FINAL - Ch 24 - Personality Disorders
NCLEX Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
A client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder comes to a nurses' station at
11:00 p.m. requesting to phone a lawyer to discuss filing for a divorce. The unit rules
state that no phone calls are permitted after 10:00 p.m. Which nursing reply is most
appropriate?
A. "Go ahead and use the phone. I know this pending divorce is stressful."
B. "You know better than to break the rules. I'm surprised at you."
C. "It is after the 10:00 p.m. phone curfew. You will be able to call tomorrow."
D. "The decision to divorce should not be considered until you have had a good
night's sleep." - ANSWER-ANS: C
The most appropriate response by the staff is to restate the unit rules in a calm,
assertive manner. Because of the probability of manipulative behavior in this client
population, it is imperative to maintain consistent application of rules.
A client diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder becomes violent on a unit.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide objective evidence, that violence is unwarranted.
B. Initially restrain the client to maintain safety.
C. Use clear, calm statements and a confident physical stance.
D. Empathize with the client's paranoid perceptions. - ANSWER-ANS: C
The most appropriate nursing intervention is to use clear, calm statements and to
assume a confident physical stance. A calm attitude avoids escalating the
aggressive behavior and provides the client with a feeling of safety and security. It
may also be beneficial to have sufficient staff on hand to present a show of strength.
A highly emotional client presents at an outpatient clinic appointment wearing
flamboyant attire, spiked heels, and theatrical makeup. Which personality disorder
should a nurse associate with this assessment data?
A. Compulsive personality disorder
B. Schizotypal personality disorder
C. Histrionic personality disorder
D. Manic personality disorder - ANSWER-ANS: C
The nurse should associate histrionic personality disorder with this assessment data.
Individuals diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder tend to be self-dramatizing,
attention seeking, overly gregarious, and seductive. They often use manipulation and
exhibitionism as a means of gaining attention.
A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder brings up a conflict with the
staff in a community meeting and develops a following of clients who unreasonably
, demand modification of unit rules. How can the nursing staff best handle this
situation?
A. Allow the clients to apply the democratic process when developing unit rules.
B. Maintain consistency of care by open communication to avoid staff manipulation.
C. Allow the client spokesman to verbalize concerns during a unit staff meeting.
D. Maintain unit order by the application of autocratic leadership. - ANSWER-ANS: B
The nursing staff can best handle this situation by maintaining consistency of care by
open communication to avoid staff manipulation. Clients diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder can exhibit negative patterns of interaction such as clinging and
distancing, splitting, manipulation, and self-destructive behaviors.
Which nursing approach should be used to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?
A. Being firm, consistent, and empathic, while addressing specific client behaviors
B. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
C. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
D. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid promoting secondary gains -
ANSWER-ANS: A
The best nursing approach when working with a client diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic while addressing
specific client behaviors. Individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
always seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of
interaction such as manipulation and splitting.
Which adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the characteristics of a
dependent personality disorder?
A. A physically healthy client who is dependent on meeting social needs by contact
with 15 cats
B. A physically healthy client who has a history of depending on intense relationships
to meet basic needs
C. A physically healthy client who lives with parents and relies on public
transportation
D. A physically healthy client who is serious, inflexible, perfectionistic, and depends
on rules to provide security - ANSWER-ANS: C
A physically healthy adult client who lives with parents and relies on public
transportation exhibits signs of dependent personality disorder. Dependent
personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken
care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior.
A pessimistic client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions,
avoids positions of responsibility, and has a behavioral pattern of "suffering" in
silence. Which underlying cause of this client's personality disorder should a nurse
recognize?
A. "Nurturance was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were
encouraged."
B. "Nurturance was provided exclusively from one source, and independent
behaviors were discouraged."
C. "Nurturance was provided exclusively from one source, and independent
behaviors were encouraged."
NCLEX Exam Questions with Correct
Answers
A client diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder comes to a nurses' station at
11:00 p.m. requesting to phone a lawyer to discuss filing for a divorce. The unit rules
state that no phone calls are permitted after 10:00 p.m. Which nursing reply is most
appropriate?
