2024 Mental Health Exam QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM WITH A STUDY GUIDE AND PRACTICE EXAM | ACCURATE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
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The physician orders sertraline (Zoloft) 50 mg PO bid for Margaret, a 68
year old woman with major depressive disorder. After 3 days of taking
the medication, Margaret says to the nurse, "I don't think this medicine
is doing any good. I don't feel a bit better". What is the most appropriate
response by the nurse?
A. "Cheer up Margaret. You have so much to be happy about"
B. "Sometimes it takes a few weeks for the medicine to bring about an
improvement in symptoms"
C. "I'll report that to the physician, Margaret. Maybe he will order
something different."
D. "Try not to dwell on your symptoms Margaret. Why don't you join the
others down in the dayroom?" - CORRECT ANSWER B. " Sometimes it
takes a few weeks for the medicine to bring about an improvement in
symptoms."
The goal of cognitive therapy with depressed clients is to:
A. Identify and change dysfunctional patterns of thinking.
B. Resolve the symptoms and initiate or restore adaptive family
functioning.
C. Alter the neurotransmitters that are creating the depressed mood.
D. Provide feedback from peers who are having similar experiences -
CORRECT ANSWER A. Identify and change dysfunctional patterns of
thinking.
Education for the patient who is taking MAOIs should include which of
the following?
A. Fluid and sodium replacement when appropriate, frequent blood
levels, signs and symptoms of toxicity.
,B. Lifetime of continuous use, possible tardive dyskinesia, advantages of
an injection every 2-4 weeks.
C. short-term use, possible tolerance to beneficial effects, careful
tapering of the drug at he end of treatment
D. Tyramine-restricted diet, prohibitive concurrent use of over-the-
counter medications without physician notification - CORRECT ANSWER
D. Tyramine-restricted diet, prohibitive concurrent use of over-the-
counter medications without physician notification
A patient expresses interest in alternative treatment for depression with
seasonal variations and asks the nurse about light therapy. Which of the
following are evidence-based teaching points that the nurse may share
with the patient? (SATA)
a. Light therapy has demonstrated effectiveness that is comparable to
anti-depressants.
b. Light therapy should be used regularly until the season changes.
c. Light therapy should only be used when ECT has proven to be
ineffective.
d. Side effects such as headache, nausea, or agitation, when they occur,
are usually mild and transient.
e. Light therapy can cause sedation so the best time to use it is before
bedtime - CORRECT ANSWER A, B, D
A patient has been admitted to a psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of
Major Depressive Disorder. Which of the following manifestation may
be apparent in a patient with this diagnosis? (SATA)
a. slumped posture
b. delusional thinking
c. feelings of despair
d. feels best early in the morning and worse as the day progresses
e. anorexia - CORRECT ANSWER A,B,C,E
,A patient with depression asks the nurse, "Why would they check my
thyroid function when I clearly have depression and I'm not
overweight?" Which of these is an accurate response?
a. an underactive thyroid gland can manifest as depression
b. depression has been proven to be a hormonal illness
c. thyroid hormone replacement is a first-line treatment for most people
with depression.
d. abnormal thyroid function predicts positive response to
antidepressant medication - CORRECT ANSWER A. An underactive
thyroid gland can manifest as depression
A patient whose husband died 6 months ago is diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. She says to the nurse, "I start feeling angry that
Harold died and left me all alone; he should have stopped smoking years
ago! But then I start feeling guilty for feeling that way." What is an
appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "Yes he should have stopped smoking. Then he probably wouldn't
have gotten lung cancer."
b. "I can understand how you must feel."
c. "Those feelings are a normal part of the grief response"
d. "Just think about the good times that you had while he was alive" -
CORRECT ANSWER C. "Those feelings are a normal part of the grief
response"
An acutely depressed patient isolates herself in her room and just sits
and stares into space. Which of these is the best example of an active
communication approach with this patient?
a. "Do you like to exercise?"
b. "Come with me. I will go with you to group therapy"
c. "Would you like to go to group therapy, stay in bed, or come out to
the day lounge for some activities?"
d. "Why do you stay in your room all the time?" - CORRECT ANSWER b.
"Come with me. I will go with you to group therapy."
, Shondra is admitted to the hospital with Major Depressive Disorder and
repeatedly makes negative statements about herself. Which of the
following interventions is identified as an approach that promotes
positive self-esteem in the patient? (SATA)
a. teach more assertive communication skills
b. Make observations to Shondra when she completes a goal or task
c. Instruct Shondra that you will not talk with her unless she stops
talking negatively about herself.
d. Offer to spend time with Shondra using and nonjudgmental,
accepting approach - CORRECT ANSWER A, B, D
Demetrius informs the nurse that his doctor is considering ECT and asks
for some information about the procedure. Which of the following are
accurate statements that the nurse can share with this patient? (SATA)
a. ECT is typically used to treat patients who have not responded to
antidepressant therapy
b. A long-acting anesthetic agent is given to the patient the morning of
the treatment
c. One treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve depression
d. Side effects may include headache and some confusion or memory
loss - CORRECT ANSWER A, D
Margaret, a 68-year-old widow, is brought to the emergency
department by her sister-in-law. Margaret has a history of bipolar
disorder and has been maintained on medication for many years. Her
sister-in-law reports that Margaret quit taking her medication a few
months ago, thinking she didn't need it anymore. She is agitated, pacing,
demanding, and speaking very loudly. Her sister-in-law reports that
Margaret eats little, is losing weight, and almost never sleeps: "I'm afraid
she's going to just collapse!" Margaret is admitted to the psychiatric
unit. The priority nursing diagnosis for Margaret is:
a. Imbalance nutrition: less than body requirement related to not eating
EXAM WITH A STUDY GUIDE AND PRACTICE EXAM | ACCURATE REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | GUARANTEED PASS | LATEST
UPDATE
The physician orders sertraline (Zoloft) 50 mg PO bid for Margaret, a 68
year old woman with major depressive disorder. After 3 days of taking
the medication, Margaret says to the nurse, "I don't think this medicine
is doing any good. I don't feel a bit better". What is the most appropriate
response by the nurse?
