ATI RN
Mental Health Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is evaluating a clients response to stress. What would indicate to the nurse that the client is experiencing a secondary appraisal of the stressful event?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: In Lazarus and Folkman's Cognitive Appraisal Theory, secondary appraisal is the evaluation of the resources and coping strategies available to deal with a stressful event. Therefore, when the individual judges the resources and skills needed to deal with the event, it indicates that they are engaging in a secondary appraisal of the situation. This step is crucial in determining how the individual will cope with the stressor and manage the potential outcomes of the event. Options A, B, and D do not directly relate to the secondary appraisal process as defined in the theory.
Question 2 of 5
A client has a history of excessive drinking, which has led to multiple arrests for driving under the influence (DUI). The client states, I work hard to provide for my family. I dont see why I cant drink to relax. The nurse recognizes the use of which defense mechanism?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rationalization is a defense mechanism where an individual justifies unacceptable behaviors or feelings by providing logical reasons or explanations. In this scenario, the client is rationalizing their excessive drinking by stating that they work hard to provide for their family, so they should be able to drink to relax. This rationalization allows the client to avoid confronting the negative consequences of their excessive drinking and the impact it has had on their life, such as multiple DUI arrests. It provides a socially acceptable reason for their behavior, allowing them to continue drinking without feeling guilty or responsible for their actions.
Question 3 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 4 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 5 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.