Mental Health practice Questions

A postoperative patient has an epidural infusion of morphine sulfate (Astramorph). The patient's respiratory rate declines to 8 breaths/min. Which medication would the nurse anticipate administering? A) Naloxone (Narcan) B) Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst) C) Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) D) Protamine sulfate

A) Naloxone (Narcan) Naloxone is a narcotic antagonist that can reverse the effects, both adverse and therapeutic, of opioid narcotic analgesics.

A patient who overdosed on oxycodone is given naloxone. When assessing the patient, the healthcare provider would anticipate which of these clinical manifestations of opioid withdrawal? -Bradycardia and hyporthermia -Irritability and nausea -Hyperthermia and euphoria -Depressed respirations and somnolence

-Irritability and nausea

The nurse is concerned about a postoperative patient's risk for injury during an episode of delirium. The most appropriate action by the nurse is to a. secure the patient in bed using a soft chest restraint. b. ask the health care provider to order an antipsychotic drug. c. instruct family members to remain with the patient and prevent injury. d. assign unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to stay with the patient and offer reorientation.

ANS: D-assign unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to stay with the patient and offer reorientation.

A nurse assists a victim of intimate partner abuse to create a plan for escape if it becomes necessary. Which components should the plan include? Select all that apply. a. Keep a cell phone fully charged. b. Hide money with which to buy new clothes. c. Have the phone number for the nearest shelter. d. Take enough toys to amuse the children for 2 days. e. Secure a supply of current medications for self and children. f. Assemble birth certificates, Social Security cards, and licenses. g. Determine a code word to signal children when it is time to leave.

A, C, E, F, G The victim must prepare for a quick exit and so should assemble necessary items. Keeping a cell phone fully charged will help with access to support persons or agencies. Taking a large supply of toys would be cumbersome and might compromise the plan. People are advised to take one favorite small toy or security object for each child, but most shelters have toys to further engage the children. Accumulating enough money to purchase clothing may be difficult.

A patient has been diagnosed as having dementia. Which symptom should the LPN/LVN expect? A. Patient tends to confabulate. B. Patient tends to have flight of ideas. C. Patient's speech tends to be slurred. D. Patient tends to be oriented to time, place, and person.

A. Patient tends to confabulate.

A patient preparing for surgery has moderate anxiety and is unable to understand preoperative information. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate? b. Present the information again in a calm manner using simple language.

ANS: B Giving information in a calm, simple manner will help the patient grasp the important facts. Introducing extraneous topics as described in the distracters will further scatter the patient's attention.

A patient with an abdominal mass is scheduled for a biopsy. The patient has difficulty understanding the nurse's comments and asks, "What do you mean? What are they going to do?" Assessment findings include tremulous voice, respirations 28, and pulse 110. What is the patient's level of anxiety? b. Moderate

ANS: B Moderate anxiety causes the individual to grasp less information and reduces problem-solving ability to a less-than-optimal level. Mild anxiety heightens attention and enhances problem solving. Severe anxiety causes great reduction in the perceptual field. Panic-level anxiety results in disorganized behavior.

The home care nurse is visiting patients in the community. Which patient is exhibiting an early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease? A) A 65-year-old male does not recognize his family members and close friends. B) A 59-year-old female misplaces her purse and jokes about having memory loss. C) A 79-year-old male is incontinent and not able to perform hygiene independently. D) A 72-year-old female is unable to locate the address where she has lived for 10 years.

D) A 72-year-old female is unable to locate the address where she has lived for 10 years. Rationale: An early warning sign of Alzheimer's disease is disorientation to time and place such as geographic disorientation. Occasionally misplacing items and joking about memory loss are examples of normal forgetfulness. Impaired ability to recognize family and close friends is a clinical manifestation of middle or moderate dementia (or Alzheimer's disease). Incontinence and inability to perform self-care activities are clinical manifestations of severe or late dementia (or Alzheimer's disease).

A client scores 1 on the SAD PERSONS scale. What should the nurse's next step be?

Send the client home with follow-up

People who complete suicide often have extremely low levels of which neurotransmitter? 1. GABA 2. Serotonin 3. Norepinephrine 4. Acetylcholine

2. Serotonin People who complete suicide often have extremely low levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Impairments in the serotonergic system contribute to suicidal behavior. People who make near-lethal suicide attempts have much lower levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine and omega-3. Low levels of the other neurotransmitters have not been implicated in completed suicides

The nurse is explaining the symptoms of dementia to a military family member who has not seen his mother in 15 months. Which characteristics of dementia of the Alzheimer's type would the nurse address in her teaching session? Select all that apply. 1. Experiences an impending sense of doom 2. Forgets that food is cooking on the stove 3. Becomes lost walking on her own street 4. Unable to write and to sign her name 5. Begins to fear using public transportation 6. Unable to understand new information

2, 3, 4, and 6. Common symptoms of dementia of the Alzheimer's type include forgetting things such as cooking food and where specific items were placed, becoming lost in one's own neighborhood, being unable to write or even sign one's name to a document, and being unable to understand new information. A client experiencing an impending sense of doom and fearing public transportation is most likely dealing with a panic attack with agoraphobia.

An elderly woman's husband died. When her brother arrives for the funeral, he notices her short-term memory problems and occasional disorientation. A few weeks later, she calls him to say that her husband just died. She says, "I didn't know he was so sick. Why did he die now?" She also complains of not sleeping, urinary frequency and burning, and seeing rats in the kitchen. A home care nurse is sent to evaluate her situation and finds the woman reclusive and passive, but pleasant. The nurse calls the woman's primary care physician to discuss the client's situation and background, and give his assessment and recommendations. The nurse concludes that the woman: 1. Is experiencing the onset of Alzheimer's disease. 2. Is having trouble adjusting to living alone without her husband. 3. Is having delayed grieving related to her Alzheimer's disease. 4. Is experiencing delirium and a urinary tract infection.

4. Delirium is commonly due to a medical condition such as a UTI in the elderly. Delirium often involves memory problems, disorientation, and hallucinations. It develops rather quickly. There is not enough data to suggest Alzheimer's disease especially given the quick onset of symptoms. Delayed grieving and adjusting to being alone are unlikely to cause hallucinations.

Some Biological factors may be associated with the predisposition to suicide. Which of the following biological factors have been implicated? A. genetics and decreased levels of serotonin B. Hereditary and increased levels of norepinephrine C. Temporal lobe atrophy and decreased levels of acetylcholine D. Structural alterations of the brain and increased levels of dopamine.

A Rationale Twin studies have resulted in a possible genetic predisposition. Deficiency of serotonin and changes in the noradrenergic system have been found in suicidal patients and victims.

Which statement made by an emergency department nurse to a graduate nurse communicates accurate knowledge of domestic violence? Select one: a. "Power and control are central to the dynamic of domestic violence." b. "Poor communication and social isolation are central to the dynamic of domestic violence." c. "Erratic relationships and vulnerability are central to the dynamic of domestic violence." d. "Emotional injury and learned helplessness are central to the dynamic of domestic violence."