A. "Cheer up Margaret. You have so much to be happy about"
B. "Sometimes it takes a few weeks for the medicine to bring about an
improvement in symptoms"
C. "I'll report that to the physician, Margaret. Maybe he will order
something different."
D. "Try not to dwell on your symptoms Margaret. Why don't you join the
others down in the dayroom?" - CORRECT ANSWER B. " Sometimes it
takes a few weeks for the medicine to bring about an improvement in
symptoms."
The goal of cognitive therapy with depressed clients is to:
A. Identify and change dysfunctional patterns of thinking.
B. Resolve the symptoms and initiate or restore adaptive family
functioning.
C. Alter the neurotransmitters that are creating the depressed mood.
D. Provide feedback from peers who are having similar experiences -
CORRECT ANSWER A. Identify and change dysfunctional patterns of
thinking.
Education for the patient who is taking MAOIs should include which of
the following?
A. Fluid and sodium replacement when appropriate, frequent blood
levels, signs and symptoms of toxicity.
,B. Lifetime of continuous use, possible tardive dyskinesia, advantages of
an injection every 2-4 weeks.
C. short-term use, possible tolerance to beneficial effects, careful
tapering of the drug at he end of treatment
D. Tyramine-restricted diet, prohibitive concurrent use of over-the-
counter medications without physician notification - CORRECT ANSWER
D. Tyramine-restricted diet, prohibitive concurrent use of over-the-
counter medications without physician notification
A patient expresses interest in alternative treatment for depression with
seasonal variations and asks the nurse about light therapy. Which of the
following are evidence-based teaching points that the nurse may share
with the patient? (SATA)
a. Light therapy has demonstrated effectiveness that is comparable to
anti-depressants.
b. Light therapy should be used regularly until the season changes.
c. Light therapy should only be used when ECT has proven to be
ineffective.
d. Side effects such as headache, nausea, or agitation, when they occur,
are usually mild and transient.
e. Light therapy can cause sedation so the best time to use it is before
bedtime - CORRECT ANSWER A, B, D
A patient has been admitted to a psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of
Major Depressive Disorder. Which of the following manifestation may
be apparent in a patient with this diagnosis? (SATA)
a. slumped posture
b. delusional thinking
c. feelings of despair
d. feels best early in the morning and worse as the day progresses
e. anorexia - CORRECT ANSWER A,B,C,E
,A patient with depression asks the nurse, "Why would they check my
thyroid function when I clearly have depression and I'm not
overweight?" Which of these is an accurate response?
a. an underactive thyroid gland can manifest as depression
b. depression has been proven to be a hormonal illness
c. thyroid hormone replacement is a first-line treatment for most people
with depression.
d. abnormal thyroid function predicts positive response to
antidepressant medication - CORRECT ANSWER A. An underactive
thyroid gland can manifest as depression
A patient whose husband died 6 months ago is diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. She says to the nurse, "I start feeling angry that
Harold died and left me all alone; he should have stopped smoking years
ago! But then I start feeling guilty for feeling that way." What is an
appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "Yes he should have stopped smoking. Then he probably wouldn't
have gotten lung cancer."
b. "I can understand how you must feel."
c. "Those feelings are a normal part of the grief response"
d. "Just think about the good times that you had while he was alive" -
CORRECT ANSWER C. "Those feelings are a normal part of the grief
response"
An acutely depressed patient isolates herself in her room and just sits
and stares into space. Which of these is the best example of an active
communication approach with this patient?
a. "Do you like to exercise?"
b. "Come with me. I will go with you to group therapy"
c. "Would you like to go to group therapy, stay in bed, or come out to
the day lounge for some activities?"
d. "Why do you stay in your room all the time?" - CORRECT ANSWER b.
"Come with me. I will go with you to group therapy."
, Shondra is admitted to the hospital with Major Depressive Disorder and
repeatedly makes negative statements about herself. Which of the
following interventions is identified as an approach that promotes
positive self-esteem in the patient? (SATA)
a. teach more assertive communication skills
b. Make observations to Shondra when she completes a goal or task
c. Instruct Shondra that you will not talk with her unless she stops
talking negatively about herself.
d. Offer to spend time with Shondra using and nonjudgmental,
accepting approach - CORRECT ANSWER A, B, D
Demetrius informs the nurse that his doctor is considering ECT and asks
for some information about the procedure. Which of the following are
accurate statements that the nurse can share with this patient? (SATA)
a. ECT is typically used to treat patients who have not responded to
antidepressant therapy
b. A long-acting anesthetic agent is given to the patient the morning of
the treatment
c. One treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve depression
d. Side effects may include headache and some confusion or memory
loss - CORRECT ANSWER A, D
Margaret, a 68-year-old widow, is brought to the emergency
department by her sister-in-law. Margaret has a history of bipolar
disorder and has been maintained on medication for many years. Her
sister-in-law reports that Margaret quit taking her medication a few
months ago, thinking she didn't need it anymore. She is agitated, pacing,
demanding, and speaking very loudly. Her sister-in-law reports that
Margaret eats little, is losing weight, and almost never sleeps: "I'm afraid
she's going to just collapse!" Margaret is admitted to the psychiatric
unit. The priority nursing diagnosis for Margaret is:
a. Imbalance nutrition: less than body requirement related to not eating
