Chapter 35, 32, 22, Concept 37 (week 10) Quiz on 11/4/19

Chapter 35

Family interventions

CONCEPT 37

Addiction

Chapter 22

Substance-related and Addictive disorders

The nurse recognizes a potential health threat to an alcoholic patient who is using the drug disulfiram (Antabuse) when the nurse reads in the health record that the patient is also which of the following? (Select all that apply.) a. On blood thinners b. Taking diphenhydramine (Benadryl) tablets c. Ingesting alcohol d. On penicillin e. Using mouthwash

a. On blood thinners c. Ingesting alcohol e. Using mouthwash Disulfiram increases the effect of anticoagulants such as warfarin (Coumadin). Ingesting alcohol may cause headache, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, chest pain, or dizziness. Mouthwash can have alcohol as one of the main ingredients and should be checked prior to using.

To prevent Wernickes encephalopathy from heavy alcohol use, the nurse anticipates an order for which medications? a. Benzodiazepine b. Thiamine and B complex IV c. Vitamins C and D3 d. Klonopin

b. Thiamine and B complex IV The B vitamins will prevent or reverse Wernickes if given early enough. Benzodiazepines are often used to prevent and treat DTs and to decrease respiratory depression and hypertension. Vitamins C and D3 are not related to alcohol withdrawal. Klonopin is administered for hypertension and anxiety related to withdrawal.

A nurse cares for a patient experiencing an opioid overdose. Which focused assessment has the highest priority? a. Cardiovascular b. Respiratory c. Neurological d. Hepatic

b. Respiratory Opioid overdose causes respiratory depression. Respiratory depression is the primary cause of death among opioid abusers. The assessment of the other body systems is relevant but not the priority.

A family expresses helplessness related to dealing with a mentally ill member's odd behaviors, mood swings, and argumentativeness. An effective nursing intervention for this family would be to a. express sympathy for their situation. b. involve local social service agencies. c. explain symptoms of relapse. d. role-play difficult situations.

d. role-play difficult situations. Helping a family learn to set limits and deal with difficult behaviors can often be accomplished by using role-playing situations, which give family members the opportunity to try new, more effective approaches. The other options would not provide learning opportunities.

Chapter 32:

serious mental illness

During history-taking, a patient tells the nurse that he is addicted to alprazolam (Xanax) and that he takes six 1 mg tablets a day. He quit cold turkey yesterday and now presents with extreme agitation, increased heart rate, and panic. The nurse suspects which disorder? a. Stress reaction b. DTs c. Overdose d. Relapse

a. Stress reaction Stress reaction is a withdrawal symptom that can occur when detoxing too quickly. DTs are usually associated with alcohol withdrawal. Overdose of alprazolam would present with extreme drowsiness, confusion, muscle weakness, and loss of balance or coordination. The effects of alprazolam are dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and lightheadedness.

Which situations are most likely to place severe, disabling stress on a family? (Select all that apply.) a. A parent needs long-term care after sustaining a severe brain injury. b. The youngest child in a family leaves for college in another state. c. A spouse is diagnosed with liver failure and needs a transplant. d. Parents of three children, aged 9, 7, and 2 years, get a divorce. e. A parent retires after working at the same job for 28 years.

a. A parent needs long-term care after sustaining a severe brain injury. c. A spouse is diagnosed with liver failure and needs a transplant. d. Parents of three children, aged 9, 7, and 2 years, get a divorce. Major illnesses and divorce place severe, potentially disabling stress on families. The distracters identify normal milestones in a family's development.

A patient admitted to an alcohol rehabilitation program tells the nurse, "I'm actually just a social drinker. I usually have a drink at lunch, two in the afternoon, wine with dinner, and a few drinks during the evening." The patient is using which defense mechanism? a. Denial b. Projection c. Introjection d. Rationalization

a. Denial Minimizing one's drinking is a form of denial of alcoholism. The patient is more than a social drinker. Projection involves blaming another for one's faults or problems. Rationalization involves making excuses. Introjection involves incorporating a quality of another person or group into one's own personality.

At a meeting for family members of alcoholics, a spouse says, "I did everything I could to help. I even requested sick leave when my partner was too drunk to go to work." The nurse assesses these comments as a. codependence. b. assertiveness. c. role reversal. d. homeostasis.

a. codependence. Codependence refers to participating in behaviors that maintain the addiction or allow it to continue without holding the user accountable for his or her actions. The other options are not supported by information given in the scenario.

A hospitalized patient diagnosed with alcohol use disorder believes spiders are spinning entrapping webs in the room. The patient is fearful, agitated, and diaphoretic. Which nursing intervention is indicated? a. Check the patient every 15 minutes b. One-on-one supervision c. Keep the room dimly lit d. Force fluids

b. One-on-one supervision One-on-one supervision is necessary to promote physical safety until sedation reduces the patient's feelings of terror. Checks every 15 minutes would not be sufficient to provide for safety. A dimly lit room promotes perceptual disturbances. Excessive fluid intake can cause overhydration, because fluid retention normally occurs when blood alcohol levels fall.

Symptoms of withdrawal from opioids for which the nurse should assess include a. dilated pupils, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, and elation. b. nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, anxiety, and hyperreflexia. c. mood lability, incoordination, fever, and drowsiness. d. excessive eating, constipation, and headache.

b. nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis, anxiety, and hyperreflexia. The symptoms of withdrawal from opioids are similar to those of alcohol withdrawal. Hyperthermia is likely to produce periods of diaphoresis.

Select the best question for the nurse to ask to assess a family's ability to cope. a. "What strengths does your family have?" b. "Do you think your family copes effectively?" c. "Describe how you successfully handled one family problem." d. "How do you think the current family problem should be resolved?"

c. "Describe how you successfully handled one family problem." The correct option is the only statement addressing coping strategies used by the family. The distracters seek opinions or use closed-ended communication techniques.

Which goal for treatment of alcohol use disorder should the nurse address first? a. Learn about addiction and recovery. b. Develop alternate coping strategies. c. Develop a peer support system. d. Achieve physiological stability.

d. Achieve physiological stability. The individual must have completed withdrawal and achieved physiological stability before he or she is able to address any of the other treatment goals.

A patient is thin, tense, jittery, and has dilated pupils. The patient says, "My heart is pounding in my chest. I need help." The patient allows vital signs to be taken but then becomes suspicious and says, "You could be trying to kill me." The patient refuses further examination. Abuse of which substance is most likely? a. PCP b. Heroin c. Barbiturates d. Amphetamines

d. Amphetamines The physical symptoms are consistent with CNS stimulation. Suspicion and paranoid ideation are also present. Amphetamine use is likely. PCP use would probably result in bizarre, violent behavior. Barbiturates and heroin would result in symptoms of CNS depression.

A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the community mental health nurse, "I threw away my pills because they interfere with God's voice." The nurse identifies the etiology of the patient's ineffective management of the medication regime as a. inadequate discharge planning. b. poor therapeutic alliance with clinicians. c. dislike of antipsychotic medication side effects. d. impaired reasoning secondary to the schizophrenia.

d. impaired reasoning secondary to the schizophrenia. The patient's ineffective management of the medication regime is most closely related to impaired reasoning associated with the thought disturbances of schizophrenia. The patient believes in being an exalted personage who hears God's voice, rather than an individual with a serious mental disorder who needs medication to control symptoms. Data do not suggest any of the other factors often related to medication nonadherence.

Which medication to maintain abstinence would most likely be prescribed for patients with an addiction to either alcohol or opioids? a. Bromocriptine b. Methadone c. Disulfiram d. Naltrexone

d. Naltrexone Naltrexone (ReVia) is useful for treating both opioid and alcohol addiction. An opioid antagonist blocks the action of opioids and the mechanism of reinforcement. It also reduces or eliminates alcohol craving.

Strategies that a nurse could use in a motivational interview to increase the chances of change include which of the following? (Select all that apply.) a. Educating the patient on the physical damage the substance is causing b. Encouraging the patient to think of ways to change environmental triggers to abuse substances c. Asking the patient how they think substance abuse affects their family life d. Explaining to the patient that substance abuse affects everyone in the family and give examples e. Asking the patient what methods they think would work and encouraging participating in self-help groups

b. Encouraging the patient to think of ways to change environmental triggers to abuse substances c. Asking the patient how they think substance abuse affects their family life e. Asking the patient what methods they think would work and encouraging participating in self-help groups Empowering the patient by helping them see what effect the abuse has on their life is a key component of motivation. Educating the patient is too much like lecturing and may cause resistance. Explaining how the family responds to the problem may elicit guilt and resistance.

