NCLEX Practice Questions On Psychiatric Nursing

Checking the client frequently but at irregular intervals prevents the client from predicting when observation will take place and altering behavior in a misleading way at these times.Option B may encourage the client to try to manipulate the nurse or seek attention for having a secret suicide plan.Option C may reinforce suicidal ideas.Option D: Decreased communication is a sign of withdrawal that may indicate the client has decided to commit suicide; the nurse shouldn’t disregard it.

The antidote for acetaminophen toxicity is acetylcysteine. It enhances conversion of toxic metabolites to nontoxic metabolites.Option A: Deferoxamine mesylate is the antidote for iron intoxication.Option B: Succimer is an antidote for lead poisoning.Option C: Flumazenil reverses the sedative effects of benzodiazepines.

This response acknowledges that the client is testing limits and that the nurse is setting them by performing postprandial monitoring to prevent self-induced emesis. Clients with bulimia nervosa need to feel in control of the diet because they feel they lack control over all other aspects of their lives.Option A: Because their therapeutic relationships with caregivers are less important than their need to purge. they don’t fear betraying the nurse’s trust by engaging in the activity. They commonly plot to purge and rarely share their secrets about it.Options B and C: An authoritarian or challenging response may trigger a power struggle between the nurse and client.

Bulimic behavior is generally a maladaptive coping response to stress and underlying issues. The client must identify anxiety-causing situations that stimulate the bulimic behavior and then learn new ways of coping with the anxiety.Option A: Controlling shopping for large amounts of food isn’t a goal early in treatment.Option B: Managing eating impulses and replacing them with adaptive coping mechanisms can be integrated into the plan of care after initially addressing stress and underlying issues.Option D: Eating three meals per day isn’t a realistic goal early in treatment.

Seizures are the most common serious adverse effect of using flumazenil to reverse benzodiazepine overdose. The effect is magnified if the client has a combined tricyclic antidepressant and benzodiazepine overdose.Options B. C. and D: Less common adverse effects include shivering. anxiety. and chest pain.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. all humans need to meet basic physiological needs first. Because a client with anorexia nervosa eats little or nothing. the nurse must first plan to help the client meet this basic. immediate physiological need.Options B. C. and D: The nurse may give lesser priority to goals that address long-term plans. self-perception. and potential complications.

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) and other tranquilizers help reduce the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.Option A: Naloxone (Narcan) is administered for narcotic overdose.Option B: Haloperidol (Haldol) may be given to treat clients with psychosis. severe agitation. or delirium.Option C: Magnesium sulfate and other anticonvulsant medications are only administered to treat seizures if they occur during withdrawal.

Clients with anorexia nervosa typically come from a family with parents who are controlling and overprotective. These clients use eating to gain control of an aspect of their lives.The characteristics described in options B. C. and D isn’t typical of parents of children with anorexia.

When the child’s injuries are inconsistent with the history given or impossible because of the child’s age and developmental stage. the emergency department nurse should be suspicious that child abuse is occurring.Option B: The parents may tell different stories because their perception may be different regarding what happened. If they change their story when different health care workers ask the same question. this is a clue that child abuse may be a problem.Option C: Child abuse occurs in all socioeconomic groups.Option D: Parents may argue and be demanding because of the stress of having an injured child.

Confronting the client with the consequences of substance abuse helps to break through denial.Option A: Making threats isn’t an effective way to promote self-disclosure or establish a rapport with the client.Option C: Although the nurse should encourage the client to discuss feelings. the discussion should focus on how the client felt before. not during. an episode of substance abuse. Encouraging elaboration about his experience while getting high may reinforce the abusive behavior.Option D: The client undoubtedly is aware that drug use is illegal; a reminder to this effect is unlikely to alter behavior.