Page 1 of 153
“MENTAL-HEALTH-NURSING EXAM ASSURED
”LATEST EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% GRADED A+
(LATEST VERSION) WELL REVISED GUARANTEE
PASS
Mental Health Nursing Exam
A psychiatric nurse is trying to help a client overcome his fear of public
speaking, which is preventing him from advancing in his career. He has
conquered some of his other social phobias such as using public restrooms.
During an interview with the nurse to evaluate his progress, he makes all of
the following statements. Which statement concerns the nurse?
1. "One of my subordinates just got a promotion."
2. "I try to take deep breaths and remain calm when people talk to me."
3. "It helps me to have one or two drinks at lunch."
4. "I've met a woman whom I'd like to ask out on a date."
3. "It helps me to have one or two drinks at lunch."
Clients with phobic disorders are prone to engaging in episodic alcohol or drug
abuse in an attempt to overcome anxiety associated with the phobia. Therefore, a
statement indicating the potential for alcohol abuse should concern the nurse. Telling
the nurse that a subordinate received a promotion shows that the client trusts the
nurse, who should attempt to elicit the client's feelings about this event. Using
breathing and calming exercises and expressing a desire to ask someone out on a
date reveal that the client is taking small steps toward overcoming his fears. In social
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phobias, the central fear is self-embarrassment, which compels the client to avoid
scrutiny by others; asking a woman to go on a date is a progressive step toward
overcoming this fear.
A young man brought to the emergency department by a police officer states,
"I don't know who or where I am." He has no identification but appears to be in
good physical health. Physical examination reveals no evidence of trauma or
other abnormal findings. He is admitted to the psychiatric unit for further
evaluation and treatment. The nurse anticipates that the client will react to his
inability to recall his identity by exhibiting:
1. an intense preoccupation with discovering who he is.
2. depression.
3. anger and frustration.
4. complacency.
4. complacency.
Because a client with psychogenic amnesia is successfully blocking a traumatic or
severe anxiety-producing event, he is likely to react to his inability to recall his
identity with complacency. He won't have an intense desire to discover who he is
because learning his identity would force him to remember the event and confront
the anxiety. For the same reason, he won't exhibit depression or anger, both of
which are associated with anxiety-producing events.
The nurse is formulating a short-term goal for a client suffering from a severe
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An appropriately stated short-term goal
is that after 1 week, the client will:
1. demonstrate decreased anxiety.
2. participate in a daily exercise group.
3. identify the underlying reasons for rituals.
4. state that the rituals are irrational.
2. participate in a daily exercise group.
Participating in a daily exercise group refocuses the client's time toward adaptive
activities and may reduce anxiety. Option 1 isn't stated specifically enough to allow
for evaluation; for this goal to be measurable, specific objectives must be stated such
as, "The client will verbalize feeling less anxious." Option 3 is incorrect because
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identifying the underlying reasons for rituals takes time and isn't a realistic goal after
1 week. Most clients with OCD are aware that the ritual is irrational but can't stop it,
making option 4 inappropriate as well.
The nurse in a psychiatric inpatient unit is caring for a client with obsessive-
compulsive disorder. As part of the client's treatment, the psychiatrist orders
lorazepam (Ativan), 1 mg by mouth three times per day. During lorazepam
therapy, the nurse should remind the client to:
1. avoid caffeine.
2. avoid aged cheeses.
3. stay out of the sun.
4. maintain an adequate salt intake.
1. avoid caffeine.
Ingesting 500 mg or more of caffeine can significantly alter the anxiolytic effects of
lorazepam. Other dietary restrictions are unnecessary. Staying out of the sun or
using sunscreens is required when taking phenothiazines. An adequate salt intake is
necessary for clients receiving lithium.
The nurse is caring for a Vietnam veteran with a history of explosive anger,
unemployment, and depression since being discharged from the service. The
client reports feeling ashamed of being "weak" and of letting past experiences
control thoughts and actions in the present. What is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Many people who've been in your situation experience similar emotions
and behaviors."
2. "You can change your behavior if you're motivated to do so."