A The nurse is accurate when stating that power and control are central to the dynamic of domestic violence. Battering is defined as a pattern of coercive control founded on physical and/or sexual violence or threat of violence. The typical abuser is very possessive and perceives the victim as a possession.

Which statement should indicate to a nurse that an individual is experiencing a delusion? A. "There's an alien growing in my liver." B. "I see my dead husband everywhere I go." C. "The IRS may audit my taxes." D. "I'm not going to eat my food. It smells like brimstone."

ANS: A The nurse should recognize that a client who claims that an alien is inside his or her body is experiencing a delusion. Delusions are false personal beliefs that are inconsistent with the person's intelligence or cultural background.

A client has a history of daily bourbon drinking for the past 6 months. He is brought to an emergency department by family who report that his last drink was 1 hour ago. It is now 12 midnight. When should a nurse expect this client to exhibit withdrawal symptoms? A. Between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. B. Shortly after a 24-hour period C. At the beginning of the third day D. Withdrawal is individualized and cannot be predicted.

ANS: A The nurse should expect that this client will begin experiencing withdrawal symptoms from alcohol between 3 a.m. and 11 a.m. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal usually occur within 4 to 12 hours of cessation or reduction in heavy and prolonged alcohol use.

A patient diagnosed with moderately severe Alzheimer's disease has a self-care deficit of dressing and grooming. Designate appropriate interventions to include in the patient's plan of care. Select all that apply. a. Provide clothing with elastic and hook-and-loop closures. b. Label clothing with the patient's name and name of the item. c. Administer anti-anxiety medication before bathing and dressing. d. Provide necessary items and direct the patient to proceed independently. e. If the patient resists dressing, use distraction and try again after a short interval.

ANS: A, B, E Providing clothing with elastic and hook-and-loop closures facilitates patient independence. Labeling clothing with the patient's name and the name of the item maintains patient identity and dignity (provides information if the patient has agnosia). When a patient resists, it is appropriate to use distraction and try again after a short interval because patient moods are often labile. The patient may be willing to cooperate given a later opportunity. Providing the necessary items for grooming and directing the patient to proceed independently are inappropriate. Be prepared to coach by giving step-by-step directions for each task as it occurs. Administering anxiolytic medication before bathing and dressing is inappropriate. This measure would result in unnecessary overmedication.

Which nursing action will be most effective in ensuring daily medication compliance for a patient with mild dementia? a. Setting the medications up monthly in a medication box b. Having the patient's family member administer the medication c. Posting reminders to take the medications in the patient's house d. Calling the patient weekly with a reminder to take the medication

ANS: B-Having the patient's family member administer the medication Because the patient with mild dementia will have difficulty with learning new skills and forgetfulness, the most appropriate nursing action is to have someone else administer the drug.

An older adult was stopped by police for driving through a red light. When asked for a driver's license, the adult hands the police officer a pair of sunglasses. What sign of dementia is evident? a. Aphasia b. Apraxia c. Agnosia d. Anhedonia

ANS: C Agnosia refers to the loss of sensory ability to recognize objects. Aphasia refers to the loss of language ability. Apraxia refers to the loss of purposeful movement. Anhedonia refers to a loss of joy in life.

A person who has been unable to leave home for more than a week because of severe anxiety says, "I know it does not make sense, but I just can't bring myself to leave my apartment alone." Which nursing intervention is appropriate? d. Teach the person to use positive self-talk techniques.

ANS: D Positive self-talk, a form of cognitive restructuring, replaces negative thoughts such as "I can't leave my apartment" with positive thoughts such as "I can control my anxiety." This technique helps the patient gain mastery over the symptoms. The other options reinforce the sick role.

A student says, "Before taking a test, I feel very alert and a little restless." The nurse can correctly assess the student's experience as: d. mild anxiety.

ANS: D Mild anxiety is rarely obstructive to the task at hand. It may be helpful to the patient because it promotes study and increases awareness of the nuances of questions. The incorrect responses have different symptoms. See relationship to audience response question.

A nurse holds the hand of a client who is withdrawing from alcohol. What is the nurse's rationale for this intervention? A. To assess for emotional strength B. To assess for Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome C. To assess for tachycardia D. To assess for fine tremors

ANS: D The nurse is most likely assessing the client for fine tremors secondary to alcohol withdrawal. Withdrawal from alcohol can also cause headache, insomnia, transient hallucinations, depression, irritability, anxiety, elevated blood pressure, sweating, tachycardia, malaise, coarse tremors, and seizure activity.

A client is brought to an emergency department after being violently raped. Which nursing action is appropriate? Select one: a. Discourage the client from discussing the event, as this may lead to further emotional trauma. b. Remain nonjudgmental and actively listen to the client's description of the event. c. Meet the client's self-care needs by assisting with showering and perineal care. d. Provide leads, based on police information, to encourage further description of the event.

B The most appropriate nursing action is to remain nonjudgmental and actively listen to the client's description of the event. It is important to also communicate to the victim that he/she is safe and that it is not his/her fault. Nonjudgmental listening provides an avenue for catharsis that the client needs to begin healing.

Which of the following individuals is at the highest risk for suicide? A. Nancy, age 22, Asian American, Catholic, middle socioeconomic group, alcoholic B. John, age 72, white, Methodist, low socioeconomic group, diagnosis of metastatic cancer of the pancreas C. Carol, age 15, African American, Baptist, high socioeconomic group, no physical or mental health problems D. Mike, age 55, Jewish, middle socioeconomic group, suffered myocardial infarction a year ago

B Rationale John is an older white male and even though he is involved with a church his low socioeconomic status and diagnosis of a terminal illness increases his risk for suicide.

For an overdose of morphine sulfate, which drug should the nurse have on hand as an antidote? A. phenytoin (Dilantin) B. tramadol (Ultram) C. naloxone (Narcan) D. atropine sulfate (Atropine)

C (Naloxone (Narcan) is an opioid antagonist (blocks receptors. It counteracts the overdose. However, in conditions of extreme pain, Narcan should be given in small increments to avoid a complete loss of pain control. )

Theresa is hospitalized following a suicide attempt after breaking up with her boyfriend. Theresa says to the nurse, "When I get out of here, I'm going to try this again, and next time I'll choose a no-fail method." Which is the best response by the nurse? A. You are safe here. We will make sure nothing happens to you. B. You're just lucky your roommate came home when she did. C. What exactly do you plan to do? D. I don't understand. You have so much to live for.

C Rationale During the assessment phase it is important to assess how serious the intent was, if the person has a plan, if they do have a plan if they have a means of carrying out said plan, how lethal those means are, and if the individual has attempted suicide before. Theresa already has attempted suicide so it is vital to ask the other questions about her suicidal plan.

When questioned about bruises, a woman states, "It was an accident. My husband just had a bad day at work. He's being so gentle now and even brought me flowers. He's going to get a new job, so it won't happen again." In which phase of the cycle of battering is this client? Select one: a. Phase I: The tension-building phase. b. Phase II: The acute battering incident phase. c. Phase III: The honeymoon phase. d. Phase IV: The resolution and reorganization phase.

