Test Bank: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity 10. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has catatonia. The patient is stuporous, demonstrates little spontaneous movement, and has waxy flexibility. The patients activities of daily living are severely compromised. An appropriate outcome is that the patient will: a. demonstrate increased interest in the environment by the end of week 1. b. perform self-care activities with coaching by the end of day 3. c. gradually take the initiative for self-care by the end of week 2. d. voluntarily accept tube feeding by day 2. ANS: B Outcomes related to self-care deficit nursing diagnoses should deal with increasing the patients ability to perform self-care tasks independently, such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and toileting. Performing the tasks with coaching by the nursing staff denotes improvement over the complete inability to perform the tasks. The incorrect options are not directly related to self-care activities; they are difficult to measure and are unrelated to maintaining nutrition. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: 254 TOP: Nursing Process: Outcomes Identification MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 11. A nurse observes a patient who is diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient is standing immobile, facing the wall with one arm extended in a salute. The patient remains immobile in this position for 15 minutes, moving only when the nurse gently lowers the arm. What is the name of this phenomenon? a. Echolalia b. Waxy flexibility Test Bank: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (3rd Edition by Varcarolis) 134 c. Depersonalization d. Thought withdrawal ANS: B Waxy flexibility is the ability to hold distorted postures for extended periods, as though the patient were molded in wax. Echolalia is a speech pattern. Depersonalization refers to a feeling state. Thought withdrawal refers to an alteration in thinking. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) REF: 253 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 12. Which patient diagnosed with schizophrenia would be expected to have the lowest level of overall functioning? a. 39 years old; paranoid ideation since age 35 years b. 32 years old; isolated episodes of catatonia since age 24 years; stable for 3 years c. 19 years old; diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder 6 months ago d. 40 years old; frequent relapses since age 18; often does not take medication as prescribed ANS: D The 40-year-old patient who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia since 18 years of age could logically be expected to have the lowest overall level of functioning secondary to deterioration associated with frequent relapses. The 39-year-old patient who has had paranoid ideation since 35 years of age could be expected to have a higher level because schizophrenia of short duration may be less impairing than other types. The patient who has had episodes of catatonia since the age of 24 years has been stable for more than 3 years, suggesting a higher functional ability. The 19-year-old patient diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder has been ill for only 6 months, and disability is likely to be minimal. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis (Analyzing) REF: 248 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 13. A patient with delusions of persecution about being poisoned has refused all hospital meals for 3 days. Which intervention is most likely to be acceptable to the patient? a. Allow the patient to have supervised access to food vending machines b. Allow the patient to telephone a local restaurant to deliver meals c. Offer to taste each portion on the tray for the patient d. Begin tube feedings or total parenteral nutrition ANS: A The patient who is delusional about food being poisoned is likely to believe restaurant food might still be poisoned and to say that the staff member tasting the food has taken an antidote to the poison before tasting. Attempts to tube feed or give nutrition intravenously are considered aggressive and usually promote violence. Patients often perceive foods in sealed containers, packages, or natural shells as being safe. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis (Analyzing) REF: 258 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 14. A community mental health nurse wants to establish a relationship with a very withdrawn patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient lives at home with a supportive family. Select the nurses best plan. a. Visit daily for 4 days, then visit every other day for 1 week; stay with the patient for 20 minutes; accept silence; state when the nurse will return. b. Arrange to spend 1 hour each day with the patient; focus on asking questions about what the patient is thinking or experiencing; avoid silences. c. Visit twice daily; sit beside the patient with a hand on the patients arm; leave if the patient does not respond within 10 minutes. d. Visit every other day; remind the patient of the nurses identity; encourage the patient to talk while the nurse works on reports. ANS: A Severe constraints on the community mental health nurses time will probably not allow more time than what is Test Bank: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (3rd Edition by Varcarolis) 135 mentioned in the correct option, yet important principles can be used. A severely withdrawn patient should be met at the patients own level, with silence accepted. Short periods of contact are helpful to minimize both the patients and the nurses anxiety. Predictability in returning as stated will help build trust. An hour may be too long to sustain a home visit with a withdrawn patient, especially if the nurse persists in leveling a barrage of questions at the patient. Twice-daily visits are probably not possible, and leaving after 10 minutes would be premature. Touch may be threatening. Working on reports suggests the nurse is not interested in the patient. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: 258 MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 15. Patients diagnosed with schizophrenia who are suspicious and withdrawn: a. universally fear sexual involvement with therapists. b. are socially disabled by the positive symptoms of schizophrenia. c. exhibit a high degree of hostility as evidenced by rejecting behavior. d. avoid relationships because they become anxious with emotional closeness. ANS: D When an individual is suspicious and distrustful and perceives the world and the people in it as potentially dangerous, withdrawal into an inner world can be a defense against uncomfortable levels of anxiety. When someone attempts to establish a relationship with such a patient, the patients anxiety rises until trust is established. No evidence suggests that withdrawn patients with schizophrenia universally fear sexual involvement with therapists. In most cases, it is not considered true that withdrawn patients with schizophrenia are socially disabled by the positive symptoms of schizophrenia or exhibit a high degree of hostility by demonstrating rejecting behavior. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) REF: 249 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 16. A newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, The voices are bothering me. They yell and tell me Im bad. I have got to get away from them. Select the nurses most helpful reply. a. Do you hear the voices often? b. Do you have a plan for getting away from the voices? c. I will stay with you. Focus on what we are talking about, not the voices. d. Forget the voices. Ask some other patients to sit and talk with you. ANS: C Staying with a distraught patient who is hearing voices serves several purposes: ongoing observation, the opportunity to provide reality orientation, a means of helping dismiss the voices, the opportunity of forestalling an action that would result in self-injury, and general support to reduce anxiety. Asking if the patient hears voices is not particularly relevant at this point. Asking if the patient plans to get away from the voices is relevant for assessment purposes but is less helpful than offering to stay with the patient while encouraging a focus on their discussion. Asking other patients to talk incorrectly shifts responsibility for intervention from the nurse to other patients. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: 260 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity 17. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has taken fluphenazine (Prolixin) 5 mg orally twice daily for 3 weeks. The nurse now assesses a shuffling, propulsive gait; a masklike face; and drooling. Which term applies to these symptoms? a. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome b. Hepatocellular effects c. Pseudoparkinsonism d. Akathisia ANS: C Pseudoparkinsonism induced by antipsychotic medication mimics the symptoms of Parkinson disease. It frequently appears within the first month of treatment. Hepatocellular effects would produce abnormal liver Test Bank: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (3rd Edition by Varcarolis) 136 test results. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome is characterized by autonomic instability. Akathisia produces motor restlessness. DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) REF: 266 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity 18. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia is acutely disturbed and violent. After several doses of haloperidol (Haldol), the patient is calm. Two hours later the nurse sees the patients head rotated to one side in a stiff position; the lower jaw is thrust forward, and the patient is drooling. Which problem is most likely? a. Acute dystonic reaction b. Tardive dyskinesia c. Waxy flexibility d. Akathisia ANS: A Acute dystonic reactions involve painful contractions of the tongue, face, neck, and back; opisthotonos and oculogyric crisis may be observed. Dystonic reactions are considered emergencies that require immediate intervention. Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary spasmodic muscular contractions that involve the tongue, fingers, toes, neck, trunk, or pelvis; it appears after prolonged treatment. Waxy flexibility is a symptom observed in catatonic schizophrenia. Akathisia is evidenced by internal and external restlessness, pacing, and fidgeting. DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) REF: 271 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity 19. An acutely violent patient diagnosed with schizophrenia receives several doses of haloperidol (Haldol). Two hours later the nurse notices the patients head rotated to one side in a stiffly fixed position; the lower jaw is thrust forward, and the patient is drooling. Which intervention by the nurse is indicated? a. Administer diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg IM from the PRN medication administration record. b. Reassure the patient that the symptoms will subside. Practice relaxation exercises with the patient. c. Give trihexyphenidyl (Artane) 5 mg orally at the next regularly scheduled medication administration time. d. Administer atropine sulfate 2 mg subcutaneously from the PRN medication administration record. ANS: A Diphenhydramine, trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and other anticholinergic medications may be used to treat dystonias. Swallowing will be difficult or impossible; therefore, oral medication is not an option. Medication should be administered immediately; therefore, the intramuscular route is best. In this case, the best option given is diphenhydramine. DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis (Analyzing) REF: 271 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Physiological Integrity 20. A patient has taken trifluoperazine (Stelazine) 30 mg/day orally for 3 years. The clinic nurse notes that the patient grimaces and constantly smacks both lips. The patients neck and shoulders twist in a slow, snakelike motion. Which problem would the nurse suspect? a. Agranulocytosis b. Tardive dyskinesia c. Tourette syndrome d. Anticholinergic effects ANS: B