ATI RN
Age Specific Care Competency Questions
Question 1 of 5
A community mental health nurse receives a new client for his caseload. The diagnosis of the client is residual schizophrenia. Documentation states that the client has a number of negative symptoms. Which symptom would the nurse expect to assess in the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Emotional blunting. In residual schizophrenia, negative symptoms are prominent, including emotional blunting which refers to a reduced ability to express emotions. This is commonly seen in clients with residual schizophrenia. Explanation of why other choices are incorrect: A: Bizarre, somatic delusions are characteristic of paranoid schizophrenia, not residual schizophrenia. B: Disorganized speech pattern is a symptom of disorganized schizophrenia, not residual schizophrenia. C: Catatonic posturing is associated with catatonic schizophrenia, not residual schizophrenia.
Question 2 of 5
A patient has schizophrenia and is troubled by negative symptoms, muscle stiffness, and motor restlessness. His Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) is considering changing the patient's antipsychotic medication, haloperidol (Haldol, a typical or first generation antipsychotic drug). For planning purposes, which medication can the nurse assume that the APN will probably choose?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Olanzapine (Zyprexa). Olanzapine is an atypical or second-generation antipsychotic known for effectively treating negative symptoms, muscle stiffness, and motor restlessness in schizophrenia. It has a lower risk of extrapyramidal side effects compared to typical antipsychotics like haloperidol. Chlorpromazine (A) is a typical antipsychotic with similar side effect profiles as haloperidol. Clozapine (B) is an atypical antipsychotic but is typically reserved for treatment-resistant cases due to its potential for serious side effects. Fluoxetine (D) is an antidepressant and not typically used for treating the symptoms described in the question. Therefore, the APN will likely choose Olanzapine to address the patient's symptoms effectively with a lower risk of side effects.
Question 3 of 5
A patient, aged 82 years, has Alzheimer's disease. She lives with her daughter's family and goes to a day care facility on weekdays. The nurse at the day care center noticed the patient was unkempt and had multiple bruises. When the daughter arrived to pick her up, the nurse discussed her observations. The daughter became defensive and said that her mother was very difficult to manage. She stated, "My mother is not my mother anymore. She is confused, and she wanders all night. We have to watch her constantly. Last night I fell asleep, and she fell down the stairs. Sometimes I just cannot bear to care for her." Which nursing diagnosis would be most important to address for this patient?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Risk for injury related to impaired cognition, judgment, and coordination and lack of caregiver supervision. The rationale is that the patient's Alzheimer's disease has led to impaired cognitive function, making her at risk for injury due to wandering and falls. The daughter's lack of supervision and inability to manage the patient's needs further exacerbate this risk. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly address the immediate safety concern of the patient being at risk for injury. Nonadherence, anxiety, and impaired communication are important issues but do not take precedence over the patient's safety in this context.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse interviews a patient abducted and raped at gunpoint by an unknown assailant. The patient says, "I can't talk about it. Nothing happened. I have to forget." What is the patient's present coping strategy?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Denial. The patient's statement of "I can't talk about it. Nothing happened. I have to forget" indicates a denial coping strategy. Denial is a defense mechanism where individuals refuse to acknowledge a stressful situation or event. In this case, the patient is attempting to block out the traumatic experience of being abducted and raped by denying its existence. This coping mechanism helps the individual temporarily avoid the emotional distress associated with the event. A: Somatization involves expressing emotional distress through physical symptoms, which is not evident in the patient's statement. B: Repression is the unconscious blocking of unpleasant memories, whereas the patient is consciously trying to forget the event. C: Projection involves attributing one's own thoughts or feelings to others, which is not demonstrated in the patient's statement. In summary, the patient's use of denial as a coping strategy is evident in their attempt to minimize the traumatic experience by refusing to acknowledge it.
Question 5 of 5
A patient in the long-term phase of the rape-trauma syndrome had intrusive thoughts of the attack and developed fears of being alone. Which finding best demonstrates the patient has improved? The patient!
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because planning coping strategies for fearful situations indicates the patient is actively working on managing their fears and trauma, showing progress and improvement. Choice A is incorrect as increased activity may be a maladaptive coping mechanism. Choice C suggests social withdrawal, which is a sign of regression. Choice D may indicate premature attempts to engage in sexual activity without addressing the underlying trauma. Overall, choice B demonstrates proactive steps towards healing and recovery.