Answer Options:
a. “It is probably a coincidence. Emotions and physical responses travel on different tracts of the nervous system.”
b. “You may be paying more attention to your mother since your father died and noticing more things such as minor illnesses.”
c. “So far, research on emotions or stress and becoming ill more easily is unclear. We do not know for sure if there is a link.”
d. “Negative emotions and stress may interfere with the body’s ability to protect itself and can increase the likelihood of infection.”
Answer: D. “Negative emotions and stress may interfere with the body’s ability to protect itself and can increase the likelihood of infection.”
Question: After receiving an order for a stat medication, the charge nurse gives the medication to a patient and asks a staff nurse, “Please document the administration of the medication for me. My password is nurse2. What action should the on-duty nurse take?
Answer Options:
a. Suggest the nurse return and document.
b. Refer the matter to the charge nurse to resolve.
c. Access the record and document the information.
d. Report the request to the patient’s health care provider.
Answer: B. Refer the matter to the charge nurse to resolve.
Question: A patient with blindness related to a functional neurological (conversion) disorder states, “All the doctors and nurses in this hospital stop by often to check on me. Too bad people outside the hospital don’t find me interesting.” Which nursing diagnosis is most relevant?
Answer Options:
a. Social isolation
b. Chronic low self-esteem
c. Interrupted family processes
d. Ineffective health maintenance
Answer: B. Chronic low self-esteem
Question: An adult diagnosed with major depressive disorder was treated with medication and cognitive behavioral therapy. The patient now recognizes how passivity contributed to the depression. Which intervention should the nurse suggest?
Answer Options:
a. Social skills training
b. Relaxation training classes
c. Use of complementary therapies
d. Learning desensitization techniques
Answer: A. Social skills training
Question: The nurse assesses a patient who describes mood fluctuations throughout the day. Which question is most relevant to the assessment of mood disorders?
Answer Options:
a. “Do you ever see or hear things that others do not?”
b. “Describe your problems with short-term memory?”
c. “How would you describe your sleep pattern?”
d. “How would you describe your thinking?”
Answer: c. “How would you describe your sleep pattern?”
Question: Which statement made by a patient during an initial assessment interview should serve as the priority focus for the plan of care?
Answer Options:
a. “I can always trust my family.”
b. “It seems like I always have bad luck.”
c. “You never know who will turn against you.”
d. “I hear evil voices that tell me to do bad things.”
Answer: D. “I hear evil voices that tell me to do bad things.”
Question: A patient being treated for major depressive disorder has taken 300 mg amitriptyline daily for a year. The patient calls the case manager at the clinic and says, “I stopped taking my antidepressant 2 days ago. Now I am having cold sweats, nausea, a rapid heartbeat, and nightmares.” How should the nurse advise the patient?
Answer Options:
a. “Go to the nearest emergency department immediately.”
b. “Do not to be alarmed. Take two aspirin and drink plenty of fluids.”
c. “Take one dose of the antidepressant, and then come to the clinic to see the health care provider.”
d. “Resume taking the antidepressant for 2 more weeks, and then discontinue it again.”
Answer: C. “Take one dose of the antidepressant, and then come to the clinic to see the health care provider.”
Question: A nurse worked with a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who was severely withdrawn and dependent on others. After 3 weeks, the patient did not improve. The nurse is at risk for what emotional response?
Answer Options:
a. Overinvolvement
b. Guilt and despair
c. Disinterest and apathy
d. Ineffectiveness and frustration
Answer: D. Ineffectiveness and frustration
Question: A professor’s 4-year-old child has a temperature of 101.6 F, diarrhea, and complains of stomach pain. The professor is scheduled to teach three classes today. Which actions by the professor demonstrate effective parenting? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Options:
a. Telephoning a grandparent to stay with the child at home for the day
b. Telephoning a colleague to teach his classes and staying home with the sick child
c. Taking the child to the university and keeping the child in a private office for the day
d. Taking the child to a day care center and hoping day care workers will not notice the child is sick
e. Giving the child one dose of ibuprofen (Motrin) and taking the child to the day care center
Answer: A. Telephoning a grandparent to stay with the child at home for the day
B. Telephoning a colleague to teach his classes and staying home with the sick child
Question: Which concept is most applicable when protecting the treatment of hospitalized patients?
