2026/2027 – Complete 35-Question Case Study with Detailed Rationales | 100%
Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Patient Profile, Medical History, & Presenting Concerns
Q1: Margot Davis is an 18-year-old college freshman brought to the emergency
department by her roommate after being found lethargic in her dorm room with an
empty bottle of prescribed alprazolam nearby. From a developmental perspective,
Margot is in which psychosocial stage?
A. Identity vs. Role Confusion
B. Intimacy vs. Isolation [CORRECT]
C. Generativity vs. Stagnation
D. Industry vs. Inferiority
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: At 18 years old, Margot is in late adolescence/emerging adulthood,
navigating Erikson's intimacy vs. isolation stage, which involves forming close
relationships and establishing identity independent of family. Identity vs. role confusion
occurs in mid-adolescence, generativity in middle adulthood, and industry in school age.
Q2: Margot's parents arrive at the hospital and insist they have legal authority to make
all medical decisions for her because she is "still their child." The nurse correctly
responds that:
,A. Parents retain full decision-making authority until the child graduates college
B. At age 18, Margot is a legal adult with the right to make her own healthcare decisions
unless a court has determined incapacity [CORRECT]
C. Parents automatically retain authority if the patient is still on their insurance
D. The physician can defer to parental authority regardless of the patient's age
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In the United States, the age of majority is 18, at which point individuals
possess full legal capacity to consent to or refuse medical treatment. Parental authority
terminates at this age unless a legal guardianship or court-ordered conservatorship is in
place.
Q3: Margot's vital signs are: heart rate 52 bpm, blood pressure 88/56 mmHg, respiratory
rate 14 breaths/min, oral temperature 35.8°C (96.4°F), and SpO2 93% on room air. The
nurse recognizes that this constellation of vital signs in an 18-year-old female with
recent restrictive eating is MOST consistent with:
A. Hyperthyroidism
B. Physiologic bradycardia and hypotension from malnutrition and possible medication
overdose [CORRECT]
C. Acute myocardial infarction
D. Septic shock
Correct Answer: B
, Rationale: Bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, and respiratory depression in the
context of restrictive eating and benzodiazepine ingestion indicate physiologic
compromise from malnutrition and possible overdose. Hyperthyroidism causes
tachycardia, MI is rare in this age group without congenital disease, and septic shock
would typically present with fever or hypothermia with tachycardia.
Q4: Margot admits she has been restricting food intake to fewer than 800 calories daily
for 3 months, has lost 15 pounds, and exercises 2 hours daily. She also confesses she
took "a handful" of her alprazolam because she "couldn't handle the pressure anymore."
The nurse identifies the PRIMARY presenting clinical concern as:
A. Mild social anxiety requiring outpatient therapy
B. A life-threatening emergency involving suicidal ideation with attempt, severe
malnutrition, and possible overdose [CORRECT]
C. A disciplinary issue for substance misuse on campus
D. A request for privacy that supersedes medical evaluation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The combination of medication ingestion with stated intent to escape stress,
severe caloric restriction, and significant physiologic compromise constitutes a
life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical and psychiatric intervention.
Outpatient management is insufficient, and privacy concerns do not override imminent
safety threats.