C The client is in the honeymoon phase of the cycle of battering. In this phase, the batterer becomes extremely loving, kind, and contrite. Promises are often made that the abuse will not happen again.

A nurse administers naloxone (Narcan) to a postoperative patient experiencing respiratory sedation. What undesirable effect would the nurse anticipate after giving this medication? A) Drowsiness B) Tics and tremors C) Increased pain D) Nausea and vomiting

C) Increased pain Naloxone is a medication that reverses the effects of narcotics. Although the patient's respiratory status will improve after the administration of naloxone, pain will be more acute.

Your patient reports feeling that bugs are crawling on his skin; what type of hallucination is this?

Tactile

Naloxone (Narcan) is administered to a client with severe respiratory depression and suspected drug overdose. After 20 minutes, the client remains unresponsive. The most likely explanation for this is: a.) The client did not use an opioid drug. b.) The dose of naloxone was inadequate. c.) The client is resistant to this drug. d.) The drug overdose is irreversible.

a.) The client did not use an opioid drug. If opioid antagonists (Naloxone) fail to reverse symptoms of respiratory depression quickly, the overdose was likely due to a non-opioid substance.

A patient with moderate AD has a nursing diagnosis of impaired memory related to effects of dementia. What is an appropriate nursing intervention for this patient? a. Post clocks and calendars in the patient's environment. b. Establish and consistently follow a daily schedule with the patient. c. Monitor the patient's activities to maintain a safe patient environment. d. Stimulate thought processes by asking the patient questions about recent activities

b. Adhering to a regular, consistent daily schedule helps the patient to avoid confusion and anxiety and is important both during hospitalization and at home. Clocks and calendars may be useful in early AD but they have little meaning to a patient as the disease progresses. Questioning the patient about activities and events they cannot remember is threatening and may cause severe anxiety. Maintaining a safe environment for the patient is important but does not change the disturbed thought processes.

Amanda's mobile home was destroyed by a tornado. Amanda received only minor injuries but is experiencing disabling anxiety in the aftermath of the event. The most appropriate crisis intervention with Amanda would be to a. encourage her to recognize how lucky she is to be alive. b. discuss stages of grief and feelings associated with each. c. identify community resources that can help Amanda. d. suggest that she find a place to live that provides a storm shelter.

b. discuss stages of grief and feelings associated with each.

The early stage of AD is characterized by a. no noticeable change in behavior. b. memory problems and mild confusion. c. increased time spent sleeping or in bed. d. incontinence, agitation, and wandering behavior.

b. memory problems and mild confusion. Rationale: An initial sign of AD is a subtle deterioration in memory.

A patient has a history of suicidal ideation. The nurse understands that the patient is at highest risk for self-harm at which of the following times? a. Immediately after a family visit b. On the anniversary of significant life events in the patient's life c. During the first few days after admission d. Approximately 2 weeks after starting antidepressant medication

d. Approximately 2 weeks after starting antidepressant medication

When developing the plan of care for a client with Alzheimer's disease who is experiencing moderate impairment, which of the following types of care should the nurse expect to include? 1. Prompting and guiding activities of daily living. 2. Managing a medication schedule. 3. Constant supervision and total care. 4. Supervision of risky activities such as shaving.

1. Considerable assistance is associated with moderate impairment when the client cannot make decisions but can follow directions. Managing medications is needed even in mild impairment. Constant care is needed in the terminal phase, when the client cannot follow directions. Supervision of shaving is appropriate with mild impairment— that is, when the client still has motor function but lacks judgment about safety issues.

The nurse is attempting to draw blood from a woman with a diagnosis of delirium who was admitted last evening. The client yells out, "Stop; leave me alone. What are you trying to do to me? What's happening to me?" Which response by the nurse is most appropriate? 1. "The tests of your blood will help us figure out what is happening to you." 2. "Please hold still so I don't have to stick you a second time." 3. "After I get your blood, I'll get some medicine to help you calm down." 4. "I'll tell you everything after I get your blood tests to the laboratory."

1. Explaining why blood is being taken responds to the client's concerns or fears about what is happening to her. Threatening more pain or promising to explain later ignores or postpones meeting the client's need for information. The client's statements do not reflect loss of self control requiring medication intervention.

In addition to developing over a period of hours or days, the nurse should assess delirium as distinguishable by which of the following characteristics? 1. Disturbances in cognition and consciousness that fluctuate during the day. 2. The failure to identify objects despite intact sensory functions. 3. Significant impairment in social or occupational functioning over time. 4. Memory impairment to the degree of being called amnesia.

1. Fluctuating symptoms are characteristic of delirium. The failure to identify objects despite intact sensory functions, significant impairment in social or occupational functioning over time, and memory impairment to the degree

Geriatric clients with behavioral changes are often admitted to psychiatric unit for screening and evaluation. As part of the nursing assessment, it is important to observe for signs of dementia. The four "As" of Alzheimer's disease are: 1. Amnesia, apraxia, agnosia, aphasia 2. Avoidance, aloofness, asocial, asexual 3. Autism, loose association, apathy, affect 4. Aggressive, amoral, ambivalent, attractive

1. Amnesia, apraxia, agnosia, aphasia Neurofibrillary tangles in the hippocampus cause recent memory loss (amnesia); temporoparietal deterioration causes cognitive deficiencies in speech (aphasia), purposeful movement (apraxia), and comprehension of visual, auditory, and other sensations (agnosia).

The family of a client, diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, wants to keep the client at home. They say that they have the most difficulty in managing his wandering. The nurse should instruct the family to do which of the following? (Select all that apply). 1. Ask the physician for a sleeping medication. 2. Install motion and sound detectors. 3. Have a relative sit with the client all night. 4. Have the client wear a Medical Alert bracelet. 5. Install door alarms and high door locks.

2, 4, 5. Motion and sound detectors, a Medical Alert bracelet, and door alarms are all appropriate interventions for wandering. Sleep medications do not prevent wandering before and after the client is asleep and may have negative effects. Having a relative sit with the client is usually an unrealistic burden.

The term motor apraxia relates to a decline in motor patterns essential for complex motor tasks. However, the client with severe dementia may be able to perform which of the following actions? 1. Balance a checkbook accurately. 2. Brush the teeth when handed a toothbrush. 3. Use confabulation when telling a story. 4. Find misplaced car keys.

2. Highly conditioned motor skills, such as brushing the teeth, may be retained by the client who has dementia and motor apraxia. Balancing a checkbook involves calculations, a complex skill that is lost with severe dementia Confabulation is fabrication of details to fill a memory gap. This is more common when the client is aware of a memory problem, not when dementia is severe. Finding keys is a memory factor, not a motor function.

A 69-year-old client is admitted and diagnosed with delirium. Later in the day, he tries to get out of the locked unit. He yells, "Unlock this door. I've got to go see my doctor. I just can't miss my monthly Friday appointment." Which of the following responses by the nurse is most appropriate? 1. "Please come away from the door. I'll show you your room." 2. "It's Tuesday and you are in the hospital. I'm Anne, a nurse." 3. "The door is locked to keep you from getting lost." 4. "I want you to come eat your lunch before you go the doctor."

