NUR 272: Psych Exam 1 Practice Questions and Correct
Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
1. A woman is diagnosed with a highly disseminated metastatic breast cancer.
What will the nurse expect that her initial reaction to be at the time the
physician gave her the prognosis?
A. Denial
B. Confrontation
C. Anger
D. Acceptance
Correct Answer: A. Denial
Rationale: Denial is typically the first stage of grief in Kübler-Ross’s model. It
serves as a protective mechanism that allows the client to gradually process a
devastating diagnosis.
2. What should the nurse do when a client becomes agitated during an
admission assessment?
A. Contact hospital security.
B. Use confrontation and tell the client to relax.
C. Leave the client alone to calm down.
D. Communicate in an aggressive tone to intimidate the client.
Correct Answer: A. Contact hospital security.
Rationale: Safety is the priority. If a client becomes agitated and potentially
violent, the nurse should seek assistance to maintain safety. Confrontation,
intimidation, or leaving the client alone can escalate the situation.
3. A nurse in a psychiatric unit observes a client kicking the furniture and walls
while yelling that no one visits her. What would be the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Call the physician for a medication to sedate the client.
, B. Try to comfort the client with soothing tones and music.
C. Ask the client to describe how she can better handle her anger.
D. Firmly tell the client in a calm and clear tone of voice to stop kicking the
furniture.
Correct Answer: D. Firmly tell the client in a calm and clear tone of voice to stop
kicking the furniture.
Rationale: The priority is to ensure safety and set limits on unsafe behavior. A
firm, calm, clear statement helps the client regain control. Medication may be
used later if de-escalation fails.
4. A client who has recently been diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer states, "I
feel like I am going to die very soon." What is the nurse's best response?
A. "Can you tell me what the oncologist has told you about your treatment plan?"
B. "Let me have the hospital chaplain talk to you about how you are feeling?"
C. "Would you like me to check with your oncologist about taking an
antidepressant medication?"
D. "What makes you think you will die so soon?"
Correct Answer: D. "What makes you think you will die so soon?"
Rationale: This open-ended response encourages the client to explore and
express their feelings and fears. It is therapeutic because it seeks clarification
without dismissing the client’s concern.
5. After a meeting with his wife and the nurse, a client expresses that his wife's
nagging gets on his nerves. After the session, he asks the nurse if she will talk
with his wife about her nagging. Which of the following would be the most
therapeutic response to the client?
A. "Let's talk about how you might bring up this issue to your wife."
B. "Please tell me what she specifically nags about."
C. "What do you think you do that makes her nag you so much?"
D. "I'm sorry, but I don't feel it is my responsibility to intervene for you with this
issue."
Answers plus Rationale | New 2026-2027 Update
1. A woman is diagnosed with a highly disseminated metastatic breast cancer.
What will the nurse expect that her initial reaction to be at the time the
physician gave her the prognosis?
A. Denial
B. Confrontation
C. Anger
D. Acceptance
Correct Answer: A. Denial
Rationale: Denial is typically the first stage of grief in Kübler-Ross’s model. It
serves as a protective mechanism that allows the client to gradually process a
devastating diagnosis.
2. What should the nurse do when a client becomes agitated during an
admission assessment?
A. Contact hospital security.
B. Use confrontation and tell the client to relax.
C. Leave the client alone to calm down.
D. Communicate in an aggressive tone to intimidate the client.
Correct Answer: A. Contact hospital security.
Rationale: Safety is the priority. If a client becomes agitated and potentially
violent, the nurse should seek assistance to maintain safety. Confrontation,
intimidation, or leaving the client alone can escalate the situation.
3. A nurse in a psychiatric unit observes a client kicking the furniture and walls
while yelling that no one visits her. What would be the priority nursing
intervention?
A. Call the physician for a medication to sedate the client.
, B. Try to comfort the client with soothing tones and music.
C. Ask the client to describe how she can better handle her anger.
D. Firmly tell the client in a calm and clear tone of voice to stop kicking the
furniture.
Correct Answer: D. Firmly tell the client in a calm and clear tone of voice to stop
kicking the furniture.
Rationale: The priority is to ensure safety and set limits on unsafe behavior. A
firm, calm, clear statement helps the client regain control. Medication may be
used later if de-escalation fails.
4. A client who has recently been diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer states, "I
feel like I am going to die very soon." What is the nurse's best response?
A. "Can you tell me what the oncologist has told you about your treatment plan?"
B. "Let me have the hospital chaplain talk to you about how you are feeling?"
C. "Would you like me to check with your oncologist about taking an
antidepressant medication?"
D. "What makes you think you will die so soon?"
Correct Answer: D. "What makes you think you will die so soon?"
Rationale: This open-ended response encourages the client to explore and
express their feelings and fears. It is therapeutic because it seeks clarification
without dismissing the client’s concern.
5. After a meeting with his wife and the nurse, a client expresses that his wife's
nagging gets on his nerves. After the session, he asks the nurse if she will talk
with his wife about her nagging. Which of the following would be the most
therapeutic response to the client?
A. "Let's talk about how you might bring up this issue to your wife."
B. "Please tell me what she specifically nags about."
C. "What do you think you do that makes her nag you so much?"
D. "I'm sorry, but I don't feel it is my responsibility to intervene for you with this
issue."
