ATI RN
Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry Test Bank Questions
Question 1 of 9
The patient states, "Everybody picks on me. They frobitz me." The patient’s communication exhibits:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: A neologism. A neologism is a made-up word or phrase that only has meaning to the individual. In this case, "frobitz" is not a known word in the English language, indicating a neologism. This suggests possible language or thought disorder. B: Loose associations involve disconnected or tangential thoughts. C: Delusional thinking involves fixed false beliefs. D: Circumstantial speech includes excessive, irrelevant detail before reaching the main point.
Question 2 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.
Question 3 of 9
A child who has been physically abused becomes emotionally distressed when told that the parent will no longer be allowed to visit. Which principle of social learning theory explains the child’s response?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: The child believes they are responsible for the parent being punished. According to social learning theory, individuals learn behaviors through observation and modeling. In this scenario, the child has internalized the belief that they are the cause of the parent's punishment due to the abuse. This leads to feelings of guilt and distress when the parent is no longer allowed to visit. A: The child does not view abuse as desirable; it is a harmful behavior. B: While fear may be present, the core issue lies in the child's belief of responsibility. D: The parent blaming the child for the abuse does not align with the principles of social learning theory.
Question 4 of 9
Which initial short-term outcome would be appropriate for a patient admitted with delusional thoughts?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D, engage in reality-oriented conversation. This is appropriate because it helps the patient ground themselves in reality and potentially reduce the intensity of their delusions. By discussing real-life events and situations, the patient is encouraged to recognize the disparity between their delusional thoughts and actual reality. Choice A is incorrect as simply accepting the delusion as illogical does not actively address the patient's condition. Choice B, distinguishing external boundaries, is not as effective in directly challenging the delusional thoughts. Choice C, explaining the basis for the delusions, may not be helpful initially as the patient may not be receptive to logical explanations due to their distorted thinking.
Question 5 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 6 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 7 of 9
The patient states, "Everybody picks on me. They frobitz me." The patient’s communication exhibits:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: A neologism. A neologism is a made-up word or phrase that only has meaning to the individual. In this case, "frobitz" is not a known word in the English language, indicating a neologism. This suggests possible language or thought disorder. B: Loose associations involve disconnected or tangential thoughts. C: Delusional thinking involves fixed false beliefs. D: Circumstantial speech includes excessive, irrelevant detail before reaching the main point.
Question 8 of 9
The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of 7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4 hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. The nurse will document the outcome as:
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Sometimes demonstrated. The rationale is that the patient is not consistently meeting the desired outcome of sleeping for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days. Although the patient is sleeping for an average of 4 hours nightly, the 2-hour afternoon nap indicates that the patient is not achieving the desired outcome consistently. Therefore, the nurse would document the outcome as "Sometimes demonstrated" to reflect that the patient is making progress towards the goal but has not fully achieved it. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because the patient's sleep behavior does not align with being consistently, often, or never demonstrated based on the desired outcome criteria.
Question 9 of 9
Which statement best explains how a mother of several children should prepare to help them cope with the loss of a dear aunt?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because each child will indeed grieve in a unique way and on their own timetable. This approach recognizes the individuality of each child's emotions and coping mechanisms. By understanding and respecting their differences, the mother can provide tailored support and comfort. Option B oversimplifies the grieving process and ignores the complexity of individual responses. Option C generalizes the stages of grief for all people and does not account for variations in how children may process loss. Option D incorrectly suggests that extreme reactions are more common in young children, which is not necessarily true as grief responses can vary widely among children.