NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2 NEWEST
2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1) A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a."Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help you."
ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is
expressing. This strategy prevents arguing about the reality of delusional beliefs.
Such arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient
holds to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide
opportunity for argument.
2) A patient is undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. The patient says, "Nothing is
wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse reports the patient
smokes and coughs a lot, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense
mechanism is the patient using?
a. Regression
b. Displacement
c. Denial
d. Projection
ANS: C
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, NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
Denial is an unconscious blocking of threatening or painful information or
feelings. Regression involves using behaviors appropriate at an earlier stage of
psychosexual development. Displacement shifts feelings to a more neutral
person or object. Projection attributes one's own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to another
3) A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic,
tachycardia and dyspneic. A workup in an emergency department reveals no
pathology. Which medical diagnosis should a nurse suspect, and what nursing
diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority?
1. Generalized anxiety disorder and a nursing diagnosis of fear
2. Altered sensory perception and a nursing diagnosis of panic disorder
3. Pain disorder and a nursing diagnosis of altered role performance
4. Panic disorder and a nursing diagnosis of anxiety
ANS: D
The nurse should suspect that the client has exhibited signs/symptoms of a
panic disorder. The priority nursing diagnosis should be anxiety. Panic disorder is
characterized by recurrent, sudden onset panic attacks in which the person feels
intense fear, apprehension, or terror.
4) The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient who has been prescribed
Phenelzine (Nardil) for depression and provides a written list of foods that should
not be eaten while taking this medication. What is the potential problem if the
patient is not compliant with these dietary restrictions?
hypertensive crisis
foods with tyramine in it
Aged meats or aged cheeses, protein extracts, sour cream, alcohol, anchovies,
liver, sausages, overripe figs, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd,
natural yogurt, fava beans—tyramine-containing foods—may precipitate
hypertensive crisis. Avoid chocolate or caffeine.
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, NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
Herbal: Ginseng, ephedra, ma huang, St. John's wort may cause hypertensive
crisis.
For depression that is refractory to TCAs. Avoid certain foods such as
cheese, sour cream, wine, beer, figs, anchovies, shrimp, bananas, and chocolate,
and avoid drugs (e.g., TCAs).
Risk for hypertensive crisis:
Avoid self-medication. WHY?
OTC preparations containing dextromethorphan, sympathomimetic agents, or
antihistamines (e.g., cough, cold, and hay fever remedies, appetite suppressants)
can precipitate severe hypertensive reactions if taken during therapy or within 2-3
wk after discontinuation of an MAO inhibitor.
5) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility
of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
a. "I have to keep checking to see where my car keys are."
b. "My legs feel weak most of the time."
c. "I'm afraid to go out in public."
d. "I keep reliving the rape."
ANS: A
Recurring doubt (obsessive thinking) and the need to check (compulsive
behavior) suggest obsessive-compulsive disorder. The repetitive behavior is
designed to decrease anxiety but fails and must be repeated. Option B is more in
keeping with a somatoform disorder. Option C is associated with agoraphobia
and option D with posttraumatic stress disorder.
6) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" hiding in the
warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be documented as:
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NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2 NEWEST
2025/2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |BRAND NEW VERSION!!
1) A person has had difficulty keeping a job because of arguing with co-workers
and accusing them of conspiracy. Today the person shouts, "They're all plotting to
destroy me. Isn't that true?" Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a."Everyone here is trying to help you. No one wants to harm you."
b. "Feeling that people want to destroy you must be very frightening."
c. "That is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them."
d. "Staff members are health care professionals who are qualified to help you."
ANS: B
Resist focusing on content; instead, focus on the feelings the patient is
expressing. This strategy prevents arguing about the reality of delusional beliefs.
Such arguments increase patient anxiety and the tenacity with which the patient
holds to the delusion. The other options focus on content and provide
opportunity for argument.
2) A patient is undergoing a series of diagnostic tests. The patient says, "Nothing is
wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold." The spouse reports the patient
smokes and coughs a lot, has lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense
mechanism is the patient using?
a. Regression
b. Displacement
c. Denial
d. Projection
ANS: C
1|Page
, NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
Denial is an unconscious blocking of threatening or painful information or
feelings. Regression involves using behaviors appropriate at an earlier stage of
psychosexual development. Displacement shifts feelings to a more neutral
person or object. Projection attributes one's own unacceptable thoughts or
feelings to another
3) A cab driver, stuck in traffic, becomes lightheaded, tremulous, diaphoretic,
tachycardia and dyspneic. A workup in an emergency department reveals no
pathology. Which medical diagnosis should a nurse suspect, and what nursing
diagnosis should be the nurse's first priority?
1. Generalized anxiety disorder and a nursing diagnosis of fear
2. Altered sensory perception and a nursing diagnosis of panic disorder
3. Pain disorder and a nursing diagnosis of altered role performance
4. Panic disorder and a nursing diagnosis of anxiety
ANS: D
The nurse should suspect that the client has exhibited signs/symptoms of a
panic disorder. The priority nursing diagnosis should be anxiety. Panic disorder is
characterized by recurrent, sudden onset panic attacks in which the person feels
intense fear, apprehension, or terror.
4) The nurse is providing health teaching for a patient who has been prescribed
Phenelzine (Nardil) for depression and provides a written list of foods that should
not be eaten while taking this medication. What is the potential problem if the
patient is not compliant with these dietary restrictions?
hypertensive crisis
foods with tyramine in it
Aged meats or aged cheeses, protein extracts, sour cream, alcohol, anchovies,
liver, sausages, overripe figs, bananas, avocados, chocolate, soy sauce, bean curd,
natural yogurt, fava beans—tyramine-containing foods—may precipitate
hypertensive crisis. Avoid chocolate or caffeine.
2|Page
, NUR 2459 RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
Herbal: Ginseng, ephedra, ma huang, St. John's wort may cause hypertensive
crisis.
For depression that is refractory to TCAs. Avoid certain foods such as
cheese, sour cream, wine, beer, figs, anchovies, shrimp, bananas, and chocolate,
and avoid drugs (e.g., TCAs).
Risk for hypertensive crisis:
Avoid self-medication. WHY?
OTC preparations containing dextromethorphan, sympathomimetic agents, or
antihistamines (e.g., cough, cold, and hay fever remedies, appetite suppressants)
can precipitate severe hypertensive reactions if taken during therapy or within 2-3
wk after discontinuation of an MAO inhibitor.
5) Which piece of subjective data obtained during the nurse's psychosocial
assessment of a client experiencing severe anxiety would indicate the possibility
of obsessive-compulsive disorder?
a. "I have to keep checking to see where my car keys are."
b. "My legs feel weak most of the time."
c. "I'm afraid to go out in public."
d. "I keep reliving the rape."
ANS: A
Recurring doubt (obsessive thinking) and the need to check (compulsive
behavior) suggest obsessive-compulsive disorder. The repetitive behavior is
designed to decrease anxiety but fails and must be repeated. Option B is more in
keeping with a somatoform disorder. Option C is associated with agoraphobia
and option D with posttraumatic stress disorder.
6) A patient with schizophrenia begins to talks about "volmers" hiding in the
warehouse at work. The term "volmers" should be documented as:
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