Answer Options:
a. “I’ll call your health care provider and see if I can give you a sedative.”
b. “Do you think you will feel better with some oxygen?”
c. “We’ve talked about how being dramatic is helpful.”
d. “Has something happened to make you anxious?”
Answer: D. “Has something happened to make you anxious?”
Question: For a patient experiencing panic, which nursing intervention should be implemented first?
Answer Options:
a. Teaching relaxation techniques
b. Administering an anxiolytic medication
c. Providing calm, brief, directive communication
d. Gathering a show of force in preparation for gaining physical control
Answer: C. Providing calm, brief, directive communication
Question: As part of the stress response, the HPA axis is stimulated. Which structures make up this system?
Answer Options:
a. Hippocampus, parietal lobe, and amygdala
b. Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands
c. Hind brain, pyramidal nervous system, and anterior cerebrum
d. Hepatic artery, parasympathetic nervous system, and acoustic nerve
Answer: B. Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands
Question: A person who has been unable to leave home for more than a week because of severe anxiety says, “I know it does not make sense, but I just can’t bring myself to leave my apartment alone.” Which nursing intervention is appropriate when implementing cognitive restructuring?
Answer Options:
a. Teach the person to use positive self-talk.
b. Assist the person to apply for disability benefits.
c. Ask the person to explain why the fear is so disabling.
d. Advise the person to accept the situation and use a companion service.
Answer: A. Teach the person to use positive self-talk.
Question: An individual experiencing sexual dysfunction blames it on their partner and suggests the person is both unattractive and unromantic. Which defense mechanism is evident?
Answer Options:
a. Rationalization
b. Compensation
c. Introjection
d. Regression
Answer: A. Rationalization
Question: What are the causes of somatic system disorders generally related to?
Answer Options:
a. Faulty perceptions of body sensations
b. Traumatic childhood events
c. Culture-bound phenomena
d. Mood instability
Answer: A. Faulty perceptions of body sensations
Question: A patient whose blindness is related to a functional neurological (conversion) disorder appears to be unconcerned about this problem. Which understanding should guide the nurse’s planning for this patient?
Answer Options:
a. Suppressing accurate feelings regarding the problem.
b. Anxiety is relieved through the physical symptom.
c. Emotional needs are met through hospitalization.
d. The patient relates to disease-specific fears.
Answer: B. Anxiety is relieved through the physical symptom.
Question: A nurse uses Peplau’s interpersonal therapy while working with an anxious, withdrawn patient. What should the focus of the interventions be?
Answer Options:
a. Changing the patient’s perceptions about self
b. Improving the patient’s interactional skills
c. Using medications to relieve anxiety
d. Reinforcing specific behaviors
Answer: b. Improving the patient’s interactional skills
Question: Two staff nurses applied for a charge nurse position. After the promotion was announced, the nurse who was not promoted said, “The nurse manager had a headache the day I was interviewed.” Which defense mechanism is evident?
Answer Options:
a. Introjection
b. Conversion
c. Projection
d. Splitting
Answer: C. Projection
Question: What is the primary difference between somatic system disorders and dissociative disorders?
Answer Options:
a. They are under voluntary control.
b. They are related to resolved stress.
c. They are generally strongly cultural bound.
d. They are psychological stress expressed through somatic symptoms.
Answer: D. They are psychological stress expressed through somatic symptoms.
Question: A nurse encourages an anxious patient to talk about feelings and concerns. What is the rationale for this intervention?
Answer Options:
a. Offering hope allays and defuses the patient’s anxiety.
b. Concerns stated aloud become less overwhelming and help decrease feelings of isolation.
c. Anxiety is reduced by focusing on and validating what is occurring in the environment.
d. Encouraging patients to explore alternatives increases the sense of control and lessens anxiety.
Answer: B. Concerns stated aloud become less overwhelming and help decrease feelings of isolation.
Question: A patient experiencing moderate anxiety says, “I feel undone.” An appropriate response for the nurse would be:
Answer Options:
a. “Why do you suppose you are feeling anxious?”
b. “What would you like me to do to help you?”
c. “I’m not sure I understand. Give me an example.”
d. “You must get your feelings under control before we can continue.”
Answer: C. “I’m not sure I understand. Give me an example.”