Psych exam 2 midterm with correct
200+ questions and verified answers for
2024-2025
An older adult takes digoxin and hydrochlorothiazide daily, as well as lorazepam (Ativan) as needed for
anxiety. Over 2 days, this adult developed confusion, slurred speech, an unsteady gait, and fluctuating
levels of orientation. These findings are most characteristic of:
a. delirium.
b. dementia.
c. amnestic syndrome.
d. Alzheimer disease. - ANSWERa
A patient experiencing fluctuating levels of awareness, confusion, and disturbed orientation shouts,
"Bugs are crawling on my legs! Get them off!" Which problem is the patient experiencing?
a. Aphasia
b. Dystonia
c. Tactile hallucinations
d. Mnemonic disturbance - ANSWERc
A patient experiencing fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual
alteration begs, "Someone get these bugs off me." What is the nurse's best response?
a. "There are no bugs on your legs. Your imagination is playing tricks on you."
b. "Try to relax. The crawling sensation will go away sooner if you can relax."
c. "Don't worry. I will have someone stay here and brush o the bugs for you."
d. "I don't see any bugs, but I know you are frightened so I will stay with you." - ANSWERd
What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing fluctuating levels of consciousness,
disturbed orientation, and visual and tactile hallucinations?
,a. Bathing/hygiene self-care deficit, related to altered cerebral function, as evidenced by confusion and
inability to perform personal hygiene tasks
b. Risk for injury, related to altered cerebral function, misperception of the environment, and unsteady
gait
c. Disturbed thought processes, related to medication intoxication, as evidenced by confusion,
disorientation, and hallucinations
d. Fear, related to sensory perceptual alterations, as evidenced by hiding from imagined ferocious dogs -
ANSWERb
What is the priority intervention for a patient diagnosed with delirium who has fluctuating levels of
consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual alterations?
a. Avoidance of physical contact
b. High level of sensory stimulation
c. Careful observation and supervision
d. Application of wrist and ankle restraints - ANSWERc
Which environmental adjustment should the nurse make for a patient experiencing delirium with
perceptual alterations?
a. Keep the patient by the nurse's desk while the patient is awake. Provide rest periods in a room with a
television on.
b. Light the room brightly, day and night. Awaken the patient hourly to assess mental status.
c. Maintain soft lighting day and night. Keep a radio on low volume continuously.
d. Provide a well-lit room without glare or shadows. Limit noise and stimulation. - ANSWERd
Which description best applies to a hallucination? A patient:
a. looks at shadows on a wall and says, "I see scary faces."
b. states, "I feel bugs crawling on my legs and biting me."
c. becomes anxious when the nurse leaves his or her bedside.
d. tries to hit the nurse when vital signs are taken. - ANSWERb
When used for treatment of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, which medication would be
expected to antagonize N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels rather than cholinesterase?
,a. donepezil (Aricept)
b. rivastigmine (Exelon)
c. memantine (Namenda)
d. galantamine (Razadyne) - ANSWERc
An older adult was stopped by police for driving through a red light. When asked for a driver's license,
the adult hands the police officer a pair of sunglasses. What sign of dementia is evident?
a. Aphasia
b. Apraxia
c. Agnosia
d. Memory impairment - ANSWERc
An older adult drove to a nearby store but was unable to remember how to get home or state an
address. When police took the person home, the spouse reported frequent wandering into neighbors'
homes. Alzheimer disease was subsequently diagnosed. Which stage of Alzheimer disease is evident?
a. 1 (mild)
b. 2 (moderate)
c. 3 (moderate to severe)
d. 4 (late) - ANSWERb
Consider these problems: apolipoprotein E (apoE) malfunction, neuritic plaques, neurobrillary tangles,
granulovascular degeneration, and brain atrophy. Which condition corresponds to this group?
a. Alzheimer disease
b. Wernicke encephalopathy
c. Central anticholinergic syndrome
d. Acquired immunodeciency syndrome (AIDS)-related dementia - ANSWERa
patient diagnosed with stage 1 Alzheimer disease tires easily and prefers to stay home rather than attend
social activities. The spouse does the grocery shopping because the patient cannot remember what to
buy. Which nursing diagnosis applies at this time?
a. Risk for injury
, b. Impaired memory
c. Self-care deficit
d. Caregiver role strain - ANSWERb
A patient has progressive memory deficit associated with dementia. Which nursing intervention would
best help the individual function in the environment?
a. Assist the patient to perform simple tasks by giving step-by-step directions.
b. Reduce frustration by performing activities of daily living for the patient.
c. Stimulate intellectual function by discussing new topics with the patient.
d. Promote the use of the patient's sense of humor by telling jokes. - ANSWERa
Two patients in a residential care facility are diagnosed with dementia. One shouts to the other, "Move
along, you're blocking the road." The other patient turns, shakes a fist, and shouts, "I know what you're
up to; you're trying to steal my car." What is the nurse's best action?
a. Administer one dose of an antipsychotic medication to both patients.
b. Reinforce reality. Say to the patients, "Walk along in the hall. This is not a traffic intersection."
c. Separate and distract the patients. Take one to the day room and the other to an activities area.
d. Step between the two patients and say, "Please quiet down. We do not allow violence here." -
ANSWERc
An older adult patient in the intensive care unit has visual and auditory illusions. Which intervention will
be most helpful?
a. Place large clocks and calendars on the wall.
b. Place personally meaningful objects in view.
c. Use the patient's glasses and hearing aids.
d. Keep the room brightly lit at all times. - ANSWERc
A patient diagnosed with stage 2 Alzheimer disease calls the police saying, "An intruder is in my home."
Police investigate and discover the patient misinterpreted a reflection in the mirror as an intruder. This
phenomenon can be assessed as:
a. hyperorality.
200+ questions and verified answers for
2024-2025
An older adult takes digoxin and hydrochlorothiazide daily, as well as lorazepam (Ativan) as needed for
anxiety. Over 2 days, this adult developed confusion, slurred speech, an unsteady gait, and fluctuating
levels of orientation. These findings are most characteristic of:
a. delirium.
b. dementia.
c. amnestic syndrome.
d. Alzheimer disease. - ANSWERa
A patient experiencing fluctuating levels of awareness, confusion, and disturbed orientation shouts,
"Bugs are crawling on my legs! Get them off!" Which problem is the patient experiencing?
a. Aphasia
b. Dystonia
c. Tactile hallucinations
d. Mnemonic disturbance - ANSWERc
A patient experiencing fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual
alteration begs, "Someone get these bugs off me." What is the nurse's best response?
a. "There are no bugs on your legs. Your imagination is playing tricks on you."
b. "Try to relax. The crawling sensation will go away sooner if you can relax."
c. "Don't worry. I will have someone stay here and brush o the bugs for you."
d. "I don't see any bugs, but I know you are frightened so I will stay with you." - ANSWERd
What is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient experiencing fluctuating levels of consciousness,
disturbed orientation, and visual and tactile hallucinations?
,a. Bathing/hygiene self-care deficit, related to altered cerebral function, as evidenced by confusion and
inability to perform personal hygiene tasks
b. Risk for injury, related to altered cerebral function, misperception of the environment, and unsteady
gait
c. Disturbed thought processes, related to medication intoxication, as evidenced by confusion,
disorientation, and hallucinations
d. Fear, related to sensory perceptual alterations, as evidenced by hiding from imagined ferocious dogs -
ANSWERb
What is the priority intervention for a patient diagnosed with delirium who has fluctuating levels of
consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual alterations?
a. Avoidance of physical contact
b. High level of sensory stimulation
c. Careful observation and supervision
d. Application of wrist and ankle restraints - ANSWERc
Which environmental adjustment should the nurse make for a patient experiencing delirium with
perceptual alterations?
a. Keep the patient by the nurse's desk while the patient is awake. Provide rest periods in a room with a
television on.
b. Light the room brightly, day and night. Awaken the patient hourly to assess mental status.
c. Maintain soft lighting day and night. Keep a radio on low volume continuously.
d. Provide a well-lit room without glare or shadows. Limit noise and stimulation. - ANSWERd
Which description best applies to a hallucination? A patient:
a. looks at shadows on a wall and says, "I see scary faces."
b. states, "I feel bugs crawling on my legs and biting me."
c. becomes anxious when the nurse leaves his or her bedside.
d. tries to hit the nurse when vital signs are taken. - ANSWERb
When used for treatment of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer disease, which medication would be
expected to antagonize N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) channels rather than cholinesterase?
,a. donepezil (Aricept)
b. rivastigmine (Exelon)
c. memantine (Namenda)
d. galantamine (Razadyne) - ANSWERc
An older adult was stopped by police for driving through a red light. When asked for a driver's license,
the adult hands the police officer a pair of sunglasses. What sign of dementia is evident?
a. Aphasia
b. Apraxia
c. Agnosia
d. Memory impairment - ANSWERc
An older adult drove to a nearby store but was unable to remember how to get home or state an
address. When police took the person home, the spouse reported frequent wandering into neighbors'
homes. Alzheimer disease was subsequently diagnosed. Which stage of Alzheimer disease is evident?
a. 1 (mild)
b. 2 (moderate)
c. 3 (moderate to severe)
d. 4 (late) - ANSWERb
Consider these problems: apolipoprotein E (apoE) malfunction, neuritic plaques, neurobrillary tangles,
granulovascular degeneration, and brain atrophy. Which condition corresponds to this group?
a. Alzheimer disease
b. Wernicke encephalopathy
c. Central anticholinergic syndrome
d. Acquired immunodeciency syndrome (AIDS)-related dementia - ANSWERa
patient diagnosed with stage 1 Alzheimer disease tires easily and prefers to stay home rather than attend
social activities. The spouse does the grocery shopping because the patient cannot remember what to
buy. Which nursing diagnosis applies at this time?
a. Risk for injury
, b. Impaired memory
c. Self-care deficit
d. Caregiver role strain - ANSWERb
A patient has progressive memory deficit associated with dementia. Which nursing intervention would
best help the individual function in the environment?
a. Assist the patient to perform simple tasks by giving step-by-step directions.
b. Reduce frustration by performing activities of daily living for the patient.
c. Stimulate intellectual function by discussing new topics with the patient.
d. Promote the use of the patient's sense of humor by telling jokes. - ANSWERa
Two patients in a residential care facility are diagnosed with dementia. One shouts to the other, "Move
along, you're blocking the road." The other patient turns, shakes a fist, and shouts, "I know what you're
up to; you're trying to steal my car." What is the nurse's best action?
a. Administer one dose of an antipsychotic medication to both patients.
b. Reinforce reality. Say to the patients, "Walk along in the hall. This is not a traffic intersection."
c. Separate and distract the patients. Take one to the day room and the other to an activities area.
d. Step between the two patients and say, "Please quiet down. We do not allow violence here." -
ANSWERc
An older adult patient in the intensive care unit has visual and auditory illusions. Which intervention will
be most helpful?
a. Place large clocks and calendars on the wall.
b. Place personally meaningful objects in view.
c. Use the patient's glasses and hearing aids.
d. Keep the room brightly lit at all times. - ANSWERc
A patient diagnosed with stage 2 Alzheimer disease calls the police saying, "An intruder is in my home."
Police investigate and discover the patient misinterpreted a reflection in the mirror as an intruder. This
phenomenon can be assessed as:
a. hyperorality.
