ATI RN
Psychiatric Nursing Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 9
A nursing student is reviewing journal articles about major depression. One of the articles describes the number of persons newly diagnosed with the disorder during the past year. The student interprets this as which of the following?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Incidence. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of a specific disease or condition within a defined time period. In this scenario, the nursing student is reviewing the number of persons newly diagnosed with major depression in the past year, which aligns with the concept of incidence. This information helps in understanding the risk of developing major depression in a given population over a specific time frame. Now, let's analyze why the other choices are incorrect: A: Rate - This term is too broad and does not specifically address the number of new cases within a defined period. B: Prevalence - Prevalence refers to the total number of cases (both new and existing) of a disease within a specific population at a given time, not just new cases. C: Point prevalence - This term specifically refers to the proportion of a population that has a particular condition at a specific point in time, not the number of new cases within a specific period.
Question 2 of 9
A patient is being treated for prostate cancer; his prognosis is very poor. The patient has a strong faith, and he has been active in his church for many years. He is concerned about his health and the challenges he faces as his cancer progresses. Which comment by the nurse reflects the most appropriate spiritual nursing intervention for the patient?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: `We can pray together if you’d like.` This response reflects the most appropriate spiritual nursing intervention because it acknowledges and respects the patient's strong faith. By offering to pray together, the nurse shows support, empathy, and understanding of the patient's spiritual beliefs, which can provide comfort and solace during a challenging time. Option A is incorrect as it focuses on the nurse's church rather than the patient's faith. Option B is inappropriate as it imposes the nurse's beliefs on the patient. Option C is not the best choice as guided imagery may not align with the patient's specific spiritual needs.
Question 3 of 9
A nurse is faced with an ethical dilemma involving a patient. Which question would be most important for the nurse to ask first when engaging in the process of ethical decision making?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because ethical decision-making requires examining assumptions and seeking more information before making a judgment. By questioning assumptions, the nurse can avoid biases and ensure decisions are based on accurate data. This step is crucial in understanding the full context of the ethical dilemma and considering all perspectives involved. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because focusing on personal feelings, existing knowledge, or patient values alone may not address the root of the ethical issue or lead to a comprehensive decision-making process.
Question 4 of 9
A patient’s global assessment functioning reveals that he has minimal symptoms with good functioning in all areas. Which score would the nurse correlate with these findings?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: 94. A score of 94 indicates minimal symptoms with good functioning. The Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scale ranges from 1 to 100, with higher scores indicating better functioning. A score of 94 implies minimal to no symptoms and excellent functioning in all areas. Incorrect Choices: B: 82 - This score suggests mild symptoms or moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning. C: 75 - Indicates symptoms that are transient and expectable reactions to psychosocial stressors. D: 63 - Indicates moderate symptoms or moderate difficulty in social, occupational, or school functioning.
Question 5 of 9
After teaching a class about competency and how it is assessed, the nursing instructor determines the need for additional instruction when the class identifies which ability as being evaluated?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Communication of choices. Competency assessment in nursing evaluates the ability to effectively communicate choices to patients, colleagues, and healthcare team. Understanding of relevant information (B) is essential, appreciation for situation and consequences (C) demonstrates critical thinking, and discussion of what is right and wrong (D) reflects ethical reasoning, but communication is crucial for effective nursing practice. Therefore, the instructor should focus on providing additional instruction on communication of choices to ensure comprehensive competency assessment.
Question 6 of 9
A nursing instructor is describing the impact of technology and electronic health records on psychiatric-mental health care. Which of the following would the instructor identify as a major challenge associated with it?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Maintaining confidentiality. Electronic health records in psychiatric-mental health care present challenges in protecting sensitive patient information due to potential breaches in security. This is crucial in maintaining trust and privacy between patients and healthcare providers. Choice B (Establishing educational models) is not a major challenge related to technology and EHRs. Choice C (Decreasing fragmented care) is actually a potential benefit of technology by improving communication and coordination among healthcare providers. Choice D (Defining professional standards more clearly) is important but not a major challenge specifically associated with technology and EHRs in psychiatric-mental health care.
Question 7 of 9
After teaching a group of students about the beliefs associated with the major religions, the instructor determines that additional teaching is needed when the students identify which belief as associated with Confucianism?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because Confucianism does not believe in assigning people to castes. Confucianism emphasizes meritocracy and the importance of personal virtue rather than birthright or social status. A: People are born good aligns with Confucianism's belief in the innate goodness of individuals. C: Authority figures are respected reflects Confucianism's emphasis on respecting and obeying elders and leaders. D: Self-responsibility leads to improvement is in line with Confucian teachings on self-cultivation and ethical conduct. Therefore, the belief that people are assigned to castes is not associated with Confucianism.
Question 8 of 9
Which patient would the nurse determine to be the most likely a candidate for involuntary commitment?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because the client screaming in the street disturbing neighbors poses a risk to themselves and others, indicating imminent danger and need for involuntary commitment for safety. Choice A, refusing medication, alone does not warrant involuntary commitment. Choice C, refusal to participate in therapy, may not indicate immediate danger. Choice D, being homeless with a mental disorder, does not automatically necessitate involuntary commitment unless there is imminent risk to self or others.
Question 9 of 9
A nurse is engaged in exercises to develop self-awareness. The nurse is using which tool?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Reflection. Self-awareness is the process of introspection and understanding one's own thoughts, feelings, and actions. Reflection is a tool that helps individuals explore their experiences, emotions, and beliefs, leading to increased self-awareness. Interdisciplinary care (A) involves collaboration among different healthcare professionals. Plan of care (C) refers to the specific actions and interventions for a patient's treatment. Clinical reasoning (D) is the process of analyzing patient data to make clinical decisions. Reflection is the most appropriate tool for developing self-awareness among healthcare professionals.