NUR 114
EXAM 5
NCLEX Style Questions w/
Rationales & Test Taking Strategies
Jefferson State Community College
This Document Description:
❖ This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NUR 114 course at
Jefferson State Community College.
❖ It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
❖ Each question is followed by a correct answer, rationale, and
test-taking strategy to support exam preparation.
,A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide
says to the nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure.
Nothing ever goes right for me." Which therapeutic response would
the nurse make?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while."
Answer: 4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an
effective therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is
an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block
communication because they minimize the client’s experience and do
not facilitate exploration of the client’s expressed feelings. In addition,
use of the word why is nontherapeutic because clients frequently
interpret why questions as accusations. Why questions can cause
resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques to
direct you to the option that directly addresses the client’s feelings and
concerns. Also, the correct option is the only one stated in the form of a
question that is open-ended, which will encourage the verbalization of
feelings.
,The nurse visits a client at home. The client states,"I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which therapeutic response would the
nurse make?
1. "Really?"
2. "Why haven't you been able to sleep?"
3. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too."
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights."
Answer: 4
Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communication
technique of exploring. Exploring is an important technique to use in
examining experiences that are important to the client. The remaining
options are nontherapeutic responses and are blocks to
communication. Additionally, they do not encourage the client to
expand on the problem. The response “Really?” can be interpreted by
the client that the nurse is doubtful of what the client has expressed.
Use of the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted
as accusatory and can cause insecurity and mistrust. Offering personal
experiences moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques.
“Really?” is a response that may make clients feel that they are not
believed. Use of the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be
interpreted as accusatory. Providing personal experiences focuses on
the nurse’s problem and thus minimizes the client’s concerns. The
, correct option will provide information about the perception of the
problem from the client’s perspective.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that the
food is being poisoned. Which communication technique would the
nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
Answer: 1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to
encourage clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food
preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining
options are not helpful to the client because they do not encourage the
client to express feelings. The nurse would not offer opinions and
should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. First,
eliminate options that do not support the client’s expression of
feelings. Any option that is not client-centered should be eliminated
next. Focusing on the client’s feelings will direct you to the correct
option.
EXAM 5
NCLEX Style Questions w/
Rationales & Test Taking Strategies
Jefferson State Community College
This Document Description:
❖ This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NUR 114 course at
Jefferson State Community College.
❖ It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
❖ Each question is followed by a correct answer, rationale, and
test-taking strategy to support exam preparation.
,A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide
says to the nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure.
Nothing ever goes right for me." Which therapeutic response would
the nurse make?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while."
Answer: 4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an
effective therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is
an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block
communication because they minimize the client’s experience and do
not facilitate exploration of the client’s expressed feelings. In addition,
use of the word why is nontherapeutic because clients frequently
interpret why questions as accusations. Why questions can cause
resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques to
direct you to the option that directly addresses the client’s feelings and
concerns. Also, the correct option is the only one stated in the form of a
question that is open-ended, which will encourage the verbalization of
feelings.
,The nurse visits a client at home. The client states,"I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which therapeutic response would the
nurse make?
1. "Really?"
2. "Why haven't you been able to sleep?"
3. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too."
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights."
Answer: 4
Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communication
technique of exploring. Exploring is an important technique to use in
examining experiences that are important to the client. The remaining
options are nontherapeutic responses and are blocks to
communication. Additionally, they do not encourage the client to
expand on the problem. The response “Really?” can be interpreted by
the client that the nurse is doubtful of what the client has expressed.
Use of the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted
as accusatory and can cause insecurity and mistrust. Offering personal
experiences moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques.
“Really?” is a response that may make clients feel that they are not
believed. Use of the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be
interpreted as accusatory. Providing personal experiences focuses on
the nurse’s problem and thus minimizes the client’s concerns. The
, correct option will provide information about the perception of the
problem from the client’s perspective.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that the
food is being poisoned. Which communication technique would the
nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
Answer: 1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to
encourage clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food
preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining
options are not helpful to the client because they do not encourage the
client to express feelings. The nurse would not offer opinions and
should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. First,
eliminate options that do not support the client’s expression of
feelings. Any option that is not client-centered should be eliminated
next. Focusing on the client’s feelings will direct you to the correct
option.