2. Loss of orientation, especially for time and place, is common in delirium. The nurse should orient the client by telling him the time, date, place, and who the client is with. Taking the client to his room and telling him why the door is locked does not address his disorientation. Telling the client to eat before going to the doctor reinforces his disorientation.

A client is experiencing agnosia as a result of vascular dementia. She is staring at dinner and utensils without trying to eat. Which intervention should the nurse attempt first? 1. Pick up the fork and feed the client slowly. 2. Say, "It's time for you to start eating your dinner." 3. Hand the fork to the client and say, "Use this fork to eat your green beans." 4. Save the client's dinner until her family comes in to feed her.

3. Agnosia is the lack of recognition of objects and their purpose. The nurse should inform the client about the fork and what to do with it. Feeding the client does not address the agnosia or give the client specific directions. It should only be attempted if identifying the fork and explaining what to do with it is ineffective. Waiting for the family to care for the client is not appropriate unless identifying the fork and explaining or feeding the client are not successful.

When caring for the client diagnosed with delirium, which condition is the most important for the nurse to investigate? 1. Cancer of any kind. 2. Impaired hearing. 3. Prescription drug intoxication. 4. Heart failure.

3. Polypharmacy is much more common in the elderly. Drug interactions increase the incidence of intoxication from prescribed medications, especially with combinations of analgesics, digoxin, diuretics, and anticholinergics. With drug intoxication, the onset of the delirium typically is quick. Although cancer, impaired hearing, and heart failure could lead to delirium in the elderly, the onset would be more gradual.

The nurse discusses the possibility of a client's attending day treatment for clients with early Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following is the best rationale for encouraging day treatment? 1. The client would have more structure to his day. 2. Staff are excellent in the treatment they offer clients. 3. The client would benefit from increased social interaction. 4. The family would have more time to engage in their daily activities.

3. The best rationale for day treatment for the client with Alzheimer's disease is the enhancement of social interactions. More daily structure, excellent staff, and allowing caregivers more time for themselves are all positive aspects, but they are less focused on the client's needs.

The client with Alzheimer's disease may have delusions about being harmed by staff and others. When the client expresses fear of being killed by staff, which of the following responses is most appropriate? 1. "What makes you think we want to kill you?" 2. "We like you too much to want to kill you." 3. "You are in the hospital. We are nurses trying to help you." 4. "Oh, don't be so silly. No one wants to kill you here."

3. The nurse needs to present reality without arguing with the delusions. Therefore, stating that the client is in the hospital and the nurses are trying to help is most appropriate. The client doesn't recognize the delusion or why it exists. Telling the client that the staff likes him too much to want to kill him is inappropriate because the client believes the delusions and doesn't know that they are false beliefs. It also restates the word, kill, which may reinforce the client's delusions. Telling the client not to be silly is condescending and disparaging and therefore inappropriate.

A client with dementia who prefers to stay in his room has been brought to the dayroom. After 10 minutes, the client becomes agitated and retreats to his room again. The nurse decides to assess the conditions in the dayroom. Which is the most likely occurrence that is disturbing to this client? 1. There is only one other client in the dayroom; the rest are in a group session in another room. 2. There are three staff members and one physician in the nurse's station working on charting. 3. A relaxation tape is playing in one corner of the room, and a television airing a special on crime is playing in the opposite corner. 4. A housekeeping staff member is washing off the countertops in the kitchen, which is on the far side of the dayroom.

3. The tape and television are competing, even conflicting, stimuli. Crime events portrayed on television could be misperceived as a real threat to the client. A low number of clients and the presence of a few staff members quietly working are less intense stimuli for the client and not likely to be disturbing.

A client has sought treatment for a specific phobia: fear of cats. The nurse in the anxiety disorders clinic has established the nursing diagnosis, Anxiety related to exposure to phobic object (cats). A realistic short-term goal for this client would be: within 10 days, client will 1. avoid feared object whenever possible. 2. face feared object unassisted. 3. state that feared object no longer produces feelings of dread associated with anxiety. 4. practice relaxation techniques and report less distress related to thoughts of the feared object.

4. practice relaxation techniques and report less distress related to thoughts of the feared object. Rationale: When the client is able to relax in the presence of thoughts, or the phobic object, the client will begin to experience a sense of control over the phobia

A kindergarten student is frequently violent toward other children. A school nurse notices bruises and burns on the child's face and arms. What other symptom should indicate to the nurse that the child may have been physically abused? Select one: a. The child shrinks at the approach of adults. b. The child begs or steals food or money. c. The child is frequently absent from school. d. The child is delayed in physical and emotional development.

A The nurse should determine that a child who shrinks at the approach of adults in addition to having bruises and burns may be a victim of abuse. Maltreatment is considered whether or not the adult intended to harm the child.

For which patient should the nurse prioritize an assessment for depression? A) A patient in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease B) A patient who is in the final stages of Alzheimer's disease C) A patient experiencing delirium secondary to dehydration D) A patient who has become delirious following an atypical drug response

A) A patient in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease Rationale: Patients in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease are particularly susceptible to depression, since the patient is acutely aware of his or her cognitive changes and the expected disease trajectory. Delirium is typically a shorter-term health problem that does not typically pose a heightened risk of depression.

Which of the following interventions are appropriate for a client of suicide precautions? (Select ALL that apply). A. Remove all sharp objects, belts, and other potentially dangerous articles from the client's environment. B. Accompany the client to off-unit activities C obtain a promise from the client that she will not do anything to harm herself for the next 12 hours. D. Put all of the client's possessions in storage and explain to her that she may have them back when she is off suicide precautions.

A, B, C Rationale Appropriate interventions include accompany the client, obtain a no harm contract that is short term, and remove any dangerous objects. Removing all of the client's possessions may further increase a client's risk due to feelings of isolation.

A nurse is caring for a client who has threatened to commit suicide by hanging. The client states, "I'm going to use a knotted shower curtain when no one is around." Which information would determine the nurse's plan of care for this client? A. The more specific the plan is, the more likely the client will attempt suicide. B. Clients who talk about suicide never actually commit it. C. Clients who threaten suicide should be observed every 15 minutes. D. After a brief assessment, the nurse should avoid the topic of suicide.

ANS: A Clients who have specific plans are at greater risk for suicide.

After a teenager reveals that he is gay, the father responds by beating him. The next morning, the teenager is found hanging in his closet. Which paternal emotions should a nurse anticipate? (Select all that apply.) A. Shock and disbelief B. Guilt and remorse C. Anger and resentment D. Bargaining and depression E. Denial and rationalization

ANS: A, B, C Suicide of a family member can induce a whole gamut of feelings in the survivors. Shock, disbelief, guilt, remorse, anger, and resentment are all feelings that may be experienced by this father.