Answer Options:
a. The right to privacy.
b. The right to refuse treatment.
c. The right to be protected from harm.
d. The right to make one’s own decisions.
Answer: c. The right to be protected from harm.
Question: When a 5-year-old child is disruptive, the nurse says, “You must take a time-out.” The expectation is that the child will demonstrate what behavior?
Answer Options:
a. Go to a quiet room until called for the next meal.
b. Slowly count to 20 before returning to the group activity.
c. Sit on the edge of the activity until able to regain self-control.
d. Sit quietly on the lap of a staff member until able to apologize for the behavior.
Answer: c. Sit on the edge of the activity until able to regain self-control.
Question: A patient experiencing fluctuating levels of consciousness, disturbed orientation, and perceptual alteration begs, “Someone get these bugs off me.” What is the nurse’s best response?
Answer Options:
a. “There are no bugs on your legs. Your imagination is playing tricks on you.”
b. “Try to relax. The crawling sensation will go away sooner if you can relax.”
c. “Don’t worry. I will have someone stay here and brush off the bugs for you.”
d. “I don’t see any bugs, but I know you are frightened so I will stay with you.”
Answer: d. “I don’t see any bugs, but I know you are frightened so I will stay with you.”
Question: While talking with a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder, a nurse notices the patient is unable to maintain eye contact. The patient’s chin lowers to the chest while the patient looks at the floor. Which aspect of communication has the nurse assessed?
Answer Options:
a. Nonverbal communication
b. A message filter
Answer: A. Nonverbal communication
Question: A patient is hospitalized for a reaction to a psychotropic medication with mandated informed for 24 hours. During a pre-discharge visit, the case manager learns the patient received a notice of eviction on the day of admission. What action should the case manager take first?
Answer Options:
a. Contact the landlord’s attorney to implement a stay of eviction.
b. Arrange a temporary place for the patient to stay until new housing can be secured.
c. Cancel the patient’s discharge from the hospital.
d. Document that the patient’s recovery will be hampered because of homelessness.
Answer: b. Arrange a temporary place for the patient to stay until new housing can be secured.
Question: A nurse designs a plan of exercise for a patient experiencing stress. What rationale should the nurse cite when presenting this plan to the treatment team?
Answer Options:
a. Exercise will stimulate endorphins and improve the patient’s feelings of well-being.
b. Exercise prevents damage from overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system.
c. Exercise detoxifies the body by removing metabolic wastes and other toxins.
d. Exercise will prevent exacerbation of the stress by the limbic system.
Answer: A. Exercise will stimulate endorphins and improve the patient’s feelings of well-being.
Question: A patient begins a new program to assist with building social skills. In which part of the plan of care should a nurse record the item “Encourage patient to attend one psychoeducational group daily”?
Answer Options:
a. Assessment
b. Analysis
c. Planning
d. Implementation
e. Evaluation
Answer: D. Implementation
Question: An adult diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) says, “I’ve always been stupid. I never had friends when I was a child. My parents often punished me because I made mistakes. Now, I can’t keep a job.” The nurse managing care should consider suggesting what intervention?
Answer Options:
a. Aversive therapy to extinguish negative behaviors.
b. Cognitive therapy to help address internalized beliefs.
c. Group therapy to allow comparison of feelings with others.
d. Vocational counseling to identify needed occupational skills.
Answer: b. Cognitive therapy to help address internalized beliefs.
Question: The nurse is monitoring a patient closely for signs and symptoms of Stevens-Johnson syndrome. Which medication is likely the trigger for such a syndrome?
Answer Options:
a. Clonazepam
b. Risperidone
c. Lamotrigine
d. Aripiprazole
Answer: C. Lamotrigine