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NCLEX-RN mental health practice questions, set 21

NCLEX-RN · mental health

NCLEX-RN mental health practice questions set 21

You choose the therapeutic response, the safety priority, and the cue that means the patient is getting worse. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the NCLEX-RN exam guide or more NCLEX-RN practice questions.

Five mental health questions with answers

Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.

Question 1

When performing sterile wound care in the acute care setting, the nurse obtains a bottle of normal saline from the bedside table that is labeled 'opened' and dated 48 hours prior to the current date. Which is the best action for the nurse to take?

  1. A. Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened bottle.
  2. B. Obtain a new sterile syringe to draw up the labeled saline solution.
  3. C. Use the saline solution and then relabel the bottle with the current date.
  4. D. Use the normal saline solution once more and then discard.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Discard the saline solution and obtain a new unopened bottle.

Solutions labeled as opened within 24 hours may be used for clean procedures, but only newly opened solutions are considered sterile. This solution is not newly opened and is out of date, so it should be discarded. Options B and C are incorrect as they involve using the expired solution. Option A is incorrect as reusing the solution after it has been opened for more than 24 hours poses a risk of contamination. Therefore, the best course of action is to discard the expired solution and obtain a new unopened bottle for sterile wound care.

Question 2

Which feeling would be difficult for a client with major depression to express?

  1. A. Need for comforting
  2. B. Anger toward others
  3. C. Remorse for past behaviors
  4. D. Feelings of low self-esteem
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Anger toward others

Clients with major depression often have difficulty expressing anger toward others as their anger is typically directed inwards. Expressing the need for comforting is common among clients with major depression. They can also articulate remorse for past behaviors to an excessive degree. Furthermore, feelings of low self-esteem can be openly expressed by clients with major depression. Therefore, the difficulty in expressing anger toward others is the most appropriate choice as clients with major depression tend to internalize their anger.

Question 3

After undergoing dilation and curettage following an early miscarriage, a client is crying. Which response would the nurse give?

  1. A. ''This must be a very difficult experience for you to deal with.''
  2. B. 'You'll have other children to take the place of the child you lost.''
  3. C. 'Of course you're sad now, but at least you know you can get pregnant.''
  4. D. 'I know how you feel, but when a woman miscarries, it's usually for the best.''
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — ''This must be a very difficult experience for you to deal with.''

The correct response acknowledges the client's grief without judgment and provides validation. Choice B is inappropriate as it suggests replacing the lost child with other children, which is insensitive and dismissive of the client's current loss. Choice C minimizes the client's feelings by focusing on the ability to get pregnant rather than addressing the emotional impact of the miscarriage. Choice D is dismissive and patronizing, suggesting that the miscarriage was for the best, which can be hurtful and diminish the client's grief.

Question 4

A term used to describe members of the same group based on physiological characteristics, such as skin color or body structure, is known as:

  1. A. Ethnicity
  2. B. Culture
  3. C. Race
  4. D. Minority
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: C — Race

The correct term used to describe members of the same group based on physiological characteristics, such as skin color or body structure, is 'Race.' Race categorizes people based on physical traits like skin color. Ethnicity refers to shared cultural characteristics, traditions, language, and heritage, not physical attributes. Culture encompasses the values, beliefs, behaviors, and practices shared by a group. 'Minority' refers to a smaller number or part compared to the whole, not specifically based on physiological characteristics.

Question 5

When a man with dementia is admitted to a long-term care facility, his wife, who appears tired and angry, says in a sarcastic tone, 'Let's see what you can do with him.' Which response is therapeutic?

  1. A. It sounds like it's been difficult for you.'
  2. B. I don't understand what you mean.'
  3. C. 'I have experience with all types of clients.'
  4. D. It's too bad you didn't admit him sooner.'
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — It sounds like it's been difficult for you.'

