ATI RN
Behavioral Health Nurse Certification Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has dementia and observes that the client becomes stressed and requires assistance and monitoring when their family visits. When the family leaves the room, the client returns to baseline and the deficits are gone. Using the Functional Assessment Stage Tool, the nurse should identify that the client is in which of the following stages of Alzheimer's disease?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Incipient. In the incipient stage of Alzheimer's disease, individuals may still be able to function independently but exhibit subtle memory deficits. In this scenario, the client's deficits are not always present and only occur when the family visits, suggesting a situational trigger for stress. This aligns with the early stages of Alzheimer's where symptoms may fluctuate. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because in severe, moderate, and mild stages of Alzheimer's disease, the deficits are more persistent and do not improve when triggers are removed.
Question 2 of 5
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder repeatedly tells staff members, 'I have cancer. It's my punishment for being a bad person.' Diagnostic tests reveal no cancer. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Risk for suicide. In this scenario, the patient's belief of having cancer as punishment indicates a distorted thought pattern and extreme guilt, which can increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Addressing the risk for suicide is the priority to ensure the patient's safety. Option A, powerlessness, may be relevant but is not the immediate concern. Option C, stress overload, is not as critical as the risk for suicide. Option D, spiritual distress, is not the priority compared to ensuring the patient's safety from self-harm.
Question 3 of 5
Which documentation is appropriate for a newly admitted patient diagnosed with schizophrenia who is exhibiting signs of catatonia?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because catatonia is characterized by a state of unresponsiveness or immobility. In this case, the patient remaining in a fixed position and responding minimally to verbal cues aligns with catatonic symptoms. Option B is incorrect as mood shifts are not typically associated with catatonia. Option C is incorrect as hyperactivity is not a common feature of catatonia. Option D is incorrect as a flat affect and minimal verbal communication are more indicative of other conditions like depression or autism, not catatonia.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is planning care for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who expresses a desire to commit suicide. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ensure that the patient is in a safe environment and is not alone. This is the first intervention that should be implemented because safety is the top priority when a patient expresses suicidal ideation. Ensuring the patient is in a safe environment and not alone helps prevent immediate harm. Providing a quiet space (A) may not address the safety concern. Discussing feelings (C) and engaging in physical activity (D) can be important interventions, but safety must be addressed first.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient is having difficulty maintaining focus during conversations and displays incoherent speech. Which of the following symptoms is the patient exhibiting?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Loose associations. The patient's incoherent speech and difficulty maintaining focus during conversations are indicative of loose associations, a common symptom of schizophrenia. In loose associations, the patient's thoughts are not logically connected, leading to disjointed and illogical speech patterns. Neologisms (A) are newly created words, alogia (B) is poverty of speech, and echolalia (C) is the repetition of another person's words or phrases, none of which match the symptoms described.