ATI RN
Psychiatric Nurse Certification Questions
Question 1 of 5
A newly admitted acutely psychotic patient is a private patient of the medical director and a private-pay patient To whom does the psychiatric nurse assigned to the patient owe the duty of care?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the correct answer is D) Patient. The psychiatric nurse assigned to the newly admitted acutely psychotic patient owes the duty of care primarily to the patient. This is a fundamental principle in healthcare ethics and professional practice. The patient's well-being, safety, and best interests should always be the nurse's top priority. The other options are incorrect because: A) Medical director: While the medical director may have some level of involvement in the patient's care, the direct responsibility for providing care lies with the nurse who is directly assigned to the patient. B) Hospital: The hospital is an organizational entity and does not have the same level of individual patient care responsibility as the nurse who is providing direct care. C) Profession: While upholding professional standards and ethics is important, in this specific patient care situation, the primary duty lies with providing care to the patient directly. In an educational context, understanding the hierarchy of duties in healthcare settings is crucial for nurses and other healthcare providers. Emphasizing patient-centered care helps to ensure that the patient's needs and rights are respected and prioritized in all clinical decisions and actions. Nurses must always remember their ethical and professional obligations to advocate for and provide the best possible care for their patients.
Question 2 of 5
The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, 'Patient will sleep for a minimum of hours nightly within days' At the end of days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of hours nightly and takes a -hour afternoon nap What is the nurse’s next action?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In this scenario, the correct answer is D) Examine interventions for possible revision of the target date. This option is the most appropriate because it acknowledges the progress made by the patient (sleeping an average of hours nightly) but also recognizes the need for further assessment and adjustment of the plan to meet the desired outcome. Option A) Continue the current plan without changes is incorrect because while there has been some improvement, the target outcome has not been achieved, indicating a need for a review and potential revision of the plan. Option B) Removing the nursing diagnosis from the plan of care is premature as the patient has shown some progress, and it is important to continue addressing the issue of insomnia. Option C) Writing a new nursing diagnosis that better reflects the problem is not necessary in this case since the existing nursing diagnosis is still relevant, and the focus should be on refining the current plan to better support the patient's needs. In an educational context, this question highlights the importance of ongoing assessment and evaluation in nursing care. It emphasizes the need for nurses to continuously monitor patient progress, adjust interventions as needed, and work collaboratively to achieve desired outcomes. By choosing the correct answer, nurses can demonstrate their critical thinking skills and commitment to providing effective, individualized care for their patients.
Question 3 of 5
An adolescent asks a nurse conducting an assessment interview, Why should I tell you anything? Youll just tell my parents whatever you find out. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adolescents value confidentiality, and the nurse must balance trust with legal/ethical duties. Option C is appropriate because it honestly explains that most information is confidential, but certain serious issues (e.g., suicidal ideation) must be shared with the treatment team for safety, fostering trust while clarifying limits. Option A is inaccurate (some exceptions exist), Option B undermines confidentiality, and Option D is dismissive and confrontational.
Question 4 of 5
When assessing a patient's mental health status, which of the following describe the purpose of the psychosocial assessment? Select one that does not apply.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The purpose of the psychosocial assessment is to construct a picture of the client's current emotional state, mental capacity, and behavioral function. This assessment serves as the basis for developing a plan of care to meet the client's needs. The client's physical health status would need to be completed as another assessment or an extended assessment.
Question 5 of 5
A patient is known to express tangential thinking. The nurse would assess for which of the following when interacting with the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tangential thinking is wandering off the topic and never providing the information requested. Thought blocking is stopping abruptly in the middle of a sentence or train of thoughts, sometimes unable to continue the idea. Loose associations are disorganized thinking that jumps from one idea to another with little or no evident relation between the thoughts. Flight of ideas is excessive amount and rate of speech composed of fragmented or unrelated ideas.