A parent is admitted to a unit for treatment of addictions. The patient's spouse and adolescent children participate in a family session. What is the most important aspect of this family's assessment? a. Spouse's codependent behaviors b. Interactions among family members c. Patient's reaction to the family's anger d. Children's responses to the family sessions

b. Interactions among family members Interactions among all family members are the raw material for family problem solving. By observing interactions, the nurse can help the family make its own assessments of strengths and deficits. The other options are narrower in scope when compared with the correct option.

A patient living independently had command hallucinations to shout warnings to neighbors. After a short hospitalization, the patient was prohibited from returning to the apartment. The landlord said, "You cause too much trouble." What problem is the patient experiencing? a. Grief b. Stigma c. Homelessness d. Nonadherence

b. Stigma The inability to obtain shelter because of negative attitudes about mental illness is an example of stigma. Stigma is defined as damage to reputation, shame, and ridicule society places on mental illness. Data are not present to identify grief as a patient problem. Data do not suggest that the patient is actually homeless. See relationship to audience response question.

For patients diagnosed with SMI, what is the major advantage of case management? a. The case manager can modify traditional psychotherapy. b. With one coordinator of services, resources can be more efficiently used. c. The case manager can focus on social skills training and esteem building. d. Case managers bring groups of patients together to discuss common problems.

b. With one coordinator of services, resources can be more efficiently used. The case manager coordinates the care and multiple referrals that so often confuse the seriously mentally ill patient and the patient's family. Case management promotes efficient use of services. The other options are lesser advantages or are irrelevant.

In the emergency department, a patient's vital signs are BP 66/40 mm Hg; pulse 140 beats/minute; respirations 8 breaths/minute and shallow. The nursing diagnosis is Ineffective breathing pattern related to depression of respiratory center secondary to opioid intoxication. Select the priority outcome. a. The patient will demonstrate effective coping skills and identify community resources for treatment of substance abuse within 1 week of hospitalization. b. Within 4 hours, vital signs will stabilize, with BP above 90/60 mm Hg, pulse less than 100 beats/minute, and respirations at or above 12 breaths/minute. c. The patient will correctly describe a plan for home care and achieving a drug-free state before release from the emergency department. d. Within 6 hours, the patient's breath sounds will be clear bilaterally and throughout lung fields.

b. Within 4 hours, vital signs will stabilize, with BP above 90/60 mm Hg, pulse less than 100 beats/minute, and respirations at or above 12 breaths/minute. The correct short-term outcome is the only one that relates to the patient's physical condition. It is expected that vital signs will return to normal when the CNS depression is alleviated. The patient's respirations are slow and shallow, but there is no evidence of congestion.

Two divorced people plan to marry. The man has a teenager, and the woman has a toddler. This family will benefit most from a. role-playing opportunities for conflict resolution regarding discipline. b. guidance about parenting children at two developmental levels. c. formal teaching about problem-solving skills. d. referral to a family therapist.

b. guidance about parenting children at two developmental levels. The newly formed family will be coping with tasks associated with the stage of rearing preschool children and teenagers. These stages require different knowledge and skills. There is no evidence of a problem, so the distracters are not indicated.

A 15-year-old is hospitalized after a suicide attempt. This adolescent lives with the mother, stepfather, and several siblings. When performing a family assessment, the nurse must first determine a. how the family expresses and manages emotion. b. names and relationships of the family's members. c. the communication patterns between the patient and parents. d. the meaning that the patient's suicide attempt has for family members.

b. names and relationships of the family's members. The identity of the members of the family is the most fundamental information and should be obtained first. Without this, the nurse cannot fully process the other responses.

A hospitalized patient diagnosed with alcohol use disorder believes the window blinds are snakes trying to get in the room. The patient is anxious, agitated, and diaphoretic. The nurse can anticipate the health care provider will prescribe a(n) a. narcotic analgesic, such as hydromorphone. b. sedative, such as lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide. c. antipsychotic, such as olanzapine or thioridazine. d. monoamine oxidase inhibitor antidepressant, such as phenelzine.

b. sedative, such as lorazepam or chlordiazepoxide. Sedation allows for safe withdrawal from alcohol. Benzodiazepines are the drugs of choice in most regions because of their high therapeutic safety index and anticonvulsant properties.

The nurse assesses the outcomes of a motivational interview on a patient with a dual diagnosis of alcoholism with DTs and determines that the communication was nontherapeutic. What should the nurses next priority be? a. Encourage the patient to think of ways to change environmental triggers to abuse substances. b. Ask the patient what methods they think would work and encourage participating in self-help groups. c. Notify provider to obtain order for oxazepam (Serax) and vitamin B infusion. d. Notify provider to obtain order for CT scan and psychologic consult.

c. Notify provider to obtain order for oxazepam (Serax) and vitamin B infusion. The patient will need to be treated for the psychosis prior to conducting the motivational interview, because the patient can become violent and nonreceptive to the interventions. Oxazepam and vitamin B are the two therapies that work for DTs.

The nurse is caring for a patient who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. What is the main priority for this patient? a. Describe how the alcohol is causing the withdrawal effects. b. Leave the patient by him/herself so as not to cause agitation. c. Promote a safe, calm, and comfortable environment. d. Refer the patient to an alcohol-abuse counselor.

c. Promote a safe, calm, and comfortable environment. The main priority is the patients safety due to risk of harm from seizures, DTs, and anxiety. The nurse could provide referrals or discuss the relationship of alcohol to physical problems after the withdrawal period is over. Do not leave the patient alone, as many patients will need reassurance that they will survive the ordeal of withdrawal.

The nurse wants to enroll a patient with poor social skills in a training program for patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which description accurately describes social skills training? a. Patients learn to improve their attention and concentration. b. Group leaders provide support without challenging patients to change. c. Complex interpersonal skills are taught by breaking them into simpler behaviors. d. Patients learn social skills by practicing them in a supported employment setting.

c. Complex interpersonal skills are taught by breaking them into simpler behaviors. In social skills training, complex interpersonal skills are taught by breaking them down into component behaviors that are covered in a stepwise fashion. Social skills training is not based in employment settings, although such skills can be addressed as part of supported employment services. The other distracters are less relevant to social skills training.

A married couple has two biologic children who live with them as well as a child from the wife's first marriage. What type of family is evident? a. Homogeneous b. Extended c. Blended d. Nuclear

c. Blended A blended family is made up of members from two or more unrelated families. It is not a nuclear family because a stepchild is present. It is not an extended family, because there are only two generations present. Homogeneous is not a family type.

A 45-year-old man is brought to the emergency department presenting with a respiratory rate of 6 breaths/min, and cardiac dysrhythmias. The most appropriate question the nurse should ask the patients friend is a. Does he take amphetamines or uppers? b. Has he ever used LSD? c. Have you two been out of the country in the last 2 days? d. Is he using any opioids such as heroin?

d. Is he using any opioids such as heroin? The clinical manifestations of an opioid overdose include seizures, shock, respiratory depression, dysrhythmias, and altered level of consciousness. An opioid overdose is a medical emergency. Amphetamine overdose is ruled out because it causes hypertension and central nervous system disturbances such as paranoia, panic, and delusions. LSD overdose would also manifest with hypertension and tachypnea along with hallucinations and possible loss of contact with reality. Travel outside the country is unrelated.

Which features should be present in a therapeutic milieu for a patient experiencing a hallucinogen overdose? a. Simple and safe b. Active and bright c. Stimulating and colorful d. Confrontational and challenging

a. Simple and safe Because the individual who has ingested a hallucinogen is probably experiencing feelings of unreality and altered sensory perceptions, the best environment is one that does not add to the stimulation. A simple, safe environment is a better choice than an environment with any of the characteristics listed in the other options. The other options would contribute to a "bad trip."

A person diagnosed with a SMI enters a shelter for the homeless. Which intervention should be the nurse's initial priority? a. Find supported employment. b. Develop a trusting relationship. c. Administer prescribed medication. d. Teach appropriate health care practices.

b. Develop a trusting relationship. Basic psychosocial needs do not change because a person is homeless. The first step in caring for health care needs is establishing rapport. Once a trusting relationship is established, the nurse pursues other interventions.

A nurse wants to research epidemiology, assessment techniques, and best practices regarding persons with addictions. Which resource will provide the most comprehensive information? a. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) b. Institute of Medicine (IOM)-National Research Council c. National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) d. American Society of Addictions Medicine

a. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) The SAMHSA is the official resource for comprehensive information regarding addictions. The other resources have relevant information, but they are not as comprehensive.

A nurse's neighbor says, "My sister has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder but will not take her medication. I have tried to help her for over 20 years, but it seems like everything I do fails. Do you have any suggestions?" Select the nurse's best response. a. "NAMI offers a family education series that you might find helpful." b. "Since your sister is noncompliant, perhaps it's time for her to be changed to injectable medication." c. "You have done all you can. Now it's time to put yourself first and move on with your life." d. "You cannot help her. Would it be better for you to discontinue your relationship?"

a. "NAMI offers a family education series that you might find helpful." NAMI offers a family education series that assists with the stress caregivers and other family members often experience. The nurse should not give advice about injectable medication or encourage the family member to give up on the patient.

