RN exams mental health practice questions, set 11

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RN exams mental health practice questions set 11

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 RN exams exam guide or more RN exams 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

A suspicious, socially isolated patient lives alone, eats one meal a day at a local shelter, and spends the remaining daily food allowance on cigarettes. Select a community psychiatric nurse's best initial action.

  1. A. Explore ways to help the patient stop smoking.
  2. B. Report the situation to the manager of the shelter.
  3. C. Assess the patient's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten.
  4. D. Arrange hospitalization for the patient in order to formulate a new treatment plan.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: C — Assess the patient's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten.

Correct Answer: C. Assess the patient's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten. Rationale: The best initial action is to assess the patient's nutritional status by evaluating weight and food intake. This step helps identify potential malnutrition or other health issues related to the patient's eating habits. By understanding the patient's dietary patterns, the nurse can develop a targeted intervention plan to address the patient's physical health needs. This approach focuses on gathering essential information before making any further decisions or interventions. Summary of Other Choices: A: Exploring ways to help the patient stop smoking is important but addressing the patient's nutritional needs takes precedence. B: Reporting to the shelter manager may not directly address the patient's health concerns and may not lead to appropriate intervention. D: Hospitalization should be considered only if there is an immediate threat to the patient's health and after a comprehensive assessment has been conducted.

Question 2

Which of the following situations may put a nurse on an inpatient unit in legal jeopardy for battery? Select all that apply.

  1. A. A nurse threatens a client with bodily harm if the client refuses medications.
  2. B. A client is injured while being forcibly placed in four-point restraints because of low staffing.
  3. C. A nurse gives three times the ordered medication dosage because of a calculation error and does not report the incident, resulting in harm to the client.
  4. D. A client is held against his or her will because of medication nonadherence.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — A client is injured while being forcibly placed in four-point restraints because of low staffing.

The correct answer is B: A client is injured while being forcibly placed in four-point restraints because of low staffing. Rationale: 1. Battery is the intentional harmful or offensive touching of another without consent. 2. Forcibly placing a client in restraints without proper justification or consent can be considered harmful touching, potentially leading to legal jeopardy for battery. 3. Low staffing does not justify improper use of restraints, as it is the responsibility of the nurse to ensure safe and appropriate care for the client. Summary of Incorrect Choices: A. Threatening a client with bodily harm is intimidation and coercion, not physical touching, which is required for battery. C. Giving excess medication due to an error is a medication error, not battery. Reporting and addressing the error is crucial to prevent harm. D. Holding a client against their will due to nonadherence may be related to ethical or legal issues, but it does not involve direct physical touching that constitutes battery.

Question 3

A nurse caring for a patient taking a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) will develop outcome criteria related to:

  1. A. mood improvement
  2. B. logical thought processes
  3. C. reduced levels of motor activity
  4. D. decreased extrapyramidal symptoms
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — mood improvement

The correct answer is A: mood improvement. SSRI medications are primarily used to treat depression and anxiety disorders by increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which can lead to improved mood. Outcome criteria for a patient taking an SSRI should focus on monitoring and assessing mood changes to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication. B: Logical thought processes is incorrect because SSRI medications do not directly target cognitive processes, so it is not a specific outcome criteria related to SSRI use. C: Reduced levels of motor activity is incorrect because SSRI medications do not typically cause significant changes in motor activity as a primary effect, so it is not a relevant outcome criteria for monitoring patients on SSRIs. D: Decreased extrapyramidal symptoms is incorrect because extrapyramidal symptoms are typically associated with antipsychotic medications, not SSRIs. Monitoring for extrapyramidal symptoms would not be a relevant outcome criteria for a patient taking an SSRI.

Question 4

A person was supposed to meet a friend at a local theatre to see a movie. The friend never showed up. The person's initial thought was, 'My friend didn't come because she doesn't like me.' This automatic thought was most likely inferred from which irrational belief?

  1. A. I'm worthless, so no one could really want to be my friend.
  2. B. Movies are a waste of time and money anyway.
  3. C. I'm sure she just got confused and thought we were going to a different movie.
  4. D. I'm so forgetful and confused sometimes; I probably wrote down the wrong time.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — I'm worthless, so no one could really want to be my friend.

The correct answer is A: "I'm worthless, so no one could really want to be my friend." This automatic thought reflects the irrational belief of personal worthlessness leading to the assumption that others do not genuinely like or care about the person. This cognitive distortion is known as personalization, where the individual attributes external events to themselves in a negative way. In this scenario, the person's immediate conclusion that the friend didn't show up because of a personal flaw is an example of personalization. Other choices are incorrect because: B: "Movies are a waste of time and money anyway." - This choice introduces a different irrational belief about movies, not about personal worthiness. C: "I'm sure she just got confused and thought we were going to a different movie." - This choice reflects a more neutral assumption without negative self-evaluation. D: "I'm so forgetful and confused sometimes; I probably wrote down the wrong time." - This choice involves self-blame for a practical

Question 5

An 80-year-old woman is visiting the clinic for a checkup. She states, 'I can't walk as much as I used to.' The nurse is observing for motor dysfunction in her hip and should ask her to:

  1. A. Internally rotate her hip while she is sitting.
  2. B. Abduct her hip while she is lying on her back.
  3. C. Adduct her hip while she is lying on her back.
  4. D. Externally rotate her hip while she is standing.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Abduct her hip while she is lying on her back.

