Anxiety Disorders Practice Questions NCLEX and
Answers Graded A+
A client is experiencing a severe panic attack. The nurse should question a prescription of
Which nursing intervention would meet this alprazolam (Xanax) for acute anxiety if the client
client's immediate need? has a history of alcohol dependence. Alprazolam
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation exercises is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of
B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg position anxiety and has an increased risk for
C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of physiological dependence and tolerance. A client
safety with a history of substance abuse may be more
D. Administer the ordered PRN buspirone likely to abuse other addictive substances and/or
(BuSpar) - -ANS: C combine this drug with alcohol.
The nurse can meet this client's immediate need
by staying with the client and offering
reassurance of safety and security. The client Which nursing diagnosis would best describe the
may fear for his or her life and the presence of a problems evidenced by the following client
trusted individual provides assurance of personal symptoms: avoidance, poor concentration,
safety. nightmares, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle
response, detachment, emotional numbing, and
flashbacks?
A nurse has been caring for a client diagnosed A. Ineffective coping
with post-traumatic stress disorder. What short- B. Post-trauma syndrome
term, realistic, correctly written outcome should C. Complicated grieving
be included in this client's plan of care? D. Panic anxiety - -ANS: B
A. The client will have no flashbacks. Post-trauma syndrome is defined as a sustained
B. The client will be able to feel a full range of maladaptive response to a traumatic,
emotions by discharge. overwhelming event. This nursing diagnosis
C. The client will not require zolpidem (Ambien) addresses the problems experienced by clients
to obtain adequate sleep by discharge. diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
D. The client will refrain from discussing the
traumatic event. - -ANS: C
The nurse should include obtaining adequate How should a nurse best describe the major
sleep without zolpidem (Ambien) by discharge as maladaptive client response to panic disorder?
a realistic outcome for this client. Having no A. Clients overuse medical care due to physical
flashbacks and experiencing a full range of symptoms.
emotions are long-term not short-term outcomes B. Clients use illegal drugs to ease symptoms.
for this client. Clients are encouraged to discussC. Clients perceive having no control over life
the traumatic event. situations.
D. Clients develop compulsions to deal with
anxiety. - -ANS: C
A client is prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for The major maladaptive client response to panic
acute anxiety. What client history should cause a disorder is the perception of having no control
nurse to question this order? over life situations which leads to nonparticipation
A. History of alcohol dependence in decision making and doubts regarding role
B. History of personality disorder performance.
C. History of schizophrenia
D. History of hypertension - -ANS: A
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, Anxiety Disorders Practice Questions NCLEX and
Answers Graded A+
A college student has been diagnosed with assessed by a nurse for post-traumatic stress
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which of the disorder (PTSD). Which of the following client
following symptoms should a campus nurse symptoms would support this diagnosis? (Select
expect this client to exhibit? (Select all that all that apply.)
apply.) A. The client has experienced symptoms of the
A. Fatigue disorder for 2 weeks.
B. Anorexia B. The client fears a physical integrity threat to
C. Hyperventilation self.
D. Insomnia C. The client feels detached and estranged from
E. Irritability - -ANS: A, D, E others.
The nurse should expect that a client diagnosed D. The client experiences fear and helplessness.
with GAD would experience fatigue, insomnia, E. The client is lethargic and somnolent. - -
and irritability. GAD is characterized by chronic, ANS: B, C, D
unrealistic, and excessive anxiety and worry. Clients diagnosed with PTSD can experience the
following symptoms: fear of a physical integrity
threat to self, detachment and estrangement from
A nurse has been caring for a client diagnosed others, and intense fear and helplessness.
with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which Characteristic symptoms of PTSD include re-
of the following nursing interventions would living the traumatic event, a sustained high level
address this client's symptoms? (Select all that of arousal, and a general numbing of
apply.) responsiveness.
A. Encourage the client to recognize the signs of
escalating anxiety.
B. Encourage the client to avoid any situation Which of the following symptoms are seen when
that causes stress. a client abruptly stops taking diazepam (Valium)?
C. Encourage the client to employ newly learned Select all that apply.
relaxation techniques. 1. Insomnia.
D. Encourage the client to cognitively reframe 2. Tremor.
thoughts about situations that generate anxiety. 3. Delirium.
E. Encourage the client to avoid caffeinated 4. Dry mouth.
products. - -ANS: A, C, D, E 5. Lethargy. - -Diazepam (Valium) is a
Nursing interventions that address GAD benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are
symptoms should include encouraging the client physiologically and psychologically addictive. If a
to recognize signs of escalating anxiety, to benzodiazepine is stopped abruptly, a rebound
employ relaxation techniques, to cognitively stimulation of the central nervous system occurs,
reframe thoughts about anxiety-provoking and the client may experience insomnia,
situations, and to avoid caffeinated products. increased anxiety, abdominal and muscle
Avoiding situations that cause stress is not an cramps, tremors, vomiting, sweating,
appropriate intervention because avoidance convulsions, and delirium.
does not help the client overcome anxiety. Stress
is a component of life and is not easily evaded. 1. Insomnia is correct.