When a patient first began using alcohol, two drinks produced relaxation and drowsiness. After 1 year, four drinks are needed to achieve the same response. Why has this change occurred? a. Tolerance has developed. b. Antagonistic effects are evident. c. Metabolism of the alcohol is now delayed. d. Pharmacokinetics of the alcohol have changed.

a. Tolerance has developed. Tolerance refers to needing higher and higher doses of a drug to produce the desired effect. The potency of the alcohol is stable. Neither hypomagnesemia nor antagonistic effects account for this change.

Select the priority outcome for a patient completing the fourth alcohol detoxification program in the past year. Prior to discharge, the patient will a. state, "I know I need long-term treatment." b. use denial and rationalization in healthy ways. c. identify constructive outlets for expression of anger. d. develop a trusting relationship with one staff member.

a. state, "I know I need long-term treatment." The correct response recognizes the need for ongoing treatment after detoxification and is the best goal related to controlling relapse. The scenario does not give enough information to determine whether anger has been identified as a problem. A trusting relationship, while desirable, should have occurred earlier in treatment.

A patient who was admitted 24 hours ago has become increasingly irritable and now says there are bugs on his bed. The nurse suspects a. alcohol-induced psychosis. b. delirium tremens (DTs). c. neurologic injury related to a fall. d. posttraumatic stress reaction.

b. delirium tremens (DTs). During the 6 to 96 hours after last alcohol use, patients may experience DTs, as evidenced by disorientation, nightmares, abdominal pain, nausea, and diaphoresis, as well as elevated temperature, pulse rate, and blood pressure measurement and visual and auditory hallucinations.

An adult diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) says, "I do not need help with money management. I have excellent ideas about investments." This patient usually does not have money to buy groceries by the middle of the month. The nurse assesses the patient as demonstrating a. rationalization. b. identification. c. anosognosia. d. projection.

c. anosognosia. The patient scenario describes anosognosia, the inability to recognize one's deficits due to one's illness. The patient is not projecting an undesirable thought or emotion from himself onto others. He is not justifying his behavior via rationalization and is not identifying with another.

Which comment by a mother during a family therapy session shows evidence of scapegoating? a. "Our youngest child always starts arguments and upsets everyone else." b. "We all express our feelings openly except when we think it might upset my husband." c. "Our oldest child knows that my husband and I are doing all we can for the others." d. "After my husband has been drinking, I have to get everyone up and ready for school."

a. "Our youngest child always starts arguments and upsets everyone else." Scapegoating is blaming family problems on a member of the family who is not very powerful. The purpose of the blaming is to keep the focus off painful issues and off the blamers themselves. A double-bind message, such as "We all express our feelings openly except when," involves giving instructions that are inherently contradictory or that place the person in a no-win situation. "Our oldest child knows that ..." is an example of triangulation, wherein a third party is engaged to help stabilize an unstable pair within the family. A child assuming parental responsibilities (e.g., caring for siblings) because a parent fails to do so is an example of enabling.

Which statements most clearly indicate the speaker views mental illness with stigma? (Select all that apply.) a. "We are all a little bit crazy." b. "If people with mental illness would go to church, their problems would be solved." c. "Many mental illnesses are genetically transmitted. It's no one's fault that the illness occurs." d. "Anyone can have a mental illness. War or natural disasters can be too stressful for healthy people." e. "People with mental illness are lazy. They get government disability checks instead of working."

a. "We are all a little bit crazy." b. "If people with mental illness would go to church, their problems would be solved." e. "People with mental illness are lazy. They get government disability checks instead of working." Stigma is represented by judgmental remarks that discount the reality and validity of mental illness. It is evidenced in stereotypical statements, by oversimplification, and by multiple other messages of guilt or shame. See related audience response question.

During the third week of treatment, the spouse of a patient in a rehabilitation program for substance abuse says, "After this treatment program, I think everything will be all right." Which remark by the nurse will be most helpful to the spouse? a. "While sobriety solves some problems, new ones may emerge as one adjusts to living without drugs and alcohol." b. "It will be important for you to structure life to avoid as much stress as you can and provide social protection." c. "Addiction is a lifelong disease of self-destruction. You will need to observe your spouse's behavior carefully." d. "It is good that you are supportive of your spouse's sobriety and want to help maintain it."

a. "While sobriety solves some problems, new ones may emerge as one adjusts to living without drugs and alcohol." During recovery, patients identify and use alternative coping mechanisms to reduce reliance on substances. Physical adaptations must occur. Emotional responses were previously dulled by alcohol but are now fully experienced and may cause considerable anxiety. These changes inevitably have an effect on the spouse and children, who need anticipatory guidance and accurate information.

A patient diagnosed with SMI was living successfully in a group home but wanted an apartment. The prospective landlord said, "People like you have trouble getting along and paying their rent." The patient and nurse meet for a problem-solving session. Which options should the nurse endorse? (Select all that apply.) a. Coach the patient in ways to control symptoms effectively. b. Seek out landlords less affected by the stigma associated with mental illness. c. Threaten the landlord with legal action because of the discriminatory actions. d. Encourage the patient to remain in the group home until the illness is less obvious. e. Suggest that the patient list a false current address in the rental application. f. Have the case manager meet with the landlord to provide education about mental illness.

a. Coach the patient in ways to control symptoms effectively. b. Seek out landlords less affected by the stigma associated with mental illness. f. Have the case manager meet with the landlord to provide education about mental illness. Managing symptoms so that they are less obvious or socially disruptive can reduce negative reactions and reduce rejection due to stigma. Seeking a more receptive landlord might be the most expeditious route to housing for this patient. Educating the landlord to reduce stigma might make him more receptive and give the case manager an opportunity to address some of his concerns (e.g., the case manager could arrange a payee to assure that the rent is paid each month). However, threatening a lawsuit would increase the landlord's defensiveness and would likely be a long and expensive undertaking. Delaying the patient's efforts to become more independent is not clinically necessary according to the data noted here; the problem is the landlord's bias and response, not the patient's illness. It would be unethical to encourage falsification and poor role modeling to do so; further, if falsification is discovered, it could permit the landlord to refuse or cancel her lease. See related audience response question.

Select the most therapeutic manner for a nurse working with a patient beginning treatment for alcohol addiction. a. Empathetic, supportive b. Skeptical, guarded c. Cool, distant d. Confrontational

a. Empathetic, supportive Support and empathy assist the patient to feel safe enough to start looking at problems. Counseling during the early stage of treatment needs to be direct, open, and honest. The other approaches will increase patient anxiety and cause the patient to cling to defenses.

A consumer at a rehabilitative psychosocial program says to the nurse, "People are not cleaning up behind themselves in the bathrooms. The building is dirty and cluttered." How should the nurse respond? a. Encourage the consumer to discuss it at a meeting with everyone. b. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean the restrooms. c. Address the complaint at the next staff meeting. d. Tell the consumer, "That's not my problem."

a. Encourage the consumer to discuss it at a meeting with everyone. Consumer-run programs range from informal "clubhouses," which offer socialization and recreation, to competitive businesses, such as snack bars or janitorial services, which provide needed services and consumer employment while encouraging independence and building vocational skills. Consumers engage in problem solving under the leadership of staff. See related audience response question.

A parent was recently hospitalized with severe depression. Family members say, "We're falling apart. Nobody knows what to expect, who should make decisions, or how to keep the family together." Which interventions should the nurse use when working with this family? (Select all that apply.) a. Help the family set realistic expectations. b. Provide empathy, acceptance, and support. c. Empower the family by teaching problem solving. d. Negotiate role flexibility among family members. e. Focus planning on the family rather than on the patient.

a. Help the family set realistic expectations. b. Provide empathy, acceptance, and support. c. Empower the family by teaching problem solving. d. Negotiate role flexibility among family members. The correct answers address expressed needs of the family. The distracter is inappropriate.

A patient diagnosed with a SMI lives independently and attends a psychosocial rehabilitation program. The patient presents at the emergency department seeking hospitalization. The patient has no acute symptoms but says, "I have no money to pay my rent or refill my prescription." Select the nurse's best action. a. Involve the patient's case manager to provide crisis intervention. b. Send the patient to a homeless shelter until housing can be arranged. c. Arrange for a short in-patient admission and begin discharge planning. d. Explain that one must have active psychiatric symptoms to be admitted.

a. Involve the patient's case manager to provide crisis intervention. Impaired stress tolerance and problem-solving abilities can cause persons with SMI to experience relatively minor stressors as crises. This patient has run out of money, and this has overwhelmed her ability to cope, resulting in a crisis for which crisis intervention would be an appropriate response. Inpatient care is not clinically indicated nor is the patient homeless (although she may fear she is). Telling the patient that she is not symptomatic enough to be admitted may prompt malingering.