A nursing student is developing a study guide related to historical facts about suicide. Which of the following facts should the student include? (Select all that apply.) A. In the Middle Ages, suicide was viewed as a selfish and criminal act. B. During the Roman Empire, suicide was treated by incineration of the body. C. Suicide was an offense in ancient Greece, and a common site burial was denied. D. During the Renaissance, suicide was discussed and viewed more philosophically. E. Old Norse traditionally set a person who committed suicide adrift in the North Sea.

ANS: A, C, D These are true historical facts about suicide and should be included in the student's study guide.

Which action will help the nurse determine whether a new patient's confusion is caused by dementia or delirium? a. Administer the Mini-Mental Status Exam. b. Use the Confusion Assessment Method tool. c. Determine whether there is a family history of dementia. d. Obtain a list of the medications that the patient usually takes.

ANS: B The Confusion Assessment Method tool has been extensively tested in assessing delirium.

A stockbroker commits suicide after being convicted of insider trading. Which information should a nurse share with the grieving family? A. "Keep in mind that your grieving will only last for 1 year." B. "To deal with your grief, try using coping strategies that have worked for you in the past." C. "You need to write a letter to the brokerage firm to express your anger with them." D. "It would be best if you avoid discussing the suicide."

ANS: B The nurse should discuss coping strategies that have been successful in times of stress in the past, and work to reestablish these within the family.

Which intervention will the nurse include in the plan of care for a patient with moderate dementia who had an appendectomy 2 days ago? a. Provide complete personal hygiene care for the patient. b. Remind the patient frequently about being in the hospital. c. Reposition the patient frequently to avoid skin breakdown. d. Place suction at the bedside to decrease the risk for aspiration.

ANS: B-Remind the patient frequently about being in the hospital. The patient with moderate dementia will have problems with short- and long-term memory and will need reminding about the hospitalization. The other interventions would be used for a patient with severe dementia, who would have difficulty with swallowing, self-care, and immobility.

A 56-year-old patient in the outpatient clinic is diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Which action will the nurse include in the plan of care? a. Suggest a move into an assisted living facility. b. Schedule the patient for more frequent appointments. c. Ask family members to supervise the patient's daily activities. d. Discuss the preventive use of acetylcholinesterase medications.

ANS: B-Schedule the patient for more frequent appointments

A patient experiencing moderate anxiety says, "I feel undone." An appropriate response for the nurse would be: c. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."

ANS: C Increased anxiety results in scattered thoughts and an inability to articulate clearly. Clarifying helps the patient identify thoughts and feelings. Asking the patient why he or she feels anxious is non-therapeutic; the patient likely does not have an answer. The patient may be unable to determine what he or she would like the nurse to do in order to help. Telling the patient to get his or her feelings under control is a directive the patient is probably unable to accomplish.

A client with a history of three suicide attempts has been taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1 month. The client suddenly presents with a bright affect, rates mood at 9/10, and is much more communicative. Which action should be the nurse's priority at this time? A. Give the client off-unit privileges as positive reinforcement. B. Encourage the client to share mood improvement in group. C. Increase frequency of client observation. D. Request that the psychiatrist reevaluate the current medication protocol.

ANS: C The nurse should be aware that a sudden increase in mood rating and change in affect could indicate that the client is at risk for suicide and client observation should be more frequent. Suicide risk may occur early during treatment with antidepressants. The return of energy may bring about an increased ability to act-out self-destructive behaviors prior to the client attaining the full therapeutic effect of the antidepressant medication.

A client diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia states, "My psychiatrist is out to get me. I'm sad that the voice is telling me to stop him." What symptom is the client exhibiting, and what is the nurse's legal responsibility related to this symptom? A. Magical thinking; administer an antipsychotic medication B. Persecutory delusions; orient the client to reality C. Command hallucinations; warn the psychiatrist D. Altered thought processes; call an emergency treatment team meeting

ANS: C The nurse should determine that the client is exhibiting command hallucinations. The nurse's legal responsibility is to warn the psychiatrist of the potential for harm. A client who is demonstrating a risk for violence could potentially become physically, emotionally, and/or sexually harmful to others or to self.

A person has minor physical injuries after an auto accident. The person is unable to focus and says, "I feel like something awful is going to happen." This person has nausea, dizziness, tachycardia, and hyperventilation. What is the person's level of anxiety? c. Severe

ANS: C The person whose anxiety is severe is unable to solve problems and may have a poor grasp of what is happening in the environment. Somatic symptoms such as those described are usually present. The individual with mild anxiety is only mildly uncomfortable and may even find his or her performance enhanced. The individual with moderate anxiety grasps less information about a situation and has some difficulty with problem solving. The individual in panic will demonstrate markedly disturbed behavior and may lose touch with reality.

A nurse discovers a client's suicide note that details the time, place, and means to commit suicide. What should be the priority nursing intervention, and the rationale for this action? A. Administering lorazepam (Ativan) prn because the client is angry about the discovery of the note B. Establishing room restrictions because the client's threat is an attempt to manipulate the staff C. Placing this client on one-to-one suicide precautions because the more specific the plan, the more likely the client will attempt suicide D. Calling an emergency treatment team meeting because the client's threat must be addressed

ANS: C The priority nursing action should be to place this client on one-to-one suicide precautions, because the more specific the plan, the more likely the client will attempt suicide. The appropriate nursing diagnosis for this client would be risk for suicide.

After change-of-shift report on the Alzheimer's disease/dementia unit, which patient will the nurse assess first? a. Patient who has not had a bowel movement for 5 days b. Patient who has a stage II pressure ulcer on the coccyx c. Patient who is refusing to take the prescribed medications d. Patient who developed a new cough after eating breakfast

ANS: D A new cough after a meal in a patient with dementia suggests possible aspiration and the patient should be assessed immediately. The other patients also require assessment and intervention, but not as urgently as a patient with possible aspiration or pneumonia.

A patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease calls the fire department saying, "My smoke detectors are going off." Firefighters investigate and discover that the patient misinterpreted the telephone ringing. Which problem is this patient experiencing? a. Hyperorality b. Aphasia c. Apraxia d. Agnosia

ANS: D Agnosia is the inability to recognize familiar objects, parts of one's body, or one's own reflection in a mirror. Hyperorality refers to placing objects in the mouth. Aphasia refers to the loss of language ability. Apraxia refers to the loss of purposeful movements, such as being unable to dress.

A nurse assesses a patient with a tentative diagnosis of generalized anxiety disorder. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask? d. "Do you find it difficult to control your worrying?"

ANS: D Patients with generalized anxiety disorder frequently engage in excessive worrying. They are less likely to engage in ritualistic behavior, fear social situations, or have been involved in a highly traumatic event.

During a one-to-one session with a client, the client states, "Nothing will ever get better," and "Nobody can help me." Which nursing diagnosis is most appropriate for a nurse to assign to this client at this time? A. Powerlessness R/T altered mood AEB client statements B. Risk for injury R/T altered mood AEB client statements C. Risk for suicide R/T altered mood AEB client statements D. Hopelessness R/T altered mood AEB client statements

ANS: D The client's statements indicate the problem of hopelessness. Prior to assigning either risk for injury or risk for suicide a further evaluation of the client's suicidal ideations and intent would be necessary.

