A patient undergoing diagnostic tests says, 'Nothing is wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold.' The spouse reports the patient smokes, coughs daily, lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?

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psychiatric nurse certification Questions

Question 1 of 5

A patient undergoing diagnostic tests says, 'Nothing is wrong with me except a stubborn chest cold.' The spouse reports the patient smokes, coughs daily, lost 15 pounds, and is easily fatigued. Which defense mechanism is the patient using?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Denial is an unconscious blocking of threatening or painful information or feelings. Regression involves using behaviors appropriate at an earlier stage of psychosexual development. Displacement shifts feelings to a more neutral person or object. Projection attributes one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to another.

Question 2 of 5

A patient diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder has this nursing diagnosis: Anxiety related to _____ as evidenced by inability to control compulsive cleaning. Which phrase correctly completes the etiological portion of the diagnosis?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 3 of 5

A store clerk was killed during a robbery 2 weeks ago. His widow, who has a long history of schizoaffective disorder, cries spontaneously when talking about his death. Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The patient is expressing feelings related to the loss, and this is an expected and healthy behavior. This patient is at risk for a maladaptive response because of the history of a serious mental illness, but the nurse's priority intervention is to form a therapeutic alliance and support the patient's expression of feelings. Crying at 2 weeks after his death is expected and normal.

Question 4 of 5

A soldier returned 3 months ago from a combat zone and was diagnosed with PTSD. Which social event would be most disturbing for this soldier?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

Question 5 of 5

The nurse interviewing a patient with suspected PTSD should be alert to findings indicating the patient (Select all that apply)

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.

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