A. "Go ahead and use the phone. I know this pending divorce is stressful."
B. "You know better than to break the rules. I'm surprised at you."
C. "It is after the 10:00 p.m. phone curfew. You will be able to call tomorrow."
D. "The decision to divorce should not be considered until you have had a good
night's sleep." - ANSWER-ANS: C
The most appropriate response by the staff is to restate the unit rules in a calm,
assertive manner. Because of the probability of manipulative behavior in this client
population, it is imperative to maintain consistent application of rules.
A client diagnosed with paranoid personality disorder becomes violent on a unit.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide objective evidence, that violence is unwarranted.
B. Initially restrain the client to maintain safety.
C. Use clear, calm statements and a confident physical stance.
D. Empathize with the client's paranoid perceptions. - ANSWER-ANS: C
The most appropriate nursing intervention is to use clear, calm statements and to
assume a confident physical stance. A calm attitude avoids escalating the
aggressive behavior and provides the client with a feeling of safety and security. It
may also be beneficial to have sufficient staff on hand to present a show of strength.
A highly emotional client presents at an outpatient clinic appointment wearing
flamboyant attire, spiked heels, and theatrical makeup. Which personality disorder
should a nurse associate with this assessment data?
A. Compulsive personality disorder
B. Schizotypal personality disorder
C. Histrionic personality disorder
D. Manic personality disorder - ANSWER-ANS: C
The nurse should associate histrionic personality disorder with this assessment data.
Individuals diagnosed with histrionic personality disorder tend to be self-dramatizing,
attention seeking, overly gregarious, and seductive. They often use manipulation and
exhibitionism as a means of gaining attention.
A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder brings up a conflict with the
staff in a community meeting and develops a following of clients who unreasonably
, demand modification of unit rules. How can the nursing staff best handle this
situation?
A. Allow the clients to apply the democratic process when developing unit rules.
B. Maintain consistency of care by open communication to avoid staff manipulation.
C. Allow the client spokesman to verbalize concerns during a unit staff meeting.
D. Maintain unit order by the application of autocratic leadership. - ANSWER-ANS: B
The nursing staff can best handle this situation by maintaining consistency of care by
open communication to avoid staff manipulation. Clients diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder can exhibit negative patterns of interaction such as clinging and
distancing, splitting, manipulation, and self-destructive behaviors.
Which nursing approach should be used to maintain a therapeutic relationship with a
client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder?
A. Being firm, consistent, and empathic, while addressing specific client behaviors
B. Promoting client self-expression by implementing laissez-faire leadership
C. Using authoritative leadership to help clients learn to conform to society norms
D. Overlooking inappropriate behaviors to avoid promoting secondary gains -
ANSWER-ANS: A
The best nursing approach when working with a client diagnosed with borderline
personality disorder is to be firm, consistent, and empathetic while addressing
specific client behaviors. Individuals diagnosed with borderline personality disorder
always seem to be in a state of crisis and can often have negative patterns of
interaction such as manipulation and splitting.
Which adult client should a nurse identify as exhibiting the characteristics of a
dependent personality disorder?
A. A physically healthy client who is dependent on meeting social needs by contact
with 15 cats
B. A physically healthy client who has a history of depending on intense relationships
to meet basic needs
C. A physically healthy client who lives with parents and relies on public
transportation
D. A physically healthy client who is serious, inflexible, perfectionistic, and depends
on rules to provide security - ANSWER-ANS: C
A physically healthy adult client who lives with parents and relies on public
transportation exhibits signs of dependent personality disorder. Dependent
personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive and excessive need to be taken
care of that leads to submissive and clinging behavior.
A pessimistic client expresses low self-worth, has much difficulty making decisions,
avoids positions of responsibility, and has a behavioral pattern of "suffering" in
silence. Which underlying cause of this client's personality disorder should a nurse
recognize?
A. "Nurturance was provided from many sources, and independent behaviors were
encouraged."
B. "Nurturance was provided exclusively from one source, and independent
behaviors were discouraged."
C. "Nurturance was provided exclusively from one source, and independent
behaviors were encouraged."
