ELITE COMPREHENSIVE
VARCAROLIS — ANXIETY AND OBSESSIVE–
COMPULSIVE DISORDERS
Comprehensive Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing Review
Final Exam Preparation
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION MAY 2026
A nurse wants to teach alternative coping strategies to a patient experiencing severe
anxiety. Which action should the nurse perform first?
a. Verify the patient's learning style.
b. Lower the patient's current anxiety.
c. Create outcomes and a teaching plan.
d. Assess how the patient uses defense mechanisms.
• B. Lower the patient's current anxiety.
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, • A patient experiencing severe anxiety has a markedly narrowed
perceptual field and difficulty attending to events in the environment.
A patient experiencing severe anxiety will not learn readily.
Determining preferred modes of learning, devising outcomes, and
constructing teaching plans are relevant to the task but are not the
priority measure. The nurse has already assessed the patient's
anxiety level. Use of defense mechanisms does not apply.
A woman is 5'7", 160 lbs, and wears a size 8 shoe. She says, "My feet are huge. I've
asked three orthopedists to surgically reduce my feet." This person tries to buy shoes to
make her feet look smaller and, in social settings, conceals both feet under a table or
chair. Which health problem is likely?
a. Social anxiety disorder
b. Body dysmorphic disorder
c. Separation anxiety disorder
d. Obsessive-compulsive disorder due to a medical condition
• B. Body dysmorphic disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder refers to a preoccupation with an imagined
defect in appearance in a normal-appearing person. The patient's
feet are proportional to the rest of the body. In obsessive-compulsive
or related disorder due to a medical condition, the individual's
symptoms of obsessions and compulsions are a direct physiological
result of a medical condition. Social anxiety disorder, also called
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, social phobia, is characterized by severe anxiety or fear provoked by
exposure to a social or a performance situation that will be evaluated
negatively by others. People with separation anxiety disorder exhibit
developmentally inappropriate levels of concern over being away
from a significant other.
A patient experiencing moderate anxiety says, "I feel undone." An appropriate response
for the nurse would be:
a. "What would you like me to do to help you?"
b. "Why do you suppose you are feeling anxious?"
c. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."
• d. "You must get your feelings under control before we can continue."
• C. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."
• Increased anxiety results in scattered thoughts and an inability to
articulate clearly. Clarifying helps the patient identify thoughts and
feelings. Asking the patient why he or she feels anxious is non-
therapeutic; the patient likely does not have an answer. The patient
may be unable to determine what he or she would like the nurse to do
in order to help. Telling the patient to get his or her feelings under
control is a directive the patient is probably unable to accomplish.
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VARCAROLIS — ANXIETY AND OBSESSIVE–
COMPULSIVE DISORDERS
Comprehensive Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing Review
Final Exam Preparation
SPRING SEMESTER EXAMINATION MAY 2026
A nurse wants to teach alternative coping strategies to a patient experiencing severe
anxiety. Which action should the nurse perform first?
a. Verify the patient's learning style.
b. Lower the patient's current anxiety.
c. Create outcomes and a teaching plan.
d. Assess how the patient uses defense mechanisms.
• B. Lower the patient's current anxiety.
1|Page
, • A patient experiencing severe anxiety has a markedly narrowed
perceptual field and difficulty attending to events in the environment.
A patient experiencing severe anxiety will not learn readily.
Determining preferred modes of learning, devising outcomes, and
constructing teaching plans are relevant to the task but are not the
priority measure. The nurse has already assessed the patient's
anxiety level. Use of defense mechanisms does not apply.
A woman is 5'7", 160 lbs, and wears a size 8 shoe. She says, "My feet are huge. I've
asked three orthopedists to surgically reduce my feet." This person tries to buy shoes to
make her feet look smaller and, in social settings, conceals both feet under a table or
chair. Which health problem is likely?
a. Social anxiety disorder
b. Body dysmorphic disorder
c. Separation anxiety disorder
d. Obsessive-compulsive disorder due to a medical condition
• B. Body dysmorphic disorder
• Body dysmorphic disorder refers to a preoccupation with an imagined
defect in appearance in a normal-appearing person. The patient's
feet are proportional to the rest of the body. In obsessive-compulsive
or related disorder due to a medical condition, the individual's
symptoms of obsessions and compulsions are a direct physiological
result of a medical condition. Social anxiety disorder, also called
2|Page
, social phobia, is characterized by severe anxiety or fear provoked by
exposure to a social or a performance situation that will be evaluated
negatively by others. People with separation anxiety disorder exhibit
developmentally inappropriate levels of concern over being away
from a significant other.
A patient experiencing moderate anxiety says, "I feel undone." An appropriate response
for the nurse would be:
a. "What would you like me to do to help you?"
b. "Why do you suppose you are feeling anxious?"
c. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."
• d. "You must get your feelings under control before we can continue."
• C. "I'm not sure I understand. Give me an example."
• Increased anxiety results in scattered thoughts and an inability to
articulate clearly. Clarifying helps the patient identify thoughts and
feelings. Asking the patient why he or she feels anxious is non-
therapeutic; the patient likely does not have an answer. The patient
may be unable to determine what he or she would like the nurse to do
in order to help. Telling the patient to get his or her feelings under
control is a directive the patient is probably unable to accomplish.
3|Page
