A patient living in community housing for the elderly says, “I don’t go to the senior citizens club. They play cards and talk about the past because that’s all they can do.” The nurse analyzes these remarks to represent:

Questions 29

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Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry Test Bank Questions

Question 1 of 9

A patient living in community housing for the elderly says, “I don’t go to the senior citizens club. They play cards and talk about the past because that’s all they can do.” The nurse analyzes these remarks to represent:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Thinking associated with ageism. This is because the patient's statement reflects a negative stereotype about older adults, assuming they are limited to playing cards and reminiscing about the past. Ageism involves discrimination or prejudice based on someone's age, which can lead to stereotyping and marginalization. A: Failure to achieve developmental tasks - This choice does not directly relate to the patient's statement about ageism. B: Hypercritical behavior - The patient's statement does not indicate hypercritical behavior, but rather a biased perspective on aging. C: Paranoid thinking - The patient's statement does not demonstrate paranoid thinking, but rather a biased view of older adults based on ageist beliefs. In summary, the correct answer is D as the patient's remarks reflect ageist thinking, while the other choices do not align with the content of the patient's statement.

Question 2 of 9

A grief support group is held at the local community center to assist persons who are dealing with issues of loss. Which remark by one of the members would the nurse interpret as indicating unresolved feelings of guilt?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because the statement indicates feelings of guilt about not getting help sooner, suggesting the member may blame themselves for the loss. This remark reflects a sense of responsibility and regret, common in unresolved guilt. Choice A expresses acceptance, B reflects natural grief progression, and D highlights difficulty during specific times, not necessarily linked to guilt. By analyzing the content of each statement, the nurse can identify cues related to unresolved feelings of guilt.

Question 3 of 9

Which activities should the nurse evaluate in an assessment of an older patient’s functional status? (Select all that apply.)

Correct Answer: A,C

Rationale: The correct answers are A and C. A nurse should evaluate if the older patient can prepare nutritious meals independently, as this indicates their ability to meet basic nutritional needs and maintain independence in daily living. Additionally, assessing if the patient can perform regular, simple maintenance on their primary residence is important for gauging their ability to live safely and comfortably. Choices B and D are incorrect as financial resources and toileting abilities, while important, do not directly reflect functional status in the same way as meal preparation and home maintenance.

Question 4 of 9

A patient living in community housing for the elderly says, “I don’t go to the senior citizens club. They play cards and talk about the past because that’s all they can do.” The nurse analyzes these remarks to represent:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Thinking associated with ageism. This is because the patient's statement reflects a negative stereotype about older adults, assuming they are limited to playing cards and reminiscing about the past. Ageism involves discrimination or prejudice based on someone's age, which can lead to stereotyping and marginalization. A: Failure to achieve developmental tasks - This choice does not directly relate to the patient's statement about ageism. B: Hypercritical behavior - The patient's statement does not indicate hypercritical behavior, but rather a biased perspective on aging. C: Paranoid thinking - The patient's statement does not demonstrate paranoid thinking, but rather a biased view of older adults based on ageist beliefs. In summary, the correct answer is D as the patient's remarks reflect ageist thinking, while the other choices do not align with the content of the patient's statement.

Question 5 of 9

Which intervention best reflects the nursing role regarding effective implementation of behavioral therapy goals?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because evaluating patient behaviors to reward economic tokens appropriately is a key aspect of behavioral therapy. By assessing and reinforcing positive behaviors with rewards, nurses can encourage patients to continue working towards their therapy goals. Administering medications accurately (choice A) is important but not directly related to behavioral therapy goals. Interacting effectively with the health care team (choice B) is important for overall patient care but does not specifically address behavioral therapy. Being aware of therapeutic modalities (choice C) is important but does not directly contribute to implementing behavioral therapy goals like choice D does.

Question 6 of 9

During a grief-processing group, an elderly patient stated, “For the first time since my husband died, I’m having more good days than bad.” This statement suggests that the patient has:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Completed her "grief work" successfully. This statement indicates progress in the grieving process, moving towards acceptance and healing. The patient acknowledging having more good days than bad reflects a positive shift in coping with the loss, indicating that she has processed her grief and is beginning to adapt to life without her husband. This suggests that the patient has worked through her emotions, memories, and adjustments related to the loss, reaching a point where she is experiencing more peace and acceptance. Summary: A: Reestablishment is not the correct choice as it does not specifically address the completion of the grief work. B: Determining readiness to terminate the support group is premature, as the patient may still benefit from continued support. D: Replacing old memories with new ones is not supported by the patient's statement and does not necessarily indicate successful grief processing.

Question 7 of 9

The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of 7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4 hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. The nurse will document the outcome as:

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Sometimes demonstrated. The rationale is that the patient is not consistently meeting the desired outcome of sleeping for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days. Although the patient is sleeping for an average of 4 hours nightly, the 2-hour afternoon nap indicates that the patient is not achieving the desired outcome consistently. Therefore, the nurse would document the outcome as "Sometimes demonstrated" to reflect that the patient is making progress towards the goal but has not fully achieved it. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the patient's sleep behavior does not align with being consistently, often, or never demonstrated based on the desired outcome criteria.

Question 8 of 9

A 70-year-old male has the nursing diagnosis of situational low self-esteem related to forced retirement. Using Maslow’s hierarchy, the nurse is confident the patient is meeting self-worth outcomes when the patient:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because volunteering at the local homeless shelter fulfills the self-actualization need in Maslow's hierarchy. By helping others and contributing to the community, the patient gains a sense of purpose and fulfillment, boosting self-esteem. A: Moving to a secure apartment building addresses safety needs, not self-esteem. B: Exercising with friends promotes social belonging but does not directly address self-esteem. C: Attending grandchildren's functions fosters social connections, but it may not directly impact self-esteem like volunteering does.

Question 9 of 9

After undergoing two of nine electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) procedures, a client states, "I can’t even remember eating breakfast, so I want to stop the ECT." Which is the most appropriate nursing reply?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. It acknowledges the client's autonomy while also addressing their concerns. First, it recognizes the client's right to discontinue treatment. Second, it opens the door for a discussion to explore the client's worries and provide support. This response shows empathy and respects the client's decision-making. Choice A is incorrect because it dismisses the client's autonomy and fails to address their concerns. Choice B is not as appropriate as it suggests only talking to the doctor, missing the opportunity for the nurse to provide immediate support. Choice D is incorrect as it invalidates the client's experience of memory loss and fails to address their concerns.

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