ATI RN
Behavioral Nursing Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is working with a patient diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. The patient states, 'I am so afraid of gaining weight. I can't eat.' What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 2 of 5
A newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder has gained 20 pounds over a few months and has suicidal ideation. The patient has taken antidepressant medication for 1 week without remission of symptoms. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Risk for suicide is the priority diagnosis when the patient has both suicidal ideation and a plan to carry out the suicidal intent. Imbalanced nutrition, hopelessness, and chronic low self-esteem may be applicable nursing diagnoses, but these problems do not affect patient safety as urgently as would a suicide attempt.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is assessing a patient diagnosed with bipolar disorder who is in the manic phase. The patient is exhibiting excessive spending and rapid speech. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 4 of 5
A patient nervously says, 'Financial problems are stressing my marriage. I've heard rumors about cutbacks at work; I am afraid I might get laid off.' The patient's pulse is 112/minute; respirations are 26/minute; and blood pressure is 166/88. Which nursing intervention will the nurse implement?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The patient's elevated vital signs indicate activation of the sympathetic nervous system, as evident by elevated vital signs. These will have a negative effect on his health and increase his perception of being anxious and stressed. Stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system will counter the sympathetic nervous system's arousal, normalizing these vital sign changes and reducing the physiological demands stress is placing on his body. Other options do not address his physiological response pattern as directly or immediately.
Question 5 of 5
A patient reports, 'I am overwhelmed by stress.' Which question by the nurse would be most important to use in the initial assessment of this patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The most important data to collect during an initial assessment is that which reflects how stress is affecting the patient and how he is coping with stress at present. This data would indicate whether or not his distress is placing him in danger (e.g., by elevating his blood pressure dangerously or via maladaptive responses, such as drinking) and would help the nurse understand how he copes and how well his coping strategies and resources serve him. Of the choices presented, the highest priority would be to determine what he is doing to cope at present, preferably via an open-ended inquiry. Family history, the extent of his use of exercise, and how much sleep he is getting are all helpful but seek data that is less of a priority. Also, the manner in which such data is sought here is likely to provide only brief responses (e.g., how much sleep he got on one particular night is probably less important than how much he is sleeping in general).