ATI RN
Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which part of the nervous system should a nurse identify as playing a major role during stressful situations?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response in the body, which is activated in stressful situations. This response prepares the body to react quickly to perceived threats, such as increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and increased adrenaline production. Therefore, during stressful situations, the sympathetic nervous system plays a major role in mobilizing the body's resources to respond effectively.
Question 2 of 5
Which cerebral structure should a nursing instructor describe to students as the emotional brain?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The limbic system is often referred to as the "emotional brain" because it plays a major role in processing emotions and emotional responses. It is a complex system of brain structures that includes the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, among others. These structures are involved in regulating emotions, memory, and certain instinctive behaviors such as fight-or-flight responses. Therefore, a nursing instructor should describe the limbic system as the emotional brain to students as it is essential in understanding emotional functioning and behavior.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse should expect that an increase in dopamine activity might play a significant role in the development of which mental illness?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in various mental illnesses, including schizophrenia. One of the leading theories about schizophrenia is the dopamine hypothesis, which suggests that excessive dopamine activity in certain areas of the brain contributes to the development of psychotic symptoms associated with the disorder. Medications that block dopamine receptors are often used to help manage symptoms of schizophrenia, further supporting the idea of dopamine dysregulation in this mental illness. Therefore, a nurse should expect that an increase in dopamine activity might play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia.
Question 4 of 5
Which of the following symptoms should a nurse associate with increased levels of thyroid- stimulating hormone (TSH) in a newly admitted client? Select all that apply.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Failed to generate a rationale of 500+ characters after 5 retries.
Question 5 of 5
Group therapy is strongly encouraged, but not mandatory, on an inpatient psychiatric unit. The unit managers policy is that clients can make a choice about whether or not to attend group therapy. Which ethical principle does the unit managers policy preserve?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The unit manager's policy of allowing clients to choose whether or not to attend group therapy preserves the ethical principle of autonomy. Autonomy refers to respecting individuals' right to make their own decisions about their care and treatment. By giving clients the choice, the unit manager is honoring their autonomy and allowing them to have a say in their own treatment plan. This helps empower clients and promotes their self-determination, which is a key aspect of ethical healthcare practice. It is important to respect autonomy in mental health settings to promote client-centered care and foster a therapeutic alliance.