RN Mental Health Online Practice A with
NGN
A nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse document as a negative symptom of this disorder?
Anhedonia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia affect a person's ability to interact with others and are
less dominant than positive symptoms. These symptoms develop over time.
Examples of negative symptoms include flat affect, anergia (lack of energy), anhedonia
(inability to enjoy otherwise pleasurable activities), and thought blocking.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has dementia and has wandered
into the day room looking for their deceased partner. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
Talk with the client about activities they enjoyed with their partner.
Talking about positive experiences can help distract the client from their
disorientation.
A nurse is caring for a client whose child has a terminal illness. The client
requests information about how to deal with the upcoming loss. Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
"It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others."
Feelings of blame and anger towards oneself or others are an expected
reaction when a client is experiencing a loss.
A nurse is teaching a client who has a depressive disorder about fluoxetine.
Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
"You might experience difficulties with sexual functioning while taking this medication."
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that can cause sexual dysfunction such
as anorgasmia and impotence. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider if
sexual dysfunction occurs.
,A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting.
When the nurse questions the client regarding their admission, the client states,
"I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to bed!" The nurse questions the client's
speech pattern as which of the following?
Clang association
The nurse should document that the client's speech uses clang associations, which
often rhyme or contain a string of words that can have a similar sound.
A nurse is obtaining a mental health history from an older adult client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
Interview the client in a private setting.
The nurse should interview clients in a private place when asking questions regarding
client health.
A community health nurse is planning an education program about depressive
disorders. Which of the following factors should the nurse include as increasing
the risk for depression?
Substance use disorder
The nurse should identify that clients who have a substance use disorder are at an
increased risk for the development of depressive disorders.
A nurse is planning discharge for a client who has bipolar disorder and has a
prescription for lithium. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of the teaching about the medication?
"I should eat a regular diet with normal amounts of salt and fluids."
The nurse should identify that this statement indicates that the client understands the
teaching because normal levels of sodium and fluid need to be maintained to ensure
adequate excretion of lithium. If sodium levels are low, the body compensates by
decreasing lithium excretion, which can lead to toxicity.
, A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of substance use disorder and
was involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility. When the nurse attempts to
administer oral lorazepam, the client refuses to take the medication and becomes
physically aggressive. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Do not administer the lorazepam.
Clients who are in a facility due to an involuntarily admission retain the right to refuse
treatment. Therefore, the nurse should hold the medication and document the client's
refusal.
A nurse is caring for a client who has antisocial personality disorder and is
receiving behavioral therapy through operant conditioning. Which of the
following client behaviors indicates effectiveness of the therapy?
Refrains from manipulating others to earn dining room privileges
The goal of operant conditioning is to provide positive reinforcement in return for a
desired behavior. Refraining from manipulative behavior is a desired response.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has depression and has made frequent
suicide attempts. Which of the following statements indicates the client has a
decreased risk for suicide?
"It is easier to talk about my feelings now."
When clients express their feelings, this indicates a positive treatment outcome.
For each potential assessment finding, click to specify if it is a positive or
negative symptom of schizophrenia.
Delusions of grandeur, clang associations, and catatonia are consistent with positive
symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms, the presence of symptoms that are not ordinarily
present, include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disorganized or bizarre thoughts,
behaviors, or speech.
Absence of intonation in speech, alogia, and withdrawal from social activities are consistent
with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms, or the absence of something that
should be present, include lack of goal-directed behavior, decrease in participation in social
activities, and a flat affect.
NGN
A nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse document as a negative symptom of this disorder?
Anhedonia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia affect a person's ability to interact with others and are
less dominant than positive symptoms. These symptoms develop over time.
Examples of negative symptoms include flat affect, anergia (lack of energy), anhedonia
(inability to enjoy otherwise pleasurable activities), and thought blocking.
A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has dementia and has wandered
into the day room looking for their deceased partner. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
Talk with the client about activities they enjoyed with their partner.
Talking about positive experiences can help distract the client from their
disorientation.
A nurse is caring for a client whose child has a terminal illness. The client
requests information about how to deal with the upcoming loss. Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
"It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others."
Feelings of blame and anger towards oneself or others are an expected
reaction when a client is experiencing a loss.
A nurse is teaching a client who has a depressive disorder about fluoxetine.
Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
"You might experience difficulties with sexual functioning while taking this medication."
Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor that can cause sexual dysfunction such
as anorgasmia and impotence. The nurse should instruct the client to notify the provider if
sexual dysfunction occurs.
,A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting.
When the nurse questions the client regarding their admission, the client states,
"I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to bed!" The nurse questions the client's
speech pattern as which of the following?
Clang association
The nurse should document that the client's speech uses clang associations, which
often rhyme or contain a string of words that can have a similar sound.
A nurse is obtaining a mental health history from an older adult client. Which of
the following actions should the nurse plan to take?
Interview the client in a private setting.
The nurse should interview clients in a private place when asking questions regarding
client health.
A community health nurse is planning an education program about depressive
disorders. Which of the following factors should the nurse include as increasing
the risk for depression?
Substance use disorder
The nurse should identify that clients who have a substance use disorder are at an
increased risk for the development of depressive disorders.
A nurse is planning discharge for a client who has bipolar disorder and has a
prescription for lithium. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of the teaching about the medication?
"I should eat a regular diet with normal amounts of salt and fluids."
The nurse should identify that this statement indicates that the client understands the
teaching because normal levels of sodium and fluid need to be maintained to ensure
adequate excretion of lithium. If sodium levels are low, the body compensates by
decreasing lithium excretion, which can lead to toxicity.
, A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of substance use disorder and
was involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility. When the nurse attempts to
administer oral lorazepam, the client refuses to take the medication and becomes
physically aggressive. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Do not administer the lorazepam.
Clients who are in a facility due to an involuntarily admission retain the right to refuse
treatment. Therefore, the nurse should hold the medication and document the client's
refusal.
A nurse is caring for a client who has antisocial personality disorder and is
receiving behavioral therapy through operant conditioning. Which of the
following client behaviors indicates effectiveness of the therapy?
Refrains from manipulating others to earn dining room privileges
The goal of operant conditioning is to provide positive reinforcement in return for a
desired behavior. Refraining from manipulative behavior is a desired response.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has depression and has made frequent
suicide attempts. Which of the following statements indicates the client has a
decreased risk for suicide?
"It is easier to talk about my feelings now."
When clients express their feelings, this indicates a positive treatment outcome.
For each potential assessment finding, click to specify if it is a positive or
negative symptom of schizophrenia.
Delusions of grandeur, clang associations, and catatonia are consistent with positive
symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms, the presence of symptoms that are not ordinarily
present, include hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disorganized or bizarre thoughts,
behaviors, or speech.
Absence of intonation in speech, alogia, and withdrawal from social activities are consistent
with negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Negative symptoms, or the absence of something that
should be present, include lack of goal-directed behavior, decrease in participation in social
activities, and a flat affect.
