NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. The nurse is working with a potentially violent patient in a community clinic. Which of the following would
the nurse implement to minimize personal risk?
a. Using protective devices
b. Staying close to a door
c. Keeping the door closed to ensure privacy
d. Wearing inexpensive jewelry to distract the patient
2. The nurse is assessing a group of patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit. The patients history for which of
the following would the nurse identify as the strongest
indicator of risk for violence?
a. Panic disorder
b. Problematic anxiety
c. Somatoform disorder
d. Violent behavior
3. A son brings his father to the clinic and tells the nurse that his father has begun to act strangely in the past few
days and has unprovoked outbursts of anger. After the incidents, the father expresses remorse for his outburst.
The son says, I’ve never seen him act this way. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask
next?
a. Does your father have a history of an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder?
b. Has your father exhibited previous problems expressing anger appropriately?
c. Has your father suffered any traumatic injury to his brain recently?
d. Has your father injured the back of his head or next in the past week?
4. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has no history of violence but is agitated and appears ready
to strike out at a staff member. The nurse would assess the patient for which of the following?
a. Panic disorder
b. Epilepsy
c. Bipolar disorder
d. Sensory losses
5. A patient has been admitted to the detoxification unit after binge drinking. Even though the patient is not
currently intoxicated, he is combative, and exhibits altered thought processes. Which nursing diagnosis would be
the priority?
a. Risk for Injury related to effects of alcohol abuse
b. Risk for Self-Mutilation related to alcohol withdrawal and altered thought processes
,NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
c. Risk for Other-Directed Violence related to alcohol withdrawal
d. Risk for Delayed Development related to chronic effects of alcohol intoxication
6. The nurse is caring for an older patient in a residential care facility. The patient has been extremely irritable
the entire day. When modifying the patients plan of care, which of the following would be an appropriate
snack to offer the patient to decrease the irritability?
a. Chocolate candy bar
b. Handful of raisins
c. Granola bar
d. Glass of milk
7. The nurse is caring for a family whose older father with dementia is living in their home. The nurse has
instructed the family about how to decrease the fathers agitation. The nurse determines that the son has
understood the nurses instructions when he states which of the following?
a. Restraints can help reduce my fathers agitation.
b. I should place my father in the bedroom with me so I can watch him more closely.
c. It’s important that he gets out shopping with me or my wife.
d. If I simplify our home environment, my father may be less agitated.
8. A nursing instructor is teaching a class of nursing students about anger, aggression, and violence. Which
statement by the instructor would be most appropriate to include?
a. Anger, aggression, and violence are points along a continuum.
b. The terms used to describe anger are very precise.
c. Anger is a knee-jerk reaction to external events.
d. Women experience anger as frequently as men do.
9. A group of nursing students is reviewing information about maladaptive anger. The students demonstrate a need
for additional study when they identify which condition as being linked to suppressed anger?
a. Coronary heart disease
b. Arthritis
c. Hypertension
d. Breast cancer
10. While interviewing a patient, a nurse asks, what do you do when you get angry? Which patient response
would indicate to the nurse that the patient engages in anger suppression?
a. I’ve been known to fly off the handle when I’m angry.
b. People say I withdraw and pout about the problem.
c. I usually approach the person directly to talk about it.
,NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
d. I try to discuss how I’m feeling about it with a close friend.
11. The plan of a care for a patient with anger includes behavioral interventions. Which of the following would
the nurse be likely to find?
a. Self-monitoring of cues
b. Anger management
c. Relaxation training
d. Response disruption
12. The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a patient who is experiencing aggressive and violent behavior
for possible risk factors. Which of the following would the nurse identify? Select all that apply.
a. Damage to the frontal lobe of the brain
b. Low testosterone levels
c. Family history of aggression
d. Gender
e. High level of competitiveness
13. When assessing a patient experiencing aggression, the nurse applies the general aggression model. Which of
the following would the nurse assess as the person factors? Select all that apply.
