NURS 3161 MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
\.An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depressive disorder has a history of
several suicide attempts by overdose. Given this patient's history and diagnosis,
which antidepressant medication would the nurse expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline
b. Fluoxetine
c. Desipramine
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate - ANSWERS✔-B
\.Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan
evidences the highest suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night -
ANSWERS✔-D
\.Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
,b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient - ANSWERS✔-D
\.Which change in the brain's biochemical function is most associated with suicidal
behavior?
a. Dopamine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency
c. Acetylcholine excess
d. γ-aminobutyric acid deficiency - ANSWERS✔-B
\.A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to
telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive
sweaters to a roommate and asked to be left alone for a few hours. Which
behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?a. Calling
parents
b. Excessive crying
c. Giving aaway sweaters
d. Staying alone in dorm room - ANSWERS✔-C
\.A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides
data relevant to
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
, d. level of anxiety. - ANSWERS✔-C
\.A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis
has the highest priority?
a. Powerlessness
b. Social isolation
c. Risk for suicide
d. Compromised family coping - ANSWERS✔-C
\.Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has
threatened to take an overdose of pills.
a. "Why do you want to kill yourself?"
b. "Do you have access to medications?"
c. "Have you been taking drugs and alcohol?"
d. "Did something happen with your parents?" - ANSWERS✔-B
\.It has been 5 days since a suicidal patient was hospitalized and prescribed an
antidepressant medication. The patient is now more talkative and shows
increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing intervention.
a. Supervise the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Begin discharge planning for the patient.
c. Refer the patient to art and music therapists.
d. Consider discontinuation of suicide precautions. - ANSWERS✔-A
QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
ANSWERS
\.An adult outpatient diagnosed with major depressive disorder has a history of
several suicide attempts by overdose. Given this patient's history and diagnosis,
which antidepressant medication would the nurse expect to be prescribed?
a. Amitriptyline
b. Fluoxetine
c. Desipramine
d. Tranylcypromine sulfate - ANSWERS✔-B
\.Four individuals have given information about their suicide plans. Which plan
evidences the highest suicide risk?
a. Turning on the oven and letting gas escape into the apartment during the night
b. Cutting the wrists in the bathroom while the spouse reads in the next room
c. Overdosing on aspirin with codeine while the spouse is out with friends
d. Jumping from a railroad bridge located in a deserted area late at night -
ANSWERS✔-D
\.Which measure would be considered a form of primary prevention for suicide?
a. Psychiatric hospitalization of a suicidal patient
,b. Referral of a formerly suicidal patient to a support group
c. Suicide precautions for 24 hours for newly admitted patients
d. Helping school children learn to manage stress and be resilient - ANSWERS✔-D
\.Which change in the brain's biochemical function is most associated with suicidal
behavior?
a. Dopamine excess
b. Serotonin deficiency
c. Acetylcholine excess
d. γ-aminobutyric acid deficiency - ANSWERS✔-B
\.A college student who failed two tests cried for hours and then tried to
telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive
sweaters to a roommate and asked to be left alone for a few hours. Which
behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?a. Calling
parents
b. Excessive crying
c. Giving aaway sweaters
d. Staying alone in dorm room - ANSWERS✔-C
\.A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides
data relevant to
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
, d. level of anxiety. - ANSWERS✔-C
\.A person intentionally overdosed on antidepressants. Which nursing diagnosis
has the highest priority?
a. Powerlessness
b. Social isolation
c. Risk for suicide
d. Compromised family coping - ANSWERS✔-C
\.Select the most critical question for the nurse to ask an adolescent who has
threatened to take an overdose of pills.
a. "Why do you want to kill yourself?"
b. "Do you have access to medications?"
c. "Have you been taking drugs and alcohol?"
d. "Did something happen with your parents?" - ANSWERS✔-B
\.It has been 5 days since a suicidal patient was hospitalized and prescribed an
antidepressant medication. The patient is now more talkative and shows
increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing intervention.
a. Supervise the patient 24 hours a day.
b. Begin discharge planning for the patient.
c. Refer the patient to art and music therapists.
d. Consider discontinuation of suicide precautions. - ANSWERS✔-A
