After an assault by a patient, a nurse has difficulty sleeping, startles easily, and is preoccupied with the incident. The nurse said, 'That patient should not be allowed to get away with that behavior.' Which response poses the greatest barrier to the nurse's ability to provide therapeutic care?

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ATI Mental Health Practice A 2023 Questions

Question 1 of 5

After an assault by a patient, a nurse has difficulty sleeping, startles easily, and is preoccupied with the incident. The nurse said, 'That patient should not be allowed to get away with that behavior.' Which response poses the greatest barrier to the nurse's ability to provide therapeutic care?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: A wish for revenge. This response poses the greatest barrier to the nurse's ability to provide therapeutic care because it indicates unresolved anger and desire for retaliation. This can lead to compromised judgment, emotional distress, and potential ethical issues in patient care. Startle reactions, difficulty sleeping, and preoccupation with the incident are common reactions to trauma but do not necessarily impede the nurse's ability to provide therapeutic care as significantly as a wish for revenge. It is crucial for the nurse to address these feelings through appropriate support and coping mechanisms to prevent negative impacts on patient care.

Question 2 of 5

After teaching a group of nursing students about milieu therapy, the instructor determines that additional teaching is needed when the students identify which of the following as a key concept of milieu therapy?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: De-escalation. Milieu therapy focuses on creating a therapeutic environment to promote healing and growth. De-escalation techniques are not a key concept of milieu therapy. Rationale: 1. Structure interaction (A): Correct - Milieu therapy emphasizes structured interactions between individuals to enhance communication and support. 2. Open communication (B): Correct - Milieu therapy encourages open and honest communication within the therapeutic environment. 3. Validation (C): Correct - Milieu therapy emphasizes validating individuals' feelings and experiences to promote a supportive environment. 4. De-escalation (D): Incorrect - De-escalation techniques are more commonly associated with crisis intervention and managing challenging behaviors, not a core concept of milieu therapy. In summary, de-escalation is not a key concept of milieu therapy, which focuses on promoting a therapeutic environment through structured interactions, open communication, and validation.

Question 3 of 5

Assessment of a family reveals that the youngest child has moved out of the family home to live by herself. One of the other two children is married, and the other child has just gotten engaged. The nurse interprets this family to be in which stage of the family life cycle?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Launching children and moving on. This stage typically occurs when children leave the family home to live independently, get married, or become engaged. In this scenario, the youngest child has already moved out to live by herself, and one of the other children is married while the remaining child has just gotten engaged. These events indicate that the family is transitioning into the stage of launching children and moving on, where parents adjust to an empty nest and focus on their own pursuits. Choices analysis: A: Families with adolescents - This stage typically involves children still living at home during their teenage years, which does not align with the information provided in the question. C: Families in later life - This stage occurs later in the family life cycle when children have grown up and left the family home, usually after retirement. The events in the question do not indicate this stage. D: Leaving home: single young adults - This stage involves young adults leaving the family home for the first time to

Question 4 of 5

When describing the concept of allostatic load to a group of students, which of the following would the instructor identify as abnormalities of which of the following as indicative of the overall changes?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Laboratory test results. Allostatic load refers to the cumulative wear and tear on the body as a result of chronic stress. Laboratory test results, such as cortisol levels, inflammation markers, and lipid profiles, provide direct indicators of physiological changes associated with stress. These results offer insights into how the body is responding to stress at a biochemical level. Explanation for why other choices are incorrect: A: Nuclear imaging studies - While nuclear imaging studies can provide valuable information about organ function, they are not typically used to directly measure the impact of stress on the body. C: Bone radiographs - Bone radiographs are used to assess bone structure and density, not typically associated with measuring allostatic load or stress-related changes. D: Cardiac studies - Cardiac studies focus on heart function and cardiovascular health, which can be influenced by stress but may not directly reflect the overall changes associated with allostatic load as comprehensively as laboratory test results.

Question 5 of 5

When assessing a client for possible disordered water balance, the nurse checks the client's urine specific gravity. Which result would lead the nurse to suspect that the client is experiencing severe disordered water balance?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D (1.002). A urine specific gravity of 1.002 indicates very dilute urine, suggesting the client may be experiencing severe water imbalance, such as overhydration or excessive fluid intake. In contrast, choices A, B, and C represent more concentrated urine, which would typically be seen in conditions like dehydration or fluid retention. Therefore, D is the correct answer as it indicates a significant deviation from the normal range, signaling a severe water balance issue.

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