HESI LPN
Mental Health HESI 2023
1. A female client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been experiencing flashbacks. Which intervention should the nurse implement to help the client?
- A. Encourage the client to talk about the trauma.
- B. Advise the client to avoid triggers that cause flashbacks.
- C. Help the client stay grounded in the present moment.
- D. Refer the client to group therapy for PTSD.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct intervention for a client with PTSD experiencing flashbacks is to help them stay grounded in the present moment. This technique can reduce the intensity of flashbacks and provide a sense of safety. Encouraging the client to talk about the trauma (Choice A) may exacerbate the symptoms and should be done cautiously under professional guidance. Advising the client to avoid triggers (Choice B) is important, but solely relying on avoidance may not address the underlying issues. Referring the client to group therapy (Choice D) can be beneficial, but in the immediate context of managing flashbacks, grounding techniques are more appropriate.
2. At the first meeting of a group of older adults at a daycare center for the elderly, the nurse asks one of the members what kinds of things she would like to do with the group. The older woman shrugs her shoulders and says, 'You tell me, you're the leader.' What is the best response for the nurse to make?
- A. 'Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader tomorrow?'
- B. 'Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to accomplish during this time?'
- C. 'Yes, I have been assigned to be the leader of this group. I will be here for the next six weeks.'
- D. 'Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the leader yourself.'
Correct answer: B
Rationale: (B) provides information and focuses the group back to defining its function. (A) is manipulative bargaining. (C) does not focus on the group’s purpose. (D) challenges the client’s feelings.
3. A client with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is prescribed buspirone (BuSpar). The client asks how long it will take for the medication to start working. What is the nurse's best response?
- A. You should start feeling better within a few days.
- B. It may take 2 to 4 weeks before you notice an improvement.
- C. Buspirone works immediately to reduce anxiety symptoms.
- D. You will need to take this medication for at least a year.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B. Buspirone typically takes 2 to 4 weeks to become fully effective. It is essential to inform the client that it may take some time before they notice an improvement. Choice A is incorrect because buspirone does not work immediately. Choice C is also incorrect as buspirone does not provide immediate relief. Choice D is incorrect as it suggests a longer duration of treatment than necessary.
4. A female client with depression attends group and states that she sometimes misses her medication appointments because she feels very anxious about riding the bus. Which statement is the nurse's best response?
- A. Can your case manager take you to your appointments?
- B. Take your medication for anxiety before you ride the bus.
- C. Let's talk about what happens when you feel very anxious.
- D. What are some ways that you can cope with your anxiety?
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The best response is to explore ways for the client to cope with anxiety (D). The nurse should encourage problem-solving rather than dependence on the case manager (A) for transportation. While taking medication for anxiety before riding the bus may be helpful, addressing coping strategies should come first (B). Although discussing the feelings of anxiety can be therapeutic (C), the most appropriate approach is to engage the client in finding ways to manage her anxiety effectively.
5. The nurse documents that a male client with paranoid schizophrenia is delusional. Which statement by the client confirms this assessment?
- A. The voices are telling me to kill the next person I see.
- B. The fire is burning my skin away right now.
- C. The snakes on the wall are going to eat me.
- D. The nurse at night is trying to poison me with pills.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. Believing that the nurse is trying to poison him with pills is a clear indication of delusional paranoia, a common symptom in paranoid schizophrenia. Choices A, B, and C do not directly relate to paranoid delusions and are more indicative of hallucinations or other forms of delusions not specific to paranoia.
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