much more than usual, and has gained quite a bit of weight."
c. "We noticed unusual mouth, lip, and trunk movements that weren't there until recently."
d. "We don't really notice much improvement in his symptoms." - correct answer ✔✔c. "We noticed
unusual mouth, lip, and trunk movements that weren't there until recently."
The nurse is caring for a child with autism who has been hospitalized. The child rocks continuously.
Before the nurse takes any action, what primary piece of data might she want to obtain?
a. How long has the rocking been occurring?
b. What are the consequences of the rocking behavior?
c. Does the rocking behavior result in any injury to the child?
d. Does the rocking behavior interfere with his functional capacity? - correct answer ✔✔c. Does the
rocking behavior result in any injury to the child?
The nurse is caring for a child with autism who has been hospitalized. The child rocks continuously, but
the rocking does not seem to present any risk to the child's safety. The nurse should take which action?
a. Hold the child until he stops rocking
b. Allow the child's rocking behavior to continue
,c. Place the child in "time out" to extinguish the rocking behavior
d. Distract the child with a different task to perform - correct answer ✔✔b. Allow the child's rocking
behavior to continue
When the client is a hospitalized child with autism, which approach should the nurse include in the plan
of care?
a. Provide a consistent structured environment with predictable routines.
b. Provide a variety of stimulating activities for the child to express his creativity.
c. Schedule routine field trips to explore her environment.
d. Place her in time out when she engages in repetitive, ritualistic behaviors. - correct answer ✔✔a.
Provide a consistent structured environment with predictable routines.
The child with conduct disorder is prone to physical acting out behaviors. Which nursing intervention is
most likely to prevent an episode of acting out?
a. Intervene promptly when behaviors predict onset of aggression.
b. Provide immediate positive reinforcement for acceptable and unacceptable behaviors.
c. Plan activities that provide opportunities for success.
d. Give the child unconditional positive regard for positive behaviors. - correct answer ✔✔c. Plan
activities that provide opportunities for success.
The client with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is receiving dextroamphetamine and
amphetamine (Adderall). What information is important for the nurse to teach the client and family?
a. "Remember to take your medication every night before bed."
b. "Make sure to avoid caffeinated beverages."
c. "You don't need to take your medication on the weekends."
d. "It may increase your appetite leading to weight gain - so make healthy food choices." - correct answer
✔✔b. "Make sure to avoid caffeinated beverages."
When the nurse informs an adolescent client that a scheduled parental visit will not occur, the client
throws a cup at the nurse. In order to best respond to this behavior, the nurse should conclude that the
client is displaying which of the following?
a. Reaction formation
b. Denial
c. Projection
d. Displacement - correct answer ✔✔d. displacement
The client is a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who is receiving
methylphenidate (Ritalin). The nurse teaches the parents to carefully monitor which of the following in
the child?
a. Oral health
b. Height and weight
c. Mood and affect
d. Blood pressure and pulse - correct answer ✔✔b. Height and weight
, The parents of a 10-year-old take the child to the mental health clinic. The nurse establishes rapport and
credibility with the child by asking the child about which of the following?
a. Behavioral symptoms
b. Relationships with family and friends
c. Past medical problems
d. Hobbies and interests - correct answer ✔✔d. Hobbies and interests
The nurse is providing community education about autism to a group of parents. The nurse concludes
that teaching has been effective if the parents describe which of the following as common behavioral
signs of autism?
a. Indifference to being held or hugged
b. Overly imaginative and creative play
c. Precocious development of language
d. Clingy behavior toward parents. - correct answer ✔✔a. Indifference to being held or hugged
The nurse is conducting an in-service education session about the relationship between anxiety and
bulimia nervosa. The nurse best describes the relationship by saying, "When the client has bulimia
nervosa, an increase in the anxiety level will generally result in:
a. Rigidly controlling what he/she eats."
b. Overeating."
c. Binging and purging."
d. Engaging in high-risk behaviors." - correct answer ✔✔c. Binging and purging."
When assessing an adolescent client for depression, it is most important for the nurse to recognize that
depression in adolescents is often:
a. Similar in presentation to adults.
b. Masked by aggressive or risky behaviors.
c. Typically situational in origin and not as serious as adults.
d. An indication of family dysfunction. - correct answer ✔✔b. Masked by aggressive or risky behaviors.
The client has Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder. To which of the following client personality
characteristics should the nurse give the most attention when planning care for this client?
Odd/eccentric
Lacking in reality orientation
Dramatic/erratic
Anxious/fearful - correct answer ✔✔Anxious/fearful
The client has Antisocial Personality Disorder. Which of the following nursing interventions should be a
critical part of the plan of care developed by the nurse?
Maintaining consistent limits
Identifying alternatives for dealing with impulses to self-mutilate
