3/30/25, 8:36
AM
VARCAROLIS'S CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
CHAPTER 5: UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
The nurse is caring for a patient who B
is experiencing a crisis. Which
symptoms would indicate that the
patient is in the stage of alarm?
a.Pupils dilate to provide a broad view of
the environment.
b. During the stage of alarm, sympathetic
nervous system activity increases. Dry
mouth involves increased activity in
the sympathetic nervous system.
c. Heart rate and respirations increase
to enhance strength and speed.
d. Blood pressure increases.
If it is determined that a patient will C
benefit from guided imagery, what
teaching should the nurse provide?
a.Focusing on a visual object or sound
while becoming acutely aware of one's
breathing pattern is associated with
meditation.
b. Become acutely aware of your
breathing pattern is associated
with meditation.
c. Guided imagery is a process in which
a person envisions images that are
calm
and peaceful.
d. Development of deep abdominal
breathing, also known as diaphragmatic
breathing, is a form of breathing exercise.
A patient is going to undergo C
biofeedback. Which patient statement
requires further teaching by the nurse?
a.It is accurate that biofeedback
is accomplished through the
use of sensitive instruments that
provide
immediate and exact information about
muscle activity, brain waves, skin
temperature, heart rate, blood pressure,
and other bodily functions.
b.This statement is accurate.
c.The patient will not feel any type of
electrical stimulation during the
process of biofeedback. Therefore, if
the patient thinks he or she will feel a
"shock," further teaching is required.
d.This statement is accurate.
1/
7
, 3/30/25, 8:36
AM
A patient has told the nurse that she A
knows she is going to lose her job, which
scares her because she needs to work to
pay her bills. Which nursing response
reflects the positive stress response of
problem solving?
a.Problem solving involves figuring out
how to deal with the situation.
Asking
what the patient's plans are to find a new
job allows the patient to contemplate
ways to solve this problem.
b.Calling others who are caring and may
be helpful reflects the use of using social
support.
c. Redefining the situation to see
the positive side and using it to
one's
advantage reflects the use of reframing.
d. Discounting the situation by stating that
it will be just fine reflects the negative
stress response of wishful thinking.
The nurse is caring for four patients. D
Which patient would be at highest risk for
psychosocial compromise? The
patient who has experienced:
a.The death of a friend, despite the
fact that the loss still impacts the
patient, is perceived as less difficult
than that of a spouse.
b.A divorce, despite the fact that it still
impacts the patient, is perceived as less
difficult than the death of a spouse.
c.A recent job layoff, despite the fact
that it still impacts the patient, is
perceived as less difficult than the
death of a spouse.
d.The life stressor situation perceived as
the most difficult is the death of a
spouse.
One effect of stress can be attributed to C
the stimulation of the hypothalamus-
pituitary-adrenal cortex, causing a short-
term increase in which of the following?
a.Heart rate
b.Triglycerides
c. Gluconeogenesis
d. Brain norepinephrine
Stress can be attributed to stimulation A
of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal
cortex, and over the long term it can
result in which of the following?
a.Glucose intolerance
b.A high resting heart rate
c. Digestive problems
d. Chronic muscle tension
2/
7
AM
VARCAROLIS'S CANADIAN PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
CHAPTER 5: UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED
The nurse is caring for a patient who B
is experiencing a crisis. Which
symptoms would indicate that the
patient is in the stage of alarm?
a.Pupils dilate to provide a broad view of
the environment.
b. During the stage of alarm, sympathetic
nervous system activity increases. Dry
mouth involves increased activity in
the sympathetic nervous system.
c. Heart rate and respirations increase
to enhance strength and speed.
d. Blood pressure increases.
If it is determined that a patient will C
benefit from guided imagery, what
teaching should the nurse provide?
a.Focusing on a visual object or sound
while becoming acutely aware of one's
breathing pattern is associated with
meditation.
b. Become acutely aware of your
breathing pattern is associated
with meditation.
c. Guided imagery is a process in which
a person envisions images that are
calm
and peaceful.
d. Development of deep abdominal
breathing, also known as diaphragmatic
breathing, is a form of breathing exercise.
A patient is going to undergo C
biofeedback. Which patient statement
requires further teaching by the nurse?
a.It is accurate that biofeedback
is accomplished through the
use of sensitive instruments that
provide
immediate and exact information about
muscle activity, brain waves, skin
temperature, heart rate, blood pressure,
and other bodily functions.
b.This statement is accurate.
c.The patient will not feel any type of
electrical stimulation during the
process of biofeedback. Therefore, if
the patient thinks he or she will feel a
"shock," further teaching is required.
d.This statement is accurate.
1/
7
, 3/30/25, 8:36
AM
A patient has told the nurse that she A
knows she is going to lose her job, which
scares her because she needs to work to
pay her bills. Which nursing response
reflects the positive stress response of
problem solving?
a.Problem solving involves figuring out
how to deal with the situation.
Asking
what the patient's plans are to find a new
job allows the patient to contemplate
ways to solve this problem.
b.Calling others who are caring and may
be helpful reflects the use of using social
support.
c. Redefining the situation to see
the positive side and using it to
one's
advantage reflects the use of reframing.
d. Discounting the situation by stating that
it will be just fine reflects the negative
stress response of wishful thinking.
The nurse is caring for four patients. D
Which patient would be at highest risk for
psychosocial compromise? The
patient who has experienced:
a.The death of a friend, despite the
fact that the loss still impacts the
patient, is perceived as less difficult
than that of a spouse.
b.A divorce, despite the fact that it still
impacts the patient, is perceived as less
difficult than the death of a spouse.
c.A recent job layoff, despite the fact
that it still impacts the patient, is
perceived as less difficult than the
death of a spouse.
d.The life stressor situation perceived as
the most difficult is the death of a
spouse.
One effect of stress can be attributed to C
the stimulation of the hypothalamus-
pituitary-adrenal cortex, causing a short-
term increase in which of the following?
a.Heart rate
b.Triglycerides
c. Gluconeogenesis
d. Brain norepinephrine
Stress can be attributed to stimulation A
of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal
cortex, and over the long term it can
result in which of the following?
a.Glucose intolerance
b.A high resting heart rate
c. Digestive problems
d. Chronic muscle tension
2/
7
