ATI RN
Mental Health Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is conducting education on anxiety and stress management. Which of the following should be identified as the most important initial step in learning how to manage anxiety?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The most important initial step in learning how to manage anxiety is to first become aware of the factors creating stress. Understanding the root causes of anxiety and stress can help individuals develop appropriate coping strategies. By identifying triggers and stressors, individuals can then work towards addressing and managing these factors effectively. This self-awareness is crucial for developing a personalized and targeted approach to anxiety management. Diagnostic blood tests, relaxation exercises, and identifying support systems are important components of anxiety management as well, but they typically come after understanding the underlying stress factors.
Question 2 of 5
A mental health technician asks the nurse, How do psychiatrists determine which diagnosis to give a patient? Which of these responses by the nurse would be most accurate?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Psychiatrists determine a patient's diagnosis by using pre-established criteria from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 provides standardized criteria for diagnosing mental health disorders, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the identification and classification of various psychiatric conditions. This allows psychiatrists to make informed and evidence-based decisions when assigning diagnoses to patients. Additionally, the DSM-5 helps psychiatrists communicate effectively with other healthcare professionals by using a common language and framework for mental health diagnosis.
Question 3 of 5
A fourth-grade boy teases and makes jokes about a cute girl in his class. This behavior should be identified by a nurse as indicative of which defense mechanism?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Projection is a defense mechanism in which an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto someone else. In this scenario, the fourth-grade boy is teasing and making jokes about the cute girl in his class. By doing so, he may be projecting his own insecurities or feelings of attraction onto the girl by teasing her instead of confronting his own emotions. This behavior allows him to disown his feelings and avoid acknowledging them within himself.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is performing a mental health assessment on an adult client. According to Maslows hierarchy of needs, which client action would demonstrate the highest achievement in terms of mental health?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, self-actualization represents the highest level of human psychological development. It involves achieving personal growth, self-fulfillment, realizing one's full potential, and finding meaning and purpose in life. This level goes beyond basic needs like food, safety, love, or esteem. When a person reaches self-actualization, they are focused on personal growth, creativity, problem-solving, and reaching their fullest potential. Therefore, possessing a feeling of self-fulfillment and realizing full potential would be the highest achievement in terms of mental health according to Maslow's hierarchy.
Question 5 of 5
Which should the nurse recognize as a DSM-5 disorder?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should recognize Generalized anxiety disorder as a DSM-5 disorder. The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) is a widely used classification system for psychiatric disorders. Generalized anxiety disorder is a specific mental health condition characterized by excessive worry and anxiety that is difficult to control. It meets the criteria outlined in the DSM-5 for diagnosis and classification as a mental disorder. Obesity, hypertension, and grief are not classified as DSM-5 disorders.