In planning care for a suicidal client, which correctly written outcome should be a nurse's first priority? A. The client will not physically harm self. B. The client will express hope for the future by day 3. C. The client will establish a trusting relationship with the nurse. D. The client will remain safe during the hospital stay.

ANS: D The nurse's priority should be that the client will remain safe during the hospital stay. Client safety should always be the nurse's priority. The "A" answer choice is incorrectly written. Correctly written outcomes must be client focused, measurable, realistic, and contain a time frame. Without a time frame, an outcome cannot be correctly evaluated.

A suicidal client says to a nurse, "There's nothing to live for anymore." Which is the most appropriate nursing reply? A. "Why don't you consider doing volunteer work in a homeless shelter." B. "Let's discuss the negative aspects of your life." C. "Things will look better in the morning." D. "It sounds like you are feeling pretty hopeless."

ANS: D This statement verbalizes the client's implied feelings and allows him to validate and explore them.

A 72-year-old female patient is brought to the clinic by the patient's spouse, who reports that she is unable to solve common problems around the house. To obtain information about the patient's current mental status, which question should the nurse ask the patient? a. "Are you sad?" b. "How is your self-image?" c. "Where were you were born?" d. "What did you eat for breakfast?"

ANS: D-"What did you eat for breakfast?" This question tests the patient's short-term memory, which is decreased in the mild stage of Alzheimer's disease or dementia

A nurse is caring for a client who has been in the PACU for more than 1 hour and is difficult to arouse. The nurse should anticipate which of the following medication prescriptions? A. Pentazocine (Talwin) B. Naloxone (narcan) C. Naltrexone (Trexan) D. Butorphanol (Stadol)

B (Naloxone displaces opiate medications from receptor sites, reversing the respiratory depression, sedation, hypertension, and analgesia opiates cause.)

The nurse in the long-term care facility cares for a 70-year-old man with severe (late-stage) dementia who is undernourished and has problems chewing and swallowing. What should the nurse include in the plan of care for this patient? A) Turn on the television to provide a distraction during meals. B) Provide thickened fluids and moist foods in bite-size pieces. C) Limit fluid intake during scheduled meals to prevent aspiration. D) Allow the patient to select favorite foods from the menu choices.

B) Provide thickened fluids and moist foods in bite-size pieces. Rationale: If patients with dementia have problems chewing or swallowing, pureed foods, thickened liquids, and nutritional supplements should be provided. Foods that are easy to swallow are moist and should be in bite-size pieces. Distractions at mealtimes, including the television, should be avoided. Fluids should not be limited but offered frequently; fluids should be thickened. Patients with severe (late-stage) dementia have difficulty understanding words and would not have the cognitive ability to select menu choices.

A patient in the middle stage of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may exhibit which characteristic or behavior? A. Mild depression B. Hallucinations C. Weight loss D. Impaired mobility

B. Hallucinations

The physician ordered I.V. naloxone (Narcan) to reverse the respiratory depression from morphine administration. After administration of the naloxone the nurse should: A) Check Respirations in 5 minutes because naloxone is immediately effective in relieving respiratory depression. B) Check respirations in 30 minutes because the effects of morphine will have worn off by then. C) Monitor respirations frequently for 4 to 6 hours because the client may need repeated doses of naloxone D) Monitor respirations each time the client receives morphine sulfate 10 mg I.M.

C (Rationale: The nurse should monitor the clients respirations closely for 4 to 6 hours because naloxone has a shorter duration of action than opioids. The client may need repeated doses of naloxone to prevent or treat a recurrence of the respiratory depression. Naloxone is usually effective in a few minutes; however, its effects last only 1 to 2 hours and ongoing monitoring of the clients respiration's is necessary. )

Which nursing intervention is most appropriate when caring for patients with dementia? A) Avoid direct eye contact. B) Lovingly call the patient "honey" or "sweetie." C) Give simple directions, focusing on one thing at a time. D) Treat the patient according to his or her age-related behavior.

C) Give simple directions, focusing on one thing at a time. Rationale: When dealing with patients with dementia, tasks should be simplified, giving directions using gestures or pictures and focusing on one thing at a time. It is best to treat these patients as adults, with respect and dignity, even when their behavior is childlike. The nurse should use gentle touch and direct eye contact. Calling the patient "honey" or "sweetie" can be condescending and does not demonstrate respect.

A 62-year-old woman is admitted to an assisted-living facility with symptoms of forgetfulness, irritability, difficulty following directions, and neglect of her personal hygiene. These would suggest which stage of AD? A. Late B. Early C. Moderate D. Moderate to severe

C. Moderate

A client is being admitted to the substance abuse unit for alcohol detoxification. As part of the intake interview, the nurse asks him when he had his last alcoholic drink. He says that he had his last drink 6 hours before admission. Based on this response, the nurse should expect early withdrawal symptoms to: A. begin after 7 days. B. not occur at all because the time period for their occurrence has passed. C. begin anytime within the next 1 to 2 days. D. begin within 2 to 7 days.

C. begin anytime within the next 1 to 2 days. **Rationale: Acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol may begin 6 hours after the client has stopped drinking and peak 1 to 2 days later. Delirium tremens may occur 2 to 4 days — even up to 7 days — after the last drink.

When administering a mental status examination to a patient, the nurse suspects depression when the patient responds with a. "I don't know." b. "Is that the right answer?" c. "Wait, let me think about that." d. "Who are those people over there?"

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Answers such as "I don't know" are more typical of depression. The response "Who are those people over there?" is more typical of the distraction seen in a patient with delirium. The remaining two answers are more typical of a patient with dementia.

The nurse has identified the nursing diagnosis of disturbed thought processes related to effects of dementia for a patient with late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). An appropriate intervention for this problem is to a. maintain a consistent daily routine for the patient's care. b. encourage the patient to discuss events from the past. c. reorient the patient to the date and time every few hours. d. provide the patient with current newspapers and magazines.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Providing a consistent routine will decrease anxiety and confusion for the patient. In late-stage AD, the patient will not remember events from the past. Reorientation to time and place will not be helpful to the patient with late-stage AD. The patient with late-stage AD will not be able to read.

