ATI RN
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2024 Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is assisting a patient in using simple relaxation techniques. Which of the following would the nurse do first?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Ensure a quiet, nondisrupting environment. This is the first step because creating a peaceful setting is essential for relaxation techniques to be effective. It helps the patient focus and unwind. - Choice A is incorrect as assuming a relaxed position comes after setting the environment. - Choice B is incorrect as advising the patient to let sensations happen is a later step in the process. - Choice D is incorrect as instructing the patient to take a deep breath is also a subsequent step once the environment is conducive to relaxation.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse has completed an assessment of a patient who is experiencing significant stress. The assessment revealed intense anger and acting out behaviors along with statements of negative emotions. Which nursing diagnosis would be most appropriate?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Ineffective coping. The patient is exhibiting intense anger, acting out behaviors, and expressing negative emotions, indicating a maladaptive response to stress. Ineffective coping addresses the inability to manage stressors and emotions effectively. A: Disturbed thought processes typically involve cognitive impairments or disorganized thinking, which is not the primary issue presented here. B: Low self-esteem focuses on negative self-perception, which may not be the root cause of the patient's current distress. C: Hopelessness pertains to a sense of despair and pessimism about the future, which may not be the main concern in this case. In summary, the patient's behaviors and statements suggest a lack of effective coping mechanisms, making "Ineffective coping" the most appropriate nursing diagnosis.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is providing care to a client just recently diagnosed with schizophrenia during an inpatient hospital stay. Throughout the day, the nurse observes the client drinking from the water fountain quite frequently as well as carrying cans of soda and bottles of water with him wherever he goes. Upon entering the client's room, the nurse sees numerous empty cups that had been filled with fluids on his table and in the trash can. The room has an odor of urine. The nurse suspects which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Disordered water balance. The client's excessive fluid intake, frequent use of the water fountain, carrying cans of soda and bottles of water, and presence of numerous empty cups suggest polydipsia, a common symptom in schizophrenia due to disordered water balance. This can lead to dilutional hyponatremia and subsequent urinary incontinence, explaining the odor of urine in the room. A: Diabetes mellitus is unlikely as there are no symptoms of hyperglycemia mentioned. C: Tardive dyskinesia is a movement disorder associated with long-term antipsychotic use, not related to excessive fluid intake. D: Orthostatic hypotension is characterized by a drop in blood pressure upon standing, not related to the client's symptoms. In summary, the client's behavior and symptoms point towards disordered water balance, specifically polydipsia, as the likely cause.
Question 4 of 5
A group of students is reviewing information about the etiology of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The students demonstrate understanding of this information when they identify which of the following as representing the psychoanalytic theory for this disorder?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Unresolved unconscious conflicts. According to the psychoanalytic theory, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) stems from unresolved unconscious conflicts that manifest as excessive worry and anxiety. Sigmund Freud proposed that anxiety is a result of repressed emotions and unresolved conflicts from childhood. Individuals with GAD may be experiencing inner conflicts or unresolved issues that are causing them to feel anxious. The other choices are incorrect because they do not align with the psychoanalytic perspective, which focuses on internal conflicts rather than external stressors or neurological explanations like kindling.
Question 5 of 5
The husband of a client diagnosed with complex somatic symptom disorder asks the nurse, 'What causes this condition?' Which response by the nurse would be most accurate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for correct answer (C): The nurse should explain that the symptoms of complex somatic symptom disorder can be manifestations of emotions that the client is unable to express verbally. This response addresses the psychological aspect of the disorder, which is a key component of somatic symptom disorders. Summary of incorrect choices: A: Genetic link is not the primary cause of complex somatic symptom disorder. B: Chronic stress leading to hypoarousal is not the typical explanation for this disorder. D: Internal preoccupation with events may be a feature of the disorder but does not explain the underlying cause related to emotional expression.