NSG 526 Clinical Modal Exam 1 Questions and
Answers.
a syndrome characterized by clinically significant disturbance in an individual's
cognition, emotion, regulation, or behavior that reflects a dysfunction in the
psychological, biological, or developmental process underlying mental funcioning
They are associated with significant distress, disability in social occupational, or other
important activities - Correct Answer mental disorder/psychiatric illness
Criteria that are offered as guidelines for making diagnoses - Correct Answer Diagnostic
Criteria
When the symptom presentation does not meet full criteria for any disorder and the
symptom cause clinically significant distress/impairment what categories should be
used in the diagnosis - Correct Answer "other specified"
"Unspecified"
When the symptom presentation does not meet full criteria and "other specified" and
"unspecified" categories are used in the diagnosis, what should the main diagnosis be
corresponding to? - Correct Answer main diagnosis should correspond to the most
predominant symptoms.
Ex: Bipolar disorder, unspecified
The coding system that is used in the U.S. for diagnosing and documenting psychiatric
disorders - Correct Answer ICD-10-CM
(International classification of disease-10th revision-clinical modification)
true or false: the diagnosis of a mental disorder is not equivalent to a need for treatment
- Correct Answer TRUE - clinicians should treat based on symptom severity, clinical
presentation, etc.
1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional
Feelings of sadness because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The client's appetite,
sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should the nurse interpret the
client's behaviors?
1. The client's behaviors demonstrate
Mental illness in the form of
Depression.
2. The client's behaviors are extensive,
Which indicates the presence of mental
Illness.
3. The client's behaviors are not congruent
With cultural norms.
4. The client's behaviors demonstrate no
,Functional impairment, indicating no
Mental illness. - Correct Answer 4. The client's behaviors demonstrate no functional
impairment, indicating no mental illness.
2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk
For developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
Are not reflective of the DSM-5 criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress
Are coupled with interference in daily
Functioning.
3. When a client communicates
Significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms
As ego protection. - Correct Answer 2. When maladaptive responses to stress are
coupled with interference in daily functioning.
6. During an intake assessment, a nurse asks both physiological
And psychosocial questions. The client angrily responds, "I'm here for my heart, not
My head problems." Which is the nurse's best response?
1. "It is just a routine part of our assessment.
All clients are asked these same
Questions."
2. "Why are you concerned about these types?
Of questions?"
3. "Psychological factors, like excessive
Stress, have been found to affect medical
Conditions."
4. "We can skip these questions, if you like.
It isn't imperative that we complete this
Section." - Correct Answer 3. "Psychological factors, like excessive stress have been
found to affect medical conditions"
8. A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl
In his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which
Defense mechanism?
1. Displacement
2. Projection
3. Reaction formation
4. Sublimation - Correct Answer 3. Reaction formation
Reaction formation is the
Attempt to prevent undesirable thoughts
From being expressed by expressing
Opposite thoughts or behaviors.
,11. When under stress, a client routinely uses alcohol to excess.
Finding her drunk, her husband yells at the client about her chronic alcohol abuse.
Which action alerts the nurse to the client's use of the defense mechanism of denial?
1. The client hides liquor bottles in a closet.
2. The client yells at her son for slouching in
His chair.
3. The client burns dinner on purpose.
4. The client says to the spouse, "I don't
Drink too much!" - Correct Answer 4. The client says to the spouse, "I don't drink too
much!"
10. Which nursing statement regarding the concept of psychosis is most?
Accurate?
1. Individuals experiencing psychoses are
Aware that their behaviors are maladaptive.
2. Individuals experiencing psychoses
Experience little distress.
3. Individuals experiencing psychoses are
Aware of experiencing psychological
Problems.
4. Individuals experiencing psychoses are
Based in reality. - Correct Answer 2. Individuals experiencing psychoses experience
little distress
The nurse should understand that the client with psychosis experiences little distress
owing to his or her lack of awareness of reality. They are unaware of their psychological
problems
15. How would a nurse best complete the new DSM-5 definition of a mental disorder?
"A health condition characterized by significant dysfunction in an individual's
Cognitions, or
Behaviors that reflect a disturbance in ..." which of the following?
1. Psychosocial, biological, or
Developmental process underlying
Mental functioning
2. Psychological, cognitive, or
Developmental process underlying
Mental functioning
3. Psychological, biological, or
Developmental process underlying mental
Functioning
4. Psychological, biological, or
Psychosocial process underlying
Mental functioning - Correct Answer 3. Psychological, biological, or developmental
process underlying mental functioning.
, 16. A nurse is assessing a client who appears to be experiencing some anxiety during
Questioning. Which symptoms might the client demonstrate that would indicate?
Anxiety? (Select all that apply.)
1. Fidgeting
2. Laughing inappropriately
3. Palpitations
4. Nail biting
5. Limited attention span - Correct Answer 1. Fidgeting
2. Laughing inappropriately
4. Nail biting
Which documentation of a patient's behavior best demonstrates a psychiatric advanced
practice nurse's professional observations regarding the patient's psychotic symptoms?
A) Isolates self from others. Frequently fell asleep during group. Vital signs stable.
B) Calmer; more cooperative. Participated actively in group. No evidence of psychotic
thinking.
C) Appeared to hallucinate. Frequently increased volume on television, causing conflict
with others.
D) Wore four layers of clothing. States, "I need protection from evil bacteria trying to
pierce my skin. - Correct Answer D. wore four layers of clothing. States "I need
protection from evil bacteria trying to pierce my skin"
In using the communication technique of reflection, the psychiatric advanced practice
nurse:
A) Interprets the difference between a patient's thoughts and his or her behaviors.
B) Repeats something that the patient has said to encourage the patient to give more
information.
C) Provides prompts such as "tell me more."
D) Seeks more information in order to have a more clear understanding. - Correct
Answer B. repeats something the patient has said to encourage the patient to give more
information
Which one of the following is not true regarding the mental status examination?
A) Racing thoughts are considered part of the thought process
B) Blunted is a term used to describe affect
C) Hallucinations are part of thought content