ATI RN
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2019
1. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate to address this symptom?
- A. Encourage the client to discuss the voices.
- B. Instruct the client to listen to music to drown out the voices.
- C. Tell the client that the voices are not real.
- D. Distract the client from the voices.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Encouraging the client to discuss the voices is the most appropriate nursing intervention when a client with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. By discussing the voices, the client can feel heard, understood, and supported. It allows the client to express their experiences, which can help in processing and coping with the hallucinations. This intervention promotes therapeutic communication and builds a trusting nurse-client relationship, which is essential in providing effective care for individuals with schizophrenia. Choice B is incorrect because instructing the client to listen to music to drown out the voices does not address the underlying issue and may not be effective in managing auditory hallucinations. Choice C is incorrect because telling the client that the voices are not real can invalidate the client's experiences and feelings, leading to further distress. Choice D is incorrect as solely distracting the client from the voices does not help in addressing the hallucinations or supporting the client in dealing with their symptoms.
2. Which chronic medical condition commonly triggers major depressive disorder?
- A. Pain
- B. Hypertension
- C. Hypothyroidism
- D. Crohn's disease
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Chronic pain is a common trigger for major depressive disorder. The persistent and distressing nature of chronic pain can lead to feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and contribute to the development of major depressive disorder in individuals experiencing it.
3. When assessing a client experiencing severe anxiety, which symptom should the nurse expect to observe?
- A. Restlessness
- B. Rapid heart rate
- C. Sweating
- D. Dry mouth
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When a client is experiencing severe anxiety, a rapid heart rate is a common physiological response. This increased heart rate is due to the body's fight-or-flight response, where adrenaline is released, causing the heart to beat faster. Monitoring the client's heart rate is crucial in assessing and managing their anxiety. Restlessness (choice A) can also be present in anxiety but is more of a behavioral manifestation rather than a physiological symptom. Sweating (choice C) can occur in anxiety, but it is not as specific or consistent as a rapid heart rate. Dry mouth (choice D) is associated with anxiety but is not as immediate or directly linked to the body's physiological response to stress as a rapid heart rate.
4. Identical twins vary in their responses to stress. One twin may become anxious and irritable, while the other may withdraw and cry. How should the nurse explain these different reactions to stress to the parents?
- A. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
- B. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
- C. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly to stress.
- D. Environmental influences weigh more heavily than genetic influences on reactions to stress.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Individual responses to stress can vary significantly due to factors such as perception, past experiences, and environmental influences, in addition to genetic factors. It is not unusual for identical twins to exhibit different reactions to stress as their individual personalities and coping mechanisms play a significant role in how they respond to stressful situations. Choice A is the correct answer because it acknowledges the variability in responses to stress among individuals. Choice B is incorrect because it wrongly labels differing reactions in identical twins as abnormal, when in reality, it is a natural phenomenon. Choice C is incorrect as it assumes that identical twins should always have the same temperament and response to stress, which is not always the case. Choice D is incorrect because it oversimplifies the complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping responses to stress.
5. When assessing a client with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a depressive episode, which of the following findings should the nurse not expect?
- A. Low energy
- B. Feelings of hopelessness
- C. Insomnia or hypersomnia
- D. Difficulty concentrating
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In a client experiencing a depressive episode in bipolar disorder, common findings include low energy, feelings of hopelessness, insomnia or hypersomnia, and decreased appetite. Difficulty concentrating is more indicative of attention deficit disorders or cognitive impairment rather than a typical presentation of a depressive episode in bipolar disorder.
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