ATI RN
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is assessing a newly admitted client who has schizophrenia and takes thioridazine. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as an adverse effect of this medication?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Contractions of the jaw. Thioridazine is an antipsychotic medication that can cause extrapyramidal side effects, such as jaw contractions known as trismus or dystonia. This is a common adverse effect that the nurse should document. Anhedonia (
A) is a symptom of schizophrenia, not an adverse effect of thioridazine. Waxy flexibility (
B) is a symptom of catatonia, not a side effect of thioridazine. Incongruent affect (
D) is a symptom related to the client's emotional expression, not a side effect of the medication.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is providing teaching to the caregiver of an older adult client who has Alzheimer’s disease and is being cared for at home. The client wanders at night and has a history of previous falls. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Position the mattress on the floor. Placing the mattress on the floor reduces the risk of injury in case the client falls out of bed while wandering at night. This instruction prioritizes safety and minimizes the potential harm from falls. Installing sensor devices on outside doors (
B) may help monitor the client's movements but does not directly address fall prevention. Encouraging physical activity prior to bedtime (
C) may increase restlessness and exacerbate wandering behavior. Putting locks at the top of doors (
D) may pose a safety risk in case of emergencies and hinder the client's ability to freely move within the home.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse in a psychiatric unit is planning care for a client who has paranoid personality disorder. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Avoid challenging the client's paranoid beliefs. This is important in working with clients with paranoid personality disorder to build trust and rapport. Challenging their beliefs can increase their defensiveness and exacerbate their paranoia. Encouraging group therapy (
A) may trigger feelings of being targeted or watched. Maintaining eye contact (
C) could be interpreted as threatening. Using humor (
D) may not be appropriate as it can be misinterpreted.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is assessing a child in the emergency department. Which of the following findings places the child at the greatest risk for physical abuse?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. A 10-year-old child is at the greatest risk for physical abuse because children around this age are more likely to be physically abused due to the challenges associated with behavioral issues and caregiver expectations. Children who are home-schooled (choice
B) are not necessarily at higher risk for abuse, as abuse can occur in any educational setting. Having no siblings (choice
C) does not directly correlate with an increased risk of abuse. While having a medical condition like cystic fibrosis (choice
D) can make a child more vulnerable, the age of the child is a stronger indicator of risk.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic episode. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct action for the nurse to take is to encourage the client to participate in physical activities (
Choice
C). This is because engaging in physical activities can help the client release excess energy and reduce agitation often seen in manic episodes of bipolar disorder. Physical activities can also promote a sense of well-being and improve mood. Group therapy (
Choice
A) may not be suitable during a manic episode as the client may have difficulty focusing and may disrupt the session. Rotating staff members (
Choice
B) may lead to inconsistency in care and disrupt the therapeutic relationship. Distracting the client with increased environmental stimuli (
Choice
D) may exacerbate the manic symptoms rather than help manage them.