The nurse has identified the nursing diagnosis of disturbed thought processes related to effects of dementia for a patient with late-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). An appropriate intervention for this problem is to a. maintain a consistent daily routine for the patient's care. b. encourage the patient to discuss events from the past. c. reorient the patient to the date and time every few hours. d. provide the patient with current newspapers and magazines.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Providing a consistent routine will decrease anxiety and confusion for the patient. In late-stage AD, the patient will not remember events from the past. Reorientation to time and place will not be helpful to the patient with late-stage AD. The patient with late-stage AD will not be able to read. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1571 Nursing Process: Planning NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

Risperidone (Risperdal) is prescribed for an outpatient with moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD). Which information obtained by the nurse at the next clinic appointment indicates that the medication is effective? a. The patient has less agitation. b. The patient is dressed appropriately. c. The patient is able to swallow a pill. d. The patient's speech is clearer.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: Risperidone is an antipsychotic used to treat the agitation, aggression, and behavioral problems associated with AD. The other improvements might occur with cholinesterase inhibitors. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1568 Nursing Process: Evaluation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

When developing a plan of care for a hospitalized patient with moderate dementia, which intervention will the nurse include? a. Reminding the patient frequently about being in the hospital b. Placing suction at the bedside to decrease the risk for aspiration c. Providing complete personal hygiene care for the patient d. Repositioning the patient frequently to avoid skin breakdown

Correct Answer: A Rationale: The patient with moderate dementia will have problems with short- and long-term memory and will need reminding about the hospitalization. The other interventions would be used for a patient with severe dementia, who would have difficulty with swallowing, self-care, and immobility. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1563 Nursing Process: Planning NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

A family member of a patient with possible Alzheimer's disease asks the nurse the purpose of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Which response by the nurse is appropriate? a. The MMSE helps in establishing the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). b. The MMSE is useful in determining the degree of mental impairment. c. The MMSE determines the choice of the most appropriate treatment. d. The MMSE aids in differentiating acute delirium from chronic dementia.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: The MMSE establishes the degree of mental impairment at the time it is given. It does not establish a diagnosis of AD but when given repeatedly over time may help to determine the progression of AD. The choice of treatment is made on the basis of multiple data, not just the MMSE. The MMSE may be abnormal with either delirium or dementia and is not useful in determining which condition the patient has. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1563 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

When teaching the spouse of a patient who is being evaluated for Alzheimer's disease (AD) about the disorder, the nurse explains that a. the most important risk factor for AD is a family history of the disorder. b. a diagnosis of AD can be made only when other causes of dementia have been ruled out. c. new drugs have been shown to reverse AD dramatically in some patients. d. the presence of brain atrophy detected by MRI confirms the diagnosis of AD in patients with dementia.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: The diagnosis of AD is one of exclusion. Age is the most important risk factor for development of AD. Drugs can slow the deterioration but do not dramatically reverse the effects of AD. Brain atrophy is a common finding in AD, but it can occur in other diseases as well. Cognitive Level: Comprehension Text Reference: p. 1568 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

During the morning change-of-shift report at the long-term care facility, the nurse learns that the patient with dementia has had sundowning. Which nursing action should the nurse take while caring for the patient? a. Move the patient to a quieter room at night. b. Open the blinds in the patient's room and provide frequent activities. c. Have the patient take a brief mid-morning nap. d. Provide hourly orientation to time of day.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: The most likely cause of sundowning is a disruption in circadian rhythms and keeping the patient active and in daylight will help to reestablish a more normal circadian pattern. Moving the patient to a different room might increase confusion. Taking a nap will interfere with nighttime sleep. Hourly orientation will not be helpful in a patient with memory difficulties. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1573 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

To protect a patient from injury during an episode of delirium, the most appropriate action by the nurse is to a. have a close family member remain with the patient and provide reassurance. b. assign a staff member to stay with the patient and offer frequent reorientation. c. ask the health care provider about ordering an antipsychotic drug. d. secure the patient in bed with a soft chest restraint.

Correct Answer: B Rationale: The priority goal is to protect the patient from harm, and a staff member will be most experienced in providing safe care. Visits by family members are helpful in reorienting the patient, but families should not be responsible for protecting patients from injury. Antipsychotic medications may be ordered, but only if other measures are not effective because these medications have multiple side effects. Restraints are sometimes used but tend to increase agitation and disorientation. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1577 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

3. When administering a mental status examination to a patient with delirium, the nurse should a. give the examination when the patient is well-rested. b. reorient the patient as needed during the examination. c. choose a place without distracting environmental stimuli. d. medicate the patient first to reduce anxiety.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Because overstimulation by environmental factors can distract the patient from the task of answering the nurse's questions, these stimuli should be avoided. The nurse will not wait to give the examination because action to correct the delirium should occur as soon as possible. Reorienting the patient is not appropriate during the examination. Antianxiety medications may increase the patient's delirium. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1562, 1576-1577 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

A home-health patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild dementia has a new prescription for donepezil (Aricept). Which nursing action will be most effective in ensuring compliance with the medication? a. Setting the medications up weekly in a medication box b. Calling the patient daily with a reminder to take the medication c. Having the patient's spouse administer the medication d. Posting reminders to take the medications in the patient's house

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Because the patient with mild dementia will have difficulty with learning new skills and forgetfulness, the most appropriate nursing action is to have someone else administer the Aricept. The other nursing actions will not be as effective in ensuring that the patient takes the medications. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1563, 1567 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

A long-term care patient with moderate dementia develops increased restlessness and agitation. The nurse's initial action should be to a. administer the PRN dose of lorazepam (Ativan). b. reorient the patient to time and place. c. assess the patient for anything that might be causing discomfort. d. have a nursing assistant stay with the patient to ensure safety.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Increased motor activity in a patient with dementia is frequently the patient's only way of responding to factors like pain, so the nurse's initial action should be to assess the patient for any precipitating factors. Administration of sedative drugs may be indicated, but this should not be done until assessment for precipitating factors has been completed and any of these factors have been addressed. Reorientation is unlikely to be helpful for the patient with moderate dementia. Assigning a nursing assistant to stay with the patient may also be necessary, but any physical changes that may be causing the agitation should be addressed first. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1573 Nursing Process: Implementation NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

Coexisting dementia and depression are identified in a patient with Parkinson's disease. The nurse anticipates that the greatest improvement in the patient's condition will occur with administration of a. antipsychotic drugs. b. anticholinergic agents. c. dopaminergic agents and antidepressant drugs. d. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) agents.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Parkinson's disease and depression are both potentially reversible conditions, and the patient's symptoms that are caused by these two conditions will improve with appropriate treatment. Anticholinergic agents are likely to worsen the patient's condition because they will block the effect of acetylcholine at the synaptic cleft. There is no indication that the patient needs an antipsychotic agent at this time. A selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may be effective for the depression, but it does not address the patient's other conditions. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1563 Nursing Process: Planning NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

When assessing a patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) who is being admitted to a long-term care facility, the nurse learns that the patient has had several episodes of wandering away from home. Which nursing action will the nurse include in the plan of care? a. Ask the patient why the wandering episodes have occurred. b. Reorient the patient to the new living situation several times daily. c. Place the patient in a room close to the nurses' station. d. Have the family bring in familiar items from the patient's home.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: Patients at risk for problems with safety require close supervision. Placing the patient near the nurse's station will allow nursing staff to observe the patient more closely. Use of "why" questions is frustrating for the patient with AD, who are unable to understand clearly or verbalize the reason for wandering behaviors. Because of the patient's short-term memory loss, reorientation will not help to prevent wandering behavior. Because the patient had wandering behavior at home, familiar objects will not prevent wandering. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1573 Nursing Process: Planning NCLEX: Safe and Effective Care Environment

A patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) is hospitalized with a urinary tract infection. The spouse tells the nurse, "I am just exhausted from the constant care and worry. We don't have any children and we can't afford a nursing home. I don't know what to do." The most appropriate nursing diagnosis for the spouse is a. anxiety related to limited financial resources. b. ineffective health maintenance related to stress. c. caregiver role strain related to limited resources for caregiving. d. social isolation related to unrelieved caregiving responsibilities.