2. Tremor is correct.
3. Delirium is correct.
A client who is a veteran of the Gulf War is being 4. Dry mouth is a side effect of taking
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Answers Graded A+
A client is experiencing a severe panic attack. The nurse should question a prescription of
Which nursing intervention would meet this alprazolam (Xanax) for acute anxiety if the client
client's immediate need? has a history of alcohol dependence. Alprazolam
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation exercises is a benzodiazepine used in the treatment of
B. Place the client in a Trendelenburg position anxiety and has an increased risk for
C. Stay with the client and offer reassurance of physiological dependence and tolerance. A client
safety with a history of substance abuse may be more
D. Administer the ordered PRN buspirone likely to abuse other addictive substances and/or
(BuSpar) - -ANS: C combine this drug with alcohol.
The nurse can meet this client's immediate need
by staying with the client and offering
reassurance of safety and security. The client Which nursing diagnosis would best describe the
may fear for his or her life and the presence of a problems evidenced by the following client
trusted individual provides assurance of personal symptoms: avoidance, poor concentration,
safety. nightmares, hypervigilance, exaggerated startle
response, detachment, emotional numbing, and
flashbacks?
A nurse has been caring for a client diagnosed A. Ineffective coping
with post-traumatic stress disorder. What short- B. Post-trauma syndrome
term, realistic, correctly written outcome should C. Complicated grieving
be included in this client's plan of care? D. Panic anxiety - -ANS: B
A. The client will have no flashbacks. Post-trauma syndrome is defined as a sustained
B. The client will be able to feel a full range of maladaptive response to a traumatic,
emotions by discharge. overwhelming event. This nursing diagnosis
C. The client will not require zolpidem (Ambien) addresses the problems experienced by clients
to obtain adequate sleep by discharge. diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
D. The client will refrain from discussing the
traumatic event. - -ANS: C
The nurse should include obtaining adequate How should a nurse best describe the major
sleep without zolpidem (Ambien) by discharge as maladaptive client response to panic disorder?
a realistic outcome for this client. Having no A. Clients overuse medical care due to physical
flashbacks and experiencing a full range of symptoms.
emotions are long-term not short-term outcomes B. Clients use illegal drugs to ease symptoms.
for this client. Clients are encouraged to discussC. Clients perceive having no control over life
the traumatic event. situations.
D. Clients develop compulsions to deal with
anxiety. - -ANS: C
A client is prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for The major maladaptive client response to panic
acute anxiety. What client history should cause a disorder is the perception of having no control
nurse to question this order? over life situations which leads to nonparticipation
A. History of alcohol dependence in decision making and doubts regarding role
B. History of personality disorder performance.
C. History of schizophrenia
D. History of hypertension - -ANS: A
1/6
, Anxiety Disorders Practice Questions NCLEX and
Answers Graded A+
A college student has been diagnosed with assessed by a nurse for post-traumatic stress
generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which of the disorder (PTSD). Which of the following client
following symptoms should a campus nurse symptoms would support this diagnosis? (Select
expect this client to exhibit? (Select all that all that apply.)
apply.) A. The client has experienced symptoms of the
A. Fatigue disorder for 2 weeks.
B. Anorexia B. The client fears a physical integrity threat to
C. Hyperventilation self.
D. Insomnia C. The client feels detached and estranged from
E. Irritability - -ANS: A, D, E others.
The nurse should expect that a client diagnosed D. The client experiences fear and helplessness.
with GAD would experience fatigue, insomnia, E. The client is lethargic and somnolent. - -
and irritability. GAD is characterized by chronic, ANS: B, C, D
unrealistic, and excessive anxiety and worry. Clients diagnosed with PTSD can experience the
following symptoms: fear of a physical integrity
threat to self, detachment and estrangement from
A nurse has been caring for a client diagnosed others, and intense fear and helplessness.
with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which Characteristic symptoms of PTSD include re-
of the following nursing interventions would living the traumatic event, a sustained high level
address this client's symptoms? (Select all that of arousal, and a general numbing of
apply.) responsiveness.
A. Encourage the client to recognize the signs of
escalating anxiety.
B. Encourage the client to avoid any situation Which of the following symptoms are seen when
that causes stress. a client abruptly stops taking diazepam (Valium)?
C. Encourage the client to employ newly learned Select all that apply.
relaxation techniques. 1. Insomnia.
D. Encourage the client to cognitively reframe 2. Tremor.
thoughts about situations that generate anxiety. 3. Delirium.
E. Encourage the client to avoid caffeinated 4. Dry mouth.
products. - -ANS: A, C, D, E 5. Lethargy. - -Diazepam (Valium) is a
Nursing interventions that address GAD benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are
symptoms should include encouraging the client physiologically and psychologically addictive. If a
to recognize signs of escalating anxiety, to benzodiazepine is stopped abruptly, a rebound
employ relaxation techniques, to cognitively stimulation of the central nervous system occurs,
reframe thoughts about anxiety-provoking and the client may experience insomnia,
situations, and to avoid caffeinated products. increased anxiety, abdominal and muscle
Avoiding situations that cause stress is not an cramps, tremors, vomiting, sweating,
appropriate intervention because avoidance convulsions, and delirium.
does not help the client overcome anxiety. Stress
is a component of life and is not easily evaded. 1. Insomnia is correct.
2. Tremor is correct.
3. Delirium is correct.
A client who is a veteran of the Gulf War is being 4. Dry mouth is a side effect of taking
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