The nurse manager of a mental health center wants to improve medication adherence among the seriously mentally ill persons treated there. Which interventions are likely to help achieve this goal? (Select all that apply.) a. Maintain stable and consistent staff. b. Increase the length of medication education groups. c. Stress that without treatment, illnesses will worsen. d. Prescribe drugs in smaller but more frequent dosages. e. Make it easier to access prescribers and pay for drugs. f. Require adherence in order to participate in programming.

a. Maintain stable and consistent staff. e. Make it easier to access prescribers and pay for drugs. Trust in one's providers is a key factor in treatment adherence, and mentally ill persons can sometimes take a very long time to develop such trust; therefore, interventions which stabilize staffing allow patients to have more time with staff to develop these bonds. Ready access to prescribers allows medicine-related concerns to be addressed quickly, reducing obstacles to adherence such as side effects or ineffective dosages. Medication costs can be obstacles to adherence as well. Many SMI patients have anosognosia and do not adhere to treatment because they believe they are not ill, so telling them nonadherence will worsen an illness they do not believe they have is unlikely to be helpful. Increasing medication education is helpful only when the cause of nonadherence is a knowledge deficit. Other issues that reduce adherence, particularly anosognosia and side effects, are seldom helped by longer medication education. Requiring medication adherence to participate in other programs is coercive and unethical. Smaller, more frequent doses do not reduce side effects and make the regimen more difficult for the patient to remember.

Which documentation of family assessment indicates a healthy and functional family? a. Members provide mutual support. b. Power is distributed equally among all members. c. Members believe there are specific causes for events. d. Under stress, members turn inward and become enmeshed.

a. Members provide mutual support. Healthy families nurture and support their members, buffer against stress, and provide stability and cohesion. The distracters are unrelated or incorrect.

Select the priority nursing intervention when caring for a patient after an overdose of amphetamines. a. Monitor vital signs. b. Observe for depression. c. Awaken the patient every 15 minutes. d. Use warmers to maintain body temperature.

a. Monitor vital signs. An overdose of stimulants, such as amphetamines, can produce respiratory and circulatory dysfunction as well as hyperthermia. Concentration is impaired. This patient will be hypervigilant; it is not necessary to awaken the patient.

An adult patient tells the case manager, "I don't have bipolar disorder anymore, so I don't need medicine. After I was in the hospital last year, you helped me get an apartment and disability checks. Now I'm bored and don't have any friends." Where should the nurse refer the patient? (Select all that apply.) a. Psychoeducational classes b. Vocational rehabilitation c. Social skills training d. A homeless shelter e. Crisis intervention

a. Psychoeducational classes b. Vocational rehabilitation c. Social skills training The patient does not understand the illness and need for adherence to the medication regimen. Psychoeducation for the patient (and family) can address this lack of knowledge. The patient, who considers himself friendless, could also profit from social skills training to improve the quality of interpersonal relationships. Many patients with SMI have such poor communication skills that others are uncomfortable interacting with them. Interactional skills can be effectively taught by breaking the skill down into smaller verbal and nonverbal components. Work gives meaning and purpose to life, so vocational rehabilitation can assist with this aspect of care. The nurse case manager will function in the role of crisis stabilizer, so no related referral is needed. The patient presently has a home and does not require a homeless shelter.

After discovering discrepancies and missing controlled substances, the nursing supervisor determines that a valued, experienced staff nurse is responsible. Which actions should the nursing supervisor take? (Select all that apply.) a. Refer the nurse to a peer assistance program. b. Confront the nurse in the presence of a witness. c. Immediately terminate the nurse's employment. d. Relieve the nurse of responsibilities for patient care. e. Require the nurse to undergo immediate drug testing.

a. Refer the nurse to a peer assistance program. d. Relieve the nurse of responsibilities for patient care Registered nurses may have personal substance use problems. The nursing supervisor should provide for safe patient care by relieving the nurse of responsibility for patient care. For those nurses experiencing addictions, there are nonpunitive alternatives to discipline programs in the form of peer assistance. Many state boards of nursing have developed an alternative to discipline program to help impaired nurses. Terminating the nurse's employment and confronting the nurse in the presence of a witness are punitive actions. The peer assistance program will manage drug testing.

Parents of a mentally ill teenager say, "We have never known anyone who was mentally ill. We have no one to talk to because none of our friends understand the problems we are facing." Select the nurse's most helpful intervention. a. Refer the parents to a support group. b. Build the parents' self-concept as coping parents. c. Teach the parents techniques of therapeutic communication. d. Facilitate achievement of normal developmental tasks of the family.

a. Refer the parents to a support group. The need for support is evident. Referrals are made when working with families whose needs are unmet. A support group will provide the parents with support of others with similar experiences and with whom they can share feelings and experiences. The distracters are less relevant to providing a network of support.

A 16-year-old wants to drive, but the parents will not allow it. A 14-year-old sibling was invited to several sleepovers, but the parents found reasons to deny permission. Both teens are annoyed because the parents buy clothes for them that are more suitable for younger children. The parents say, "We don't want our kids to grow up too fast." Which term best describes this family's boundaries? a. Rigid b. Clear c. Enmeshed d. Differentiated

a. Rigid Rigid boundaries are those that do not change or flex with changing circumstances, as indicated here by parents who are reluctant to revise their roles and expectations about their children as the children mature. Enmeshed boundaries are those that have failed to differentiate or develop individually; the family shares roles and thoughts to an excessive degree, without a healthy degree of individuality. Clear boundaries are not enmeshed; they are appropriate and well maintained.

A wife believes her husband is having an affair. Lately, he has been disinterested in romance and working late. The husband has an important, demanding project at work. The mother asks her teen, "What have you noticed about your father?" The teen later mentions this to the father, who says, "Tell your mother that I can't deal with her insecurities right now." Family therapy should focus on (Select all that apply.) a. identifying and reducing the cognitive distortion in each parent's perceptions. b. confronting the family with the need for honest, direct, assertive communication. c. helping the parents find ways to cope more effectively with their stress and fears. d. supporting the teen to redirect the parents when they try to communicate through her. e. convincing the mother that her fear of an affair is due to her own insecurities and unfounded. f. helping the husband understand how others might misinterpret the changes in his behavior.

a. identifying and reducing the cognitive distortion in each parent's perceptions. c. helping the parents find ways to cope more effectively with their stress and fears. d. supporting the teen to redirect the parents when they try to communicate through her. f. helping the husband understand how others might misinterpret the changes in his behavior. Each parent is seeing the other's behavior in a possibly distorted manner, which the nurse would explore and help the parents correct. The nurse would guide the parents to communicate more effectively, but confrontation would likely be non-therapeutic because it would increase the tension and triangulation. Since fear and anxiety contribute to triangulation, increasing the parent's coping abilities as well as reducing anxiety and fear would be areas for intervention. Teaching the adolescent how to protect herself from triangulation, when done in conjunction with interventions to help the parents reduce this behavior, would be protective of the adolescent and would assist the parents in their efforts to change this pattern of communication. The nurse has no facts about whether or not the husband is having an affair; therefore, the nurse should not convince the wife that her fear is only due to her insecurities. Her fears may be well-founded. Helping the husband understand how his wife might see the changes in behavior differently can help him to respond helpfully instead of accusing her of being insecure.

The nurse can assist a patient to prevent substance abuse relapse by (Select all that apply) a. rehearsing techniques to handle anticipated stressful situations. b. advising the patient to accept residential treatment if relapse occurs. c. assisting the patient to identify life skills needed for effective coping. d. advising isolating self from significant others until sobriety is established. e. informing the patient of physical changes to expect as the body adapts to functioning without substances.

a. rehearsing techniques to handle anticipated stressful situations. c. assisting the patient to identify life skills needed for effective coping. e. informing the patient of physical changes to expect as the body adapts to functioning without substances. Nurses can be helpful as a patient assesses needed life skills and in providing appropriate referrals. Anticipatory problem solving and role playing are good ways of rehearsing effective strategies for handling stressful situations and helping the patient evaluate the usefulness of new strategies. The nurse can provide valuable information about physiological changes expected and ways to cope with these changes. Residential treatment is not usually necessary after relapse. Patients need the support of friends and family to establish and maintain sobriety.

A patient diagnosed with alcohol use disorder asks, "How will Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) help me?" Select the nurse's best response. a. "The goal of AA is for members to learn controlled drinking with the support of a higher power." b. "An individual is supported by peers while striving for abstinence one day at a time." c. "You must make a commitment to permanently abstain from alcohol and other drugs." d. "You will be assigned a sponsor who will plan your treatment program."

b. "An individual is supported by peers while striving for abstinence one day at a time." Admitting to being an alcoholic, making an attempt to remain alcohol-free for a day at a time, and receiving support from peers are basic aspects of AA. The other options are incorrect.

