ATI RN
ATI Psychiatric Exam 1 Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
A nurse is planning care for clients who are members of vulnerable populations. Which of the following core function assurance actions should the nurse take first?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reinforcing teaching about illness prevention and health promotion is the most immediate action the nurse can take, empowering vulnerable clients to make informed health decisions. Setting up clinics, supporting laws, or advising officials are important but less immediate, as they involve systemic changes that take time to implement.
Question 2 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and appears confused and has distortions in their thinking and speech patterns. Which of the following is the priority nursing intervention for this client?
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Providing reassurance and comfort while ensuring safety is the priority for a client with schizophrenia experiencing confusion and distorted thinking, as it addresses immediate emotional distress and promotes a secure environment. Group activities, PRN medications, or distractions are secondary and require further assessment or clinical justification.
Question 3 of 5
A nurse in an outpatient facility is teaching a client about the development of mental illness. Which of the following statements by the nurse describes the role of a vulnerability gene?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Vulnerability genes increase the risk of developing mental illnesses by interacting with environmental factors, not directly causing the illness. They do not confer resilience, guarantee illness development, or determine recovery likelihood, which depend on multiple factors.
Question 4 of 5
A nurse is presenting an in-service about the cycle of violence to nursing staff. The nurse should include that which of the following occurs during phase 1 of the cycle of violence?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Phase 1 of the cycle of violence, the tension-building phase, is characterized by escalating arguments and conflicts, increasing tension in the relationship. Physical harm occurs in phase 2 (acute phase), promises to change occur in phase 3 (honeymoon phase), and law enforcement involvement is not specific to phase 1.
Question 5 of 5
A nurse is caring for a client who was hospitalized with a high blood alcohol content level. The provider fears the client may go into withdrawal and require medical supervision. The client's manifestations included anxiety, tremors, BP 166/100 mm Hg, and tachypnea about 1 hr ago. Now the client begins yelling out that they are seeing spiders crawling all over the walls. They believe they are at home and begin calling for their mother. The nurse should recognize that the client is experiencing which of the following stages of alcohol withdrawal?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Stage 3 (severe) alcohol withdrawal, also known as delirium tremens, includes severe symptoms like hallucinations (e.g., seeing spiders), confusion (believing they are at home), and disorientation (calling for their mother). Earlier symptoms like anxiety, tremors, and elevated vital signs align with progressing withdrawal. Stage 1 is mild (e.g., anxiety), Stage 2 is moderate (e.g., seizures), and these symptoms are not indicative of a primary psychotic disorder.