Psych practice questions and answers
with solutions
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
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 sessions daily
C Interruption of rituals with distracting activities
D Negative consequences for ritual performance - ANSWER A
Clients with OCD often have exposure/response 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
,The client with OCD has counting and checking rituals that prolong attempts to perform ADLs
and 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
Interventions for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder would include
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, E, F
Which of the following characteristics describe the obsessional thoughts experienced by client's
with OCD?
A Intrusive
B Realistic
C Recurrent
D Uncontrollable
E Unwanted
F Voluntary - ANSWER A, C, D, E
,The nurse observes that a client with bipolar disorder is pacing in the hall, talking loudly and
rapidly, and using elaborate hand gestures. The nurse concludes that the client is demonstrating
which of the following?
A Aggression
B Anger
C Anxiety
D Psychomotor agitation - ANSWER D
A client with bipolar disorder begins taking lithium carbonate (lithium), 300 mg four times a day.
After 3 days of therapy, the client says, "My hands are shaking." The best response by the nurse
is which of the following?
A "Fine motor tremors are an early effect of lithium therapy that usually subsides in a few
weeks."
B "It is nothing to worry about unless it continues for the next month."
C "Tremors can be an early sign of toxicity, but we'll keep monitoring your lithium level to make
sure you're okay."
D "You can expect tremors with lithium. You seem very concerned about such a small tremor. -
ANSWER A
What are the most common types of side effects from SSRIs?
A Dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth
B Convulsions and respiratory difficulties
C Diarrhea and weight gain
D Jaundice and agranulocytosis - ANSWER A
The nurse observes that a client with depression sat at a table with two other clients during
lunch. The best feedback the nurse could give the client is which of the following?
A "Do you feel better after talking with others during lunch?"
, B "I'm so happy to see you interacting with other clients."
C "I see you were sitting with others at lunch today."
D "You must feel much better than you were a few days ago." - ANSWER C
Which of the following typifies the speech of a person in the acute phase of mania?
A Flight of ideas
B Psychomotor retardation
C Hesitant
D Mutism - ANSWER A
What is the rationale for a person taking lithium to have enough water and salt in his or her
diet?
A Salt and water are necessary to dilute lithium to avoid toxicity.
B Water and salt convert lithium into a usable solute.
C Lithium is metabolized in the liver, necessitating increased water and salt.
D Lithium is a salt that has greater affinity for receptor sites than sodium chloride. - ANSWER D
Identify the serum lithium level for maintenance and safety.
A 0.1 to 1.0 mEq/L
B 0.5 to 1.5 mEq/L
C 10 to 50 mEq/L
D 50 to 100 mEq/L - ANSWER B
A client says to the nurse, "You are the best nurse I've ever met. I want you to remember me."
What is an appropriate response by the nurse?
A "Thank you. I think you are special too."
B "I suspect you want something from me. What is it?"
with solutions
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
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 sessions daily
C Interruption of rituals with distracting activities
D Negative consequences for ritual performance - ANSWER A
Clients with OCD often have exposure/response 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
,The client with OCD has counting and checking rituals that prolong attempts to perform ADLs
and 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
Interventions for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder would include
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, E, F
Which of the following characteristics describe the obsessional thoughts experienced by client's
with OCD?
A Intrusive
B Realistic
C Recurrent
D Uncontrollable
E Unwanted
F Voluntary - ANSWER A, C, D, E
,The nurse observes that a client with bipolar disorder is pacing in the hall, talking loudly and
rapidly, and using elaborate hand gestures. The nurse concludes that the client is demonstrating
which of the following?
A Aggression
B Anger
C Anxiety
D Psychomotor agitation - ANSWER D
A client with bipolar disorder begins taking lithium carbonate (lithium), 300 mg four times a day.
After 3 days of therapy, the client says, "My hands are shaking." The best response by the nurse
is which of the following?
A "Fine motor tremors are an early effect of lithium therapy that usually subsides in a few
weeks."
B "It is nothing to worry about unless it continues for the next month."
C "Tremors can be an early sign of toxicity, but we'll keep monitoring your lithium level to make
sure you're okay."
D "You can expect tremors with lithium. You seem very concerned about such a small tremor. -
ANSWER A
What are the most common types of side effects from SSRIs?
A Dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth
B Convulsions and respiratory difficulties
C Diarrhea and weight gain
D Jaundice and agranulocytosis - ANSWER A
The nurse observes that a client with depression sat at a table with two other clients during
lunch. The best feedback the nurse could give the client is which of the following?
A "Do you feel better after talking with others during lunch?"
, B "I'm so happy to see you interacting with other clients."
C "I see you were sitting with others at lunch today."
D "You must feel much better than you were a few days ago." - ANSWER C
Which of the following typifies the speech of a person in the acute phase of mania?
A Flight of ideas
B Psychomotor retardation
C Hesitant
D Mutism - ANSWER A
What is the rationale for a person taking lithium to have enough water and salt in his or her
diet?
A Salt and water are necessary to dilute lithium to avoid toxicity.
B Water and salt convert lithium into a usable solute.
C Lithium is metabolized in the liver, necessitating increased water and salt.
D Lithium is a salt that has greater affinity for receptor sites than sodium chloride. - ANSWER D
Identify the serum lithium level for maintenance and safety.
A 0.1 to 1.0 mEq/L
B 0.5 to 1.5 mEq/L
C 10 to 50 mEq/L
D 50 to 100 mEq/L - ANSWER B
A client says to the nurse, "You are the best nurse I've ever met. I want you to remember me."
What is an appropriate response by the nurse?
A "Thank you. I think you are special too."
B "I suspect you want something from me. What is it?"
