ATI RN
Mental Health ATI Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
A nursing instructor is integrating Piaget's theory of cognitive development into the discussion of learning and mental health issues affecting adolescents. The instructor would identify this age group as in which stage?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Formal operations. Adolescents are typically in Piaget's formal operations stage, which occurs around ages 11 to adulthood. In this stage, individuals develop abstract thinking, logical reasoning, hypothetical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This stage allows adolescents to think about possibilities, consequences, and hypothetical situations. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they correspond to earlier stages of cognitive development. Concrete operations (choice A) typically occur between ages 7 to 11, preoperational (choice B) between ages 2 to 7, and sensorimotor (choice D) from birth to 2 years old. These stages do not align with the cognitive abilities and characteristics of adolescents.
Question 2 of 5
A psychiatric mental health nurse is responsible for performing admission assessments of a population that primarily involves young and middle-aged adults. When performing these assessments, which area would be a priority?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Suicide risk. When assessing young and middle-aged adults, identifying suicide risk is a critical priority to ensure their safety. Suicide risk assessment involves evaluating factors like past attempts, suicidal ideation, impulsivity, and access to means. Understanding and addressing suicide risk is crucial in psychiatric care to prevent harm. A: Coping skills - While important, assessing coping skills may not be as urgent as identifying suicide risk in this population. B: Cognition - Assessing cognition is valuable but may not be an immediate priority compared to addressing suicide risk. C: Self-esteem - Self-esteem assessment is relevant, but identifying suicide risk takes precedence due to the potential for immediate harm.
Question 3 of 5
A group of nursing students is reviewing information about the types of crisis. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which of the following as a developmental crisis?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Going away to college. A developmental crisis is a normal life event that occurs as a person progresses through the stages of life. Going away to college is a typical developmental milestone that can cause stress and require adaptation. This type of crisis is expected and can lead to personal growth and development. Choice B, obtaining a job promotion, is not a developmental crisis as it is not a typical life event associated with a specific stage of life. Choice C, loss of a pet, is considered a situational crisis rather than a developmental crisis. Choice D, earthquake, is classified as a traumatic crisis caused by a sudden and unexpected event, which is not related to personal growth or normal life transitions.
Question 4 of 5
A client has been diagnosed with major depression. The client reports that he often wakes up during the night and has trouble returning to sleep. The nurse interprets this finding as suggesting which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Middle insomnia. This is because the client waking up during the night and having trouble returning to sleep is characteristic of middle insomnia, which refers to difficulty maintaining sleep in the middle of the night. Initial insomnia (A) is difficulty falling asleep at the beginning of the night. Terminal insomnia (B) is early morning awakening with an inability to return to sleep. Hypersomnia (C) is excessive daytime sleepiness, which is not indicative of the client's symptoms. Therefore, the correct interpretation in this scenario is middle insomnia.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is reading an article about a young girl who developed gastrointestinal symptoms from a hairball because of a ritual that she engaged in. The girl would pull out hair over several hours to relieve tension and anxiety and then eat the hair. The nurse most likely is reading an article about which of the following?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Trichotillomania. Trichotillomania is a disorder characterized by the compulsive urge to pull out one's hair, leading to hair loss. In this case, the young girl's behavior of pulling out hair to relieve tension and anxiety aligns with the symptoms of trichotillomania. Kleptomania (A) is the urge to steal items, not related to hair pulling. Pyromania (C) is the urge to set fires, not related to hair pulling. Intermittent explosive disorder (D) involves episodes of impulsive aggression, not related to hair pulling.