NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Psychiatric Questions Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A 21-year-old female was arrested on charges of solicitation. Jail staff asked for a mental health evaluation when the woman used a fork to stab herself. She also had an episode of rage after waking up from a nightmare and screamed repeatedly to 'let her out of the locked room.' After she was admitted to the psychiatric unit, she admitted to being kidnapped and held from ages 8 to 16 by a convicted child pornographer. She said she never contacted her family after her release from captivity. The nurse should do the following in what order of priority from first to last?
Correct Answer: A,C,B,D
Rationale: The nurse should prioritize: 1) Suicide precautions and no harm contract (
A) due to self-harm; 2) Offer empathy and support (
C) to build trust; 3) Ask about contacting family (
B) to explore reconnection; 4) Encourage verbalizing emotions (
D) to process trauma.
Question 2 of 5
A client who has had three episodes of recurrent endogenous depression within the past 2 years states to the nurse, 'I want to know why I'm so depressed.' Which of the following statements by the nurse is most helpful?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Discussing possible reasons encourages exploration of triggers and fosters therapeutic engagement.
Question 3 of 5
Which of the following should the nurse use as the best measure to determine a client's progress in rehabilitation?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The number of drug-free days is the best measure, as it directly reflects sustained abstinence, a primary goal of rehabilitation.
Question 4 of 5
A client with schizophrenia reports weight gain on risperidone (Risperdal). What should the nurse do?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Monitoring weight and discussing diet addresses the side effect while maintaining treatment, promoting health.
Question 5 of 5
A 19-year-old client is admitted to a psychiatric unit with an Axis I diagnosis of alcohol abuse and an Axis II diagnosis of personality disorder not otherwise specified. The client's mother states, 'He's always in trouble, just like when he was a boy. Now he's just a bigger prankster and out of control.' In view of the client's history, which of the following is most important initially?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Closely observing the client's behavior to establish a baseline is most important initially, as it provides critical data to understand his patterns, assess risks, and tailor interventions.