NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Integrity Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A client with invasive carcinoma of the bladder is scheduled for a cystectomy and an ileal conduit. The client expresses worries about the possibility of offensive odors associated with the urinary diversion. How would the nurse respond?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The response ''Tell me more about your concerns'' is open-ended, encouraging the client to express their worries freely. This approach fosters communication and shows empathy. Option B acknowledges the concern and offers a solution, demonstrating support and understanding. Option C validates the client's worry and suggests collaboration in finding solutions. Option D normalizes the concern but may not address the client's specific worries, making it less therapeutic than the other options. Overall, actively listening to the client's concerns and offering support are essential in providing holistic care.
Question 2 of 9
Which behavior would the nurse recognize as developmentally atypical in preschoolers?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is feeling happy if there is a newborn in the family. Preschoolers are more likely to exhibit feelings of stress and jealousy rather than happiness with the arrival of a new baby in the family. Thumb sucking and bed-wetting are common behaviors displayed by preschoolers during times of stress. Guilt typically arises in children when they perceive that they have not behaved appropriately. Preschoolers are known to be naturally curious about their surroundings, showing an interest in exploring and learning about the environment around them. Therefore, feeling happy with the birth of a new baby is developmentally atypical for preschoolers.
Question 3 of 9
Which action often triggers an episode of violence or aggression in a patient with a psychiatric diagnosis involving violent behavior?
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.
Question 4 of 9
A terminally ill client repeatedly talks about her son's upcoming wedding and how much she wants to attend. Which stage of the Kübler-Ross theory of death and dying is the client displaying?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client is displaying the stage of bargaining in the Kübler-Ross theory of death and dying. During the bargaining stage, individuals attempt to negotiate for more time or a different outcome in the face of impending death. In this scenario, the client expressing a desire to attend her son's wedding and discussing it frequently reflects a form of bargaining for additional time to be present for the event. Anger, on the other hand, involves extreme expressions of emotion ranging from irritation to rage. Denial is characterized by an inability to accept the reality of the situation. Acceptance signifies coming to terms with the circumstances and may lead to decreased interest in people and surroundings.
Question 5 of 9
Which response would the nurse make to a client with borderline personality disorder who receives the wrong tray for lunch and becomes upset at the dietary staff regarding this mistake?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The most appropriate response from the nurse would be, ''It must be frustrating to get the wrong tray. I'll order another tray for you.'' When interacting with clients with borderline personality disorder, it is crucial for nurses to acknowledge the client's emotions empathetically and provide constructive solutions. While expressing anger is understandable, guiding the client towards a more constructive approach is essential. Yelling is not a helpful way to address the situation and threatening seclusion is inappropriate. Additionally, instructing the client to eat the first tray before receiving another one is punitive and disregards the client's preferences and rights.
Question 6 of 9
After giving birth to her third child, a client tearfully says to the nurse, 'How much more can I give of myself?' Which principle would the nurse consider in the care of any new mother?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A parent's feeling of being overwhelmed by multiple children is a normal response. It is vital to help parents realize this as a means of easing feelings of guilt and shame. The first child causes the greatest amount of adjustment in one's life. It is common for parents to feel anger and resentment toward their children at times due to the challenges of parenting. Stating that parents usually have inborn feelings of love and acceptance of their children is a false generalization and may not hold true for everyone. Therefore, the most appropriate principle for the nurse to consider in this situation is that some parents may experience feelings of being overwhelmed by multiple children.
Question 7 of 9
A client states that she is angry and feels rejected by her boyfriend. Which action would the nurse encourage?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is to encourage the client to learn to constructively vent anger. Coping mechanisms, such as venting anger, can help the client address feelings of rejection. Calling the boyfriend to work things out is offering unsolicited advice and may not be effective in managing emotions. Avoiding confronting the boyfriend may reduce anxiety temporarily but will not assist in resolving the underlying issues. Encouraging the client to date new people whenever possible is not appropriate at this stage, as it is essential for the client to work through the current crisis before considering new relationships.
Question 8 of 9
The wife of a client who is dying says, 'I want to see him, but I can only come twice a week because of work, household chores, and caring for our cat and dog.' Which defense mechanism is the wife using?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The wife is using rationalization as a defense mechanism. Rationalization involves offering a socially acceptable or logical explanation to justify an unacceptable feeling or behavior. In this scenario, the wife justifies her limited visits to her dying husband by citing other responsibilities such as work, household chores, and pet care. Projection involves denying one's unacceptable feelings and attributing them to others. Sublimation is the substitution of unacceptable feelings or drives with socially acceptable behaviors. Compensation involves making up for a perceived deficiency by emphasizing another perceived asset.
Question 9 of 9
Which clinical findings indicate positive signs and symptoms of schizophrenia?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is bizarre behavior, auditory hallucinations, and loose associations. These are positive symptoms of schizophrenia, reflecting a distortion or excess of normal function. Withdrawal, poverty of speech, inattentiveness, flat affect, decreased spontaneity, and asocial behavior are negative symptoms linked to schizophrenia, indicating a diminution or absence of normal function. Hypomania, labile mood swings, and episodes of euphoria are more characteristic of bipolar disorder, rather than schizophrenia.