NCLEX-RN
NCLEX RN Psychosocial Integrity Questions
Extract:
Question 1 of 5
The nurse is caring for a client who is having surgery the next morning. The client says, 'I'm really scared about surgery. I've never been put to sleep before and I'm afraid I might not wake up.' Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Acknowledging fear as normal and encouraging the client to express feelings (
C) is therapeutic, promoting open communication. Minimizing concerns (
A), suggesting cancellation (
B), or offering false reassurance (
D) dismisses the client's emotions.
Question 2 of 5
A prenatal client has been told during a primary health care provider office visit that she is positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The client cried and was significantly distressed regarding this news. Which client concern would this assessment data best support?
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A life-threatening diagnosis such as HIV will stimulate the anticipatory grief response. Anticipatory grief occurs when the client, family, and loved ones know that the client will die. The prenatal HIV client is forced to make important changes in her life, frequently resulting in grief related to lost future dreams and diminished self-esteem as a result of an inability to achieve life goals. Although the remaining options may be appropriate problem statements, they do not address the information given in the question.
Question 3 of 5
The nurse overhears the supervisor reprimand the charge nurse for not discussing feelings with a client. Shortly after, a client asks the charge nurse for an extra blanket. The charge nurse angrily responds, 'Get it yourself!' The nurse recognizes the charge nurse is displaying which defense mechanism?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Displacement involves redirecting emotions from one target to another. The charge nurse, upset from the reprimand, displaces anger onto the client by responding harshly to a simple request, rather than addressing the supervisor.
Question 4 of 5
A pregnant client is newly diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The client cries when receiving this information and keeps repeating, 'What have I done to cause this? If only I could live my life over.' Considering this statement, which concern should the nurse identify for the client?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The client is putting the blame for the diabetes on herself, thus lowering her self-esteem. She is expressing fear and grief. There are no data in the question to support the problems in options 1 and 4. Client lack of understanding is important to consider, but not at this time because the client will not be able to comprehend information in her current state.
Question 5 of 5
While assisting with bathing, the client who has sustained a spinal cord injury states, 'I can't do this. I wish I were dead.' Which therapeutic response should the nurse make to encourage communication?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clarifying is a therapeutic technique that involves restating what was said to obtain additional information. By asking 'why' in option 1, the nurse puts the client on the defensive. Option 3 changes the subject. In option 4, false reassurance is offered. The remaining options are nontherapeutic statements that block communication.