ATI RN
Psychiatric Emergencies Questions
Question 1 of 5
A bystander was killed during a robbery 2 weeks ago. His widow, who is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, cries spontaneously when talking about his death. Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it acknowledges the widow's emotions, validates her feelings, and expresses empathy. It shows understanding and support without making assumptions or judgments about her condition. A: This response jumps to conclusions about hallucinations, which may not be relevant to the widow's situation. B: This response invalidates the widow's grief and may increase her feelings of guilt or shame. C: This response stigmatizes the widow's mental illness and suggests a drastic intervention without assessing her current needs.
Question 2 of 5
A hospice patient tells the nurse, 'Life has been good. I am proud of being self-educated. I overcame adversity and always gave my best. I intend to die as I lived.' The nurse planning care for this patient would recognize the importance of
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because the patient expresses a sense of pride in their self-education, resilience, and determination to face challenges. By supporting the patient's use of their own resources to meet challenges, the nurse aligns with the patient's values and autonomy, promoting dignity and empowerment. Providing aggressive pain management (A) may not address the patient's psychological and emotional needs. Helping the patient reassess existing conflicts (B) may not be necessary if the patient is content with their life. While focusing on the meaning in life and death (C) is important, in this case, supporting the patient's self-reliance is more relevant.
Question 3 of 5
A patient tells members of a therapy group, 'I hear voices saying my doctor is poisoning me.' Another patient replies, 'I once heard voices too. They sounded real, but I found out later they were not. The voices you hear are not real either.' Which therapeutic factor is exemplified in this interchange?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Interpersonal learning. In this interchange, the second patient shares their own experience of hearing voices, helping the first patient gain insight that the voices may not be real. This demonstrates how interpersonal interactions in therapy can lead to learning and understanding about one's own experiences through the experiences of others. This process of gaining insight and learning from others is a key aspect of interpersonal learning in group therapy. A: Catharsis is the emotional release or relief experienced by a patient by expressing their feelings. This is not exemplified in the given interchange. B: Universality refers to recognizing shared experiences among group members. While there is a sense of shared experience in the interchange, the focus is more on personal insight gained from another's experience. C: Imitative behavior is when group members mimic behaviors of others in the group. This is not demonstrated in the interchange as the focus is on sharing and learning from experiences rather than imitation.
Question 4 of 5
During a group therapy session, a newly admitted patient suddenly says to the nurse, 'How old are you? You seem too young to be leading a group.' Select the nurse's most appropriate response.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it reflects empathy and addresses the patient's underlying concern about the nurse's experience. By acknowledging the patient's question and addressing their potential worry about the nurse's capability, this response validates the patient's feelings and redirects the focus back to the therapy session. Choice A is open-ended and encourages further dialogue but does not directly address the patient's concern about the nurse's experience. Choice B is defensive and does not address the patient's underlying worry. Choice C dismisses the patient's question and may come off as dismissive or confrontational. In summary, answer D is the best choice as it shows empathy, addresses the patient's concern, and redirects the focus back to the therapy session.
Question 5 of 5
A patient asks, “What is the major difference between conventional health care and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)?†The nurse's best reply is that conventional health care
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because conventional health care typically focuses on medical interventions and treatments done to the patient, whereas CAM emphasizes the interaction between the body and mind with an actively involved patient. This highlights the patient's role in their own healing process and the importance of holistic well-being. Choice B is incorrect because CAM is not solely religiously based and is not always highly regulated. Choice C is incorrect as CAM practices can also be profit-motivated, and conventional health care is not solely controlled by the health care industry. Choice D is incorrect because conventional health care can also be holistic and focused on health promotion, and CAM can also promote health and well-being rather than just treating illnesses.