3. "It isn't too late for you to make changes in your life."
4. "Weak people don't want to make changes in their lives."
1. "Many people who've been in your situation experience similar emotions and
behaviors."
By providing reassurance that extreme anger and other reactions are normal
responses to trauma, the nurse assists the client to deal with the shame over a
perceived lack of control over feelings and to gain confidence in the ability to alter
, Page 4 of 153
behaviors. Responses such as those in options 2, 3, and 4 are clichés and don't
address the client's feelings.
A client with the nursing diagnosis of Fear, related to being embarrassed in
the presence of others, exhibits symptoms of social phobia. What should the
goals be for this client?
1. Manage her fear in group situations.
2. Develop a plan to avoid situations that may cause stress.
3. Verbalize feelings that occur in stressful situations.
4. Develop a plan for responding to stressful situations.
5. Deny feelings that may contribute to irrational fears.
6. Use suppression to deal with underlying fears.
1. Manage her fear in group situations.
3. Verbalize feelings that occur in stressful situations.
4. Develop a plan for responding to stressful situations.
Improving stress management skills, verbalizing feelings, and anticipating and
planning for stressful situations are adaptive responses to stress. Avoidance, denial,
and suppression are maladaptive defense mechanisms.
A 49-year-old painter who recently fractured his tibia worries about his
finances because he can't work. To treat his anxiety, his physician prescribes
buspirone (BuSpar), 5 mg by mouth three times per day. During buspirone
therapy, the client should avoid which of the following drugs?
1. Beta-adrenergic blockers
2. Antineoplastic drugs
3. Antiparkinsonian drugs
4. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
4. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
Buspirone interacts only with MAO inhibitors, producing a hypertensive reaction.
Administration of beta-adrenergic blockers, antineoplastic drugs, or antiparkinsonian
drugs wouldn't cause an interaction, so they can be administered simultaneously
with buspirone.
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with panic disorder. The client
begins to hyperventilate. How should the nurse respond initially?
“MENTAL-HEALTH-NURSING EXAM ASSURED
”LATEST EXAM SOLVED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS VERIFIED 100% GRADED A+
(LATEST VERSION) WELL REVISED GUARANTEE
PASS
Mental Health Nursing Exam
A psychiatric nurse is trying to help a client overcome his fear of public
speaking, which is preventing him from advancing in his career. He has
conquered some of his other social phobias such as using public restrooms.
During an interview with the nurse to evaluate his progress, he makes all of
the following statements. Which statement concerns the nurse?
1. "One of my subordinates just got a promotion."
2. "I try to take deep breaths and remain calm when people talk to me."
3. "It helps me to have one or two drinks at lunch."
4. "I've met a woman whom I'd like to ask out on a date."
3. "It helps me to have one or two drinks at lunch."
Clients with phobic disorders are prone to engaging in episodic alcohol or drug
abuse in an attempt to overcome anxiety associated with the phobia. Therefore, a
statement indicating the potential for alcohol abuse should concern the nurse. Telling
the nurse that a subordinate received a promotion shows that the client trusts the
nurse, who should attempt to elicit the client's feelings about this event. Using
breathing and calming exercises and expressing a desire to ask someone out on a
date reveal that the client is taking small steps toward overcoming his fears. In social
, Page 2 of 153
phobias, the central fear is self-embarrassment, which compels the client to avoid
scrutiny by others; asking a woman to go on a date is a progressive step toward
overcoming this fear.
A young man brought to the emergency department by a police officer states,
"I don't know who or where I am." He has no identification but appears to be in
good physical health. Physical examination reveals no evidence of trauma or
other abnormal findings. He is admitted to the psychiatric unit for further
evaluation and treatment. The nurse anticipates that the client will react to his
inability to recall his identity by exhibiting:
1. an intense preoccupation with discovering who he is.
2. depression.
3. anger and frustration.
4. complacency.
4. complacency.