a. Patients personality traits
b. Insult initiating the behavior
c. Previous behavior patterns
d. Patients shouting
e. Patients mood
f. Patients gender
14. A nurse is presenting an in-service program about aggression and violence to a group of newly hired nurses who
will be working in an inpatient psychiatric facility. When describing characteristics that may predict the risk for
violence and aggression in patients, which of the following would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
a. Age
b. Impulsivity
c. Substance withdrawal
d. Gender
e. Suspiciousness
15. A unit in an inpatient psychiatric facility is experiencing an increase in violence episodes by patients. A group
of nurses working on this unit is developing a plan to address this issue. When developing this plan which of
the
, NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
following would the nurses most likely address as the problem areas? Select all that apply.
a. Inconsistent unit activities
b. Medication power struggles
c. Empathetic staff response
d. Clear set boundaries
e. Little patient participation in treatment plan
16. While talking with a patient who has been experiencing aggression and intense anger, the nurse identifies that
the patient feels isolation and anxious. Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate?
a. This must be scary for you.
b. Once you relax, things will improve.
c. I really understand how you feel.
d. If you calm down, I can help you.
17. After working with a patient who has a history of violent behavior to identify possible clues that suggest that his
behavior is escalating, the nurse and patient develop a plan for prevention. Which strategy would they be least likely
to include?
a. Counting to 10
b. Taking slow deep breaths
c. Turning up the music loud
d. Taking a voluntary time out
18. An advanced practice psychiatric nurse is preparing to conduct a support group for psychiatricmental health
nurses who have been assaulted by patients. Which of the following would the nurse need to keep in mind with this
group?
a. Nurses experience a conflict between the role of caregiver and victim.
b. Nurses who are victims often go on to prosecute the patient attackers.
c. Nurses actively express the feelings associated with patient assaults.
d. Nurses as victims of patient assaults rarely experience guilt or shame.
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. The nurse is working with a potentially violent patient in a community clinic. Which of the following would
the nurse implement to minimize personal risk?
a. Using protective devices
b. Staying close to a door
c. Keeping the door closed to ensure privacy
d. Wearing inexpensive jewelry to distract the patient
2. The nurse is assessing a group of patients on an inpatient psychiatric unit. The patients history for which of
the following would the nurse identify as the strongest
indicator of risk for violence?
a. Panic disorder
b. Problematic anxiety
c. Somatoform disorder
d. Violent behavior
3. A son brings his father to the clinic and tells the nurse that his father has begun to act strangely in the past few
days and has unprovoked outbursts of anger. After the incidents, the father expresses remorse for his outburst.
The son says, I’ve never seen him act this way. Which question would be most appropriate for the nurse to ask
next?
a. Does your father have a history of an anxiety disorder such as panic disorder?
b. Has your father exhibited previous problems expressing anger appropriately?
c. Has your father suffered any traumatic injury to his brain recently?
d. Has your father injured the back of his head or next in the past week?
4. The nurse is caring for an older adult patient who has no history of violence but is agitated and appears ready
to strike out at a staff member. The nurse would assess the patient for which of the following?
a. Panic disorder
b. Epilepsy
c. Bipolar disorder
d. Sensory losses
5. A patient has been admitted to the detoxification unit after binge drinking. Even though the patient is not
currently intoxicated, he is combative, and exhibits altered thought processes. Which nursing diagnosis would be
the priority?
a. Risk for Injury related to effects of alcohol abuse
b. Risk for Self-Mutilation related to alcohol withdrawal and altered thought processes
,NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
c. Risk for Other-Directed Violence related to alcohol withdrawal
d. Risk for Delayed Development related to chronic effects of alcohol intoxication
6. The nurse is caring for an older patient in a residential care facility. The patient has been extremely irritable
the entire day. When modifying the patients plan of care, which of the following would be an appropriate
snack to offer the patient to decrease the irritability?
a. Chocolate candy bar
b. Handful of raisins
c. Granola bar
d. Glass of milk
7. The nurse is caring for a family whose older father with dementia is living in their home. The nurse has
instructed the family about how to decrease the fathers agitation. The nurse determines that the son has
understood the nurses instructions when he states which of the following?
a. Restraints can help reduce my fathers agitation.
b. I should place my father in the bedroom with me so I can watch him more closely.
c. It’s important that he gets out shopping with me or my wife.
d. If I simplify our home environment, my father may be less agitated.
