ATI RN
Psychiatric Nurse Certification Questions
Question 1 of 5
An adolescent asks a nurse conducting an assessment interview, Why should I tell you anything? Youll just tell my parents whatever you find out. Which response by the nurse is appropriate?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adolescents value confidentiality, and the nurse must balance trust with legal/ethical duties. Option C is appropriate because it honestly explains that most information is confidential, but certain serious issues (e.g., suicidal ideation) must be shared with the treatment team for safety, fostering trust while clarifying limits. Option A is inaccurate (some exceptions exist), Option B undermines confidentiality, and Option D is dismissive and confrontational.
Question 2 of 5
A patient is known to express tangential thinking. The nurse would assess for which of the following when interacting with the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Tangential thinking is wandering off the topic and never providing the information requested. Thought blocking is stopping abruptly in the middle of a sentence or train of thoughts, sometimes unable to continue the idea. Loose associations are disorganized thinking that jumps from one idea to another with little or no evident relation between the thoughts. Flight of ideas is excessive amount and rate of speech composed of fragmented or unrelated ideas.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse suspects that a patient is abusing alcohol while taking prescribed medications. The nurse plans to educate the patient on the dangers of mixing medicine with alcohol. Which of the following would be the most effective way for the nurse to approach this subject with the patient?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Noncompliance with prescribed medications is an important area. If the client has stopped taking medication or is taking medication other than as prescribed, the nurse must help the client feel comfortable enough to reveal this information. The nurse also explores the client's use of alcohol and over-the-counter or illicit drugs. Such questions require nonjudgmental phrasing; the nurse must reassure the client that truthful information is crucial in determining the client's plan of care.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following would be circumstances when a client could be subjected to involuntary hospitalization?Select one that does not apply.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Health-care professionals respect the wishes of a client who does not wish to be hospitalized and treated unless clients are a danger to themselves or others (i.e., they are threatening or have attempted suicide or represent a danger to others). When a client states that he or she intends to commit suicide and is making plans to do so, the client is threatening suicide and could be subjected to involuntary hospitalization. When a client does not bathe regularly or change clothes often, the client is neglecting his or her hygiene, but it is unlikely that this could be construed as an imminent risk of harm to self. When a client states that he or she intends to harm others by a deliberate act, the client could be considered representing a danger to others. When a client who has diabetes refuses to follow the prescribed diet, the client is acting within his or her own right to comply with the recommendations of their health-care provider. When a client is unable to control his or her rage and is assaulting everyone around him or her, the client would be considered a danger to others.
Question 5 of 5
A client was brought to the emergency department by police after neighbors complained that he was loud and disruptive. The client is paranoid and upset and states, 'No one can be trusted.' Which of the criteria for involuntary admission does this client meet?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.