The sibling of a patient who was diagnosed with a SMI asks why a case manager has been assigned. The nurse's reply should cite the major advantage of the use of case management as: a. "The case manager can modify traditional psychotherapy for homeless patients so that it is more flexible." b. "Case managers coordinate services and help with accessing them, making sure the patient's needs are met." c. "The case manager can focus on social skills training and esteem building in the real world where the patient lives." d. "Having a case manager has been shown to reduce hospitalizations, which prevents disruption and saves money."

b. "Case managers coordinate services and help with accessing them, making sure the patient's needs are met." The case manager helps the patient gain entrance into the system of care, can coordinate multiple referrals that so often confuse the seriously mentally ill person and his family, and can help overcome obstacles to access and treatment participation. Case managers do not usually possess the credentials needed to provide psychotherapy or function as therapists. Case management promotes efficient use of services in general, but only ACT programming has been shown to reduce hospitalization (which the sibling might see as a disadvantage). Case managers operate in the community, but this is not the primary advantage of their services.

A parent is admitted to a unit for treatment of addictions. The patient's spouse and adolescent children attend a family session. Which initial assessment question should the nurse ask of family members? a. "What changes are most important to you?" b. "How are feelings expressed in your family?" c. "What types of family education would benefit your family?" d. "Can you identify a long-term goal for improved functioning?"

b. "How are feelings expressed in your family?" It is important to understand family characteristics, particularly in a family under stress. Expression of feelings is an important aspect of assessment of the family's function (or dysfunction). The distracters relate more to outcome identification and planning interventions, both of which should be delayed until the assessment is complete.

A homeless patient diagnosed with a SMI became suspicious and delusional. Depot antipsychotic medication began and housing was obtained in a local shelter. One month later, which statement by the patient indicates significant improvement? a. "They will not let me drink. They have many rules in the shelter." b. "I feel comfortable here. Nobody bothers me." c. "Those shots make my arm very sore." d. "Those people watch me a lot."

b. "I feel comfortable here. Nobody bothers me." Evaluation of a patient's progress is made based on patient satisfaction with the new health status and the health care team's estimation of improvement. For a formerly delusional patient to admit to feeling comfortable and free of being "bothered" by others denotes improvement in the patient's condition. The other options suggest that the patient is in danger of relapse.

A patient diagnosed with a SMI died suddenly at age 52. The patient lived in the community for 5 years without relapse and held supported employment the past 6 months. The distressed family asks, "How could this happen?" Which response by the nurse accurately reflects research and addresses the family's question? a. "A certain number of people die young from undetected diseases, and it's just one of those sad things that sometimes happen." b. "Mentally ill people tend to die much younger than others, perhaps because they do not take as good care of their health, smoke more, or are overweight." c. "We will have to wait for the autopsy to know what happened. There were some medical problems, but we were not expecting death." d. "We are all surprised. The patient had been doing so well and saw the nurse every other week."

b. "Mentally ill people tend to die much younger than others, perhaps because they do not take as good care of their health, smoke more, or are overweight." The family is in distress. Because they do not understand his death, they are less able to accept it and seek specific information to help them understand what happened. Persons with SMI die an average of 25 years prematurely. Contributing factors include failing to provide for their own health needs (e.g., forgetting to take medicine), inability to access or pay for care, higher rates of smoking, poor diet, criminal victimization, and stigma. The most accurate answer indicates that seriously mentally ill people are at much higher risk of premature death for a variety of reasons. Staff would not have been surprised that the patient died prematurely, and they would not attribute his death to random, undetected medical problems. Although the cause of death will not be reliably established until the autopsy, this response fails to address the family's need for information.

Many persons brought before a criminal court have mental illness, have committed minor offenses, and are off medications. The judge consults the nurse at the local community mental health center for guidance about how to respond when handling such cases. Which advice from the nurse would be most appropriate? a. "Sometimes a little time in jail makes a person rethink what they've been doing and puts them back on the right track." b. "Sentencing such persons to participate in treatment instead of incarcerating them has been shown to reduce repeat offenses." c. "Arresting these people helps them in the long run. Sometimes we cannot hospitalize them, but in jail they will get their medication." d. "Research suggests that special mental health courts do not make much difference so far, but outpatient commitment does seem to help."

b. "Sentencing such persons to participate in treatment instead of incarcerating them has been shown to reduce repeat offenses." Research supports the use of special mental health courts that can sentence mentally ill persons to treatment instead of jail. Jail exposes vulnerable mentally ill persons to criminals, victimization, and high levels of stimulation and stress. Incarceration can also interrupt eligibility for benefits or lead to the loss of housing and often provides lower-quality mental health treatment in other settings. Recidivism rates for both mentally ill and non-mentally ill offenders are relatively high, so it does not appear that incarceration necessarily leads people to behave more appropriately. In addition, a criminal record can leave them more desperate and with fewer options after release. Research indicates that outpatient commitment is less effective at improving the mental health of mentally ill persons than was expected.

A nurse interviews a homeless parent with two teenage children. To best assess the family's use of resources, the nurse should ask a. "Can you describe a problem your family has successfully resolved?" b. "What community agencies have you found helpful in the past?" c. "What aspect of being homeless is most frightening for you?" d. "Do you feel you have adequate resources to survive?"

b. "What community agencies have you found helpful in the past?" The correct option asks about use of resources in an open, direct fashion. It will give information about choices the family has made regarding use of resources in the community. The other questions do not address prior use of resources or focus on other aspects of coping.

A nurse reviews vital signs for a patient admitted with an injury sustained while intoxicated. The medical record shows these blood pressure and pulse readings at the times listed: 0200: 118/78 mm Hg and 72 beats/minute 0400: 126/80 mm Hg and 76 beats/minute 0600: 128/82 mm Hg and 72 beats/minute 0800: 132/88 mm Hg and 80 beats/minute 1000: 148/94 mm Hg and 96 beats/minute What is the nurse's priority action? a. Force fluids. b. Begin the detox protocol. c. Obtain a clean-catch urine sample. d. Place the patient in a vest-type restraint.

b. Begin the detox protocol. Elevated pulse and blood pressure may indicate impending alcohol withdrawal and the need for detox with medical intervention to prevent a hypertensive crisis and/or seizures. No indication is present that the patient may have a urinary tract infection or is presently in need of restraint. Hydration will not resolve the problem.

An adult diagnosed with schizophrenia lives with elderly parents. The patient was recently hospitalized with acute psychosis. One parent is very anxious, and the other is ill because of the stress. Which nursing diagnosis is most applicable to this scenario? a. Ineffective family coping related to parental role conflict b. Caregiver role strain related to the stress of chronic illness c. Impaired parenting related to patient's repeated hospitalizations d. Interrupted family processes related to relapse of acute psychosis

b. Caregiver role strain related to the stress of chronic illness Caregiver role strain refers to a caregiver's felt or exhibited difficulty in performing a family caregiver role. In this case, one parent exhibits stress-related illness and the other exhibits increased anxiety. The other nursing diagnoses are not substantiated by the information given and are incorrectly formatted (one nursing diagnosis should not be the etiology for another).

A person diagnosed with SMI has frequent relapses, usually precipitated by situational stressors such as running out of money or the absence of key staff at the mental health center. Which interventions would the nurse suggest to reduce the risk of stressors to cause relapse? (Select all that apply.) a. Discourage potentially stressful activities such as groups or volunteer work. b. Develop written plans that will help the patient remember what to do in a crisis. c. Help the patient identify and anticipate events that are likely to be overwhelming. d. Encourage health-promoting activities such as exercise and getting adequate rest. e. Accompany the patient to a NAMI support group.

b. Develop written plans that will help the patient remember what to do in a crisis. c. Help the patient identify and anticipate events that are likely to be overwhelming. d. Encourage health-promoting activities such as exercise and getting adequate rest. e. Accompany the patient to a NAMI support group. Basic interventions for coping with crises involve anticipating crises where possible and then developing a plan with specific actions to take when faced with an overwhelming stressor. Written plans are helpful; it can be difficult for anyone, especially a person with cognitive or memory impairments, to develop or remember steps to take when under overwhelming stress. Health-promoting activities enhance a person's ability to cope with stress. As the name suggests, support groups help a person develop a support system, and they provide practical guidance from peers who learned from experience how to deal with issues the patient may be facing. Groups and volunteer work may involve a measure of stress but also provide benefits that help persons cope and should not be discouraged unless they are being done to excess.

