ATI RN
2019 ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Questions
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is assessing a child's cognitive ability to think logically. The nurse asks the child to count backward from 10 to 0, and the child complies. What cognitive stage is this child in?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The child counting backward from 10 to 0 demonstrates conservation of numbers and reversibility, characteristics of the concrete operational stage. In this stage, children can engage in logical thought processes, manipulate information mentally, and understand conservation. This ability is typically developed around ages 7 to 11.
A: Sensorimotor stage focuses on sensory experiences and object permanence, typically occurring from birth to age 2.
B: Formal operational stage involves abstract thinking and hypothetical reasoning, usually from age 12 and beyond.
D: Preoperational stage includes egocentrism and lack of conservation, typical for children aged 2 to 7.
Therefore, the child counting backward is in the concrete operational stage due to their ability to think logically and understand conservation.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse documents: "Patient is mute despite repeated efforts to elicit speech. Makes no eye contact. Inattentive to staff. Gazes off to the side or looks upward rather than at speaker." Which nursing diagnosis should be considered?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Impaired verbal communication. The patient's inability to speak, make eye contact, and focus on the speaker indicates a communication issue. Impaired verbal communication relates to difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings, or needs. The patient's behavior aligns with this diagnosis as they are mute, inattentive, and not making eye contact. Defensive coping (
A) involves protecting oneself from emotional pain. Decisional conflict (
B) pertains to uncertainty about choices. Risk for other-directed violence (
C) involves potential harm to others, which is not evident in the scenario. Thus, D is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis.
Question 3 of 5
When describing the relapse cycle to a group of families of clients experiencing co-occurring disorders, which of the following would the nurse identify as occurring first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Decompensation. In the relapse cycle of co-occurring disorders, decompensation typically occurs first. Decompensation refers to a deterioration in mental health symptoms or functioning. This phase often precedes hospitalization, stabilization, and discharge. It signifies a worsening of symptoms and coping mechanisms, leading to a need for increased support and intervention. Hospitalization (choice
A), stabilization (choice
C), and discharge (choice
D) usually occur after decompensation as steps in the treatment process to address the relapse.
Question 4 of 5
The nurse is caring for a patient who has been under severe stress while caring for her elderly mother who is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease. The nurse explains that the patient is adapting to the stress she is experiencing because of which of the following?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale:
Correct Answer: A: Ability to survive in the midst of severe stress
Rationale:
1. The patient is under severe stress due to caring for her mother with Alzheimer's disease.
2. Adaptation to stress involves the ability to survive and cope with challenging situations.
3. Surviving severe stress indicates the patient's resilience and ability to endure difficult circumstances.
4. This choice best reflects the patient's capacity to manage and withstand the stress she is facing.
Summary:
B: Acceptance of others' help in caring for her mother - This choice focuses on receiving help from others, which may not directly relate to the patient's ability to adapt to stress.
C: Success at being able to solve problems - While problem-solving skills are valuable, adaptation to stress goes beyond just solving problems.
D: Capability in setting reasonable personal goals - Setting goals is important but may not directly address the patient's adaptation to severe stress.
Question 5 of 5
The nurse is caring for an elderly client who has been taking an antipsychotic medication for 1 week. The nurse notifies the physician when he observes that the client has muscle rigidity that resembles Parkinson's disease. Which agent would the nurse expect the physician to prescribe?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Anticholinergic. Antipsychotic medications can cause extrapyramidal symptoms like muscle rigidity resembling Parkinson's disease. Anticholinergics are used to manage these symptoms by blocking the effects of acetylcholine, which helps alleviate muscle rigidity. Anxiolytics (
B), benzodiazepines (
C), and beta-blockers (
D) are not typically used to treat extrapyramidal symptoms associated with antipsychotic medications. Anxiolytics are for anxiety, benzodiazepines are for sedation or anxiety, and beta-blockers are for conditions like hypertension or heart-related issues.