ATI RN
Proctored ATI Mental Health Questions
Question 1 of 5
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed. This technique, known as reflective listening, shows active listening and empathy towards the patient. By restating the patient's feelings or thoughts, the nurse demonstrates understanding and encourages further communication. This approach validates the patient's emotions and promotes a therapeutic relationship. Choice B (Asking a direct question) may come off as interrogative and can feel less empathetic. Choice C (Making a judgment) can be perceived as dismissive or critical, hindering open communication. Choice D (Saying "I understand what you're saying") may seem insincere unless followed by specific examples of understanding.
Question 2 of 5
When describing the influence of Harry Stack Sullivan on psychiatric-mental health nursing, which of the following would the instructor address as a major concept?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Interpersonal relations. Harry Stack Sullivan is known for his focus on interpersonal relations as a major concept in psychiatric-mental health nursing. Sullivan emphasized the importance of understanding and improving relationships between individuals as a key factor in mental health. He believed that a person's development and well-being are greatly influenced by their interactions with others. This concept is fundamental in psychiatric nursing practice as it guides therapeutic communication and relationship-building with patients. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because they do not directly align with Sullivan's emphasis on interpersonal relations in the context of psychiatric-mental health nursing.
Question 3 of 5
A group of nursing students are reviewing information related to drug therapy for mood disorders. The students demonstrate understanding of the information when they identify which agent as the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Lithium. Lithium is considered the gold standard for treating bipolar disorder due to its proven efficacy in reducing manic episodes and preventing relapse. It has been used for decades and has a well-established track record. Additionally, lithium has a unique mechanism of action in stabilizing mood by modulating neurotransmitters. Carbamazepine, valproate, and lamotrigine are also used in treating bipolar disorder, but they are not considered the gold standard like lithium. Carbamazepine and valproate are typically used as alternative options or in combination with other medications, while lamotrigine is often used for bipolar depression rather than mania.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is working with a child for which an out-of-home placement has occurred. Which of the following would the nurse anticipate as the child's initial response?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Protest. When a child experiences an out-of-home placement, they typically respond with protest initially, displaying anger, resistance, and a sense of loss. This is a common reaction as the child may feel abandoned or confused. Despair (A) is usually a later response after protest. Withdrawal (B) involves isolating oneself, which is not an immediate response to out-of-home placement. Detachment (D) is a form of emotional disengagement, which is also not typically the initial response in this situation.
Question 5 of 5
A patient's 5-year-old poodle ran in front of a car and was killed. The patient continues to be upset by her pet's death, and she explains to a community counseling center nurse that she can't stop crying because, 'My Precious meant the world to me, and now my world will never be the same!' If the nurse were to determine that the patient was experiencing a crisis, which of the following types of crisis would it most likely be?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Situational crisis. In this scenario, the patient's overwhelming emotional response to her pet's death is due to a specific, unexpected event - the loss of her beloved pet. Situational crises are triggered by external events that disrupt an individual's normal functioning. The patient's distress is directly linked to the situation at hand, which is the sudden death of her poodle. Choice A: Maturational crisis, involves normal life transitions or stages. The patient's response is not related to a typical life event but to a specific incident. Choice C: Traumatic crisis, typically involves a life-threatening or deeply disturbing event. While the loss of a pet can be traumatic, in this case, the patient's distress seems more related to the emotional bond with her pet rather than the traumatic nature of the event. Choice D: Developmental crisis, occurs when an individual struggles to achieve a new developmental stage. The patient's grief is not related to a failure