NU 401 PSYCH FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST UPDATE
2025/2026
Which developmental characteristic should a nurse identify as typical of a client diagnosed with
severe intellectual developmental disorder (IDD)?
1. The client can perform some self-care activities independently.
2. The client has more advanced speech development.
3. Other than possible coordination problems, the clients psychomotor skills are not affected.
4. The client communicates wants and needs by acting out behaviors. - Answers ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should identify that a client diagnosed with severe IDD may communicate
wants and needs by acting out behaviors. Severe IDD indicates an IQ between 20 and 34.
Individuals diagnosed with severe IDD require complete supervision and have minimal verbal
skills and poor psychomotor development.
Which nursing intervention related to self-care would be most appropriate for a teenager
diagnosed with moderate IDD?
1. Meeting all of the clients self-care needs to avoid injury to the client
2. Providing simple directions and praising clients independent self-care efforts
3. Avoid interfering with the clients self-care efforts in order to promote autonomy
4. Encouraging family to meet the clients self-care needs to promote bonding - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: Providing simple directions and praise is an appropriate intervention for a teenager
diagnosed with moderate IDD. Individuals with moderate mental retardation can perform some
activities independently and may be capable of academic skill to a second-grade level.
A child has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. The distraught mother cries out, I'm
such a terrible mother. What did I do to cause this? Which nursing response is most appropriate?
1. Researchers really don't know what causes autistic spectrum disorder, but the relationship
between autistic disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome is being explored.
2. Poor parenting doesn't cause autistic spectrum disorder. Research has shown that
abnormalities in brain structure or function are to blame. This is beyond your control.
3. Research has shown that the mother appears to play a greater role in the development of
autistic spectrum disorder than the father.
,4. Lack of early infant bonding with the mother has shown to be a cause of autistic spectrum
disorder. Did you breastfeed or bottle-feed? - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The most appropriate response by the nurse is to explain to the parent that autistic
spectrum disorder is believed to be caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function, not
poor parenting. Autism occurs in approximately 11.3 per 1,000 children and is about 4.5 times
more likely to occur in boys than girls.
In planning care for a child diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, which would be a realistic
client outcome?
1. The client will communicate all needs verbally by discharge.
2. The client will participate with peers in a team sport by day four.
3. The client will establish trust with at least one caregiver by day five.
4. The client will perform most self-care tasks independently. - Answers ANS: 3
Rationale: The most realistic client outcome for a child diagnosed with autistic spectrum
disorder is for the client to establish trust with at least one caregiver. Trust should be evidenced
by facial responsiveness and eye contact. This outcome relates to the nursing diagnosis
impaired social interaction.
After an adolescent diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) begins
methylphenidate (Ritalin) therapy, a nurse notes that the adolescent loses 10 pounds in a 2-
month period. What is the best explanation for this weight loss?
1. The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite.
2. Hyperactivity seen in ADHD causes increased caloric expenditure.
3. Side effects of Ritalin cause nausea, and, therefore, caloric intake is decreased.
4. Increased ability to concentrate allows the client to focus on activities rather than food. -
Answers ANS: 1
Rationale: The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite, which often
leads to weight loss. Methylphenidate is a central nervous symptom stimulant that serves to
increase attention span, control hyperactive behaviors, and improve learning ability.
A nurse assesses an adolescent client diagnosed with conduct disorder who, at the age of 8,
was sentenced to juvenile detention. How should the nurse interpret this assessment data?
1. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is more severe than the adolescent-onset type, and these
individuals likely develop antisocial personality disorder in adulthood.
,2. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is caused by a difficult temperament, and the child is likely
to outgrow these behaviors by adulthood.
3. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is diagnosed only when behaviors emerge before the age
of 5, and, therefore, improvement is likely.
4. Childhood-onset conduct disorder has no treatment or cure, and children diagnosed with this
disorder are likely to develop progressive oppositional defiant disorder. - Answers ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should determine that childhood-onset conduct disorder is more severe
than adolescent-onset type. These individuals are likely to develop antisocial personality
disorder in adulthood. Individuals with this subtype are usually boys and frequently display
physical aggression and have disturbed peer relationships.
Which finding should a nurse expect when assessing a child diagnosed with separation anxiety
disorder?
1. The child has a history of antisocial behaviors.
2. The child's mother is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
3. The child previously had an extroverted temperament.
4. The child's mother and father have an inconsistent parenting style. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should expect to find a mother diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when
assessing a child with separation anxiety. Some parents instill anxiety in their children by being
overprotective or by exaggerating dangers. Research studies speculate that there is a hereditary
influence in the development of separation anxiety disorder.
