NCLEX-RN
Psychosocial Integrity NCLEX Questions
1. Which communication technique is a part of therapeutic communication?
- A. Asking for explanations
- B. Showing sympathy to the client
- C. Asking personal questions of the client
- D. Providing relevant information to the client
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is providing relevant information to the client. In therapeutic communication, it is essential to provide clients with all pertinent information to help them understand their health status and what to expect. This empowers clients and promotes trust in the nurse-client relationship. Asking for explanations, showing sympathy, and asking personal questions are examples of nontherapeutic communication techniques. Asking personal questions can intrude on the client's privacy and may not be relevant to their care. Showing sympathy, while well-intentioned, may come across as pity rather than true empathy. Asking for explanations can sometimes put clients on the defensive rather than fostering a collaborative dialogue.
2. Which action often triggers an episode of violence or aggression in a patient with a psychiatric diagnosis involving violent behavior?
- A. Obtaining a history
- B. Asking for input into care
- C. Enforcing rules
- D. Taking a walk
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Enforcing rules is often a trigger for patients with psychiatric diagnoses involving violent behavior. Limit-setting or denying patient demands can be perceived as control and intimidation, leading to aggressive responses. Nursing staff must respond calmly and professionally to prevent escalation. Avoiding such patients or matching their emotions can worsen the situation. Therefore, enforcing rules can provoke violent episodes in these patients.
3. When doing an admission assessment for a patient, the nurse notices that the patient pauses before answering questions about the health history. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. Interview a family member instead.
- B. Wait for the patient to answer the questions.
- C. Remind the patient that you have other patients who need care.
- D. Give the patient an assessment form listing the questions and a pen.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When a patient pauses before answering questions about their health history, it is important for the nurse to be patient and wait for the patient to answer the questions. Patients from different cultures may take time to consider a question carefully before responding. By waiting patiently, the nurse shows respect for the patient's pace and helps foster a trusting relationship. Asking a family member to answer instead may not provide accurate information from the patient themselves. Reminding the patient about other patients needing care could make the patient feel rushed or unimportant. Giving the patient an assessment form and pen does not address the underlying reason for the pause and may come across as dismissive of the patient's need for time to respond thoughtfully.
4. According to psychodynamic theory, what purpose do delusions serve?
- A. Delusions are a defense against anxiety caused by real or imagined threats.
- B. Magical thinking is a delusion that ensures desirable outcomes.
- C. Delusions are a method of dealing with and interpreting external stimuli.
- D. Subconsciously, delusions are a way to safely express anger and hostility.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: According to psychodynamic theory, delusions serve as a defense mechanism against anxiety triggered by real or perceived threats. Delusions are the individual's unconscious way of protecting themselves from overwhelming feelings of anxiety. Magical thinking, on the other hand, involves believing that one's thoughts can influence external events. This is not the same as delusions. Delusions are not a way of interpreting external stimuli but rather a defense mechanism. Expressing anger and hostility is typically associated with defense mechanisms like displacement or projection, not delusions.
5. What is the priority nursing action to assist an anxious father in his concern about not bonding with his newborn?
- A. Encouraging the father to participate in a parenting class
- B. Providing time for the father to be alone with and get to know the baby
- C. Offering the father a demonstration on newborn diapering, feeding, and bathing
- D. Allowing time for the father to ask questions after viewing a film about a new baby
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The priority nursing action to assist an anxious father in his concern about not bonding with his newborn is providing time for the father to be alone with and get to know the baby. Time alone provides the opportunity for paternal-infant attachment and bonding, which can help reduce the father's anxiety. Encouraging the father to participate in a parenting class, although helpful, does not directly address the immediate need for bonding. Offering a demonstration on newborn care tasks like diapering, feeding, and bathing may not effectively address the father's anxiety at that moment, as he may not be ready to absorb such information. Allowing time for the father to ask questions after viewing a film about a new baby is a simplistic approach that may not adequately address the emotional needs and concerns of the father regarding bonding with his newborn.
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