Rasmussen: Mental Health Exam 2 questions with
verified answers
1) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" hiding in the
warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be documented as:
a. neologism
b. concrete thinking
c. thought insertion
d. idea of reference Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
- A neologism is a newly coined word having special meaning to the patient.
"Volmer" is not a known common noun.
- Concrete thinking refers to the inability to think abstractly.
- Thought insertion refers to thoughts of others that are implanted in one's mind.
- An idea of reference is a type of delusion in which trivial events are given
personal significance.
10) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility
of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
a. "I have to keep checking to see where my car keys are."
b. "My legs feel weak most of the time."
c. "I'm afraid to go out in public."
d. "I keep reliving the rape." Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
,Recurring doubt (obsessive thinking) and the need to check (compulsive behavior)
suggest obsessive-compulsive disorder. The repetitive behavior is designed to
decrease anxiety but fails and must be repeated. Option B is more in keeping with
a somatoform disorder. Option C is associated with agoraphobia and option D
with posttraumatic stress disorder.
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of an antipsychotic on negative
symptoms of psychosis. Which of the following symptoms would be classified as
negative symptoms of psychosis? Ans✓✓✓ Blunted affect
Poverty of thought
Loss of motivation
Inability to experience pleasure or joy
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of psychotropic medication on
negative symptoms of psychosis. The nurse looks for a decrease in which of the
following?
A: Affective flattening.
B: Bizarre behavior.
C: Illogicality.
D: Somatic delusions. Ans✓✓✓ A: Affective flattening.
Reason:
Negative symptoms of psychosis involve a diminution or loss of normal
functioning. They include affective flattening, alogia (restricted thought and
speech), avolution/apathy (lack of behavior initiation), and anhedonia/asociality
(inability to experience pleasure or maintain social contacts). Positive symptoms
, of psychosis involve an excess or distortion of normal functioning. These include
psychotic disorders of thinking (delusions) and disorganization of speech
(illogicality) and behavior.
12) A 39-year-old woman is recently divorced and is learning to cope with
additional stressors. Which of the following best demonstrate(s) that she is
utilizing positive coping strategies to manage her stress? (Select all that apply).
1. alter her general lifestyle by moving to another area.
2. arrange to increase her job hours, to avoid home life.
3. control stress by increased physical activity.
4. change her reactions to stress with cognitive behavioral
therapy. Ans✓✓✓ ANS: 3, 4
3. control stress by increased physical activity.
4. change her reactions to stress with cognitive behavioral
therapy.
13) Which nursing diagnosis is likely to apply to an individual with severe and
persistent mental illness who is homeless?
a. Insomnia
b. Substance abuse
c. Chronic low self-esteem
d. Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome Ans✓✓✓ ANS: C
verified answers
1) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" hiding in the
warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be documented as:
a. neologism
b. concrete thinking
c. thought insertion
d. idea of reference Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
- A neologism is a newly coined word having special meaning to the patient.
"Volmer" is not a known common noun.
- Concrete thinking refers to the inability to think abstractly.
- Thought insertion refers to thoughts of others that are implanted in one's mind.
- An idea of reference is a type of delusion in which trivial events are given
personal significance.
10) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility
of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
a. "I have to keep checking to see where my car keys are."
b. "My legs feel weak most of the time."
c. "I'm afraid to go out in public."
d. "I keep reliving the rape." Ans✓✓✓ ANS: A
,Recurring doubt (obsessive thinking) and the need to check (compulsive behavior)
suggest obsessive-compulsive disorder. The repetitive behavior is designed to
decrease anxiety but fails and must be repeated. Option B is more in keeping with
a somatoform disorder. Option C is associated with agoraphobia and option D
with posttraumatic stress disorder.
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of an antipsychotic on negative
symptoms of psychosis. Which of the following symptoms would be classified as
negative symptoms of psychosis? Ans✓✓✓ Blunted affect
Poverty of thought
Loss of motivation
Inability to experience pleasure or joy
11) The nurse is evaluating the effectiveness of psychotropic medication on
negative symptoms of psychosis. The nurse looks for a decrease in which of the
following?
A: Affective flattening.
B: Bizarre behavior.
C: Illogicality.
D: Somatic delusions. Ans✓✓✓ A: Affective flattening.
Reason:
Negative symptoms of psychosis involve a diminution or loss of normal
functioning. They include affective flattening, alogia (restricted thought and
speech), avolution/apathy (lack of behavior initiation), and anhedonia/asociality
(inability to experience pleasure or maintain social contacts). Positive symptoms
, of psychosis involve an excess or distortion of normal functioning. These include
psychotic disorders of thinking (delusions) and disorganization of speech
(illogicality) and behavior.
12) A 39-year-old woman is recently divorced and is learning to cope with
additional stressors. Which of the following best demonstrate(s) that she is
utilizing positive coping strategies to manage her stress? (Select all that apply).
1. alter her general lifestyle by moving to another area.
2. arrange to increase her job hours, to avoid home life.
3. control stress by increased physical activity.
4. change her reactions to stress with cognitive behavioral
therapy. Ans✓✓✓ ANS: 3, 4
3. control stress by increased physical activity.
4. change her reactions to stress with cognitive behavioral
therapy.
13) Which nursing diagnosis is likely to apply to an individual with severe and
persistent mental illness who is homeless?
a. Insomnia
b. Substance abuse
c. Chronic low self-esteem
d. Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome Ans✓✓✓ ANS: C
