NUR255 Final Exam V2 | Aging &
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An older adult patient is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected urinary tract
infection. Which condition does the nurse expect to be documented?
A. Dementia
B. Delirium
C. Depression
D. Amnestic disorder
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by a sudden and acute onset of confusion
often caused by an underlying medical issue like an infection. Unlike dementia, delirium is
usually reversible once the physiological cause is treated. The nurse must prioritize
identifying and treating the source of the infection to resolve the cognitive impairment.
2. A patient is prescribed Fluoxetine for depression. Which side effect should the nurse
instruct the patient to report immediately?
A. Dry mouth
,B. Occasional nausea
C. Mild drowsiness
D. Serotonin Syndrome symptoms like agitation and fever
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Serotonin Syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused
by excessive serotonin levels in the body. Symptoms include agitation, high fever, rapid
heart rate, and muscle rigidity. Patients taking SSRIs like Fluoxetine need to be educated on
these emergency signs to ensure prompt medical intervention.
3. Which cognitive change is considered a normal part of the aging process?
A. Loss of long-term memory
B. Consistent disorientation to time and place
C. Inability to learn new skills
D. Slowing of information processing speed
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A slight decrease in the speed of processing information and
retrieving names is common as people age. However, significant memory loss or
disorientation is not a normal part of aging and may indicate pathology. Nurses should
reassure elderly patients that taking longer to perform complex tasks is a natural
physiological change.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices saying ‘you
are worthless.’ How should the nurse respond?
A. Those voices aren’t real, so try to ignore them.
B. Why do you think the voices are saying that?
C. I don’t hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.
D. I hear them too, and they are wrong.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: This response acknowledges the patient’s experience without
validating the hallucination as reality. It provides a therapeutic balance by presenting the
nurse’s reality while showing empathy for the patient’s distress. Arguing with or
dismissing the hallucination can increase the patient’s anxiety and defensiveness.
5. What is the primary goal of the ‘Milieu’ in a psychiatric setting?
A. To provide a controlled environment for medication administration
B. To ensure patients remain isolated from outside triggers
C. To create a safe and therapeutic environment for healing
D. To punish patients for non-compliant behavior
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Milieu therapy focuses on manipulating the environment so that all
aspects of the patient’s hospital experience are therapeutic. The goal is to encourage social
Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Galen College of
Nursing
1. An older adult patient is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected urinary tract
infection. Which condition does the nurse expect to be documented?
A. Dementia
B. Delirium
C. Depression
D. Amnestic disorder
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Delirium is characterized by a sudden and acute onset of confusion
often caused by an underlying medical issue like an infection. Unlike dementia, delirium is
usually reversible once the physiological cause is treated. The nurse must prioritize
identifying and treating the source of the infection to resolve the cognitive impairment.
2. A patient is prescribed Fluoxetine for depression. Which side effect should the nurse
instruct the patient to report immediately?
A. Dry mouth
,B. Occasional nausea
C. Mild drowsiness
D. Serotonin Syndrome symptoms like agitation and fever
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Serotonin Syndrome is a potentially life-threatening condition caused
by excessive serotonin levels in the body. Symptoms include agitation, high fever, rapid
heart rate, and muscle rigidity. Patients taking SSRIs like Fluoxetine need to be educated on
these emergency signs to ensure prompt medical intervention.
3. Which cognitive change is considered a normal part of the aging process?
A. Loss of long-term memory
B. Consistent disorientation to time and place
C. Inability to learn new skills
D. Slowing of information processing speed
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: A slight decrease in the speed of processing information and
retrieving names is common as people age. However, significant memory loss or
disorientation is not a normal part of aging and may indicate pathology. Nurses should
reassure elderly patients that taking longer to perform complex tasks is a natural
physiological change.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a patient with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices saying ‘you
are worthless.’ How should the nurse respond?
A. Those voices aren’t real, so try to ignore them.
B. Why do you think the voices are saying that?
C. I don’t hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.
D. I hear them too, and they are wrong.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: This response acknowledges the patient’s experience without
validating the hallucination as reality. It provides a therapeutic balance by presenting the
nurse’s reality while showing empathy for the patient’s distress. Arguing with or
dismissing the hallucination can increase the patient’s anxiety and defensiveness.
5. What is the primary goal of the ‘Milieu’ in a psychiatric setting?
A. To provide a controlled environment for medication administration
B. To ensure patients remain isolated from outside triggers
C. To create a safe and therapeutic environment for healing
D. To punish patients for non-compliant behavior
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Milieu therapy focuses on manipulating the environment so that all
aspects of the patient’s hospital experience are therapeutic. The goal is to encourage social
