mental health nursing OCD practice
problems
A client with OCD is admitted to the hospital due to ritualistic hand washing that occupies several hours each
day. The skin on the client's hands is red and cracked, with evidence of minor bleeding. The goal for this client
is
a) decreasing the time spent washing hands.
b) eliminating the hand-washing rituals.
c) providing milder soap for hand washing.
d) providing good skin care. Answer- a) decreasing the time spent washing hands.
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention for a client with OCD who has a ritual of
excessive, constant cleaning?
a) a structured schedule of activities throughout the day
b) intense psychotherapy session daily
c) interruption of rituals with distracting activities
d) negative consequences for ritual performance Answer- a) a structured schedule of activities throughout the
day
Clients with OCD often have exposure/responses prevention therapy. Which of the following statements by the
client would indicate positive outcomes for this therapy?
a) "I am able to avoid obsessive thinking."
b) "I can tolerate the anxiety caused by obsessive thinking."
,c) "I no longer have any anxiety when I have obsessive thoughts."
d) "I no longer feel a compulsion to perform rituals." Answer- b) "I can tolerate the anxiety caused by obsessive
thinking."
The client with OCD has counting and checking rituals that prolong attempts to perform ADLs nd get ready for
activities of the day. The nurse knows that interrupting the client's ritual to assist in faster task completion will
likely result in
a) a burst of increased anxiety
b) gratitude for the nurse's assistance
c) relief from stopping the ritual
d) symptoms of depression or suicidality Answer- a) a burst of increased anxiety
Interventions for a client with OCD would include (select all)
a) encouraging the client to verbalize feelings
b) helping the client to avoid obsessive thinking
c) interrupting rituals with appropriate distractions
d) planning with the client to limit rituals
e) teaching relaxation exercises to the client
f) telling the client to tolerate any anxious feelings Answer- d) planning with the client to limit rituals
e) teaching relaxation exercises to the client
f) telling the client to tolerate any anxious feelings
Which of the following characteristics describe the obsessional thoughts experienced by the client's with OCD?
(select all)
a) intrusive
, b) realistic
c) recurrent
d) uncontrollable
e) unwanted
f) voluntary Answer- a) intrusive
c) recurrent
d) uncontrollable
e) unwanted
The nurse is using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale to assess a client diagnosed with obsessive-
compulsive disorder (OCD). What assessment findings indicate severe OCD in the client?
a) Obsessive thoughts can be diverted or stopped with some effort.
b) Anxiety is manageable if compulsive ritual is interrupted.
c) Obsessive intrusions occur more than 8 times a day.
d) Occupational performance is slightly impaired but manageable. Answer- c) Obsessive intrusions occur more
than 8 times a day.
The nurse is assessing a client who has been receiving treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What finding helps the nurse to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment?
a) The client is able to carry out all responsibilities.
b) The client has discontinued medications.
c) The client's family is experiencing increased anxiety.
d) The client completes repetitive behavior faster. Answer- a) The client is able to carry out all responsibilities.
How does the nurse help to decrease anxiety and build confidence in a client with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD)?
problems
A client with OCD is admitted to the hospital due to ritualistic hand washing that occupies several hours each
day. The skin on the client's hands is red and cracked, with evidence of minor bleeding. The goal for this client
is
a) decreasing the time spent washing hands.
b) eliminating the hand-washing rituals.
c) providing milder soap for hand washing.
d) providing good skin care. Answer- a) decreasing the time spent washing hands.
Which of the following would be an appropriate intervention for a client with OCD who has a ritual of
excessive, constant cleaning?
a) a structured schedule of activities throughout the day
b) intense psychotherapy session daily
c) interruption of rituals with distracting activities
d) negative consequences for ritual performance Answer- a) a structured schedule of activities throughout the
day
Clients with OCD often have exposure/responses prevention therapy. Which of the following statements by the
client would indicate positive outcomes for this therapy?
a) "I am able to avoid obsessive thinking."
b) "I can tolerate the anxiety caused by obsessive thinking."
,c) "I no longer have any anxiety when I have obsessive thoughts."
d) "I no longer feel a compulsion to perform rituals." Answer- b) "I can tolerate the anxiety caused by obsessive
thinking."
The client with OCD has counting and checking rituals that prolong attempts to perform ADLs nd get ready for
activities of the day. The nurse knows that interrupting the client's ritual to assist in faster task completion will
likely result in
a) a burst of increased anxiety
b) gratitude for the nurse's assistance
c) relief from stopping the ritual
d) symptoms of depression or suicidality Answer- a) a burst of increased anxiety
Interventions for a client with OCD would include (select all)
a) encouraging the client to verbalize feelings
b) helping the client to avoid obsessive thinking
c) interrupting rituals with appropriate distractions
d) planning with the client to limit rituals
e) teaching relaxation exercises to the client
f) telling the client to tolerate any anxious feelings Answer- d) planning with the client to limit rituals
e) teaching relaxation exercises to the client
f) telling the client to tolerate any anxious feelings
Which of the following characteristics describe the obsessional thoughts experienced by the client's with OCD?
(select all)
a) intrusive
, b) realistic
c) recurrent
d) uncontrollable
e) unwanted
f) voluntary Answer- a) intrusive
c) recurrent
d) uncontrollable
e) unwanted
The nurse is using the Yale-Brown obsessive-compulsive scale to assess a client diagnosed with obsessive-
compulsive disorder (OCD). What assessment findings indicate severe OCD in the client?
a) Obsessive thoughts can be diverted or stopped with some effort.
b) Anxiety is manageable if compulsive ritual is interrupted.
c) Obsessive intrusions occur more than 8 times a day.
d) Occupational performance is slightly impaired but manageable. Answer- c) Obsessive intrusions occur more
than 8 times a day.
The nurse is assessing a client who has been receiving treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
What finding helps the nurse to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment?
a) The client is able to carry out all responsibilities.
b) The client has discontinued medications.
c) The client's family is experiencing increased anxiety.
d) The client completes repetitive behavior faster. Answer- a) The client is able to carry out all responsibilities.
How does the nurse help to decrease anxiety and build confidence in a client with obsessive-compulsive
disorder (OCD)?
