ATI RN
ATI Practice Questions Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
While providing care to a patient with a mental disorder, the patient asks the nurse, 'Does mental illness run in your family?' Which response by the nurse would be most inappropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct response is C because it discloses personal information about the nurse's family member, which is unprofessional and breaches patient confidentiality. The nurse should maintain professional boundaries and focus on the patient's needs, not their own personal experiences.
Choices A, B, and D maintain appropriate boundaries and redirect the conversation back to the patient's concerns, demonstrating empathy and respect for the patient's privacy.
Question 2 of 5
A client with bipolar disorder is receiving divalproex sodium as part of the treatment plan. When monitoring the client's blood level for this drug, which level would alert the nurse to the need to change the dosage?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A (30 ng/mL). The therapeutic range for divalproex sodium is typically 50-100 ng/mL. A level of 30 ng/mL is below the therapeutic range, indicating that the client may not be receiving enough of the medication to manage their symptoms effectively. This would alert the nurse to consider adjusting the dosage to bring the blood level within the therapeutic range.
Choices B, C, and D are all within or above the therapeutic range, indicating that the dosage is likely adequate or potentially too high, but not in need of an immediate change based on blood level monitoring.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse has begun group counseling sessions for several hospitalized patients in the psychiatric facility. Which of the following would be most effective for the nurse to do to promote group cohesiveness?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use team-building exercises. Team-building exercises help foster trust, communication, and camaraderie among group members, promoting group cohesiveness. By engaging in activities that require collaboration and problem-solving, group members can develop a sense of unity and support for each other.
Option B: Encouraging task completion focuses more on achieving goals rather than building relationships, which may not necessarily enhance group cohesiveness. Option C: Spending time individually with each member may lead to unequal attention and could hinder the development of group dynamics. Option D: Being consistent with group themes is important but may not directly contribute to promoting group cohesiveness as team-building exercises do.
Question 4 of 5
Which initial information gathered by the nurse is most important when assessing Erikson's stages of development?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B - The developmental age exhibited through behaviors. This is crucial because Erikson's stages of development focus on psychosocial milestones and individuals can exhibit behaviors that reflect their current stage, regardless of chronological age. Understanding the developmental age exhibited through behaviors provides insights into which stage the individual is in and helps tailor appropriate interventions.
The other choices are incorrect because:
A: The chronological age may not accurately reflect the individual's stage of development.
C: The time frame needed to complete a successful outcome at a previous stage is not directly relevant to assessing Erikson's stages.
D: The implementation of interventions based on developmental age is important but not as crucial as assessing the developmental age exhibited through behaviors in understanding Erikson's stages.
Question 5 of 5
A pregnant woman is in a relationship with a male who routinely abuses her. Her unborn child may engage in high-risk behavior as a teen as a result of:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Maternal stress. Maternal stress during pregnancy can have long-term effects on the child's behavior, including an increased likelihood of engaging in high-risk behavior as a teen. Stress hormones released by the mother can impact the developing fetus, leading to changes in the child's brain development and stress response systems. This can contribute to behavioral issues later in life.
Summary:
- A: Maternal stress affects the unborn child's behavior.
- B: Parental nurturing is not related to the impact of maternal stress.
- C: Appropriate stress responses in the brain do not address the negative impact of maternal stress on the child.
- D: Memories of the abuse would not directly influence the unborn child's behavior.