FREE Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 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?

Accepted Answer

“I understand that the event I experienced, and how I deal with it, and my support system, all affect my disease process.”

Answer

“I have learned to avoid stressful situations as a way to decrease emotional pain.”

Answer

“So, natural opioid release during the trauma caused my body to become ‘addicted.’”

Answer

“Because of the trauma, I have a negative perception of the world and feel hopeless."

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"?

Accepted Answer

Encourage discussion about fears related to socialization.

Answer

Role-play scenarios that may occur in group to decrease anxiety.

Answer

Offer PRN lorazepam (Ativan) 1 hour before group begins.

Answer

Attend group with client to assist in decreasing anxiety.

Question 3

Which intervention, according to psychodynamic theory, would be suitable for a patient with a panic disorder?

Accepted Answer

Discuss the overuse of ego defense mechanisms and their impact on anxiety.

Answer

Teach the client about the effect of blood lactate level as it relates to the patient’s panic attacks.

Answer

Encourage the patient to evaluate the power of distorted thinking.

Answer

Ask the patient to include his or her family in scheduled therapy sessions.

Question 4

Which scenario would lead the nurse to suspect a social phobia diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

A college student avoids taking classes that include an oral presentation because of fear of being scrutinized by others.

Answer

A patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease avoids social situations because of embarrassment regarding tremors and drooling.

Answer

A patient abuses marijuana daily and avoids social situations because of fear of humiliation.

Answer

An 8-year-old child isolates from adults because of fear of embarrassment, but has good peer relationships in school.

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."

Accepted Answer

Social isolation R /T fear of germs AEB continually refusing to leave the home.

Answer

Ineffective coping AEB dysfunctional isolation R /T unrealistic fear of germs.

Answer

Anxiety R /T the inability to leave home, resulting in dysfunctional fear of germs.

Answer

Fear of germs R /T obsessive-compulsive disorder, resulting in dysfunctional isolation.

Question 6

The evening report has been sent to the nurse. The nurse would need to evaluate which patient first.

Accepted Answer

A patient  pacing the halls and stating that his anxiety is an 8/10.

Answer

A patient who slept 2 to 3 hours last night because of flashbacks.

Answer

A patient  diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder awaiting discharge.

Answer

A newly admitted patient  with a history of panic attacks.

Question 7

A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder has spent the past four days in the hospital. Which intervention is most important right now?

Accepted Answer

Reinforce the use of learned relaxation techniques.

Answer

Allow the patient the time needed to complete the compulsive behaviors.

Answer

Say “stop” to the patient as a thought-stopping technique.

Answer

Notify the patient of the expected limitations on compulsive behaviors.