Nursing Elites

1. A patient with major depressive disorder is started on fluoxetine. What is a common side effect the nurse should monitor for?

• A. Weight gain
• B. Increased appetite
• C. Nausea
• D. Dry mouth

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Nausea is a common side effect of fluoxetine and should be monitored.

2. A nurse is providing education to a patient newly prescribed buspirone for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?

• A. I can take this medication as needed for immediate relief of anxiety.
• B. It may take several weeks before I notice the full effects of the medication.
• C. I should avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication.
• D. This medication is less likely to make me drowsy compared to other anxiety medications.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Buspirone is not for immediate relief of anxiety

3. Child protective services have removed 10-year-old Christopher from his parents’ home due to neglect. Christopher reveals to the nurse that he considers the woman next door his ‘nice’ mom, that he loves school, and gets above-average grades. The strongest explanation for this response is:

• A. Temperament
• B. Genetic factors
• C. Resilience
• D. Paradoxical effects of neglect

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Resilience is the ability to adapt positively in the face of adversity. Christopher's positive outlook and academic success despite experiencing neglect demonstrate his resilience in coping with challenging circumstances. Choice A, Temperament, refers to inherent traits and is not the most fitting explanation for Christopher's response. Genetic factors (Choice B) play a role in development but do not directly explain Christopher's ability to cope. The paradoxical effects of neglect (Choice D) typically refer to unexpected positive outcomes, which do not fully capture Christopher's situation.

4. Which patient behavior is consistent with therapeutic communication?

• A. Offering your opinion when asked to provide support.
• B. Summarizing the essence of the patient’s comments in your own words.
• C. Avoiding interrupting periods of silence to allow the patient space to think.
• D. Providing positive reinforcement when the patient expresses themselves.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Summarizing the essence of the patient’s comments in your own words is a key component of therapeutic communication. This behavior demonstrates active listening, ensures understanding of the patient's message, and encourages further discussion. By summarizing, you show the patient that you are engaged and interested, which helps them feel heard and valued. Offering your opinion (choice A) may bias the patient's thoughts and feelings, interrupting periods of silence (choice C) may prevent the patient from processing their thoughts, and providing positive reinforcement (choice D) may not always be appropriate or necessary in therapeutic communication.

5. In planning care for the termination phase of a nurse-client relationship, which of the following actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?

• A. Discussing ways to use new behaviors
• B. Practicing new problem-solving skills
• C. Developing goals
• D. Establishing boundaries

Correct answer: A

Rationale: During the termination phase of a nurse-client relationship, it is crucial to discuss ways to use new behaviors. This helps the client integrate and apply the skills and strategies they have acquired during the therapeutic process into their daily life. By focusing on the application of new behaviors, the client can maintain progress and continue to grow even after the professional relationship has ended. Practicing new problem-solving skills, developing goals, and establishing boundaries are important aspects of the therapeutic process but are more commonly addressed in earlier phases of the nurse-client relationship. Therefore, the correct action to include in the plan of care during the termination phase is discussing ways to use new behaviors.

Similar Questions