Answer Options:
a. Acrophobia
b. Agoraphobia
c. Social anxiety disorder
Answer: C. Social anxiety disorder
Question: A patient reporting stomach pain says, “I have seen 10 different doctors and all of them tell me I don’t have stomach cancer.” Which term best describes the patient’s fears?
Answer Options:
a. Somatic symptom disorder
b. Factitious disorder
c. Illness anxiety
d. Malingering
Answer: C. Illness anxiety
Question: A patient experiences an episode of severe anxiety. Of these medications in the patient’s medical record, which is most appropriate to administer as a short-term therapy?
Answer Options:
a. Buspirone
b. Lorazepam
c. Amitriptyline
d. Desipramine
Answer: B. Lorazepam
Question: A patient tells the nurse, “I wanted my health care provider to prescribe diazepam for my anxiety disorder, but buspirone was prescribed instead. Why?” The nurse’s reply should be based on the knowledge of which characteristic of buspirone?
Answer Options:
a. It does not produce blood dyscrasias.
b. It is not known to cause dependence.
c. It can be administered as needed.
d. It is faster acting than diazepam.
Answer: B. It is not known to cause dependence.
Question: A patient has been diagnosed with a somatic symptoms disorder after various testing has failed to confirm a physiological cause for the patient’s reports of back pain. What intervention by the nurse demonstrates the appropriate response when the patient continues to monopolize the group discussion with about back pain?
Answer Options:
a. Acknowledge the presence of pain but then redirect to another topic.
b. Offer to discuss the back pain with the patient after the group session is over.
c. In a matter-of-fact manner tell the patient that their pain is somatic in nature.
d. Offer to discuss additional pain medication with the patient’s health care provider.
Answer: A. Acknowledge the presence of pain but then redirect to another topic.
Question: A patient comments, “I never know the right answer” and “My opinion is not important.” Using Erikson’s theory, which psychosocial crisis did the patient have difficulty resolving?
Answer Options:
a. Initiative versus Guilt
b. Trust versus Mistrust
c. Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt
d. Generativity versus Self-Absorption
Answer: c. Autonomy versus Shame and Doubt
Question: A nurse assesses a patient diagnosed with somatic system disorder. What assessment questions are considered appropriate in nature? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Options:
a. “Do you have periods of amnesia or memory gaps?”
b. “Would you consider yourself to be mentally ill?”
c. “Have you ever been told that your symptoms are not real?”
d. “Are you able to care for yourself and meet your own basic needs?”
e. “How do the members of your immediate family react to your illness?”
Answer: B. “Would you consider yourself to be mentally ill?”
D. “Are you able to care for yourself and meet your own basic needs?”
E. “How do the members of your immediate family react to your illness?”
Question: An adolescent diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder says, “My parents focus all their attention on my brother instead of me. He’s perfect in their eyes.” Which type of therapy might promote the greatest change in this adolescent’s behavior?
Answer Options:
a. Bibliotherapy
b. Play therapy
c. Family therapy
d. Behavior modification therapy
Answer: c. Family therapy
Question: Which treatment modality should a nurse recommend to help a patient diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder cope more effectively?
Answer Options:
a. Flooding
b. Relaxation
c. Response prevention
d. Systematic desensitization
Answer: B. Relaxation
Question: A nurse assesses a patient suspected to have somatic system disorder. Which findings support the diagnosis? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Options:
a. Female
b. Reports frequent dizziness
c. Complains of heavy menstrual bleeding
d. First diagnosed with psoriasis at 12 years of age
e. Reports of back pain, painful urination and frequent diarrhea
Answer: A. Female
B. Reports frequent dizziness
C. Complains of heavy menstrual bleeding
E. Reports of back pain, painful urination and frequent diarrhea
Question: A 37 year old is involuntarily committed to outpatient treatment after sexually molesting a 12-year-old child. The patient says, “That girl looked like she was 19 years old.” Which defense mechanism is this patient using?
Answer Options:
a. Denial
b. Identification
c. Displacement
d. Rationalization
Answer: d. Rationalization
Question: A nurse wishes to teach alternative coping strategies to a patient experiencing severe anxiety. The nurse will first need to:
Answer Options:
a. verify the patient’s learning style.
b. create outcomes and a teaching plan.
c. lower the patient’s current anxiety level.
d. assess how the patient uses defense mechanisms.
Answer: C. lower the patient’s current anxiety level.
Question: A soldier served in combat zones in Iraq in 2010 and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014. When is it most important for the nurse to screen for signs and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
Answer Options:
a. Immediately upon return to the United States from Afghanistan
b. Before departing Afghanistan to return to the United States
c. Two years after returning from Afghanistan
d. Screening should be ongoing
Answer: D. Screening should be ongoing
Question: Which assessment question would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask a patient who is at risk for developing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)?
Answer Options:
a. “Have you been a victim of a crime or seen someone badly injured or killed?”
b. “Do you feel especially uncomfortable in social situations involving people?”
c. “Do you repeatedly do certain things over and over again?”
d. “Do you find it difficult to control your worrying?”
Answer: D. “Do you find it difficult to control your worrying?”
Question: A soldier returned 1 year ago from Afghanistan and was diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which social event would most likely be disturbing for this soldier?
Answer Options:
a. Halloween festival with neighborhood children
b. Singing carols around a Christmas tree
c. Family outing to the seashore
d. Fireworks display on July 4th
Answer: D. Fireworks display on July 4th
Question: Which patient statement best supports the diagnosis of somatic disorders?
Answer Options:
a. “I can’t do much because of the severe pain.”
b. “I feel as if I’m living in a fuzzy dream state.”
c. “I feel like different parts of my body are at war.”
d. “I feel very anxious and worried about my problems.”
Answer: A. “I can’t do much because of the severe pain.”
Question: The child most likely to receive propranolol to manage tremors is one diagnosed with which disorder?
Answer Options:
a. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
b. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
c. A motor disorder
d. Separation anxiety
Answer: c. A motor disorder
Question: A patient has the nursing diagnosis anxiety as evidenced by an inability to control compulsive cleaning. Which phrase referring to the likely trigger correctly completes the etiological portion of the diagnosis?
Answer Options:
a. Ensuring the health of household members
b. Attempting to avoid interactions with others
c. Having persistent thoughts about bacteria, germs, and dirt
d. Needing approval for cleanliness from friends and family
Answer: C. Having persistent thoughts about bacteria, germs, and dirt