Because a client with psychogenic amnesia is successfully blocking a traumatic or
severe anxiety-producing event, he is likely to react to his inability to recall his
identity with complacency. He won't have an intense desire to discover who he is
because learning his identity would force him to remember the event and confront
the anxiety. For the same reason, he won't exhibit depression or anger, both of
which are associated with anxiety-producing events.
The nurse is formulating a short-term goal for a client suffering from a severe
obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). An appropriately stated short-term goal
is that after 1 week, the client will:
1. demonstrate decreased anxiety.
2. participate in a daily exercise group.
3. identify the underlying reasons for rituals.
4. state that the rituals are irrational.
2. participate in a daily exercise group.
Participating in a daily exercise group refocuses the client's time toward adaptive
activities and may reduce anxiety. Option 1 isn't stated specifically enough to allow
for evaluation; for this goal to be measurable, specific objectives must be stated such
as, "The client will verbalize feeling less anxious." Option 3 is incorrect because
, Page 3 of 153
identifying the underlying reasons for rituals takes time and isn't a realistic goal after
1 week. Most clients with OCD are aware that the ritual is irrational but can't stop it,
making option 4 inappropriate as well.
The nurse in a psychiatric inpatient unit is caring for a client with obsessive-
compulsive disorder. As part of the client's treatment, the psychiatrist orders
lorazepam (Ativan), 1 mg by mouth three times per day. During lorazepam
therapy, the nurse should remind the client to:
1. avoid caffeine.
2. avoid aged cheeses.
3. stay out of the sun.
4. maintain an adequate salt intake.
1. avoid caffeine.
Ingesting 500 mg or more of caffeine can significantly alter the anxiolytic effects of
lorazepam. Other dietary restrictions are unnecessary. Staying out of the sun or
using sunscreens is required when taking phenothiazines. An adequate salt intake is
necessary for clients receiving lithium.
The nurse is caring for a Vietnam veteran with a history of explosive anger,
unemployment, and depression since being discharged from the service. The
client reports feeling ashamed of being "weak" and of letting past experiences
control thoughts and actions in the present. What is the nurse's best
response?
1. "Many people who've been in your situation experience similar emotions
and behaviors."
2. "You can change your behavior if you're motivated to do so."
3. "It isn't too late for you to make changes in your life."
4. "Weak people don't want to make changes in their lives."
1. "Many people who've been in your situation experience similar emotions and
behaviors."
By providing reassurance that extreme anger and other reactions are normal
responses to trauma, the nurse assists the client to deal with the shame over a
perceived lack of control over feelings and to gain confidence in the ability to alter
, Page 4 of 153
behaviors. Responses such as those in options 2, 3, and 4 are clichés and don't
address the client's feelings.
A client with the nursing diagnosis of Fear, related to being embarrassed in
the presence of others, exhibits symptoms of social phobia. What should the
goals be for this client?
1. Manage her fear in group situations.
2. Develop a plan to avoid situations that may cause stress.
3. Verbalize feelings that occur in stressful situations.
4. Develop a plan for responding to stressful situations.
5. Deny feelings that may contribute to irrational fears.
6. Use suppression to deal with underlying fears.
1. Manage her fear in group situations.
3. Verbalize feelings that occur in stressful situations.
4. Develop a plan for responding to stressful situations.
Improving stress management skills, verbalizing feelings, and anticipating and
planning for stressful situations are adaptive responses to stress. Avoidance, denial,
and suppression are maladaptive defense mechanisms.
A 49-year-old painter who recently fractured his tibia worries about his
finances because he can't work. To treat his anxiety, his physician prescribes
buspirone (BuSpar), 5 mg by mouth three times per day. During buspirone
therapy, the client should avoid which of the following drugs?
1. Beta-adrenergic blockers
2. Antineoplastic drugs
3. Antiparkinsonian drugs
4. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
4. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors
Buspirone interacts only with MAO inhibitors, producing a hypertensive reaction.
Administration of beta-adrenergic blockers, antineoplastic drugs, or antiparkinsonian
drugs wouldn't cause an interaction, so they can be administered simultaneously
with buspirone.
The nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with panic disorder. The client
begins to hyperventilate. How should the nurse respond initially?
