Nursing Elites

1. A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the admission assessment. While interviewing the client, the nurse notes a discrepancy between the client’s verbal and nonverbal communication. What action should the nurse take?

• A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
• B. Ask the client’s husband to interpret the discrepancy.
• C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client’s verbal messages.
• D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: When a nurse observes a discrepancy between a client's verbal and nonverbal communication, it is essential to pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages. Nonverbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, can provide valuable insights into the client's emotional state, feelings, and concerns that may not be expressed verbally. By documenting these nonverbal messages, the nurse can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the client's communication and address any potential underlying issues. Asking the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy (Choice B) may not always provide an accurate understanding of the client's nonverbal cues. Ignoring the nonverbal behavior (Choice C) could lead to missing important cues affecting the client's care. Integrating verbal and nonverbal messages (Choice D) is important, but initially focusing on documenting and understanding the nonverbal cues can enhance the nurse's assessment and communication with the client.

2. A client is agitated and physically aggressive. What action should the RN take first?

• A. Calmly inform the client that they will be placed in seclusion if they do not calm down.
• B. Discuss with the client the reasons for their agitation and aggression.
• C. Tell the client that physical aggression is not acceptable and must stop.
• D. Seek assistance from other staff members and follow the facility’s protocol.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In a situation where a client is agitated and physically aggressive, the priority for the RN is to ensure the safety of the client and others. Seeking assistance from other staff members is crucial as it allows for a prompt response to manage the situation effectively and according to the facility’s protocol. Choices A, B, and C do not address the immediate need for safety or involve the collaboration of other staff members, which is essential in handling aggressive behaviors in a healthcare setting.

3. A client with postpartum depression receives a prescription for sertraline (Zoloft). What information is most important to include in client teaching?

• A. Avoid foods high in tyramine, such as processed meats, red wine, and Swiss cheese.
• B. Contact the healthcare provider immediately if suicidal thoughts occur.
• C. Increase activity level to include regular exercise.
• D. Contact the healthcare provider immediately if muscle stiffness occurs.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The most critical information to include in client teaching for a client with postpartum depression starting sertraline (Zoloft) is to contact the healthcare provider immediately if suicidal thoughts occur. This is vital for the client's safety as antidepressants, including sertraline, can sometimes increase the risk of suicidal thoughts, especially at the start of treatment. Choices A, C, and D are not the most crucial information in this scenario. Choice A about avoiding foods high in tyramine is not directly related to sertraline use. Choice C about increasing activity level is important but not as critical as addressing suicidal ideation. Choice D about muscle stiffness is a potential side effect of sertraline but is not as urgent as monitoring for suicidal thoughts.

4. While working with a male client at a community mental health center, the client reports hearing voices that tell him to get a knife from the kitchen and hurt himself. What intervention is most important for the RN to implement?

• A. Prevent the client from going into the kitchen until the hallucination subsides.
• B. Report the behavior to the client’s case worker to inform the family.
• C. Assign a UAP to stay with the client continually.
• D. Document the behavior in the client’s record and notify the HCP.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The most crucial intervention for the RN to implement in this scenario is to prevent the client from accessing the kitchen where potential means of self-harm are available until the hallucination subsides. This immediate action is necessary to ensure the client's safety. While reporting the behavior to the client's case worker for further support is important, addressing the immediate risk of harm takes precedence. Assigning a UAP to stay with the client continually is valuable for ongoing monitoring but is secondary to ensuring immediate safety. Documenting the behavior in the client's record and notifying the healthcare provider are essential steps in the care process; however, they should follow actions taken to ensure the client's immediate safety.

5. Which factors tend to increase the difficulty of diagnosing young children who demonstrate behaviors associated with mental illness? Select all that apply.

• A. Limited language skills
• B. Level of cognitive development
• C. Level of emotional development
• D. Parental denial that a problem exists

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Level of cognitive development. The level of cognitive development is a crucial factor that can complicate the diagnosis of mental illness in young children. Young children may not have fully developed cognitive abilities to express their symptoms or understand diagnostic procedures, making it challenging for healthcare providers to assess their mental health accurately. Limited language skills (choice A) can hinder communication but are not as significant as cognitive development in diagnosing mental illness. Emotional development (choice C) is important but may not be as directly linked to the diagnostic challenges as cognitive development. Parental denial (choice D), although a potential barrier, is not a factor inherent to the child's characteristics affecting the diagnostic process.

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