The correct answer is B: Abduct her hip while she is lying on her back. This action tests the strength and range of motion of the hip abductors, which are commonly affected in older adults leading to difficulty in walking. By asking the patient to abduct her hip while lying on her back, the nurse can assess if there is any weakness or limitation in her hip abduction movement, which can indicate underlying motor dysfunction. Additionally, this position minimizes the impact of gravity and stabilizes the pelvis, allowing for a more accurate assessment of hip abduction strength. Incorrect options: A: Internally rotate her hip while she is sitting - This does not specifically target the hip abductors, which are more relevant in assessing walking difficulty. C: Adduct her hip while she is lying on her back - Adduction movement is not as relevant in assessing motor dysfunction related to walking difficulty in this context. D: Externally rotate her hip while she is standing - Standing position and external

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Question 6

When caring for a client with anorexia nervosa in a psychiatric unit, which intervention should the nurse implement to address the client's nutritional needs?

  1. A. Provide small, frequent meals throughout the day.
  2. B. Monitor the client's weight daily.
  3. C. Offer a liquid supplement if the client refuses solid food.
  4. D. Encourage the client to choose from a variety of food options.
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Question 7

An involuntarily committed client is verbally abusive to the staff and repeatedly threatening to sue. The client records the full names and phone numbers of the staff. Which nursing action is most appropriate to decrease the possibility of a lawsuit?

  1. A. Verbally redirect the client, and then limit one-on-one interaction.
  2. B. Involve the hospitals security division as soon as possible.
  3. C. Notify the client that documenting personal staff information is against hospital policy.
  4. D. Continue professional attempts to establish a positive working relationship with the client.
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Question 8

A nurse had developed a plan of care for a patient with depression. Which nursing diagnosis would reflect the social domain?

  1. A. Imbalanced Nutrition, Less Than Body Requirements related to lack of appetite.
  2. B. Powerlessness related to feelings of lack of control over the situation.
  3. C. Ineffective Role Performance related to inability to participate as family provider
  4. D. Risk for Suicide related to depressed mood and feelings of oneself as a failure
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Question 9

A nursing instructor is presenting content on the provisions of the Nurse Practice Act as it relates to their state. Which student statement indicates a need for further instruction?

  1. A. The Nurse Practice Act provides a list of definitions of important terms, including the definition of nursing.
  2. B. The Nurse Practice Act lists education requirements for licensure and reciprocity.
  3. C. The Nurse Practice Act contains detailed statements that describe the scope of practice for registered nurses (RNs).
  4. D. The Nurse Practice Act lists the general authority and powers of the state board of nursing.
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Question 10

The nurse is employed by a long-term residential treatment center that provides care to a variety of patients with chronic mental disorders. Which role would the nurse primarily assume when working with these patients?

  1. A. Therapist
  2. B. Medication administrator
  3. C. Mediator
  4. D. Educator
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Question 11

Which of these statements about the peripheral nervous system is correct?

  1. A. The CNs enter the brain through the spinal cord.
  2. B. Efferent fibers carry sensory input to the central nervous system through the spinal cord.
  3. C. The peripheral nerves are inside the central nervous system and carry impulses through their motor fibers.
  4. D. The peripheral nerves carry input to the central nervous system by afferent fibers and away from the central nervous system by efferent fibers.
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Question 12

Emily is a 28-year-old nurse who works on a psychiatric unit. She is assigned to work with Jenna, a 27-year-old who was admitted with major depressive disorder. Emily and Jenna realize that they graduated from the same high school and each has a 2-year-old daughter. Emily and Jenna discuss getting together for a play date with their daughters after Jenna is discharged. This situation reflects:

  1. A. Successful termination
  2. B. Promoting interdependence
  3. C. Boundary blurring
  4. D. A strong therapeutic relationship
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Question 13

Connor is a 28-year-old student, referred by his university for a psychiatric evaluation. He reports that he has no friends at the university and people call him a loner. Recently, Connor has been giving lectures to pigeons at the university fountains. Connor is diagnosed as schizotypal, which differs from schizophrenia in that persons diagnosed as schizotypal:

  1. A. Can be made aware of their delusions
  2. B. Are far more delusional than schizophrenics
  3. C. Have a greater need for socialization
  4. D. Do not usually respond to antipsychotic medications
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Question 14

A 67-year-old female smoker with a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease presents with acute onset neck pain, headache, and a blood pressure of 175/100 mm Hg. What should the physical therapist do FIRST?

  1. A. Refer the patient for assessment by a physician.
  2. B. Assume that this is a 'white coat' effect and continue with the usual examination.
  3. C. Continue the examination but modify the order and extent of the tests.
  4. D. Modify the examination to avoid manual therapy and offer simple exercises.
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Question 15

A patient experiencing primary insomnia asks the nurse, I take a nap during the day. Doesn't that make up for a lost night's sleep? Select the nurse's best reply.

  1. A. Circadian drives give daytime naps a structure different from nighttime sleep.
  2. B. The body clock operates on a 24-hour cycle, making nap effectiveness unpredictable.
  3. C. It is a matter of habit and expectation. We expect to be more refreshed from a night's sleep.
  4. D. Sleep restores homeostasis but works more efficiently when aided by melatonin secreted at night.
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About these RN exams mental health questions

RN exams mental health practice questions, set 11 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.

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