The correct response is to acknowledge the caregiver's feelings and challenges without blaming them. Option A, 'It sounds like it's been difficult for you,' shows empathy and opens the channel of communication. Options B and C, 'I don't understand what you mean' and 'I have experience with all types of clients,' are nurse-focused responses that block effective communication. Option D, 'It's too bad you didn't admit him sooner,' is a hostile response that shifts the blame to the caregiver, which is not therapeutic in this situation.

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Stems and choices stay public so you can still reason. Correct answers and full rationales unlock with the rest of the bank.

Question 6

A 9-year-old boy is told that he must stay in the hospital for at least 2 weeks. The nurse finds him crying and unwilling to talk. What is the priority nursing care at this time?

  1. A. Assuring him that his illness is not permanent
  2. B. Distracting him to prevent further embarrassment
  3. C. Arranging for him to receive tutoring immediately
  4. D. Providing privacy to allow him to express his feelings
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 7

Which clinical findings indicate positive signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?

  1. A. Withdrawal, poverty of speech, inattentiveness
  2. B. Flat affect, decreased spontaneity, asocial behavior
  3. C. Hypomania, labile mood swings, episodes of euphoria
  4. D. Bizarre behavior, auditory hallucinations, loose associations
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Question 8

Which clinical findings indicate positive signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?

  1. A. Withdrawal, poverty of speech, inattentiveness
  2. B. Flat affect, decreased spontaneity, asocial behavior
  3. C. Hypomania, labile mood swings, episodes of euphoria
  4. D. Bizarre behavior, auditory hallucinations, loose associations
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 9

During a discussion about glaucoma at the community center, which comment by one of the retirees would the nurse give a supportive comment to reinforce correct information?

  1. A. ''I usually avoid driving at night since lights sometimes seem to make things blur.''
  2. B. ''I take half of the usual dose for my sinuses to maintain my blood pressure.''
  3. C. ''I have to sit at the side of the pool with the grandchildren since I can't swim with this eye problem.''
  4. D. ''I take extra fiber and drink lots of water to avoid getting constipated.''
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Question 10

A man who is admitted for a suicide attempt after the death of his child says, 'I hear my son telling me to come over to the other side.' Which psychotic symptom is the client experiencing?

  1. A. Fixed delusion
  2. B. Magical thinking
  3. C. Pathological regression
  4. D. Command hallucination
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Question 11

Why is it important for the nurse to inform the family about the client's situation?

  1. A. To decrease the client's anxiety
  2. B. To help the family better adapt to necessary role changes
  3. C. To improve communication between family and nursing staff
  4. D. To ensure a more relaxed atmosphere for the client
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 12

Which characteristic usually results in a behavior being viewed and accepted as normal?

  1. A. Fits within standards accepted by one's society
  2. B. Helps the person reduce the need for coping skills
  3. C. Allows the person to express feelings and thoughts
  4. D. Facilitates achievement of short-term and long-term goals
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Question 13

What action would be most appropriate for the nurse to minimize agitation in a disturbed client?

  1. A. Ensure minimal staff contact.
  2. B. Increase environmental sensory stimulation.
  3. C. Limit unnecessary interactions with the client.
  4. D. Discuss reasons for the client's suspicions.
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Question 14

Which of these is a one-on-one communication between the nurse and another person?

  1. A. Small-group communication
  2. B. Intrapersonal communication
  3. C. Interpersonal communication
  4. D. Transpersonal communication
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Question 15

A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident. Which statement used by the client would indicate to the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of "suppression"?

  1. A. "I don't remember anything about what happened to me."
  2. B. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."
  3. C. "It's the other guy's fault! He was going too fast."
  4. D. "My mother is heartbroken about this."
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About these NCLEX-RN mental health questions

NCLEX-RN mental health practice questions, set 21 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.

No. Nursier is independent practice. Register through the official path named on the NCLEX-RN exam guide.

The first five questions already include the rationale. Start full practice to unlock the remaining keys, missed-question review, and the rest of the bank.

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