NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Questions on Psychiatric Nursing Questions
Extract:
The following scenario applies to the next 6 items
The nurse in the behavioral health clinic is caring for a 26-year-old female client.
Item 2 of 6
Nurses' Note
1025: Client presents for initial evaluation, reporting that she “feels all over the place and it is time that she receives some treatment.” “At times I feel empty inside, sometimes feel hyped up, and at times, like now, I feel sad”. On assessment, the client has a constricted affect, and her eyes were cast downward. Client reports that her depression has been present for as long as she can remember, including throughout grade school. Her first clearly recalled depressive episode occurred in the sixth grade, when she felt she was "not living up to my own expectations." These episodes varied in duration—some lasting several months, others only a few hours—but typically persisted for 2 to 4 weeks. Onset could range from a day to a week, while the offset was often abrupt, resolving within a day or less. She reported intermittent difficulty falling asleep. Lately, she has had to use 2-3 tablets of diphenhydramine to help her fall asleep. She denied experiencing racing thoughts but acknowledged being told on numerous occasions that she spoke in ways that felt ‘pressured.’ She also endorsed distractibility and noted frequent difficulty completing tasks. During times of good mood or when she felt "aligned with others,” she found herself more productive, particularly in creative endeavors. However, at other times, even simple tasks felt overwhelming. She described experiencing "a flurry of thoughts," particularly while writing or during creative projects. At age 23, she experienced what she referred to as "an explosive outburst of rage," which culminated in her punching a hole in her roommate’s car's windshield. She reports this occurred during a two-day ‘episode’ of her being irritable. Medical history of tension headaches, mild eczema in winter months, and seasonal allergic rhinitis. The client consumes 1-2 glasses of alcohol a year. She does smoke cigarettes daily and started smoking when she was 20.
Question 1 of 5
For each assessment finding below, click to specify if the finding is consistent with borderline personality disorder, bipolar I disorder, or bipolar II disorder. Note: Each finding may support more than 1 disease process.
| Client Finding | Borderline personality disorder | Bipolar I disorder | Bipolar II disorder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reports of feeling empty inside | |||
| Sleep disturbances | |||
| Impulsive behavior | |||
| Pressured speech | |||
| Affective instability |
Correct Answer: A (Borderline, Bipolar I, Bipolar II), B (Bipolar I, Bipolar II), C (Borderline, Bipolar I), D (Bipolar I, Bipolar II), E (Borderline, Bipolar I, Bipolar II)
Rationale: Feeling empty, impulsive behavior, and affective instability are common in borderline personality disorder and bipolar disorders. Sleep disturbances and pressured speech are more specific to bipolar disorders.
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Question 2 of 5
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