Townsend Mental Health Nursing Ch 3 Guide Questions with Answers
1. According to Erikson's developmental theory, when planning care for a 47-year-old client, which
developmental task should a nurse identify as appropriate for this client?
A. To develop a basic trust in others
B. To achieve a sense of self-confidence and recognition from others
C. To reflect back on life events to derive pleasure and meaning
D. To achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations - correct answersANS:
D
The nurse should identify that an appropriate developmental task for a 47-year-old client would be to
achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations. According to Erikson, the
client would be in the generativity versus stagnation stage of development.
PTS: 1 REF: 40
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Planning
2. A jilted college student is admitted to a hospital following a suicide attempt and states, "No one will
ever love a loser like me." According to Erikson's theory of personality development, a nurse should
recognize a deficit in which developmental stage?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Initiative versus guilt
C. Intimacy versus isolation
D. Ego integrity versus despair - correct answersANS: C
The nurse should recognize that the client who states, "No one will ever love a loser like me." has not
adequately completed the intimacy versus isolation stage of development. The intimacy versus isolation
stage is presumed to occur in young adulthood between the ages of 20 and 30 years. The major
developmental task in this stage is to establish intense, lasting relationships or commitment to another
person, cause, institution, or creative effort.
PTS: 1 REF: 40
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
3. A nurse observes a 3-year-old client willingly sharing candy with a sibling. According to Peplau, which
psychological stage of development should the nurse determine that this child has completed?
, A. "Learning to count on others"
B. "Learning to delay satisfaction"
C. "Identifying oneself"
D. "Developing skills in participation" - correct answersANS: B
The nurse should determine that this client has completed the "Learning to delay satisfaction" stage of
development according to Peplau's interpersonal theory. This stage typically occurs in toddlerhood
when one learns the satisfaction of pleasing others.
PTS: 1 REF: 47
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
4. When a mother brings her 9-month-old to daycare, the child smiles and reaches for the daycare
caregiver. The nurse should determine that according to Mahler's developmental theory, this child's
development is at which phase?
A. The autistic phase
B. The symbiotic phase
C. The differentiation subphase of the separation-individuation phase
D. The rapprochement subphase of the separation-individuation phase - correct answersANS: C
The nurse should understand that this client is in the differentiation subphase of the separation-
individuation phase. This subphase begins with the child's initial physical movements away from the
mothering figure. A primary recognition of separateness commences.
PTS: 1 REF: 42
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
5. A 12-year-old girl becomes hysterical every time she strikes out in softball, falls down when roller-
skating, or loses when playing games. According to Peplau's interpersonal theory, in which stage of
development should the nurse identify a need for improvement?
A. "Learning to count on others"
B. "Learning to delay satisfaction"
C. "Identifying oneself"
D. "Developing skills in participation" - correct answersANS: D
1. According to Erikson's developmental theory, when planning care for a 47-year-old client, which
developmental task should a nurse identify as appropriate for this client?
A. To develop a basic trust in others
B. To achieve a sense of self-confidence and recognition from others
C. To reflect back on life events to derive pleasure and meaning
D. To achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations - correct answersANS:
D
The nurse should identify that an appropriate developmental task for a 47-year-old client would be to
achieve established life goals and consider the welfare of future generations. According to Erikson, the
client would be in the generativity versus stagnation stage of development.
PTS: 1 REF: 40
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Planning
2. A jilted college student is admitted to a hospital following a suicide attempt and states, "No one will
ever love a loser like me." According to Erikson's theory of personality development, a nurse should
recognize a deficit in which developmental stage?
A. Trust versus mistrust
B. Initiative versus guilt
C. Intimacy versus isolation
D. Ego integrity versus despair - correct answersANS: C
The nurse should recognize that the client who states, "No one will ever love a loser like me." has not
adequately completed the intimacy versus isolation stage of development. The intimacy versus isolation
stage is presumed to occur in young adulthood between the ages of 20 and 30 years. The major
developmental task in this stage is to establish intense, lasting relationships or commitment to another
person, cause, institution, or creative effort.
PTS: 1 REF: 40
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
3. A nurse observes a 3-year-old client willingly sharing candy with a sibling. According to Peplau, which
psychological stage of development should the nurse determine that this child has completed?
, A. "Learning to count on others"
B. "Learning to delay satisfaction"
C. "Identifying oneself"
D. "Developing skills in participation" - correct answersANS: B
The nurse should determine that this client has completed the "Learning to delay satisfaction" stage of
development according to Peplau's interpersonal theory. This stage typically occurs in toddlerhood
when one learns the satisfaction of pleasing others.
PTS: 1 REF: 47
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
4. When a mother brings her 9-month-old to daycare, the child smiles and reaches for the daycare
caregiver. The nurse should determine that according to Mahler's developmental theory, this child's
development is at which phase?
A. The autistic phase
B. The symbiotic phase
C. The differentiation subphase of the separation-individuation phase
D. The rapprochement subphase of the separation-individuation phase - correct answersANS: C
The nurse should understand that this client is in the differentiation subphase of the separation-
individuation phase. This subphase begins with the child's initial physical movements away from the
mothering figure. A primary recognition of separateness commences.
PTS: 1 REF: 42
KEY: Cognitive Level: Application | Integrated Process: Assessment
5. A 12-year-old girl becomes hysterical every time she strikes out in softball, falls down when roller-
skating, or loses when playing games. According to Peplau's interpersonal theory, in which stage of
development should the nurse identify a need for improvement?
A. "Learning to count on others"
B. "Learning to delay satisfaction"
C. "Identifying oneself"
D. "Developing skills in participation" - correct answersANS: D