A child has been recently diagnosed with mild IDD. What information about this diagnosis
should the nurse include when teaching the child's mother?
1. Children with mild IDD need constant supervision.
2. Children with mild IDD develop academic skills up to a sixth-grade level.
3. Children with mild IDD appear different from their peers.
4. Children with mild IDD have significant sensory-motor impairment. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should inform the child's mother that children with mild IDD develop
academic skills up to a sixth-grade level. Individuals with mild IDD are capable of independent
living, capable of developing social skills, and have normal psychomotor skills.
A nursing instructor is teaching about the developmental characteristics of clients diagnosed
with moderate intellectual developmental disorder (IDD). Which student statement indicates
, that further instruction is needed?
1. These clients can work in a sheltered workshop setting.
2. These clients can perform some personal care activities.
3. These clients may have difficulties relating to peers.
4. These clients can successfully complete elementary school. - Answers ANS: 4
Rationale: The nursing student needs further instruction about moderate IDD, because
individuals diagnosed with moderate IDD are capable of academic skill up to a second-grade
level. Moderate IDD reflects an IQ range of 35 to 49.
A preschool child is admitted to a psychiatric unit with the diagnosis autistic spectrum disorder.
To help the child feel more secure on the unit, which intervention should a nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
1. Encourage and reward peer contact.
2. Provide consistent caregivers.
3. Provide a variety of safe daily activities.
4. Maintain close physical contact throughout the day. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should provide consistent caregivers as part of the plan of care for a child
diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder
have an inability to trust. Providing consistent caregivers allows the client to develop trust and a
sense of security.
A preschool child diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder has been engaging in constant
head-banging behavior. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
1. Place client in restraints until the aggression subsides.
2. Sedate the client with neuroleptic medications.
3. Hold clients head steady and apply a helmet.
4. Distract the client with a variety of games and puzzles. - Answers ANS: 3
Rationale: The most appropriate intervention for head banging is to hold the clients head steady
and apply a helmet. The helmet is the least restrictive intervention and will serve to protect the
clients head from injury.
When planning care for a client, which medication classification should a nurse recognize as
effective in the treatment of Tourettes syndrome?
2025/2026
Which developmental characteristic should a nurse identify as typical of a client diagnosed with
severe intellectual developmental disorder (IDD)?
1. The client can perform some self-care activities independently.
2. The client has more advanced speech development.
3. Other than possible coordination problems, the clients psychomotor skills are not affected.
4. The client communicates wants and needs by acting out behaviors. - Answers ANS: 4
Rationale: The nurse should identify that a client diagnosed with severe IDD may communicate
wants and needs by acting out behaviors. Severe IDD indicates an IQ between 20 and 34.
Individuals diagnosed with severe IDD require complete supervision and have minimal verbal
skills and poor psychomotor development.
Which nursing intervention related to self-care would be most appropriate for a teenager
diagnosed with moderate IDD?
1. Meeting all of the clients self-care needs to avoid injury to the client
2. Providing simple directions and praising clients independent self-care efforts
3. Avoid interfering with the clients self-care efforts in order to promote autonomy
4. Encouraging family to meet the clients self-care needs to promote bonding - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: Providing simple directions and praise is an appropriate intervention for a teenager
diagnosed with moderate IDD. Individuals with moderate mental retardation can perform some
activities independently and may be capable of academic skill to a second-grade level.
A child has been diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. The distraught mother cries out, I'm
such a terrible mother. What did I do to cause this? Which nursing response is most appropriate?
1. Researchers really don't know what causes autistic spectrum disorder, but the relationship
between autistic disorder and fetal alcohol syndrome is being explored.
2. Poor parenting doesn't cause autistic spectrum disorder. Research has shown that
abnormalities in brain structure or function are to blame. This is beyond your control.
3. Research has shown that the mother appears to play a greater role in the development of
autistic spectrum disorder than the father.
,4. Lack of early infant bonding with the mother has shown to be a cause of autistic spectrum
disorder. Did you breastfeed or bottle-feed? - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The most appropriate response by the nurse is to explain to the parent that autistic
spectrum disorder is believed to be caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function, not
poor parenting. Autism occurs in approximately 11.3 per 1,000 children and is about 4.5 times
more likely to occur in boys than girls.
In planning care for a child diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, which would be a realistic
client outcome?
