Test Bank - Varcarolis\' Foundations of
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
(8th Edition) {Chapters 11-15}
C HAPTER 11: C HILDHOOD AND
N EURODEVELOPMENTAL D ISORDERS
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 strengths increases a persons self -esteem.
c. Acceptance and trust convey feelings of secur it 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, attention,
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 wh en 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 develop ment 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 promoted 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 disorders, 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 (Applicat ion)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. The child prescribed an antipsychotic medication to manage violent
behavior is one most likel y diagnosed with:
a. attention deficit hyperactivit y disorder.
b. posttraumatic stress disorder.
c. communication disorder.
d. an anxiet y disorder.
ANS: A
Antipsychotic medication is useful for managing aggressive or violent
behavior in some children diagnosed with attention deficit
hyperactivit y disorder. If medication were prescribe d for a child with
an anxiet y disorder, it would be a benzodiazepine. Medications are
generall y not needed for children with communication disorder.
Treatment of PTSD is more often associated with SSRI medications.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 184 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y
, 6. A child reports to the school nurse of being verball y bullied by an
aggressive classmate. What is the nurses best first action?
a. Give notice to the chief administrator at the school regarding the
events.
b. Encourage the victimized child to share feelings about the
experience.
c. Encourage the victimized child to ignore the bull ying behavior.
d. Discuss the events with the aggressive classmate.
ANS: B
The behaviors by the bull ying child create emotional pain and present
the risk for physical pain. The nurse should first listen to the childs
complaints and validate the child for reporting the events. Later,
school authorities should be notified. School admin istrators are the
most appropriate personnel to deal with the bull ying child. The
behavior should not be ignored; it will only get worse.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) REF: 174
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
7. Assessment data for a 7 -year-old reveals an inabilit y to take turns,
blurting out answers to questions before a question is complete, and
frequentl y interrupting others conversations. How should the nurse
document these behaviors?
a. Disobedience
b. Hyperactivit y
c. Impulsivit y
d. Anxiet y
ANS: C
These behaviors are most directl y related to impulsivit y. Hyperactive
behaviors are more physical in nature, such as running, pushing, and
the inabilit y to sit. Inattention is demonstrated by failu re to listen.
Defiance is demonstrated by willfull y doing what an authorit y figure
has said not to do.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
(8th Edition) {Chapters 11-15}
C HAPTER 11: C HILDHOOD AND
N EURODEVELOPMENTAL D ISORDERS
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 strengths increases a persons self -esteem.
c. Acceptance and trust convey feelings of secur it 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, attention,
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 wh en 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 develop ment 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 promoted 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 disorders, 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 (Applicat ion)
REF: 172 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
5. The child prescribed an antipsychotic medication to manage violent
behavior is one most likel y diagnosed with:
a. attention deficit hyperactivit y disorder.
b. posttraumatic stress disorder.
c. communication disorder.
d. an anxiet y disorder.
ANS: A
Antipsychotic medication is useful for managing aggressive or violent
behavior in some children diagnosed with attention deficit
hyperactivit y disorder. If medication were prescribe d for a child with
an anxiet y disorder, it would be a benzodiazepine. Medications are
generall y not needed for children with communication disorder.
Treatment of PTSD is more often associated with SSRI medications.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
REF: 184 TOP: Nursing Process: Planning MSC:
Client Needs: Physiological Integrit y
, 6. A child reports to the school nurse of being verball y bullied by an
aggressive classmate. What is the nurses best first action?
a. Give notice to the chief administrator at the school regarding the
events.
b. Encourage the victimized child to share feelings about the
experience.
c. Encourage the victimized child to ignore the bull ying behavior.
d. Discuss the events with the aggressive classmate.
ANS: B
The behaviors by the bull ying child create emotional pain and present
the risk for physical pain. The nurse should first listen to the childs
complaints and validate the child for reporting the events. Later,
school authorities should be notified. School admin istrators are the
most appropriate personnel to deal with the bull ying child. The
behavior should not be ignored; it will only get worse.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Anal yze (Anal ysis) REF: 174
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
7. Assessment data for a 7 -year-old reveals an inabilit y to take turns,
blurting out answers to questions before a question is complete, and
frequentl y interrupting others conversations. How should the nurse
document these behaviors?
a. Disobedience
b. Hyperactivit y
c. Impulsivit y
d. Anxiet y
ANS: C
These behaviors are most directl y related to impulsivit y. Hyperactive
behaviors are more physical in nature, such as running, pushing, and
the inabilit y to sit. Inattention is demonstrated by failu re to listen.
Defiance is demonstrated by willfull y doing what an authorit y figure
has said not to do.
