HESI Exit Psych/Mental Health Saunders Question and Answers with
explanations
When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the
diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as
part of the treatment plan. The nurse understands that which is the purpose
of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intrapsychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs -
✔4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
Rationale:
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help the client identify and examine
dysfunctional thoughts and to identify and examine values and beliefs that
maintain these thoughts. The remaining options, while therapeutic in certain
situations, are not the focus of cognitive behavioral therapy.
The nurse understands that which best describes Gestalt therapy?
1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in the
present.
2. It promotes the individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to
other relationships.
,3. The therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs and thoughts contribute to
psychological distress.
4. The therapist's goal is to help others express their feelings toward one
another during group sessions. -
✔1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in
the present.
Rationale:
Gestalt therapy emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-
awareness in the present. The client and therapist focus on everyday
problems and try to solve them. Interpersonal group therapy promotes the
individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to other relationships.
In rational emotive therapy, the therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs
and thoughts contribute to psychological distress. In Rogerian therapy, the
therapist's goal is to help others express their feelings toward one another
during group sessions.
A client is preparing to attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting for the first
time. The nurse should tell the client that which is the first step in this 12-
step program?
1. Admitting to having a problem
2. Substituting other activities for gambling
3. Stating that the gambling will be stopped
4. Discontinuing relationships with people who gamble -
✔1. Admitting to having a problem
Rationale:
,The first step in the 12-step program is to admit that a problem exists.
Substituting other activities for gambling may be a strategy but it is not the
first step. The remaining options are not realistic strategies for the initial
step in a 12-step program.
Which describes the primary focus of milieu therapy?
1. A form of behavior modification therapy
2. A cognitive approach to changing behavior
3. A living, learning, or working environment
4. A behavioral approach to changing behavior -
✔3. A living, learning, or working environment
Rationale:
Milieu therapy, or "therapeutic community," has as its focus a living,
learning, or working environment. Such therapy may be based on numerous
therapeutic modalities ranging from structured behavioral therapy to
spontaneous, humanistically oriented approaches. Although milieu therapy
may include behavioral approaches, the correct option describes its primary
focus.
While being treated, a client is introduced to short periods of exposure to the
phobic object while in a relaxed state. What term is used to describe this
form of behavior modification?
1. Milieu therapy
2. Aversion therapy
3. Self-control therapy
, 4. Systematic desensitization -
✔4. Systematic desensitization
Rationale:
Systematic desensitization is a form of therapy used when the client is
introduced to short periods of exposure to the phobic object while in a
relaxed state. Exposure is gradually increased until the anxiety about or fear
of the object or situation has ceased. Milieu management refers to providing
a safe, therapeutic environment and is applicable to not just this scenario.
The remaining options are incorrect since they do not involve the
intervention described.
A client is planning to attend Overeaters Anonymous. Which statement by
the client indicates a need for additional information regarding this self-help
group?
1. "The leader is a nurse or psychiatrist."
2. "The members provide support to each other."
3. "People who have a similar problem are able to help others."
4. "It is designed to serve people who have a common problem." -
✔1. "The leader is a nurse or psychiatrist."
Rationale:
The sponsor of a self-help group is an experienced member of the group. The
nurse or psychiatrist may be asked by the group to serve as a resource, but
would not be the leader of the group. The remaining options are
characteristics of a self-help group.
explanations
When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the
diagnosis of anorexia nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as
part of the treatment plan. The nurse understands that which is the purpose
of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intrapsychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs -
✔4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
Rationale:
Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to help the client identify and examine
dysfunctional thoughts and to identify and examine values and beliefs that
maintain these thoughts. The remaining options, while therapeutic in certain
situations, are not the focus of cognitive behavioral therapy.
The nurse understands that which best describes Gestalt therapy?
1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in the
present.
2. It promotes the individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to
other relationships.
,3. The therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs and thoughts contribute to
psychological distress.
4. The therapist's goal is to help others express their feelings toward one
another during group sessions. -
✔1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in
the present.
Rationale:
Gestalt therapy emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-
awareness in the present. The client and therapist focus on everyday
problems and try to solve them. Interpersonal group therapy promotes the
individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to other relationships.
In rational emotive therapy, the therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs
and thoughts contribute to psychological distress. In Rogerian therapy, the
therapist's goal is to help others express their feelings toward one another
during group sessions.
A client is preparing to attend a Gamblers Anonymous meeting for the first
time. The nurse should tell the client that which is the first step in this 12-
step program?
1. Admitting to having a problem
2. Substituting other activities for gambling
3. Stating that the gambling will be stopped
4. Discontinuing relationships with people who gamble -
✔1. Admitting to having a problem
Rationale:
,The first step in the 12-step program is to admit that a problem exists.
Substituting other activities for gambling may be a strategy but it is not the
first step. The remaining options are not realistic strategies for the initial
step in a 12-step program.
Which describes the primary focus of milieu therapy?
1. A form of behavior modification therapy
2. A cognitive approach to changing behavior
3. A living, learning, or working environment
4. A behavioral approach to changing behavior -
✔3. A living, learning, or working environment
Rationale:
Milieu therapy, or "therapeutic community," has as its focus a living,
learning, or working environment. Such therapy may be based on numerous
therapeutic modalities ranging from structured behavioral therapy to
spontaneous, humanistically oriented approaches. Although milieu therapy
may include behavioral approaches, the correct option describes its primary
focus.
While being treated, a client is introduced to short periods of exposure to the
phobic object while in a relaxed state. What term is used to describe this
form of behavior modification?
1. Milieu therapy
2. Aversion therapy
3. Self-control therapy
, 4. Systematic desensitization -
✔4. Systematic desensitization
Rationale:
Systematic desensitization is a form of therapy used when the client is
introduced to short periods of exposure to the phobic object while in a
relaxed state. Exposure is gradually increased until the anxiety about or fear
of the object or situation has ceased. Milieu management refers to providing
a safe, therapeutic environment and is applicable to not just this scenario.
The remaining options are incorrect since they do not involve the
intervention described.
A client is planning to attend Overeaters Anonymous. Which statement by
the client indicates a need for additional information regarding this self-help
group?
1. "The leader is a nurse or psychiatrist."
2. "The members provide support to each other."
3. "People who have a similar problem are able to help others."
4. "It is designed to serve people who have a common problem." -
✔1. "The leader is a nurse or psychiatrist."
Rationale:
The sponsor of a self-help group is an experienced member of the group. The
nurse or psychiatrist may be asked by the group to serve as a resource, but
would not be the leader of the group. The remaining options are
characteristics of a self-help group.