1. The client will communicate all needs verbally by discharge.
2. The client will participate with peers in a team sport by day four.
3. The client will establish trust with at least one caregiver by day five.
4. The client will perform most self-care tasks independently. - Answers ANS: 3
Rationale: The most realistic client outcome for a child diagnosed with autistic spectrum
disorder is for the client to establish trust with at least one caregiver. Trust should be evidenced
by facial responsiveness and eye contact. This outcome relates to the nursing diagnosis
impaired social interaction.
After an adolescent diagnosed with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) begins
methylphenidate (Ritalin) therapy, a nurse notes that the adolescent loses 10 pounds in a 2-
month period. What is the best explanation for this weight loss?
1. The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite.
2. Hyperactivity seen in ADHD causes increased caloric expenditure.
3. Side effects of Ritalin cause nausea, and, therefore, caloric intake is decreased.
4. Increased ability to concentrate allows the client to focus on activities rather than food. -
Answers ANS: 1
Rationale: The pharmacological action of Ritalin causes a decrease in appetite, which often
leads to weight loss. Methylphenidate is a central nervous symptom stimulant that serves to
increase attention span, control hyperactive behaviors, and improve learning ability.
A nurse assesses an adolescent client diagnosed with conduct disorder who, at the age of 8,
was sentenced to juvenile detention. How should the nurse interpret this assessment data?
1. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is more severe than the adolescent-onset type, and these
individuals likely develop antisocial personality disorder in adulthood.
,2. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is caused by a difficult temperament, and the child is likely
to outgrow these behaviors by adulthood.
3. Childhood-onset conduct disorder is diagnosed only when behaviors emerge before the age
of 5, and, therefore, improvement is likely.
4. Childhood-onset conduct disorder has no treatment or cure, and children diagnosed with this
disorder are likely to develop progressive oppositional defiant disorder. - Answers ANS: 1
Rationale: The nurse should determine that childhood-onset conduct disorder is more severe
than adolescent-onset type. These individuals are likely to develop antisocial personality
disorder in adulthood. Individuals with this subtype are usually boys and frequently display
physical aggression and have disturbed peer relationships.
Which finding should a nurse expect when assessing a child diagnosed with separation anxiety
disorder?
1. The child has a history of antisocial behaviors.
2. The child's mother is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
3. The child previously had an extroverted temperament.
4. The child's mother and father have an inconsistent parenting style. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should expect to find a mother diagnosed with an anxiety disorder when
assessing a child with separation anxiety. Some parents instill anxiety in their children by being
overprotective or by exaggerating dangers. Research studies speculate that there is a hereditary
influence in the development of separation anxiety disorder.
A child has been recently diagnosed with mild IDD. What information about this diagnosis
should the nurse include when teaching the child's mother?
1. Children with mild IDD need constant supervision.
2. Children with mild IDD develop academic skills up to a sixth-grade level.
3. Children with mild IDD appear different from their peers.
4. Children with mild IDD have significant sensory-motor impairment. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should inform the child's mother that children with mild IDD develop
academic skills up to a sixth-grade level. Individuals with mild IDD are capable of independent
living, capable of developing social skills, and have normal psychomotor skills.
A nursing instructor is teaching about the developmental characteristics of clients diagnosed
with moderate intellectual developmental disorder (IDD). Which student statement indicates
, that further instruction is needed?
1. These clients can work in a sheltered workshop setting.
2. These clients can perform some personal care activities.
3. These clients may have difficulties relating to peers.
4. These clients can successfully complete elementary school. - Answers ANS: 4
Rationale: The nursing student needs further instruction about moderate IDD, because
individuals diagnosed with moderate IDD are capable of academic skill up to a second-grade
level. Moderate IDD reflects an IQ range of 35 to 49.
A preschool child is admitted to a psychiatric unit with the diagnosis autistic spectrum disorder.
To help the child feel more secure on the unit, which intervention should a nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
1. Encourage and reward peer contact.
2. Provide consistent caregivers.
3. Provide a variety of safe daily activities.
4. Maintain close physical contact throughout the day. - Answers ANS: 2
Rationale: The nurse should provide consistent caregivers as part of the plan of care for a child
diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder
have an inability to trust. Providing consistent caregivers allows the client to develop trust and a
sense of security.
A preschool child diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder has been engaging in constant
head-banging behavior. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
1. Place client in restraints until the aggression subsides.
2. Sedate the client with neuroleptic medications.
3. Hold clients head steady and apply a helmet.
4. Distract the client with a variety of games and puzzles. - Answers ANS: 3
Rationale: The most appropriate intervention for head banging is to hold the clients head steady
and apply a helmet. The helmet is the least restrictive intervention and will serve to protect the
clients head from injury.
When planning care for a client, which medication classification should a nurse recognize as
effective in the treatment of Tourettes syndrome?
