PERSONALITY DISORDERS NCLEX EXAM 2025 | ALL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+||NEWEST VERSION 2025/26
During an assessment interview, a client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder
spits, curses, and refuses to CORRECTANSWER questions. Which is the appropriate
nursing response to this behavior?
1. You are very disrespectful. You need to learn to control yourself.
2. I understand that you are angry, but this behavior will not be tolerated.
3. What behaviors could you modify to improve this situation?
4. What anti-personality disorder medications have helped you in the past? -
CORRECTANSWER 2 ~ The appropriate nursing response is to reflect the clients
feeling while setting firm limits on behavior. Clients diagnosed with antisocial personality
disorder have a low tolerance for frustration, see themselves as victims, and use
projection as a primary ego defense mechanism.
Define egosyntonic -CORRECTANSWER In psychoanalysis, egosyntonic refers to the
behaviors, values, and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and
goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image.
Define egodystonic -CORRECTANSWER Egodystonic (or ego alien) is the opposite,
referring to thoughts and behaviors (dreams, compulsions, desires, etc.) that are in
conflict, or dissonant, with the needs and goals of the ego, or, further, in conflict with a
person's ideal self-image.
,At 11:00 p.m. a client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder demands to phone
a lawyer to file for a divorce. Unit rules state that no phone calls are permitted after
10:00 p.m. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
1. Go ahead and use the phone. I know this pending divorce is stressful.
2. You know better than to break the rules. I'm surprised at you.
3. It is after the 10:00 p.m. phone curfew. You will be able to call tomorrow.
4. A divorce shouldn't be considered until you have had a good nights sleep. -
CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ The most appropriate response by the staff is to restate the
unit rules in a calm, assertive manner. The nurse can encourage the client to verbalize
frustration while maintaining an accepting attitude. The nurse may also help the client to
identify the true source of frustration.
A client diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder becomes violent on a unit. Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
1. Provide objective evidence that reasons for violence are unwarranted.
2. Initially restrain the client to maintain safety.
3. Use clear, calm statements and a confident physical stance.
4. Empathize with the clients paranoid perceptions. -CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ The most
appropriate nursing intervention is to use clear, calm statements and to assume a
confident physical stance. A calm attitude provides the client with a feeling of safety and
security. It may also be beneficial to have sufficient staff on hand to present a show of
strength.
,A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder brings up a conflict with the staff
in a community meeting and develops a following of clients who unreasonably demand
modification of unit rules. How can the nursing staff best handle this situation?
1. Allow the clients to apply the democratic process when developing unit rules.
2. Maintain consistency of care by open communication to avoid staff manipulation.
3. Allow the client spokesman to verbalize concerns during a unit staff meeting.
4. Maintain unit order by the application of autocratic leadership. -CORRECTANSWER
2 ~ The nursing staff can best handle this situation by maintaining consistency of care
by open communication to avoid staff manipulation. Clients with borderline personality
disorder can exhibit negative patterns of interaction, such as clinging and distancing,
splitting, manipulation, and self-destructive behaviors.
Which nursing approach should be used to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?
1. Being firm, consistent, and empathic, while addressing specific client behaviors
2. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
3. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
4. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid providing secondary gains -
CORRECTANSWER 1 ~ The best nursing approach when working with a client
diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic
while addressing specific client behaviors. Individuals with borderline personality
, disorder always seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of
interaction, such as manipulation and splitting.
Which adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the characteristics of a
dependent personality disorder?
1. A physically healthy client who is dependent on meeting social needs by contact with
15 cats
2. A physically healthy client who has a history of depending on intense relationships to
meet basic needs
3. A physically healthy client who lives with parents & depends on public transportation
4. A physically healthy client who is serious, inflexible, perfectionistic, lacks spontaneity
& depends on rules to provide security -CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ A physically healthy
adult client who lives with parents and depends on public transportation exhibits signs of
dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a
pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging
behaviors.
A client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions, avoids positions
of responsibility & has a behavioral pattern of suffering in silence. Which statement best
explains the etiology of this clients personality disorder?
1. Childhood nurturance was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors
were encouraged.
