ATI RN
ATI Practice Questions Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
A patient tells a nurse, "My best friend is a perfect person. She is kind, considerate, good-looking, and successful with every task. I could have been like her if I had the opportunities, luck, and money she's ha" This patient is demonstrating
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale: C: Rationalization is when a person justifies their behaviors or feelings by providing logical reasoning that may not be valid. In this case, the patient is rationalizing their shortcomings by attributing them to external factors like opportunities, luck, and money. This defense mechanism helps protect their self-esteem by avoiding taking responsibility for their own traits. Incorrect choices: A: Denial is refusing to accept reality, which is not evident in this scenario. B: Projection is attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or thoughts to others, which is not present here. D: Compensation is making up for a perceived weakness by emphasizing a strength, which is not demonstrated by the patient's statement.
Question 2 of 5
While providing care to a patient with a mental disorder, the patient asks the nurse, 'Does mental illness run in your family?' Which response by the nurse would be most inappropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct response is C because it discloses personal information about the nurse's family member, which is unprofessional and breaches patient confidentiality. The nurse should maintain professional boundaries and focus on the patient's needs, not their own personal experiences. Choices A, B, and D maintain appropriate boundaries and redirect the conversation back to the patient's concerns, demonstrating empathy and respect for the patient's privacy.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse has begun group counseling sessions for several hospitalized patients in the psychiatric facility. Which of the following would be most effective for the nurse to do to promote group cohesiveness?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Use team-building exercises. Team-building exercises help foster trust, communication, and camaraderie among group members, promoting group cohesiveness. By engaging in activities that require collaboration and problem-solving, group members can develop a sense of unity and support for each other. Option B: Encouraging task completion focuses more on achieving goals rather than building relationships, which may not necessarily enhance group cohesiveness. Option C: Spending time individually with each member may lead to unequal attention and could hinder the development of group dynamics. Option D: Being consistent with group themes is important but may not directly contribute to promoting group cohesiveness as team-building exercises do.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is reviewing the medical records of several older adult patients who have come to the clinic for evaluation. The nurse would classify a patient of which age as being in the middle-old stage?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C (78-year-old adult) because the middle-old stage typically refers to individuals aged 75-84. This age range is considered the transition from the young-old stage (65-74) to the oldest-old stage (85+). Choice A (66-year-old adult) falls into the young-old stage, choice B (70-year-old adult) is also in the young-old stage, and choice D (86-year-old adult) is in the oldest-old stage. Therefore, based on the age range classification, the 78-year-old adult (choice C) is classified as being in the middle-old stage.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a patient who has attempted suicide. Which of the following would the nurse identify as relating to a psychological cause?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Cluster B personality disorder. This is because personality disorders are deeply ingrained patterns of behavior that cause distress or impairment. Cluster B includes disorders characterized by dramatic, emotional, or erratic behavior, such as borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, and antisocial personality disorders. Individuals with Cluster B personality disorders may have underlying psychological issues that contribute to suicidal behavior. A: While a history of childhood trauma can certainly contribute to suicidal ideation, it is not specifically related to a psychological cause in the context of this question. C: Social isolation can be a risk factor for suicide, but it is not a direct psychological cause. D: Suicide contagion refers to the phenomenon where exposure to suicide or suicidal behavior influences others to attempt suicide. It is not a psychological cause but rather a social factor.