HESI LPN
HESI Mental Health Practice Questions
1. A nurse notes that a depressed female client has been more withdrawn and less communicative during the past two weeks. Which intervention is most important to include in the updated plan of care for this client?
- A. Engage the client in non-threatening conversations.
- B. Schedule a daily conference with the social worker.
- C. Encourage the client's family to visit more often.
- D. Encourage the client to participate in group activities.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage the client to participate in group activities. Group activities can help improve social interaction and potentially reduce feelings of isolation in depressed clients. Choice A, engaging the client in non-threatening conversations, may be helpful but may not address the underlying need for social interaction that group activities can provide. Scheduling a daily conference with the social worker (Choice B) may not directly address the client's need for social engagement. Encouraging the client's family to visit more often (Choice C) is important for support but may not provide the same level of social interaction as group activities.
2. A client is admitted to the mental health unit and sits in the corner of the day room. When the nurse begins the admission assessment interview, the client is guarded, suspicious, and resists talking. What action should the nurse implement?
- A. Attempt to ask the client simple questions.
- B. Postpone the client interview until the next day.
- C. Ask another nurse to talk with the client.
- D. Document the client's paranoid behavior.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: When a client is guarded, suspicious, and resistant to talking, it is important for the nurse to attempt to ask the client simple questions. Simple questions can help build rapport, establish trust, and create a non-threatening environment. This approach may ease the client into more detailed discussions while reducing feelings of suspicion. Postponing the interview may increase the client's anxiety and distrust, while asking another nurse to talk with the client may disrupt continuity of care and the establishment of a therapeutic relationship. Documenting the client's behavior is important for the client's medical record, but it should not be the first action taken in this situation.
3. A client in the mental health unit believes that the food is being poisoned. What intervention(s) would be helpful when attempting to encourage the client to eat? Select one that does not apply.
- A. Use open-ended questions to encourage client dialogue
- B. Offer opinions about the necessity for adequate nutrition
- C. Focus on the client's self-disclosure about food preferences
- D. Identify the reasons the client has for not wanting to eat
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Using open-ended questions and focusing on the client's self-disclosure about food preferences can help build rapport and trust with the client, encouraging them to eat. Identifying the reasons the client has for not wanting to eat can provide insights into their concerns. However, offering opinions about the necessity for adequate nutrition may come across as imposing views on the client, potentially leading to resistance. This approach may not be as effective in encouraging the client to eat as it could create a power dynamic that hinders the therapeutic relationship.
4. A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted for detoxification. The nurse should monitor for which early sign of alcohol withdrawal?
- A. Seizures
- B. Visual hallucinations
- C. Tremors
- D. Delirium tremens
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Tremors are an early sign of alcohol withdrawal. They are caused by hyperactivity of the autonomic nervous system and are a common symptom during the early stages of withdrawal. Monitoring tremors is crucial as they can progress to more severe symptoms if not managed effectively. Seizures (Choice A) typically occur later in the withdrawal process and are a more severe symptom. Visual hallucinations (Choice B) usually manifest after tremors and are considered a mid-stage symptom. Delirium tremens (Choice D) is a severe form of alcohol withdrawal that typically occurs 2-3 days after the last drink, characterized by confusion, disorientation, and severe autonomic hyperactivity.
5. A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder develops diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness. What action should the LPN/LVN take?
- A. Notify the healthcare provider immediately and prepare for administration of an antidote.
- B. Notify the healthcare provider of the symptoms prior to the next administration of the drug.
- C. Record the symptoms as normal side effects and continue administration of the prescribed dosage.
- D. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional amounts of the drug.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When a client being treated with lithium carbonate for bipolar disorder develops symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness, it could indicate lithium toxicity. The appropriate action for the LPN/LVN is to notify the healthcare provider immediately of these symptoms before the next administration of the drug. This prompt communication is crucial to ensure that the healthcare provider can assess the situation, adjust the treatment plan if necessary, and prevent potential complications associated with lithium toxicity. Option A is incorrect because administering an antidote should be based on the healthcare provider's assessment. Option C is incorrect as these symptoms are not normal side effects and could indicate a serious issue. Option D is incorrect because refusing to administer the drug without consulting the healthcare provider could delay necessary interventions.
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