Correct Answer: C Rationale: The spouse's statements are most consistent with caregiver role strain. The other diagnoses each address one aspect of the spouse's problem, but caregiver-role strain related to limited resources for caregiving addresses all the information the nurse has about this situation. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1574-1575 Nursing Process: Diagnosis NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity

A 62-year-old patient is brought to the clinic by a family member who is concerned about the patient's increasing sleep disturbances and inability to solve common problems. To obtain information about the patient's current mental status, which question should the nurse ask the patient? a. "Where were you were born?" b. "Do have any feelings of sadness?" c. "What day of the week is it today?" d. "How positive is your self-image?"

Correct Answer: C Rationale: This question tests the patient's orientation to time, which is decreased in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) or dementia. Asking the patient about birthplace tests for remote memory, which is intact in the early stages. Questions about the patient's emotions and self-image are helpful in assessing emotional status, but they are not as helpful in assessing mental state.

A 71-year-old patient is diagnosed with moderate dementia as a result of multiple strokes. During assessment of the patient, the nurse would expect to find a. excessive nighttime sleepiness. b. variable ability to perform simple tasks. c. difficulty eating and swallowing. d. loss of recent and long-term memory.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: Loss of both recent and long-term memory is characteristic of moderate dementia. Patients with dementia have frequent nighttime awakening. Dementia is progressive, and the patient's ability to perform tasks would not have periods of improvement. Difficulty eating and swallowing is characteristic of severe dementia. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: pp. 1562-1563 Nursing Process: Assessment NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

A 72-year-old patient hospitalized with pneumonia is disoriented and confused 2 days after admission. Which assessment information obtained by the nurse about the patient indicates that the patient is experiencing delirium rather than dementia? a. The patient is disoriented to place and time but oriented to person. b. The patient has a history of increasing confusion over several years. c. The patient's speech is fragmented and incoherent. d. The patient was oriented and alert when admitted.

Correct Answer: D Rationale: The onset of delirium occurs acutely. The degree of disorientation does not differentiate between delirium and dementia. Increasing confusion for several years is consistent with dementia. Fragmented and incoherent speech may occur with either delirium or dementia. Cognitive Level: Application Text Reference: p. 1562 Nursing Process: Assessment NCLEX: Physiological Integrity

Your patient reports a hallucination where he is aware of strange smells that no one else is aware of; what type of hallucination is this?

Olfactory

What manifestations of cognitive impairment are primarily characteristic of delirium (select all that apply)? a. Reduced awareness b. Impaired judgments c. Words difficult to find d. Sleep/wake cycle reversed e. Distorted thinking and perception f. Insidious onset with prolonged duration

a, d, e. Manifestations of delirium include cognitive impairment with reduced awareness, reversed sleep/wake cycle, and distorted thinking and perception. The other options are characteristic of dementia.

A patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia has manifestations of depression. The nurse knows that treatment of the patient with antidepressants will most likely do what? a. Improve cognitive function b. Not alter the course of either condition c. Cause interactions with the drugs used to treat the dementia d. Be contraindicated because of the central nervous system (CNS)-depressant effect of antidepressants

a. Depression is often associated with AD, especially early in the disease when the patient has awareness of the diagnosis and the progression of the disease. When dementia and depression occur together, intellectual deterioration may be more extreme. Depression is treatable and use of antidepressants often improves cognitive function.

During assessment of a patient with dementia, the nurse determines that the condition is potentially reversible when finding out what about the patient? a. Has long-standing abuse of alcohol b. Has a history of Parkinson's disease c. Recently developed symptoms of hypothyroidism d. Was infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 10 years ago

c. Hypothyroidism can cause dementia but it is a treatable condition if it has not been long standing. The other conditions are causes of irreversible dementia.

Which of the following is a correct assumption regarding the concept of crisis? a. crises occur only in individuals with psychopathology. b. the stressful event that precipitates crisis is seldom identifiable. c. a crisis situation contains the potential for psychological growth or deterioration. d. crises are chronic situations that recur many times during an individuals's life.

c. a crisis situation contains the potential for psychological growth or deterioration.

Amanda's mobile home was destroyed by a tornado. Amanda received only minor injuries but is experiencing disabling anxiety in the aftermath of the event. What is this type of crisis called? a. crisis resulting from traumatic stress b. maturational or developmental crisis. c. dispositional crisis. d. crisis of anticipated life transitions.

crisis resulting from traumatic stress

After administering naloxone (Narcan), an opioid antagonist, the nurse should monitor the client carefully for which of the following? A Cerebral edema B Kidney failure C Seizure activity D Respiratory depression

d (After administering naloxone, the nurse should monitor the client's respiratory statues carefully because the drug is short acting and respiratory depression may reoccur after its effects wear off. Cerebral edema, kidney failure, and seizure activity are not directly related to opioid overdose or naloxone therapy.)

Which health care worker should be referred for critical incident stress debriefing? a. A nurse who works at an oncology clinic where patients receive chemotherapy b. A case manager whose patients have serious mental illness and are cared for at home c. A health care employee who worked 12 hours at the information desk of a critical care unit d. An emergency medical technician (EMT) who treated victims of a car bombing at a mall

d. An emergency medical technician (EMT) who treated victims of a car bombing at a mall Although each of the individuals mentioned experiencing job-related stress on a daily basis, the person most in need of critical incident stress debriefing is the EMT, who experienced an adventitious crisis event by responding to a bombing and provided care to trauma victims.

A 68-year-old man is admitted to the emergency department with multiple blunt trauma following a one-vehicle car accident. He is restless; disoriented to person, place, and time; and agitated. He resists attempts at examination and calls out the name "Janice." Why should the nurse suspect delirium rather than dementia in this patient? a. The fact that he wouldn't have been allowed to drive if he had dementia b. His hyperactive behavior, which differentiates his condition from the hypoactive behavior of dementia c. The report of emergency personnel that he was noncommunicative when they arrived at the accident scene d. The report of his family that although he has heart disease and is "very hard of hearing," this behavior is unlike him

d. Delirium is an acute problem that usually has a rapid onset in response to a precipitating event, especially when the patient has underlying health problems, such as heart disease and sensory limitations. In the absence of prior cognitive impairment, a sudden onset of confusion, disorientation, and agitation is usually delirium. Delirium may manifest with both hypoactive and hyperactive symptoms.

Ginger, age 19 and an only child, left 3 months ago to attend a college of her choice 500 miles away from her parents. It is Ginger's first time away from home. She has difficulty making decisions and will not undertake anything new without first consulting her mother. They talk on the phone almost every day. Ginger has recently started having anxiety attacks. She consults the nurse practitioner in the student health center. What is this type of crisis called? a. crisis resulting from traumatic stress b. dispositional crisis. c. psychiatric emergency. d. maturational or developmental crisis.

d. maturational or developmental crisis.