Personality Disorders Final Mental
Health Nursing Exam Questions and
Answers
Jessica is a nurse who was floated to the psychiatric unit to cover for a staff nurse
who called out sick. She encounters a patient diagnosed with BPD and the patient
states "Thank goodness they sent you to the unit. No one else here has taken the
time to listen to my concerns." This may be an example of which symptom of BPD?
a. Impulsivity
b. Self harming behaviors
c. Dissociation
d. Splitting - ANSWER-d. Splitting
Which of the following behavioral patterns is characteristic of individuals with
schizotypal personality disorder?
a. Belittling themselves and their abilities
b. A lifelong pattern of social withdrawal
c. Suspicious and mistrustful of others
d. Overreacting inappropriately to minor stimuli - ANSWER-b. A lifelong pattern of
social withdrawal
A nurse manager is discussing the care of a client who has a personality disorder
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
a. "I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule"
b. "I should encourage clients who have schizoid personality disorder to increase
socialization"
c. "I should practice limit-setting to help prevent client manipulation"
d. "I should implement assertiveness training with clients who have antisocial
personality disorder" - ANSWER-c. "I should practice limit-setting to help prevent
client manipulation"
A nurse is caring for a client who has avoidant personality disorder. Which of the
following statements is expected from a client who has this type of personality
disorder?
a. "I'm scared that you're going to leave me"
b. "I'll go to group therapy if you'll let me smoke"
c. " I need to feel that everyone admires me"
, d. "I sometimes feel better if I cut myself" - ANSWER-a. "I'm scared that you're going
to leave me"
A nurse is caring for a client with BPD. The client says "The nurse on the evening
shift is always nice! You are the meanest nurse ever!" The nurse should recognize
the client's statement as an example of which of the following defense mechanisms?
a. Regression
b. Splitting
c. Undoing
d. Identification - ANSWER-b. Splitting
A charge nurse is preparing a staff education session on personality disorders.
Which of the following personality characteristics associated with all the personality
disorders should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply)
a. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
b. Belief in the ability to become invisible during times of stress
c. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
d. Claiming to be more important than other persons
e. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff - ANSWER-a. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
c. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
e. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff
A nurse is assisting with a court-ordered evaluation of a client who has antisocial
personality disorder. Which of the following should the nurse expect? (Select all that
apply)
a. Demonstrates extreme anxiety when placed in a social situation
b. Has difficulty making even simple decisions
c. Attempts to convince other clients to give him their belongings
d. Becomes agitated if his personal area is not neat and orderly
e. Blames others for his past and current problems - ANSWER-c. Attempts to
convince other clients to give him their belongings
e. Blames others for his past and current problems
What is the psychosocial predisposing factor for paranoid personality disorder?
a. Learning experiences
b. Parental antagonism
c. Parental overindulgence
d. Ungratifying relationships - ANSWER-b. Parental antagonism
Which client is at high risk for antisocial personality disorder?
a. The client whose parent has conduct disorder in childhood
b. The client whose parent is involved in substance abuse
c. The client who has posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescence
Health Nursing Exam Questions and
Answers
Jessica is a nurse who was floated to the psychiatric unit to cover for a staff nurse
who called out sick. She encounters a patient diagnosed with BPD and the patient
states "Thank goodness they sent you to the unit. No one else here has taken the
time to listen to my concerns." This may be an example of which symptom of BPD?
a. Impulsivity
b. Self harming behaviors
c. Dissociation
d. Splitting - ANSWER-d. Splitting
Which of the following behavioral patterns is characteristic of individuals with
schizotypal personality disorder?
a. Belittling themselves and their abilities
b. A lifelong pattern of social withdrawal
c. Suspicious and mistrustful of others
d. Overreacting inappropriately to minor stimuli - ANSWER-b. A lifelong pattern of
social withdrawal
A nurse manager is discussing the care of a client who has a personality disorder
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements indicates an
understanding of the teaching?
a. "I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule"
b. "I should encourage clients who have schizoid personality disorder to increase
socialization"
c. "I should practice limit-setting to help prevent client manipulation"
d. "I should implement assertiveness training with clients who have antisocial
personality disorder" - ANSWER-c. "I should practice limit-setting to help prevent
client manipulation"
A nurse is caring for a client who has avoidant personality disorder. Which of the
following statements is expected from a client who has this type of personality
disorder?
a. "I'm scared that you're going to leave me"
b. "I'll go to group therapy if you'll let me smoke"
c. " I need to feel that everyone admires me"
, d. "I sometimes feel better if I cut myself" - ANSWER-a. "I'm scared that you're going
to leave me"
A nurse is caring for a client with BPD. The client says "The nurse on the evening
shift is always nice! You are the meanest nurse ever!" The nurse should recognize
the client's statement as an example of which of the following defense mechanisms?
a. Regression
b. Splitting
c. Undoing
d. Identification - ANSWER-b. Splitting
A charge nurse is preparing a staff education session on personality disorders.
Which of the following personality characteristics associated with all the personality
disorders should the nurse include in the teaching? (Select all that apply)
a. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
b. Belief in the ability to become invisible during times of stress
c. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
d. Claiming to be more important than other persons
e. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff - ANSWER-a. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
c. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
e. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff
A nurse is assisting with a court-ordered evaluation of a client who has antisocial
personality disorder. Which of the following should the nurse expect? (Select all that
apply)
a. Demonstrates extreme anxiety when placed in a social situation
b. Has difficulty making even simple decisions
c. Attempts to convince other clients to give him their belongings
d. Becomes agitated if his personal area is not neat and orderly
e. Blames others for his past and current problems - ANSWER-c. Attempts to
convince other clients to give him their belongings
e. Blames others for his past and current problems
What is the psychosocial predisposing factor for paranoid personality disorder?
a. Learning experiences
b. Parental antagonism
c. Parental overindulgence
d. Ungratifying relationships - ANSWER-b. Parental antagonism
Which client is at high risk for antisocial personality disorder?
a. The client whose parent has conduct disorder in childhood
b. The client whose parent is involved in substance abuse
c. The client who has posttraumatic stress disorder in adolescence
