A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The patient refuses to eat and is at risk for malnutrition. What is the priority nursing intervention?

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Adult Behavioral Health Nursing Questions

Question 1 of 5

A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The patient refuses to eat and is at risk for malnutrition. What is the priority nursing intervention?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 2 of 5

A person with a fear of heights drives across a high bridge. Which division of the autonomic nervous system will be stimulated in response to this experience?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The autonomic nervous system is comprised of the sympathetic (fight or flight response) and parasympathetic nervous system (relaxation response). In times of stress, the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. A person fearful of heights would experience stress associated with the experience of driving across a high bridge. The peripheral nervous system responds to messages from the sympathetic nervous system. The limbic system processes emotional responses but is not specifically part of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 3 of 5

A person has minor physical injuries after an auto accident. The person is unable to focus and says, 'I feel like something awful is going to happen.' This person has nausea, dizziness, tachycardia, and hyperventilation. What is the person's level of anxiety?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The person whose anxiety is severe is unable to solve problems and may have a poor grasp of what is happening in the environment. Somatic symptoms such as those described are usually present. The individual with mild anxiety is only mildly uncomfortable and may even find his or her performance enhanced. The individual with moderate anxiety grasps less information about a situation and has some difficulty with problem solving. The individual in panic will demonstrate markedly disturbed behavior and may lose touch with reality.

Question 4 of 5

A patient experiencing panic suddenly began running and shouting, 'I'm going to explode!' Select the nurse's best action.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Safety needs of the patient and other patients are a priority. Comments to the patient should be simple, neutral, and give direction to help the patient regain control. Running after the patient will increase the patient's anxiety. More than one staff member may be needed to provide physical limits, but using seclusion or physically restraining the patient prematurely is unjustified. Asking the patient to give an example would be futile; a patient in panic processes information poorly.

Question 5 of 5

Four teenagers died in an automobile accident. One week later, which behavior by the parents of these teenagers most clearly demonstrates resilience? The parents who

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Resilience refers to positive adaptation or the ability to maintain or regain mental health despite adversity. Loss of a child is among the highest risk situations for maladaptive grieving. The parents who create a scholarship fund are openly expressing their feelings and memorializing their child. The other parents in this question are isolating themselves and/or denying their feelings. Visiting the grave daily shows active continued mourning but is not as strongly indicative of resilience as the correct response.

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