ATI RN
Behavioral Health Nurse Certification Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder repeatedly tells staff members, 'I have cancer. It's my punishment for being a bad person.' Diagnostic tests reveal no cancer. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Risk for suicide. In this scenario, the patient's belief of having cancer as punishment indicates a distorted thought pattern and extreme guilt, which can increase the risk of suicidal ideation. Addressing the risk for suicide is the priority to ensure the patient's safety. Option A, powerlessness, may be relevant but is not the immediate concern. Option C, stress overload, is not as critical as the risk for suicide. Option D, spiritual distress, is not the priority compared to ensuring the patient's safety from self-harm.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is planning care for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder who expresses a desire to commit suicide. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Ensure that the patient is in a safe environment and is not alone. This is the first intervention that should be implemented because safety is the top priority when a patient expresses suicidal ideation. Ensuring the patient is in a safe environment and not alone helps prevent immediate harm. Providing a quiet space (A) may not address the safety concern. Discussing feelings (C) and engaging in physical activity (D) can be important interventions, but safety must be addressed first.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient is having difficulty maintaining focus during conversations and displays incoherent speech. Which of the following symptoms is the patient exhibiting?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D: Loose associations. The patient's incoherent speech and difficulty maintaining focus during conversations are indicative of loose associations, a common symptom of schizophrenia. In loose associations, the patient's thoughts are not logically connected, leading to disjointed and illogical speech patterns. Neologisms (A) are newly created words, alogia (B) is poverty of speech, and echolalia (C) is the repetition of another person's words or phrases, none of which match the symptoms described.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and is beginning psychopharmacology therapy. Which of the following medications is considered first-line treatment for symptoms of PTSD?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Sertraline. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) commonly used as first-line treatment for PTSD due to its effectiveness in reducing symptoms like anxiety, depression, and intrusive thoughts. It helps stabilize mood and improve overall functioning in individuals with PTSD. Olanzapine (B) and Haloperidol (C) are antipsychotic medications primarily used for psychotic disorders, not first-line treatments for PTSD. Prazosin (D) is an alpha-1 adrenergic antagonist used to treat nightmares and sleep disturbances in PTSD but is not considered first-line treatment for overall PTSD symptoms.
Question 5 of 5
A patient diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder is receiving cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Which of the following should the nurse reinforce as an important goal of CBT?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: To identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to anxiety. In CBT for anxiety disorders, the main goal is to challenge and modify distorted thinking patterns that contribute to anxiety. By identifying and changing negative thought patterns, individuals can learn to respond to situations in a more adaptive and less anxiety-provoking way. This approach helps to break the cycle of anxiety and improve coping skills. Choices A and D are incorrect because avoiding stress or accepting anxiety as inevitable do not address the underlying cognitive processes that contribute to anxiety. Choice B is also incorrect as gaining insight into unconscious causes is more aligned with psychodynamic therapy rather than CBT, which focuses on changing current thoughts and behaviors.