Which scenario best illustrates scapegoating within a family? a. The identified patient sends messages of aggression to selected family members. b. Family members project problems of the family onto one particular family member. c. The identified patient threatens separation from the family to induce feelings of isolation and despair. d. Family members give the identified patient nonverbal messages that conflict with verbal messages.

b. Family members project problems of the family onto one particular family member. Scapegoating projects blame for family problems onto a member who is less powerful. The purpose of this projection is to distract from issues or dysfunctional behaviors in the members of the family.

An adult, recently diagnosed with AIDS, is hospitalized with pneumonia. The patient and family are very anxious. Select the best outcome to add to the plan of care for this family. a. Describe the stages of the anticipatory grieving process. b. Identify and describe effective methods for coping with anxiety. c. Recognize ways dysfunctional communication is expressed in the family. d. Examine previously unexpressed feelings related to the patient's sexuality.

b. Identify and describe effective methods for coping with anxiety. Desired outcomes might be set for the family as a whole or for individuals within the family. The outcome most closely associated with the anxiety that each member is experiencing is to focus on identifying and describing ways of coping with the anxiety. The other options are not appropriate at this time.

When a nurse assesses a family, which family task has the highest priority for healthy family functioning? a. Allocation of family resources b. Physical maintenance and safety c. Maintenance of order and authority d. Reproduction of new family members

b. Physical maintenance and safety Physical and safety needs have greater importance in Maslow's hierarchy than other needs.

A wife believes her husband is having an affair. Lately, he has been disinterested in romance and working late. The husband has an important, demanding project at work. The mother asks her teen, "What have you noticed about your father?" The teen later mentions this to the father, who says, "Tell your mother that I can't deal with her insecurities right now." Which family dynamic is evident? a. Multigenerational dysfunction b. Triangulation c. Enmeshment d. Blaming

b. Triangulation Triangulation is a family dynamic wherein a pair relationship (usually the parents) is under stress and copes by drawing in a third person (usually a child) to align with one or the other members of the pair relationship. Multigenerational dysfunction is any dysfunction that exists within or across multiple generations of a family, such as child abuse or alcoholism. Blaming is distracting attention from one's own dysfunction or reducing one's own anxiety by blaming another person. Enmeshment refers to blurred family boundaries or blending together of the thoughts, feelings, or family roles of the individuals so that clear distinctions among members fail to emerge.

SMI is characterized as a. any mental illness of more than 2 weeks' duration. b. a major long-term mental illness marked by significant functional impairments. c. a mental illness accompanied by physical impairment and severe social problems. d. a major mental illness that cannot be treated to prevent deterioration of cognitive and social abilities.

b. a major long-term mental illness marked by significant functional impairments. "Serious mental illness" has replaced the term "chronic mental illness." Global impairments in function are evident, particularly social. Physical impairments may be present. SMI can be treated, but remissions and exacerbations are part of the course of the illness.

Parents of a teenager recently diagnosed with serious mental illness express dismay. One parent says, "Our hopes for our child's future are ruined. We probably won't ever have grandchildren." The nurse will use interventions to assist with a. denial. b. acceptance. c. acting out. d. manipulation.

b. acceptance. The parents comment suggests they are experiencing grief, a common reaction to having a family member diagnosed with mental illness. The grief stems from actual or potential losses, such as the family's ability to function, financial well-being, and altered future. Supporting the parents' acceptance of the patient's illness will enhance coping. Data do not support choosing any of the other options.

A patient undergoing alcohol rehabilitation decides to begin disulfiram therapy. Patient teaching should include the need to (Select all that apply) a. avoid aged cheeses. b. avoid alcohol-based skin products. c. read labels of all liquid medications. d. wear sunscreen and avoid bright sunlight. e. maintain an adequate dietary intake of sodium. f. avoid breathing fumes of paints, stains, and stripping compounds.

b. avoid alcohol-based skin products. c. read labels of all liquid medications. f. avoid breathing fumes of paints, stains, and stripping compounds The patient must avoid hidden sources of alcohol. Many liquid medications, such as cough syrups, contain small amounts of alcohol that could trigger an alcohol-disulfiram reaction. Using alcohol-based skin products such as aftershave or cologne, smelling alcohol-laden fumes, and eating foods prepared with wine, brandy, or beer may also trigger reactions. The other options do not relate to hidden sources of alcohol.

After 5 years in a state hospital, an adult diagnosed with schizophrenia was discharged to the community. This patient now requires continual direction to accomplish activities of daily living and expects others to provide meals and do laundry. The nurse assesses this behavior as the probable result of a. side effects of antipsychotic medications. b. dependency caused by institutionalization. c. cognitive deterioration from schizophrenia. d. stress associated with acclimation to the community.

b. dependency caused by institutionalization. Institutions tend to impede independent functioning; for example, daily activities are planned and directed by staff; others provide meals and only at set times. Over time, patients become dependent on the institution to meet their needs and adapt to being cared for rather than caring for themselves. When these patients return to the community, many continue to demonstrate passive behaviors despite efforts to promote. Cognitive dysfunction and antipsychotic side effects can make planning and carrying out activities more difficult, but the question is more suggestive of adjustment to institutional care and difficulty readjusting to independence instead.

An adult in the emergency department states, "Everything I see appears to be waving. I am outside my body looking at myself. I think I'm losing my mind." Vital signs are slightly elevated. The nurse should suspect a. a schizophrenic episode. b. hallucinogen ingestion. c. opium intoxication. d. cocaine overdose.

b. hallucinogen ingestion. The patient who is high on a hallucinogen often experiences synesthesia (visions in sound), depersonalization, and concerns about going "crazy." Synesthesia is not common in schizophrenia. CNS stimulant overdose more commonly involves elevated vital signs and assaultive, grandiose behaviors. Phencyclidine (PCP) use commonly causes bizarre or violent behavior, nystagmus, elevated vital signs, and repetitive jerking movements.

Police bring a patient to the emergency department after an automobile accident. The patient demonstrates poor coordination and slurred speech but the vital signs are normal. The blood alcohol level is 300 mg/dL (0.30 g/dL). Considering the relationship between the assessment findings and blood alcohol level, which conclusion is most probable? The patient a. rarely drinks alcohol. b. has a high tolerance to alcohol. c. has been treated with disulfiram (Antabuse). d. has ingested both alcohol and sedative drugs recently.

b. has a high tolerance to alcohol. A nontolerant drinker would have sleepiness and significant changes in vital signs with a blood alcohol level of 300 mg/dL (0.30 g/dL). The fact that the patient is moving and talking shows a discrepancy between blood alcohol level and expected behavior and strongly indicates that the patient's body is tolerant. If disulfiram and alcohol are ingested together, an entirely different clinical picture would result. The blood alcohol level gives no information about ingestion of other drugs.

A patient asks for information about AA. Select the nurse's best response. "AA is a a. form of group therapy led by a psychiatrist." b. self-help group for which the goal is sobriety." c. group that learns about drinking from a group leader." d. network that advocates strong punishment for drunk drivers."

b. self-help group for which the goal is sobriety." AA is a peer support group for recovering alcoholics. Neither professional nor peer leaders are appointed.

The nurse is assessing a patient using the CAGE Questionnaire. The patient answers yes to all of the questions. The nurse suspects alcoholism and feels the patient is in denial when the patient states which of the following? a. I go to meetings once a day and still drink. b. My family and friends have been avoiding me lately. c. I dont have a problem with alcohol. I can quit anytime I want to. d. I know it will be hard to quit, but I am willing to try.

c. I dont have a problem with alcohol. I can quit anytime I want to. The patient may need help admitting that there is a problem. The CAGE is designed to objectively assist in assessing problems related to alcohol use. A patient who states they are going to meetings is admitting they have a problem even if they still drink. Admitting that quitting is difficult is acceptance that there is a problem. Reality is setting in for a patient who can see that family and friends are avoiding them.

A new patient beginning an alcohol rehabilitation program says, "I'm just a social drinker. I usually have one drink at lunch, two in the afternoon, wine at dinner, and a few drinks during the evening." Which responses by the nurse will be most therapeutic? (Select all that apply.) a. "I see," and use interested silence. b. "I think you are drinking more than you report." c. "Social drinkers have one or two drinks, once or twice a week." d. "You describe drinking steadily throughout the day and evening." e. "Your comments show denial of the seriousness of your problem."

c. "Social drinkers have one or two drinks, once or twice a week." d. "You describe drinking steadily throughout the day and evening." The correct answers give information, summarize, and validate what the patient reported but are not strongly confrontational. Defenses cannot be removed until healthier coping strategies are in place. Strong confrontation does not usually take place so early in the program.

Which service would be expected to provide resources 24 hours a day, 7 days a week if needed for persons with SMI? a. Clubhouse model b. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) c. Assertive community treatment (ACT) d. Cognitive enhancement therapy (CET)

c. Assertive community treatment (ACT) ACT involves consumers working with a multidisciplinary team that provides a comprehensive array of services. At least one member of the team is available 24 hours a day for crisis needs, and the emphasis is on treating the patient within his own environment.