8. A nursing instructor is teaching a class of nursing students about anger, aggression, and violence. Which
statement by the instructor would be most appropriate to include?
a. Anger, aggression, and violence are points along a continuum.
b. The terms used to describe anger are very precise.
c. Anger is a knee-jerk reaction to external events.
d. Women experience anger as frequently as men do.
9. A group of nursing students is reviewing information about maladaptive anger. The students demonstrate a need
for additional study when they identify which condition as being linked to suppressed anger?
a. Coronary heart disease
b. Arthritis
c. Hypertension
d. Breast cancer
10. While interviewing a patient, a nurse asks, what do you do when you get angry? Which patient response
would indicate to the nurse that the patient engages in anger suppression?
a. I’ve been known to fly off the handle when I’m angry.
b. People say I withdraw and pout about the problem.
c. I usually approach the person directly to talk about it.
,NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
d. I try to discuss how I’m feeling about it with a close friend.
11. The plan of a care for a patient with anger includes behavioral interventions. Which of the following would
the nurse be likely to find?
a. Self-monitoring of cues
b. Anger management
c. Relaxation training
d. Response disruption
12. The nurse is reviewing the medical record of a patient who is experiencing aggressive and violent behavior
for possible risk factors. Which of the following would the nurse identify? Select all that apply.
a. Damage to the frontal lobe of the brain
b. Low testosterone levels
c. Family history of aggression
d. Gender
e. High level of competitiveness
13. When assessing a patient experiencing aggression, the nurse applies the general aggression model. Which of
the following would the nurse assess as the person factors? Select all that apply.
a. Patients personality traits
b. Insult initiating the behavior
c. Previous behavior patterns
d. Patients shouting
e. Patients mood
f. Patients gender
14. A nurse is presenting an in-service program about aggression and violence to a group of newly hired nurses who
will be working in an inpatient psychiatric facility. When describing characteristics that may predict the risk for
violence and aggression in patients, which of the following would the nurse include? Select all that apply.
a. Age
b. Impulsivity
c. Substance withdrawal
d. Gender
e. Suspiciousness
15. A unit in an inpatient psychiatric facility is experiencing an increase in violence episodes by patients. A group
of nurses working on this unit is developing a plan to address this issue. When developing this plan which of
the
, NURS 320-MANAGEMENT OF ANGER,AGGRESSION AND VIOLENCE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
following would the nurses most likely address as the problem areas? Select all that apply.
a. Inconsistent unit activities
b. Medication power struggles
c. Empathetic staff response
d. Clear set boundaries
e. Little patient participation in treatment plan
16. While talking with a patient who has been experiencing aggression and intense anger, the nurse identifies that
the patient feels isolation and anxious. Which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate?
a. This must be scary for you.
b. Once you relax, things will improve.
c. I really understand how you feel.
d. If you calm down, I can help you.
17. After working with a patient who has a history of violent behavior to identify possible clues that suggest that his
behavior is escalating, the nurse and patient develop a plan for prevention. Which strategy would they be least likely
to include?
a. Counting to 10
b. Taking slow deep breaths
c. Turning up the music loud
d. Taking a voluntary time out
18. An advanced practice psychiatric nurse is preparing to conduct a support group for psychiatricmental health
nurses who have been assaulted by patients. Which of the following would the nurse need to keep in mind with this
group?
a. Nurses experience a conflict between the role of caregiver and victim.
b. Nurses who are victims often go on to prosecute the patient attackers.
c. Nurses actively express the feelings associated with patient assaults.
d. Nurses as victims of patient assaults rarely experience guilt or shame.