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS | ALREADY
GRADED A+||NEWEST VERSION 2025/26
During an assessment interview, a client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder
spits, curses, and refuses to CORRECTANSWER questions. Which is the appropriate
nursing response to this behavior?
1. You are very disrespectful. You need to learn to control yourself.
2. I understand that you are angry, but this behavior will not be tolerated.
3. What behaviors could you modify to improve this situation?
4. What anti-personality disorder medications have helped you in the past? -
CORRECTANSWER 2 ~ The appropriate nursing response is to reflect the clients
feeling while setting firm limits on behavior. Clients diagnosed with antisocial personality
disorder have a low tolerance for frustration, see themselves as victims, and use
projection as a primary ego defense mechanism.
Define egosyntonic -CORRECTANSWER In psychoanalysis, egosyntonic refers to the
behaviors, values, and feelings that are in harmony with or acceptable to the needs and
goals of the ego, or consistent with one's ideal self-image.
Define egodystonic -CORRECTANSWER Egodystonic (or ego alien) is the opposite,
referring to thoughts and behaviors (dreams, compulsions, desires, etc.) that are in
conflict, or dissonant, with the needs and goals of the ego, or, further, in conflict with a
person's ideal self-image.
,At 11:00 p.m. a client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder demands to phone
a lawyer to file for a divorce. Unit rules state that no phone calls are permitted after
10:00 p.m. Which nursing response is most appropriate?
1. Go ahead and use the phone. I know this pending divorce is stressful.
2. You know better than to break the rules. I'm surprised at you.
3. It is after the 10:00 p.m. phone curfew. You will be able to call tomorrow.
4. A divorce shouldn't be considered until you have had a good nights sleep. -
CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ The most appropriate response by the staff is to restate the
unit rules in a calm, assertive manner. The nurse can encourage the client to verbalize
frustration while maintaining an accepting attitude. The nurse may also help the client to
identify the true source of frustration.
A client diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder becomes violent on a unit. Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
1. Provide objective evidence that reasons for violence are unwarranted.
2. Initially restrain the client to maintain safety.
3. Use clear, calm statements and a confident physical stance.
4. Empathize with the clients paranoid perceptions. -CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ The most
appropriate nursing intervention is to use clear, calm statements and to assume a
confident physical stance. A calm attitude provides the client with a feeling of safety and
security. It may also be beneficial to have sufficient staff on hand to present a show of
strength.
,A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder brings up a conflict with the staff
in a community meeting and develops a following of clients who unreasonably demand
modification of unit rules. How can the nursing staff best handle this situation?
1. Allow the clients to apply the democratic process when developing unit rules.
2. Maintain consistency of care by open communication to avoid staff manipulation.
3. Allow the client spokesman to verbalize concerns during a unit staff meeting.
4. Maintain unit order by the application of autocratic leadership. -CORRECTANSWER
2 ~ The nursing staff can best handle this situation by maintaining consistency of care
by open communication to avoid staff manipulation. Clients with borderline personality
disorder can exhibit negative patterns of interaction, such as clinging and distancing,
splitting, manipulation, and self-destructive behaviors.
Which nursing approach should be used to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?
1. Being firm, consistent, and empathic, while addressing specific client behaviors
2. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
3. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
4. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid providing secondary gains -
CORRECTANSWER 1 ~ The best nursing approach when working with a client
diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic
while addressing specific client behaviors. Individuals with borderline personality
, disorder always seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of
interaction, such as manipulation and splitting.
Which adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the characteristics of a
dependent personality disorder?
1. A physically healthy client who is dependent on meeting social needs by contact with
15 cats
2. A physically healthy client who has a history of depending on intense relationships to
meet basic needs
3. A physically healthy client who lives with parents & depends on public transportation
4. A physically healthy client who is serious, inflexible, perfectionistic, lacks spontaneity
& depends on rules to provide security -CORRECTANSWER 3 ~ A physically healthy
adult client who lives with parents and depends on public transportation exhibits signs of
dependent personality disorder. Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a
pervasive and excessive need to be taken care of that leads to submissive and clinging
behaviors.
A client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions, avoids positions
of responsibility & has a behavioral pattern of suffering in silence. Which statement best
explains the etiology of this clients personality disorder?
1. Childhood nurturance was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors
were encouraged.
