ATI RN
ATI Psychiatric Exam 1 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has been admitted for a psychiatric evaluation after displaying aggressive behavior towards their partner and 2-year-old child. Which of the following client statements should the nurse identify as potentially contributing to aggression?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Childhood physical abuse, such as being hit by a parent, is a significant risk factor for developing aggressive behaviors in adulthood, as it can model violence as a coping mechanism. The other statements, involving a parent’s abuse history, occasional alcohol use, or positive childhood experiences, are less directly linked to the client’s current aggression.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is admitting a client who has dementia related to a traumatic brain injury. Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse that the client's condition is worsening?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A shuffling gait, characterized by short steps with feet barely leaving the ground, is often associated with Parkinsonian symptoms, which can emerge in advanced stages of dementia related to traumatic brain injury, indicating disease progression. Visual field cuts, decreased CD4 counts, and chorea are not typically linked to worsening TBI-related dementia.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed a benzodiazepine for anxiety. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the client’s teaching?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines can cause sedation and impaired coordination, making driving unsafe. Taking as needed, increasing doses, or abruptly stopping can lead to misuse, tolerance, or withdrawal, and should be avoided.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse on a mental health unit is planning care for a client who has a new diagnosis of non-suicidal self-harm (NSSH). Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging the client to identify emotions before self-harm helps develop insight into triggers, aiding in the development of healthier coping mechanisms. NSSH does increase risks like accidental death, can become serious, and does not inherently indicate suicidal intent, making constant observation unnecessary without clinical justification.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is providing education about somatic symptom disorder to a client's family. Which of the following pieces of information should the nurse include in the education?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Somatic symptom disorder involves real physical symptoms driven by psychological or emotional factors, not intentional fabrication. Suicidal ideation is not a defining feature, symptoms are not faked (unlike factitious disorder), and effective treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy exist, making this the accurate information to share.