INTEGRATED NURS 3554 EXAM
TEST BANK
An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depression has a history of several suicide attempts by
overdose. Given this patients history and diagnosis, which antidepressant medication would the nurse
expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil), a sedating tricyclic medication
b. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
c. Desipramine (Norpramin), a stimulating tricyclic medication
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Fluoxetine
(Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the highest
suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night - CORRECT ANSWER -d.
Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night
Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
,c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient - CORRECT ANSWER -d. Helping school
children learn to manage stress and be resilient
Which change in the brains biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
a. Dopamine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency
c. Acetylcholine excess
d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Serotonin deficiency
A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no
answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate and asked to be left alone for
a few hours. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?
a. Calling parents
b. Excessive crying
c. Giving away sweaters
d. Staying alone in dorm room - CORRECT ANSWER -c. Giving away sweaters
A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to:
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
d. level of anxiety. - CORRECT ANSWER -c. suicide potential.
,A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?
a. Powerlessness
b. Social isolation
c. Risk for suicide
d. Compromised family coping - CORRECT ANSWER -c. Risk for suicide
A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and then
hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will:
a. verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
b. describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
c. accurately delineate personal strengths by the end of first week of hospitalization.
d. exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from attempts to harm self for 24 hours. - CORRECT
ANSWER -d. exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from attempts to harm self for 24 hours.
A college student who attempted suicide by overdose was hospitalized. When the parents were
contacted, they responded, We should have seen this coming. We did not do enough. The parents
reaction reflects:
a. guilt
b. denial
c. shame
d. rescue feelings - CORRECT ANSWER -a. guilt
Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has threatened to take an
overdose of pills.
, a. Why do you want to kill yourself?
b. Do you have access to medications?
c. Have you been taking drugs and alcohol?
d. Did something happen with your parents? - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Do you have access to
medications?
It has been 5 days since a suicidal patient was hospitalized and prescribed an antidepressant medication.
The patient is now more talkative and shows increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing
intervention.
a. Supervise the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Begin discharge planning for the patient.
c. Refer the patient to art and music therapists.
d. Consider discontinuation of suicide precautions. - CORRECT ANSWER -a. Supervise the patient 24
hours a day.
A nurse and patient construct a no-suicide contract. Select the preferable wording.
a. I will not try to harm myself during the next 24 hours.
b. I will not make a suicide attempt while I am hospitalized.
c. For the next 24 hours, I will not in any way attempt to harm or kill myself.
d. I will not kill myself until I call my primary nurse or a member of the staff. - CORRECT ANSWER -c. For
the next 24 hours, I will not in any way attempt to harm or kill myself.
A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient clinic reports, I should be dead. The initial task of the nurse
conducting the assessment interview is to:
TEST BANK
An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depression has a history of several suicide attempts by
overdose. Given this patients history and diagnosis, which antidepressant medication would the nurse
expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline (Elavil), a sedating tricyclic medication
b. Fluoxetine (Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
c. Desipramine (Norpramin), a stimulating tricyclic medication
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate), a monoamine oxidase inhibitor - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Fluoxetine
(Prozac), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan evidences the highest
suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night - CORRECT ANSWER -d.
Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night
Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
,c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient - CORRECT ANSWER -d. Helping school
children learn to manage stress and be resilient
Which change in the brains biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?
a. Dopamine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency
c. Acetylcholine excess
d. Gamma-aminobutyric acid deficiency - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Serotonin deficiency
A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no
answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate and asked to be left alone for
a few hours. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?
a. Calling parents
b. Excessive crying
c. Giving away sweaters
d. Staying alone in dorm room - CORRECT ANSWER -c. Giving away sweaters
A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to:
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
d. level of anxiety. - CORRECT ANSWER -c. suicide potential.
,A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?
a. Powerlessness
b. Social isolation
c. Risk for suicide
d. Compromised family coping - CORRECT ANSWER -c. Risk for suicide
A person who attempted suicide by overdose was treated in the emergency department and then
hospitalized. The initial outcome is that the patient will:
a. verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.
b. describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.
c. accurately delineate personal strengths by the end of first week of hospitalization.
d. exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from attempts to harm self for 24 hours. - CORRECT
ANSWER -d. exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from attempts to harm self for 24 hours.
A college student who attempted suicide by overdose was hospitalized. When the parents were
contacted, they responded, We should have seen this coming. We did not do enough. The parents
reaction reflects:
a. guilt
b. denial
c. shame
d. rescue feelings - CORRECT ANSWER -a. guilt
Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has threatened to take an
overdose of pills.
, a. Why do you want to kill yourself?
b. Do you have access to medications?
c. Have you been taking drugs and alcohol?
d. Did something happen with your parents? - CORRECT ANSWER -b. Do you have access to
medications?
It has been 5 days since a suicidal patient was hospitalized and prescribed an antidepressant medication.
The patient is now more talkative and shows increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing
intervention.
a. Supervise the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Begin discharge planning for the patient.
c. Refer the patient to art and music therapists.
d. Consider discontinuation of suicide precautions. - CORRECT ANSWER -a. Supervise the patient 24
hours a day.
A nurse and patient construct a no-suicide contract. Select the preferable wording.
a. I will not try to harm myself during the next 24 hours.
b. I will not make a suicide attempt while I am hospitalized.
c. For the next 24 hours, I will not in any way attempt to harm or kill myself.
d. I will not kill myself until I call my primary nurse or a member of the staff. - CORRECT ANSWER -c. For
the next 24 hours, I will not in any way attempt to harm or kill myself.
A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient clinic reports, I should be dead. The initial task of the nurse
conducting the assessment interview is to:
