NURS 661 EXAM SUCCESS: ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS FOR AN A+
After interviewing a client for admission, the nurse gives the client a score of 50
on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). The nurse selected this
score based on the client’s level of functioning:
1. Since being given a psychiatric diagnosis.
2. Within the past week.
3. Since beginning the psychotropic medication.
4. Within the past year.
Answer: 2
Select the priority nursing diagnosis for a client with a Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) score of 10.
1. Risk for Impaired Social Interaction
2. Risk for Injury
3. Knowledge Deficit
4. Risk for Communication Deficit
Answer: 2
The psychiatric home health nurse is evaluating whether a clients level of
functioning has improved since starting the prescribed psychotropic medication.
What evidence does the nurse look for?
1. There is no change in the GAF score.
2. There is a significant decrease (by 10 or more points) in the clients GAF score.
3. The client no longer qualifies for a GAF score.
4. There is an increase in the clients GAF score.
Answer: 4
The nurse is documenting observations of client interactions during a group
session. The nurse strives to document the behaviors of the client interactions
with:
1. Objectivity.
2. Serendipity.
,3. Sympathy.
4. Empathy.
Answer: 1
The nurse is validating what was observed before documenting in the progress
note. Validation is used as a mechanism to ensure which of the following?
1. The clients affect is appropriate to the situation
2. The clients perception of the response is communicated
3. The clients request is clarified
4. The clients need for further intervention is understood
Answer: 2
The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client. Which of the following
interventions must the nurse be careful to avoid?
1. Discussing expectations with the client
2. Selecting interventions that conflict with the clients value system
3. Identifying the clients perception of the problem
4. Addressing issues related to the clients past experiences
Answer: 2
The student nurse asks why the nurse is documenting the clients nonverbal
responses in addition to verbal responses during the initial assessment. Which of
the following statements made by the nurse reflects the rationale for
documenting both verbal and nonverbal responses?
1. It is the hospital policy to document both.
2. It is important to be thorough when documenting.
3. Documenting both permits the reader to compare the behaviors for
congruence.
4. Charting verbal and nonverbal helps me remain objective.
Answer: 3
During a group session, the clients are asked to make one positive statement
about their home life. The nurse notices that one of the clients begins to fidget in
the chair and interprets this behavior as:
1. A form of nonlanguage vocalization.
,2. A therapeutic use of space.
3. An expression of discomfort.
4. An excuse to avoid answering the question.
Answer: 3
During a group session, a client expresses anger at the nurse. The nurse sits
tensely with arms and legs crossed while verbally agreeing that the clients point
of view is correct. Which of the following messages is being sent by the nurse?
1. The nurse is expressing warmth toward the client 2. The nurse is being patient
3. The nurse is demonstrating empathy
4. The nurse is sending a mixed message
Answer: 4
The nurse observed that during a teaching session, the overall emotional tone of
a client remained unchanged. The nurse documents this as:
1. Affect that has range.
2. Flat affect.
3. Incongruent verbal and nonverbal responses.
4. Muted behavior.
Answer: 2
The nurse is working with a teen admitted with a diagnosis of depression. Which
of the following interventions demonstrates that the nurse is sensitive to the
clients needs?
1. Avoiding the use of silence to decrease anxiety
2. Asking for details to demonstrate interest in the client
3. Using closed-ended questions
4. Listening to the clients feelings
Answer: 4
A working goal for the nurseclient relationship is to achieve:
1. Facilitative intimacy.
2. Self-disclosure.
3. Interdependence.
4. Social superficiality
, Answer: 1
During the first interaction with a client, the nurse makes an introduction and
identifies the purpose of the interaction. This serves to accomplish which of the
following in developing a trusting relationship?
1. Setting goals
2. Building
3. Initiating
4. Maintaining
Answer: 3
The nurse engaged in a therapeutic relationship with a client uses nonverbal
communication to:
1. Enhance verbal messages.
2. Avoid the use of verbal messages.
3. Detract from verbal messages.
4. Terminate the therapeutic relationship.
Answer: 1
A nurse acknowledges feeling anxious about meeting new people. By
acknowledging feelings to the client, the nurse is demonstrating:
1. Sympathy.
2. Genuineness.
3. Empathy.
4. Superficiality.
Answer: 2
Psychiatricmental health nursing interventions occur at which of the following
levels of communication?
1. Public
2. Intrapersonal
3. Interpersonal
4. International
Answer: 3
ANSWERS FOR AN A+
After interviewing a client for admission, the nurse gives the client a score of 50
on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF). The nurse selected this
score based on the client’s level of functioning:
1. Since being given a psychiatric diagnosis.
2. Within the past week.
3. Since beginning the psychotropic medication.
4. Within the past year.
Answer: 2
Select the priority nursing diagnosis for a client with a Global Assessment of
Functioning (GAF) score of 10.
1. Risk for Impaired Social Interaction
2. Risk for Injury
3. Knowledge Deficit
4. Risk for Communication Deficit
Answer: 2
The psychiatric home health nurse is evaluating whether a clients level of
functioning has improved since starting the prescribed psychotropic medication.
What evidence does the nurse look for?
1. There is no change in the GAF score.
2. There is a significant decrease (by 10 or more points) in the clients GAF score.
3. The client no longer qualifies for a GAF score.
4. There is an increase in the clients GAF score.
Answer: 4
The nurse is documenting observations of client interactions during a group
session. The nurse strives to document the behaviors of the client interactions
with:
1. Objectivity.
2. Serendipity.
,3. Sympathy.
4. Empathy.
Answer: 1
The nurse is validating what was observed before documenting in the progress
note. Validation is used as a mechanism to ensure which of the following?
1. The clients affect is appropriate to the situation
2. The clients perception of the response is communicated
3. The clients request is clarified
4. The clients need for further intervention is understood
Answer: 2
The nurse is developing a plan of care for a client. Which of the following
interventions must the nurse be careful to avoid?
1. Discussing expectations with the client
2. Selecting interventions that conflict with the clients value system
3. Identifying the clients perception of the problem
4. Addressing issues related to the clients past experiences
Answer: 2
The student nurse asks why the nurse is documenting the clients nonverbal
responses in addition to verbal responses during the initial assessment. Which of
the following statements made by the nurse reflects the rationale for
documenting both verbal and nonverbal responses?
1. It is the hospital policy to document both.
2. It is important to be thorough when documenting.
3. Documenting both permits the reader to compare the behaviors for
congruence.
4. Charting verbal and nonverbal helps me remain objective.
Answer: 3
During a group session, the clients are asked to make one positive statement
about their home life. The nurse notices that one of the clients begins to fidget in
the chair and interprets this behavior as:
1. A form of nonlanguage vocalization.
,2. A therapeutic use of space.
3. An expression of discomfort.
4. An excuse to avoid answering the question.
Answer: 3
During a group session, a client expresses anger at the nurse. The nurse sits
tensely with arms and legs crossed while verbally agreeing that the clients point
of view is correct. Which of the following messages is being sent by the nurse?
1. The nurse is expressing warmth toward the client 2. The nurse is being patient
3. The nurse is demonstrating empathy
4. The nurse is sending a mixed message
Answer: 4
The nurse observed that during a teaching session, the overall emotional tone of
a client remained unchanged. The nurse documents this as:
1. Affect that has range.
2. Flat affect.
3. Incongruent verbal and nonverbal responses.
4. Muted behavior.
Answer: 2
The nurse is working with a teen admitted with a diagnosis of depression. Which
of the following interventions demonstrates that the nurse is sensitive to the
clients needs?
1. Avoiding the use of silence to decrease anxiety
2. Asking for details to demonstrate interest in the client
3. Using closed-ended questions
4. Listening to the clients feelings
Answer: 4
A working goal for the nurseclient relationship is to achieve:
1. Facilitative intimacy.
2. Self-disclosure.
3. Interdependence.
4. Social superficiality
, Answer: 1
During the first interaction with a client, the nurse makes an introduction and
identifies the purpose of the interaction. This serves to accomplish which of the
following in developing a trusting relationship?
1. Setting goals
2. Building
3. Initiating
4. Maintaining
Answer: 3
The nurse engaged in a therapeutic relationship with a client uses nonverbal
communication to:
1. Enhance verbal messages.
2. Avoid the use of verbal messages.
3. Detract from verbal messages.
4. Terminate the therapeutic relationship.
Answer: 1
A nurse acknowledges feeling anxious about meeting new people. By
acknowledging feelings to the client, the nurse is demonstrating:
1. Sympathy.
2. Genuineness.
3. Empathy.
4. Superficiality.
Answer: 2
Psychiatricmental health nursing interventions occur at which of the following
levels of communication?
1. Public
2. Intrapersonal
3. Interpersonal
4. International
Answer: 3
