C HAPTER 11: C HILDHOOD AND
N EURODEVELOPMENTAL D ISORDERS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse works with a child who is sad and irritable because the childs
parents are divorcing. Why is establishing a therapeutic alliance with this
child a priorit y?
a. Therapeutic relationships provide an outlet for tension.
b. Focusing on the stre ngths increases a persons self -esteem.
c. Acceptance and trust convey feelings of securit y to the child.
d. The child should express feelings rather than internalize them.
ANS: C
Trust is frequentl y an issue because the child may question their
trusting relationship with the parents. In this situation, the trust the
child once had in parents has been disrupted, reducing feelings of
securit y. The correct answer is the most global response.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. A nurse assesses a 3 -year-old diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Which finding is most associated with the childs disorder? The child:
, a. has occasional toileting accidents.
b. is unable to read childrens books.
c. cries when separated from a parent.
d. continuousl y rocks in place for 30 minutes.
ANS: D
Autism spectrum disorder involves distortions in development of social
skills and language that include perception, motor movement, atten tion,
and realit y testing. Body rocking for extended periods suggests autism
spectrum disorder. The distracters are expected findings for a 3 -year-
old.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 182 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A 4-year-old cries for 5 minutes when the parents leave the child at
preschool. The parents ask the nurse, What should we do? Select the
nurses best response.
a. Ask the teacher to let the child call you at play time.
b. Withdraw the child from preschool until maturit y increases.
c. Remain with your child for the first hour of preschool time.
d. Give your child a kiss before you leave the preschool program.
ANS: D
The child demonstrates age -appropriate behavior for a 4 -year-old. The
nurse should reassure the parents. The distracters are over -reactions.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 175 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to consider a child to be
most at risk for the development of mental illness?
a. The child has been raised by a parent with chronic major
depression.
b. The childs best friend was absent from the childs birthday party.
c. The child was not pr omoted to the next grade one year.
d. The child moved to three new homes over a 2 -year period.
ANS: A
Children raised by a depressed parent have an increased risk of
developing an emotional disorder. Familial risk factors correlate with
child psychiatric di sorders, including severe marital discord, low
socioeconomic status, large families and overcrowding, parental
criminalit y, maternal psychiatric disorders, and foster -care placement.
The chronicit y of the parents depression means it has been a consistent
stressor. The other factors are not as risk - enhancing.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. The child prescribed an antipsychotic medication to manage vio lent
behavior is one most likel y diagnosed with:
a. attention deficit hyperactivit y disorder.
N EURODEVELOPMENTAL D ISORDERS
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A nurse works with a child who is sad and irritable because the childs
parents are divorcing. Why is establishing a therapeutic alliance with this
child a priorit y?
a. Therapeutic relationships provide an outlet for tension.
b. Focusing on the stre ngths increases a persons self -esteem.
c. Acceptance and trust convey feelings of securit y to the child.
d. The child should express feelings rather than internalize them.
ANS: C
Trust is frequentl y an issue because the child may question their
trusting relationship with the parents. In this situation, the trust the
child once had in parents has been disrupted, reducing feelings of
securit y. The correct answer is the most global response.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. A nurse assesses a 3 -year-old diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Which finding is most associated with the childs disorder? The child:
, a. has occasional toileting accidents.
b. is unable to read childrens books.
c. cries when separated from a parent.
d. continuousl y rocks in place for 30 minutes.
ANS: D
Autism spectrum disorder involves distortions in development of social
skills and language that include perception, motor movement, atten tion,
and realit y testing. Body rocking for extended periods suggests autism
spectrum disorder. The distracters are expected findings for a 3 -year-
old.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 182 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A 4-year-old cries for 5 minutes when the parents leave the child at
preschool. The parents ask the nurse, What should we do? Select the
nurses best response.
a. Ask the teacher to let the child call you at play time.
b. Withdraw the child from preschool until maturit y increases.
c. Remain with your child for the first hour of preschool time.
d. Give your child a kiss before you leave the preschool program.
ANS: D
The child demonstrates age -appropriate behavior for a 4 -year-old. The
nurse should reassure the parents. The distracters are over -reactions.
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 175 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Health Promotion and Maintenance
4. Which assessment finding would cause the nurse to consider a child to be
most at risk for the development of mental illness?
a. The child has been raised by a parent with chronic major
depression.
b. The childs best friend was absent from the childs birthday party.
c. The child was not pr omoted to the next grade one year.
d. The child moved to three new homes over a 2 -year period.
ANS: A
Children raised by a depressed parent have an increased risk of
developing an emotional disorder. Familial risk factors correlate with
child psychiatric di sorders, including severe marital discord, low
socioeconomic status, large families and overcrowding, parental
criminalit y, maternal psychiatric disorders, and foster -care placement.
The chronicit y of the parents depression means it has been a consistent
stressor. The other factors are not as risk - enhancing.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. The child prescribed an antipsychotic medication to manage vio lent
behavior is one most likel y diagnosed with:
a. attention deficit hyperactivit y disorder.
