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:

Questions 29

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Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry Test Bank Questions

Question 1 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 2 of 9

Which intervention would qualify as primary prevention of violent behaviors in children and adolescents?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because limiting exposure to violence on TV, video, and computer games falls under primary prevention by addressing risk factors before violent behaviors occur. This intervention helps reduce the likelihood of children and adolescents developing violent tendencies by minimizing their exposure to violent content that can influence their behavior. A: Forbidding the child to continue friendships with violent peers is more of a secondary prevention strategy targeting existing risk factors, not primary prevention. C: Seeking counseling for a child who has been experimenting with drugs is also a secondary prevention strategy focusing on addressing a specific risk factor, not primary prevention. D: Showing a unified approach to parenting when dealing with a violent child is a tertiary prevention strategy aimed at managing and reducing harm after the behavior has already occurred, not primary prevention.

Question 3 of 9

Select the best outcome for a patient with the nursing diagnosis: "Impaired social interaction related to sociocultural dissonance as evidenced by stating, 'Although I’d like to, I don’t join in because I don’t speak the language very well.'” Patient will:

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Select and participate in one group activity per day. This outcome directly addresses the nursing diagnosis of impaired social interaction by encouraging the patient to engage in a specific social activity daily. This goal promotes social interaction, helps the patient overcome language barriers, and gradually enhances their social skills. It provides a structured approach to improve the patient's sociocultural integration. A: Show improved use of language - This choice focuses solely on language skills but does not directly address the social interaction issue. B: Demonstrate improved social skills - While this choice is related to the nursing diagnosis, it is too broad and lacks specificity compared to choice D. C: Become more independent in decision-making - This choice is not directly related to addressing impaired social interaction caused by language barriers.

Question 4 of 9

When a hospitalized patient dies, his wife stares blankly and states, "It can’t be." This indicates:

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Correct Answer: B (Shock and disbelief) Rationale: 1. The wife's blank stare and statement "It can’t be" suggest a state of disbelief and being stunned by the news of her husband's death, indicating shock. 2. Shock is a common initial reaction to unexpected and distressing events, such as the sudden death of a loved one. 3. This choice is the most fitting based on the wife's reaction of disbelief and being unable to accept the reality of the situation. Summary: A: Despair and protest - Despair involves a sense of hopelessness, not evident in the wife's initial reaction. Protest implies a more active response, while the wife's reaction is passive. C: Anger and hostility - There is no indication of anger or hostility in the wife's initial response; rather, it is characterized by disbelief. D: Disorganization and confusion - While the wife may feel disorganized and confused later, her initial response reflects more shock and disbelief than disorganization

Question 5 of 9

An 85-year-old has difficulty walking after a knee replacement. The patient tells the nurse, “It’s awful to be old. Every day is a struggle. No one cares about old people.” Select the nurse’s best response.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because it shows empathy and active listening. By encouraging the patient to share their feelings, the nurse validates their emotions and builds a therapeutic relationship. This approach helps the nurse understand the patient's perspective and provides an opportunity for emotional support. Choice A does not actively invite the patient to share their feelings and may come off as dismissive. Choice C ignores the patient's emotional distress and may seem invalidating. Choice D, while positive, fails to address the patient's emotional concerns and misses an opportunity for meaningful communication.

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

Which response demonstrates both empathy and understanding of the relationship genetics has to the development of schizophrenia in twins?

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D because it provides an empathetic response by acknowledging the concern of the parent and demonstrating an understanding of the genetic link between twins and schizophrenia. By citing a specific statistic (50%), it shows knowledge of the relationship between genetics and the development of schizophrenia in twins. Choice A is incorrect because it downplays the genetic influence by suggesting a small chance, which is not accurate. Choice B is incorrect because it dismisses the seriousness of the situation and does not address the genetics aspect of the disorder. Choice C is incorrect because it is not based on factual information and offers sympathy without addressing the genetic component of schizophrenia in twins.

Question 8 of 9

The nurse is determining whether the patient’s needs could be best met in a task or a process group. The decision is based on the understanding that a task group focuses on:

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: The "here and now." In a task group, the focus is on addressing specific goals, tasks, and problem-solving in the present moment. This approach helps members work together efficiently to achieve objectives. Communication styles (B) are more relevant in a group focused on improving communication skills. Relations among the members (C) are typically emphasized in a process group, where the focus is on interpersonal dynamics and relationships. Choice D is incomplete and does not align with the purpose of a task group.

Question 9 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.

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