Which nursing diagnosis is likely to apply to an individual diagnosed with a SMI who is homeless? a. Insomnia b. Substance abuse c. Chronic low self-esteem d. Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome

c. Chronic low self-esteem Many individuals with SMI do not live with their families and become homeless. Life on the street or in a shelter has a negative influence on the individual's self-esteem, making this nursing diagnosis one that should be considered. Substance abuse is not an approved North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA)-International diagnosis. Insomnia may be noted in some patients but is not a universal problem. Impaired environmental interpretation syndrome refers to persistent disorientation, which is not seen in a majority of the homeless.

A person diagnosed with a SMI living in the community was punched, pushed to the ground, and robbed of $7 during the day on a public street. Which statements about violence and SMI in general are accurate? (Select all that apply.) a. Persons with SMI are more likely to be violent. b. SMI persons are more likely to commit crimes than to be the victims of crime. c. Impaired judgment and social skills can provoke hostile or assaultive behavior. d. Lower incomes force SMI persons to live in high-crime areas, increasing risk. e. SMI persons experience higher rates of sexual assault and victimization than others. f. Criminals may believe SMI persons are less likely to resist or testify against them.

c. Impaired judgment and social skills can provoke hostile or assaultive behavior. d. Lower incomes force SMI persons to live in high-crime areas, increasing risk. e. SMI persons experience higher rates of sexual assault and victimization than others. f. Criminals may believe SMI persons are less likely to resist or testify against them. Mentally ill persons are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of criminal acts. They are often victims of criminal behavior, including sexual crimes, at a higher rate than others. When a mentally ill person commits a crime, it is usually nonviolent. Mental illnesses interfere with employment and are associated with poverty, limiting SMI persons to living in inexpensive areas that also tend to be higher-crime areas. SMI persons may inadvertently provoke others because of poor judgment or socially inappropriate behavior, or they may be victimized because they are perceived as passive, less likely to resist, and less likely to be believed as witnesses. See related audience response question.

A nurse prepares for an initial interaction with a patient with a long history of methamphetamine abuse. Which is the nurse's best first action? a. Perform a thorough assessment of the patient. b. Verify that security services are immediately available. c. Self-assess personal attitude, values, and beliefs about this health problem. d. Obtain a face shield because oral hygiene is poor in methamphetamine abusers.

c. Self-assess personal attitude, values, and beliefs about this health problem. The nurse should show compassion, care, and helpfulness for all patients, including those with addictive diseases. It is important to have a clear understanding of one's own perspective. Negative feelings may occur for the nurse; supervision is an important resource. The activities identified in the distracters occur after self-assessment.

The treatment team discusses the plan of care for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia and daily cannabis abuse who is having increased hallucinations and delusions. To plan effective treatment, the team should a. provide long-term care for the patient in a residential facility. b. withdraw the patient from cannabis, then treat the schizophrenia. c. consider each diagnosis primary and provide simultaneous treatment. d. first treat the schizophrenia, then establish goals for substance abuse treatment.

c. consider each diagnosis primary and provide simultaneous treatment. Both diagnoses should be considered primary and receive simultaneous treatment. Comorbid disorders require longer treatment and progress is slower, but treatment may occur in the community.

A married couple has two children living in the home. Recently, the wife's mother moved in. This family should be assessed as a. nuclear. b. blended. c. extended. d. alternative.

c. extended. An extended family has members from three or more generations living together. Nuclear family refers to a couple and their children. A blended family is one made up of members from two or more unrelated families. An alternative family can consist of a same-sex couple or an unmarried couple and children.

A patient admitted for injuries sustained while intoxicated has been hospitalized for 48 hours. The patient is now shaky, irritable, anxious, diaphoretic, and reports nightmares. The pulse rate is 130 beats/minute. The patient shouts, "Bugs are crawling on my bed. I've got to get out of here." Select the most accurate assessment of this situation. The patient a. is attempting to obtain attention by manipulating staff. b. may have sustained a head injury before admission. c. has symptoms of alcohol withdrawal delirium. d. is having an acute psychosis.

c. has symptoms of alcohol withdrawal delirium. Symptoms of agitation, elevated pulse, and perceptual distortions indicate alcohol withdrawal delirium. The findings are inconsistent with manipulative attempts, head injury, or functional psychosis.

A patient has smoked two packs of cigarettes daily for many years. When the patient tries to reduce smoking, anxiety, craving, poor concentration, and headache occur. This scenario describes a. cross-tolerance. b. substance abuse. c. substance addiction. d. substance intoxication.

c. substance addiction. Nicotine meets the criteria for a "substance," the criterion for addiction is present, and withdrawal symptoms are noted with abstinence or reduction of dose. The scenario does not meet criteria for substance abuse, intoxication, or cross-tolerance.

The parent of an adolescent diagnosed with mental illness asks the nurse, "Why do you want to do a family assessment? My teenager is the patient, not the rest of us." Select the nurse's best response. a. "Family dysfunction might have caused the mental illness." b. "Family members provide more accurate information than the patient." c. "Family assessment is part of the protocol for care of all patients with mental illness." d. "Every family member's perception of events is different and adds to the total picture."

d. "Every family member's perception of events is different and adds to the total picture." The identified patient usually bears most of the family system's anxiety and may have come to the attention of parents, teachers, or law enforcement because of poor coping skills. The correct response helps the family understand that the opinions of each will be valued. It allows the nurse to assess individual coping and prepares the family for the experience of working together to set goals and solve problems. The other responses are either incorrect or evasive.

An outpatient diagnosed with schizophrenia attends programming at a community mental health center. The patient says, "I threw away the pills because they keep me from hearing God." Which response by the nurse would most likely to benefit this patient? a. "You need your medicine. Your schizophrenia will get worse without it." b. "Do you want to be hospitalized again? You must take your medication." c. "I would like you to come to the medication education group every Thursday." d. "I noticed that when you take the medicine, you are able to keep the job you wanted."

d. "I noticed that when you take the medicine, you are able to keep the job you wanted." The patient appears not to understand that he has an illness. He has stopped his medication because it interferes with a symptom that he finds desirable (auditory hallucinations—the voice of God). Connecting medication adherence to one of the patient's goals (the job) can serve to motivate the patient to take the medication and override concerns about losing the hallucinations. Exhorting a patient to take medication because it is needed to control his illness is unlikely to be successful; he does not believe he has an illness. Medication psychoeducation would be appropriate if the cause of nonadherence was a knowledge deficit.

Family members of an individual undergoing a residential alcohol rehabilitation program ask, "How can we help?" Select the nurse's best response. a. "Alcoholism is a lifelong disease. Relapses are expected." b. "Use search and destroy tactics to keep the home alcohol free." c. "It's important that you visit your family member on a regular basis." d. "Make your loved one responsible for the consequences of behavior."

d. "Make your loved one responsible for the consequences of behavior." Often, the addicted individual has been enabled when others picked up the pieces for him or her. The individual never faced the consequences of his or her own behaviors, all of which relate to taking responsibility. Learning to face those consequences is part of the recovery process. The other options are codependent behaviors or are of no help.

The parent of a seriously mentally ill adult asks the nurse, "Why are you making a referral to a vocational rehabilitation program? My child won't ever be able to hold a job." Which is the nurse's best reply? a. "We make this referral to continue eligibility for federal funding." b. "Are you concerned that we're trying to make your child too independent?" c. "If you think the program would be detrimental, we can postpone it for a time." d. "Most patients are capable of employment at some level, competitive or supported."

d. "Most patients are capable of employment at some level, competitive or supported." Studies have shown that most patients who complete vocational rehabilitation programs are capable of some level of employment. They also demonstrate significant improvement in assertiveness and work behaviors as well as decreased depression.

A patient diagnosed with alcohol use disorder says, "Drinking helps me cope with being a single parent." Which therapeutic response by the nurse would help the patient conceptualize the drinking objectively? a. "Sooner or later, alcohol will kill you. Then what will happen to your children?" b. "I hear a lot of defensiveness in your voice. Do you really believe this?" c. "If you were coping so well, why were you hospitalized again?" d. "Tell me what happened the last time you drank."

d. "Tell me what happened the last time you drank." The correct response will help the patient see alcohol as a cause of the problems, not a solution, and begin to take responsibility. This approach can help the patient become receptive to the possibility of change. The other responses directly confront and attack defenses against anxiety that the patient still needs. They reflect the nurse's frustration with the patient.

