Free Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with posttraumatic stress disorder is almost ready to be released. Which client comment would suggest that the effectiveness of education about the psychosocial causes of posttraumatic stress disorder?
- “I have learned to avoid stressful situations as a way to decrease emotional pain.”
- “So, natural opioid release during the trauma caused my body to become ‘addicted.’”
- “Because of the trauma, I have a negative perception of the world and feel hopeless."
- “I understand that the event I experienced, and how I deal with it, and my support system, all affect my disease process.” (Correct answer)
Correct answer: “I understand that the event I experienced, and how I deal with it, and my support system, all affect my disease process.”
The patient shows a solid awareness of the psychosocial causes of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) when they express understanding of how the experienced event, personal characteristics, and available support networks affect their diagnosis.
Question 2: Which intrapersonal intervention by the nurse would be acceptable to help a patient with social anxiety disorder achieve the outcome, "Client will voluntarily participate in group activities with peers by day 3"?
- Encourage discussion about fears related to socialization. (Correct answer)
- Role-play scenarios that may occur in group to decrease anxiety.
- Offer PRN lorazepam (Ativan) 1 hour before group begins.
- Attend group with client to assist in decreasing anxiety.
Correct answer: Encourage discussion about fears related to socialization.
An intrapersonal intervention is to promote conversation about worries.
Question 3: Which intervention, according to psychodynamic theory, would be suitable for a patient with a panic disorder?
- Discuss the overuse of ego defense mechanisms and their impact on anxiety. (Correct answer)
- Teach the client about the effect of blood lactate level as it relates to the patient’s panic attacks.
- Encourage the patient to evaluate the power of distorted thinking.
- Ask the patient to include his or her family in scheduled therapy sessions.
Correct answer: Discuss the overuse of ego defense mechanisms and their impact on anxiety.
The nurse's discussion of the patient's overuse of ego defense mechanisms serves as an example of a psychodynamic approach to treating the client's panic disorder-related behaviors.
Question 4: Which scenario would lead the nurse to suspect a social phobia diagnosis?
- A patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease avoids social situations because of embarrassment regarding tremors and drooling.
- A college student avoids taking classes that include an oral presentation because of fear of being scrutinized by others. (Correct answer)
- A patient abuses marijuana daily and avoids social situations because of fear of humiliation.
- An 8-year-old child isolates from adults because of fear of embarrassment, but has good peer relationships in school.
Correct answer: A college student avoids taking classes that include an oral presentation because of fear of being scrutinized by others.
A student who avoids class out of concern for peer scrutiny satisfies the requirements for a social phobia diagnosis.
Question 5: Which nursing diagnosis best fits the needs of a patient who is away from home for the first time in a year, arrives at the mental in-patient unit wearing a surgical mask and white gloves, and cries, "The germs in here are going to kill me."
- Ineffective coping AEB dysfunctional isolation R /T unrealistic fear of germs.
- Anxiety R /T the inability to leave home, resulting in dysfunctional fear of germs.
- Social isolation R /T fear of germs AEB continually refusing to leave the home. (Correct answer)
- Fear of germs R /T obsessive-compulsive disorder, resulting in dysfunctional isolation.
Correct answer: Social isolation R /T fear of germs AEB continually refusing to leave the home.
The North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) states that the nursing diagnosis format must include three key elements: (1) identification of the health problem; (2) presentation of the etiology (or cause) of the problem; and (3) description of a group of symptoms known as "defining characteristics." The correct response includes all three elements in the proper order: health problem/NANDA stem (social isolation); etiology/cause, or R /T Due to a fear of germs, this client has been unable to leave the house for a year. As a result, the client's behaviors fit the description of social isolation.
Question 6: The evening report has been sent to the nurse. The nurse would need to evaluate which patient first.
- A patient who slept 2 to 3 hours last night because of flashbacks.
- A patient pacing the halls and stating that his anxiety is an 8/10. (Correct answer)
- A patient diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder awaiting discharge.
- A newly admitted patient with a history of panic attacks.
Correct answer: A patient pacing the halls and stating that his anxiety is an 8/10.
A patient who is pacing the hallways and becoming more anxious needs to be evaluated right away. There is a chance that the patient could hurt himself or other people if the nurse does nothing about this assessment.
Question 7: A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder has spent the past four days in the hospital. Which intervention is most important right now?
- Allow the patient the time needed to complete the compulsive behaviors.
- Say “stop” to the patient as a thought-stopping technique.
- Notify the patient of the expected limitations on compulsive behaviors.
- Reinforce the use of learned relaxation techniques. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Reinforce the use of learned relaxation techniques.
The patient must acquire methods for lowering general anxiety levels in order to lessen the need for obsessive behaviors. By day four, these techniques should be taught.
Free Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Questions and Answers
A patient with posttraumatic stress disorder is almost ready to be released.
Which client comment would suggest that the effectiveness of education about the psychosocial causes of posttraumatic stress disorder?