ATI RN
Psychiatric Emergency Questions
Question 1 of 5
A man complains of decreased concentration at work, tired during the day, sleeps four to five hours at night. What should the PN ask?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step-by-step rationale: 1. The man's symptoms suggest potential depression. 2. Asking about feeling sad helps assess for depression. 3. Depression can cause decreased concentration, fatigue, and sleep disturbances. 4. Addressing mental health concerns is important. Summary: - B is incorrect because falling asleep is not the main issue. - C is incorrect as anxiety symptoms are not clearly presented. - D is incorrect unless there is specific information on sleep disorders.
Question 2 of 5
A client is receiving benztropine mesylate (Cogentin) for drug-induced extrapyramidal syndrome (EPS). Which finding indicates that the RN should further evaluate the client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Increased mouth movements. Benztropine mesylate is used to treat EPS, which includes symptoms like tremors and muscle stiffness. Increased mouth movements, such as lip smacking or puckering, can indicate a serious side effect called tardive dyskinesia. This condition can be irreversible and requires immediate evaluation. A: Decreased bowel movements is not directly related to EPS or benztropine mesylate. B: Dry mouth is a common side effect of benztropine mesylate and does not generally require immediate evaluation. C: Decreasing hand tremors is actually a positive sign that the medication is working, so further evaluation is not immediately necessary.
Question 3 of 5
The RN on the evening shift receives report that a client is scheduled for electroconvulsive treatment (ECT) in the morning. Which intervention should the RN implement the evening before the scheduled ECT?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Keep the client NPO after midnight. This is to prevent aspiration during the procedure, as ECT is typically performed under general anesthesia. Holding all bedtime medications (choice A) is not necessary unless specified by the healthcare provider. Implementing elopement precautions (choice C) is not relevant to ECT. Giving the client an enema at bedtime (choice D) is unnecessary and not indicated before ECT. Keeping the client NPO after midnight is a standard pre-procedure preparation to reduce the risk of aspiration.
Question 4 of 5
Which client statement suggests to the RN that the client is using a defense mechanism of projection to deal with anxiety related to admission to a psychiatric unit?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the client is attributing their presence in the psychiatric unit to external factors (police involvement) rather than acknowledging their own internal struggles. This aligns with the defense mechanism of projection, where individuals attribute their own thoughts or feelings onto others. Choice A demonstrates displacement, choice C shows rationalization, and choice D reflects denial, making them incorrect options.
Question 5 of 5
During the initial nursing interview, a client tells the nurse, 'Sometimes my thoughts go so fast. Wonder if I can sell my fast car. Work is so boring. I wonder if I can get a transfer. Is it time to eat yet?' Which documentation should the nurse use to describe the client's statements?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Exhibits tangential thinking. In this scenario, the client's statements lack logical connection and go off on tangents, such as thoughts about selling a car, work, and eating. This is characteristic of tangential thinking, where the individual struggles to maintain focus and coherence in their thoughts. Thought-blocking (A) refers to sudden interruption in the train of thought, incoherent speech (B) involves disorganized and unintelligible language, and word salad (D) is a severe form of incoherence where words are jumbled and meaningless. These choices do not accurately describe the client's statements in this context.