NUR 114
EXAM 5
NCLEX Style Questions w/
Rationales & Test Taking Strategies
Jefferson State Community College
This Document Description:
❖ This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NUR 114 course at
Jefferson State Community College.
❖ It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
❖ Each question is followed by a correct answer, rationale, and
test-taking strategy to support exam preparation.
,A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide
says to the nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure.
Nothing ever goes right for me." Which therapeutic response would
the nurse make?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while."
Answer: 4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective
therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is an example of
the use of restating. The remaining options block communication because
they minimize the client’s experience and do not facilitate exploration of the
client’s expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word why is
nontherapeutic because clients frequently interpret why questions as
accusations. Why questions can cause resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques to direct
you to the option that directly addresses the client’s feelings and concerns.
Also, the correct option is the only one stated in the form of a question that
is open-ended, which will encourage the verbalization of feelings.
The nurse visits a client at home. The client states,"I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which therapeutic response would the
nurse make?
1. "Really?"
2. "Why haven't you been able to sleep?"
3. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too."
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights."
Answer: 4
Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communication
technique of exploring. Exploring is an important technique to use in
examining experiences that are important to the client. The remaining
options are nontherapeutic responses and are blocks to communication.
,Additionally, they do not encourage the client to expand on the problem.
The response “Really?” can be interpreted by the client that the nurse is
doubtful of what the client has expressed. Use of the word why is
nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted as accusatory and can cause
insecurity and mistrust. Offering personal experiences moves the focus
away from the client and onto the nurse.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. “Really?”
is a response that may make clients feel that they are not believed. Use of
the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted as
accusatory. Providing personal experiences focuses on the nurse’s problem
and thus minimizes the client’s concerns. The correct option will provide
information about the perception of the problem from the client’s
perspective.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that the
food is being poisoned. Which communication technique would the
nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
Answer: 1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to
encourage clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food
preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are
not helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to
express feelings. The nurse would not offer opinions and should encourage
the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. First,
eliminate options that do not support the client’s expression of feelings. Any
option that is not client-centered should be eliminated next. Focusing on
the client’s feelings will direct you to the correct option.
, The nurse would plan which goals for the termination stage of group
development? Select all that apply.
1. The group evaluates the experience.
2. The real work of the group is accomplished.
3. Group interaction involves superficial conversation.
4. Group members become acquainted with one another.
5. Some structuring of group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes
place.
6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the
impending separation.
Answer: 1, 6
Rationale: The stages of group development include the initial stage, the
working stage, and the termination stage. During the initial stage, the group
members become acquainted with one another, and some structuring of
group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes place. During the initial
stage, group interaction involves superficial conversation. During the
working stage, the real work of the group is accomplished. During the
termination stage, the group evaluates the experience and explores
members’ feelings about the group and the impending separation.
Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, the termination stage. Reading
each item presented and recalling the stages of group development and
the definition of termination will assist you in answering this question.
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going
to die, and I wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so
angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying."
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "It sounds as if you are feeling angry that your family continues to
hope for you to be cured."
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with
such a diagnosis."
EXAM 5
NCLEX Style Questions w/
Rationales & Test Taking Strategies
Jefferson State Community College
This Document Description:
❖ This document contains NCLEX-style Exam
questions tailored to the NUR 114 course at
Jefferson State Community College.
❖ It covers core topics assessed in the course
and reflects the actual exam format and question style.
❖ Each question is followed by a correct answer, rationale, and
test-taking strategy to support exam preparation.
,A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide
says to the nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure.
Nothing ever goes right for me." Which therapeutic response would
the nurse make?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while."
Answer: 4
Rationale: Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective
therapeutic communication technique. The correct option is an example of
the use of restating. The remaining options block communication because
they minimize the client’s experience and do not facilitate exploration of the
client’s expressed feelings. In addition, use of the word why is
nontherapeutic because clients frequently interpret why questions as
accusations. Why questions can cause resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques to direct
you to the option that directly addresses the client’s feelings and concerns.
Also, the correct option is the only one stated in the form of a question that
is open-ended, which will encourage the verbalization of feelings.
The nurse visits a client at home. The client states,"I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which therapeutic response would the
nurse make?
1. "Really?"
2. "Why haven't you been able to sleep?"
3. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too."
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights."
Answer: 4
Rationale: The correct option uses the therapeutic communication
technique of exploring. Exploring is an important technique to use in
examining experiences that are important to the client. The remaining
options are nontherapeutic responses and are blocks to communication.
,Additionally, they do not encourage the client to expand on the problem.
The response “Really?” can be interpreted by the client that the nurse is
doubtful of what the client has expressed. Use of the word why is
nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted as accusatory and can cause
insecurity and mistrust. Offering personal experiences moves the focus
away from the client and onto the nurse.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. “Really?”
is a response that may make clients feel that they are not believed. Use of
the word why is nontherapeutic because it may be interpreted as
accusatory. Providing personal experiences focuses on the nurse’s problem
and thus minimizes the client’s concerns. The correct option will provide
information about the perception of the problem from the client’s
perspective.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that the
food is being poisoned. Which communication technique would the
nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
Answer: 1
Rationale: Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to
encourage clients to discuss their problems. Sharing personal food
preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are
not helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to
express feelings. The nurse would not offer opinions and should encourage
the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
Test-Taking Strategy: Use therapeutic communication techniques. First,
eliminate options that do not support the client’s expression of feelings. Any
option that is not client-centered should be eliminated next. Focusing on
the client’s feelings will direct you to the correct option.
, The nurse would plan which goals for the termination stage of group
development? Select all that apply.
1. The group evaluates the experience.
2. The real work of the group is accomplished.
3. Group interaction involves superficial conversation.
4. Group members become acquainted with one another.
5. Some structuring of group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes
place.
6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the
impending separation.
Answer: 1, 6
Rationale: The stages of group development include the initial stage, the
working stage, and the termination stage. During the initial stage, the group
members become acquainted with one another, and some structuring of
group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes place. During the initial
stage, group interaction involves superficial conversation. During the
working stage, the real work of the group is accomplished. During the
termination stage, the group evaluates the experience and explores
members’ feelings about the group and the impending separation.
Test-Taking Strategy: Focus on the subject, the termination stage. Reading
each item presented and recalling the stages of group development and
the definition of termination will assist you in answering this question.
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going
to die, and I wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so
angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying."
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "It sounds as if you are feeling angry that your family continues to
hope for you to be cured."
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with
such a diagnosis."