Which scenario best demonstrates a healthy family? a. One parent takes care of children. The other parent earns income and maintains the home. b. A family has strict boundaries that require members to address problems within the family. c. A couple requires their adolescent children to attend church services three times a week. d. A couple renews their marital relationship after their children become adults.

d. A couple renews their marital relationship after their children become adults. Revamping the marital relationship after children move out of the family of origin indicates the family is moving through its stages of development. Strict family boundaries or roles interfere with flexibility and use of outside resources. Adolescents should have some input into deciding their activities.

Which example of behavior in a family system demonstrates double bind communication? a. A mother tells her daughter, "You make me so mad that sometimes I wish I had never had you." b. A teenager tells her father, "You are treating me like a baby when you tell me I must be home by 10 PM on a school night." c. A son tells his mother, "You worry too much about what might happen. Nothing has happened yet, so why worry?" d. A wife tells her husband, "You go ahead with your bowling trip. Try not to worry about me falling on my crutches while I'm alone at home."

d. A wife tells her husband, "You go ahead with your bowling trip. Try not to worry about me falling on my crutches while I'm alone at home." A double bind communication is one that is inherently contradictory, that is, a comment that gives conflicting directions. In this case, the wife on crutches suggests that her husband should go bowling but then indicates that she will be at greater risk if he does, which in effect tells him "go ahead" and "don't do it" at the same time. This remark places the husband in a double bind, a situation in which no acceptable response exists. The distracters are clear, direct communications.

A parent became unemployed 6 months ago. The parent has subsequently been verbally abusive toward the spouse and oldest child. The child ran away twice, and the spouse has become depressed. What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis for this family? a. Impaired parenting related to verbal abuse of oldest child b. Impaired social interaction related to disruption of family bonds c. Ineffective community coping related to fears about economic stability d. Disabled family coping related to insecurity secondary to loss of family income

d. Disabled family coping related to insecurity secondary to loss of family income Disabled family coping refers to the behavior of a significant family member that disables his or her own capacity as well as another's capacity to perform tasks essential to adaptation. The distracters are inaccurate because the stressors influence more than one individual.

A family discusses the impact of a seriously mental ill member. Insurance partially covers treatment expenses, but the family spends much of their savings for care. The patient's sibling says, "My parents have no time for me." The parents are concerned that when they are older, there will be no one to care for the patient. Which response by the nurse would be most helpful? a. Acknowledge their concerns and consult with the treatment team about ways to bring the patient's symptoms under better control. b. Give them names of financial advisors that could help them save or borrow sufficient funds to leave a trust fund to care for their loved one. c. Refer them to crisis intervention services to learn ways to manage caregiver stress and provide titles of some helpful books for families. d. Discuss benefits of participating in National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) programs and ways to help the patient become more independent.

d. Discuss benefits of participating in National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) programs and ways to help the patient become more independent. The family has raised a number of concerns, but the major issues appear to be the effects caregiving has had on the family and their concerns about the patient's future. NAMI offers support, education, resources, and access to other families who have experience with the issues now facing this family. NAMI can help address caregiver burden and planning for the future needs of SMI persons. Improving the patient's symptom control and general functioning can help reduce caregiver burden but would likely be a slow process, whereas NAMI involvement could benefit them on a number of fronts, possibly in a shorter time period. The family will need more than financial planning; their issues go beyond financial. The family is distressed but not in crisis. Crisis intervention is not an appropriate resource for the longer-term issues and needs affecting this family.

Which assessment findings are likely for an individual who recently injected heroin? a. Anxiety, restlessness, paranoid delusions b. Muscle aching, dilated pupils, tachycardia c. Heightened sexuality, insomnia, euphoria d. Drowsiness, constricted pupils, slurred speech

d. Drowsiness, constricted pupils, slurred speech Heroin, an opiate, is a CNS depressant. Blood pressure, pulse, and respirations will be decreased, and attention will be impaired. The distracters describe behaviors consistent with amphetamine use, symptoms of narcotic withdrawal, and cocaine use.

A homeless individual diagnosed with SMI and a history of persistent treatment nonadherence plans to begin attending the day program at a community mental health center. Which intervention should be the team's initial focus? a. Teach appropriate health maintenance and prevention practices. b. Educate the patient about the importance of treatment adherence. c. Help the patient obtain employment in a local sheltered workshop. d. Interact regularly and supportively without trying to change the patient.

d. Interact regularly and supportively without trying to change the patient. Given the history of treatment nonadherence and the difficulty achieving other goals until psychiatrically stable and adherent, getting the patient to accept and adhere to treatment is the fundamental goal to address. The intervention most likely to help meet that goal at this stage is developing a trusting relationship with the patient. Interacting regularly, supportively, and without demands is likely to build the necessary trust and relationships that will be the foundation for all other interventions later on. No data here suggest the patient is in crisis, so it is possible to proceed slowly and build this foundation of trust.

Parents of a teenager recently diagnosed with serious mental illness express dismay. One parent says, "Our child acts so strangely that we don't invite friends to our home. We quit taking vacations. Sometimes we don't get any sleep." Which nursing diagnosis best applies? a. Impaired parenting b. Parental role conflict c. Impaired social interaction d. Interrupted family processes

d. Interrupted family processes Interrupted family processes are evident in the face of disruptions in family functioning as a result of having a mentally ill member. Assessment data best support this diagnosis. Data are insufficient to support the other diagnoses.

A hospitalized patient diagnosed with schizophrenia has a history of multiple relapses. The patient usually responds quickly to antipsychotic medication but soon discontinues the medication. Discharge plans include follow-up at the mental health center, group home placement, and a psychosocial day program. Which strategy should apply first as the patient transitions from hospital to community? a. Administer a second-generation antipsychotic to help negative symptoms. b. Use a quick-dissolving medication formulation to reduce "cheeking." c. Prescribe a long-acting intramuscular antipsychotic medication. d. Involve the patient in decisions about which medication is best.

d. Involve the patient in decisions about which medication is best. Persons with schizophrenia are at high risk for treatment nonadherence, so the strategy needs primarily to address that risk. Of the options here, involving the patient in the decision is best because it will build trust and help establish a therapeutic alliance with care providers, an essential foundation to adherence. Intramuscular depot medications can be helpful for promoting adherence if other alternatives have been unsuccessful, but IM medications are painful and may jeopardize the patient's acceptance. All of the other strategies also apply but are secondary to trust and bonding with providers.

A parent says, "My son and I argue constantly since he started using drugs. When I talk to him about not using drugs, he tells me to stay out of his business." What is the nurse's first most appropriate action? a. Educate the parent about stages of family development. b. Report the son to law enforcement authorities. c. Refer the son for substance abuse treatment. d. Make a referral for family therapy.

d. Make a referral for family therapy. Family therapy is indicated, and the nurse should provide a referral. Reporting the child to law enforcement would undermine trust and violate confidentiality. The other distracters may occur later.

A patient diagnosed with an antisocial personality disorder was treated several times for substance abuse, but each time the patient relapsed. Which treatment approach is most appropriate? a. 1-week detoxification program b. Long-term outpatient therapy c. 12-step self-help program d. Residential program

d. Residential program Residential programs and therapeutic communities help patients change lifestyles, abstain from drugs, eliminate criminal behaviors, develop employment skills, become self-reliant, and practice honesty. Residential programs are more effective for patients with antisocial tendencies than outpatient programs.

A patient admitted yesterday for injuries sustained while intoxicated believes insects are crawling on the bed. The patient is anxious, agitated, and diaphoretic. What is the priority nursing diagnosis? a. Disturbed sensory perception b. Ineffective coping c. Ineffective denial d. Risk for injury

d. Risk for injury The patient's clouded sensorium, sensory perceptual distortions, and poor judgment predispose a risk for injury. Safety is the nurse's priority. The other diagnoses may apply but are not the priorities of care.

Which information is the nurse most likely to find when assessing the family of a patient with a serious mental illness? a. The family exhibits many characteristics of dysfunctional families. b. Several family members have serious problems with their physical health. c. Power in the family is maintained in the parental dyad and rarely delegated. d. Stress from living with a mentally ill member has challenged the family's function.

d. Stress from living with a mentally ill member has challenged the family's function The information almost universally obtained is that the family is under stress associated with having a mentally ill member. This stress lowers the family's level of functioning in at least one significant way. Stress does not necessarily mean the family has become dysfunctional.

An outpatient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "I am here to save the world. I threw away the pills because they make God go away." The nurse identifies the patient's reason for medication nonadherence as a. poor alliance with clinicians. b. inadequate discharge planning. c. dislike of medication side effects. d. thought disturbances associated with the illness.

d. thought disturbances associated with the illness. The patient's nonadherence is most closely related to thought disturbances associated with the illness. The patient believes he is an exalted personage who hears God's voice rather than an individual with a serious mental disorder who needs medication to control his symptoms. While the distracters may play a part in the patient's nonadherence, the correct response is most likely.