UNAR Mental Health and Behavioral Support 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When providing care to a resident with bipolar disorder during a manic episode, the nursing assistant should:
- Encourage the resident to do as much activity as possible to tire them out
- Speak in a calm, low-key manner and maintain a calm environment (Correct answer)
- Engage in lengthy debates to help the resident focus
- Allow the resident to skip all scheduled care routines
Correct answer: Speak in a calm, low-key manner and maintain a calm environment
A calm environment and low-key communication help reduce stimulation during manic episodes.
Question 2: Which of the following behaviors by a nursing assistant VIOLATES a resident's mental health needs?
- Listening without interrupting when the resident wants to talk
- Mocking a resident's fears or delusions in front of other staff (Correct answer)
- Reporting new symptoms of anxiety to the charge nurse
- Maintaining a consistent daily routine for a resident with dementia
Correct answer: Mocking a resident's fears or delusions in front of other staff
Mocking a resident's mental health symptoms is disrespectful, violates dignity, and can worsen psychological distress.
Question 3: A resident expresses feelings of worthlessness and says 'I just want to die.' What is the CORRECT nursing assistant action?
- Reassure them that everyone feels that way sometimes and move on
- Tell the resident to cheer up and think positively
- Stay with the resident, take the statement seriously, and immediately report it to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Document the statement at the end of your shift
Correct answer: Stay with the resident, take the statement seriously, and immediately report it to the nurse
Any statement suggesting suicidal ideation must be reported immediately to the nurse — staying with the resident ensures safety.
Question 4: A resident with Alzheimer's disease accuses the nursing assistant of stealing her jewelry. The BEST response is to:
- Argue and insist the accusation is false
- Calmly offer to help look for the jewelry without taking the accusation personally (Correct answer)
- Tell the resident their family must have taken it
- Ignore the resident and walk away
Correct answer: Calmly offer to help look for the jewelry without taking the accusation personally
Accusatory behavior is a common dementia symptom; staying calm and helping search redirects without escalating conflict.
Question 5: What is the purpose of maintaining a consistent routine for residents with dementia?
- It allows staff to take longer breaks
- It reduces anxiety and confusion by providing predictable structure (Correct answer)
- It prevents residents from asking questions about their care
- It eliminates the need for verbal communication
Correct answer: It reduces anxiety and confusion by providing predictable structure
Consistent routines reduce anxiety, confusion, and behavioral disturbances in residents with dementia.
Question 6: A cognitively intact resident tells the nursing assistant they are afraid of a specific treatment. The nursing assistant should:
- Proceed with the treatment because the nurse ordered it
- Tell the resident their fear is irrational
- Listen to the fear, provide reassurance, and inform the nurse of the resident's concern (Correct answer)
- Ask the resident to sign a refusal form and leave
Correct answer: Listen to the fear, provide reassurance, and inform the nurse of the resident's concern
Residents have the right to express fears about their care, and nursing assistants must listen, reassure, and report to the nurse.
Question 7: Which of the following is an example of a non-pharmacological approach to managing agitation in a dementia patient?
- Giving the resident an extra dose of their antipsychotic medication
- Playing familiar music from the resident's era (Correct answer)
- Physically restraining the resident in a chair
- Asking other residents to talk the person out of their distress
Correct answer: Playing familiar music from the resident's era
Music therapy using familiar songs is an evidence-based non-pharmacological intervention that can calm agitation in dementia.
UNAR Mental Health and Behavioral Support 3
When providing care to a resident with bipolar disorder during a manic episode, the nursing assistant should: