Question: A patient comes to the clinic with superficial cuts on the left wrist. The patient paces around the room sobbing but cringes when approached and responds to questions with only shrugs or monosyllables. What is the nurse’s best initial statement to this patient?

Answer Options:

a. “Everything is going to be all right. You are here at the clinic, and the staff will keep you safe.”
b. “I see you are feeling upset. I am going to stay and talk with you to help you feel better.”
c. “You need to try to stop crying so we can talk about your problems.”
d. “Let’s set some guidelines and goals for your visit here.”

Answer: b. “I see you are feeling upset. I am going to stay and talk with you to help you feel better.”

 

Question: A nurse assesses a patient who reports feeling depressed and hopeless after trying to determine the patient’s perception of the precipitating event. What should the nurse ask that would be most therapeutic?

Answer Options:

a. “Tell me why you were crying.”
b. “How did your wrist get injured?”
c. “How can I help you feel more comfortable?”
d. “What was happening just before you started feeling this way?”

Answer: d. “What was happening just before you started feeling this way?”

 

Question: A patient comes to the crisis center saying, “I’m in a terrible situation. I don’t know what to do.” The triage nurse can initially assume that the patient is experiencing what?

Answer Options:

a. Suicidal ideations
b. Anxiety and fear
c. Misperceived reality
d. Homicidal ideations

Answer: b. Anxiety and fear

 

Question: An adolescent comes to the crisis clinic and reports sexual abuse by an uncle. The patient told the parents about the uncle’s behavior, but the parents did not believe the adolescent. What type of crisis exists?

Answer Options:

a. Maturational
b. Adventitious
c. Situational
d. Organic

Answer: b. Adventitious

 

Question: Which psychological assessment is the most appropriate for a patient who has functioned at a high intellectual level but is now responding to a pre-crisis level of functioning?

Answer Options:

a. “My boss told me I am doing well and up for a promotion.”
b. “I understand that bad things can happen to really good people.”
c. “Going to my support group regularly has made a big difference.”
d. “I’m much more comfortable asking for help than before my divorce.”

Answer: a. “My boss told me I am doing well and up for a promotion.”

 

Question: An adult seeks counseling after the spouse is murdered. The adult angrily says, “I hate the monster that did this. It has ruined my life. During the trial, I don’t know what I’ll do if the jury doesn’t return a guilty verdict.” What is the nurse’s highest priority question?

Answer Options:

a. “What do you mean when you say ‘monster’?”
b. “What resources do you need to help you cope with this situation?”
c. “Would you consider hurting yourself or the person on trial?”
d. “Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself or others?”

Answer: d. “Are you having thoughts of hurting yourself or others?”

 

Question: A woman says, “I can’t take anymore! Last year my husband had an affair. Three months ago, I found a lump in my breast. Yesterday my daughter said she’s quitting college.” What type of crisis is this person experiencing?

Answer Options:

a. Maturational
b. Adventitious
c. Situational
d. Recurring

Answer: c. Situational

 

Question: A woman says, “I can’t take anymore! Last year my husband had an affair and now we don’t communicate. Three months ago, I found a lump in my breast. When the patient does not speak she’s quitting college.” What is the nurse’s best response?

Answer Options:

a. “How can I help you feel more comfortable?”
b. “Tell me why you were crying.”
c. “How did your wrist get injured?”
d. “What was happening just before you started feeling this way?”

Answer: d. “What was happening just before you started feeling this way?”

 

Question: A woman says, “I can’t take anymore, and I have no children or husband to turn to! This last year has been on crisis after another.” If this person’s immediate family is unable to provide sufficient situational support, what should the nurse do?

Answer Options:

a. Suggest hospitalization for a short period.
b. Ask what other relatives or friends are available for support.
c. Tell the patient, “You must be strong. Don’t let this crisis overwhelm you.”
d. Foster insight by relating the present situation to earlier situations involving loss.

Answer: b. Ask what other relatives or friends are available for support.

 

Question: A woman says, “I can’t take anymore! Last year my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Three months ago, I lost my job. Yesterday my daughter said she’s quitting college and moving in with her boyfriend.” Which issue should be the focus for crisis intervention?

Answer Options:

a. Possible mastectomy
b. Disordered family communication
c. Effects of the divorce
d. Coping with the reaction to the daughter’s events

Answer: d. Coping with the reaction to the daughter’s events

 

Question: A patient visiting the crisis clinic for the first time asks, “How long will I be coming here?” The nurse’s reply should consider that the usual duration of crisis intervention is how long in weeks?

Answer Options:

a. 1 to 2
b. 3 to 4
c. 4 to 6
d. 6 to 12

Answer: c. 4 to 6

 

Question: An adult tells the nurse, “I can’t take anymore! My mother passed away, my husband lost his job and yesterday my daughter told me she’s quitting college and moving in with her boyfriend.” What is the priority nursing diagnosis?

Answer Options:

a. Fear, related to impending breast surgery
b. Deficient knowledge, related to breast lesion
c. Ineffective coping, related to perceived loss of daughter
d. Impaired verbal communication, related to spousal estrangement

Answer: c. Ineffective coping, related to perceived loss of daughter

 

Question: When responding to a natural disease, after rescue and evacuation efforts are completed, what intervention will be the focus of the triage process?

Answer Options:

a. Planning the physical rebuilding of the community
b. Coordinating food and shelter services
c. Arranging for temporary schools
d. Debriefing first responders

Answer: b. Coordinating food and shelter services

 

Question: Which situation demonstrates the use of primary care related to crisis intervention?

Answer Options:

a. Implementing suicide precautions for a patient with depression
b. Teaching stress-reduction techniques to a beginning student nurse
c. Assessing coping strategies used by a patient who has attempted suicide
d. Referring a patient with schizophrenia to a partial hospitalization program

Answer: a. Implementing suicide precautions for a patient with depression

 

Question: A victim of intimate partner violence comes to the crisis center seeking help. The nurse uses crisis intervention strategies that focus on what?

Answer Options:

a. Supporting emotional security and re-establishing equilibrium
b. Offering long-term resolution of issues precipitating the crisis
c. Promoting growth of the individual
d. Providing legal assistance

Answer: a. Supporting emotional security and re-establishing equilibrium

 

Question: After celebrating a 40th birthday, an individual becomes concerned with the loss of youthful appearance. What type of crisis has occurred?

Answer Options:

a. Reactive
b. Situational
c. Maturational
d. Adventitious

Answer: c. Maturational

 

Question: Which scenario is an example of an adventitious crisis?

Answer Options:

a. Death of a child from sudden infant death syndrome
b. Being fired from a job because of company downsizing
c. Retirement of a 55 year old
d. A riot at a rock concert

Answer: d. A riot at a rock concert