A community mental health nurse is assigned to investigate the frequent school absences of an 11-year-old child. The nurse finds the child home alone, caring for his 1- and 3-year-old siblings. The house is cluttered and dirty, and both parents are at work. The child tells the nurse that whenever his mother is called to work at her part-time job, he must watch the kids because the family cannot afford a babysitter. Based on the information obtained thus far, what preliminary assessment can be made?
- A. The child is coping well with a difficult situation.
- B. The child and his siblings are experiencing neglect.
- C. The children are at high risk for sexual abuse.
- D. The children are experiencing physical abuse.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: The child and his siblings are experiencing neglect. Neglect is defined as failure to provide for a child's basic needs, such as supervision, food, shelter, and medical care. In this scenario, the child is left alone to care for his younger siblings, indicating a lack of appropriate supervision and care from the parents. The house being cluttered and dirty further suggests neglect in terms of living conditions.
Choice A is incorrect because the child is not coping well; rather, he is forced into a caretaker role beyond his developmental capacity. Choice C is incorrect as there is no information provided to suggest sexual abuse. Choice D is incorrect as there is no evidence of physical abuse in the scenario.
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Police bring a 63-year-old woman to the emergency room, reporting that her behavior is disorganized and disruptive, that her speech makes little sense, and that she does not seem able to take care of herself. The woman has had elective surgeries at the hospital previously and was seen in the ER last week after a fall; records show no history of similar symptoms or mental illness. The ER physician speaks with the patient but does not examine her medically, diagnoses her with schizophrenia, and orders admission to the inpatient psychiatric unit. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
- A. Ask another physician with more of an interest in psychiatry to also take a look at this patient, explaining that you just want to be as thorough as possible.
- B. Suggest that a psychiatric consult be requested before admitting the patient to a psychiatric unit, to validate the diagnosis and speed the initiation of medication.
- C. Remind the physician that schizophrenia usually develops earlier in life, that such presentations may be caused by medical problems, and suggest a medical work-up.
- D. Note that the patient's blood pressure and respirations were elevated when she arrived, and suggest that they be evaluated before admitting the patient to the psychiatric unit.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C because it promotes a thorough and systematic approach to the patient's care. First, it challenges the premature diagnosis of schizophrenia without a medical examination. Second, it highlights the importance of considering medical causes for the symptoms presented by the patient. This is crucial as the patient's age and lack of prior history of mental illness suggest that a medical work-up is necessary to rule out underlying medical conditions that could be causing her symptoms. This approach ensures a comprehensive evaluation and appropriate treatment tailored to the patient's specific needs.
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not address the fundamental issue of exploring potential medical causes for the patient's symptoms before jumping to a psychiatric diagnosis or treatment. A, B, and D focus on seeking additional psychiatric opinions, consulting for medication initiation, and evaluating vital signs, respectively, which do not address the need for a thorough medical evaluation in this case.
Which nursing intervention will assist a client being treated in the Emergency Department for extensive soft tissue injuries to disclose an experience of domestic violence?
- A. Interviewing her in the presence of another professional
- B. Speaking with the client in the absence of her husband
- C. Providing a safe, nonintimidating environment
- D. Allowing the client to initiate the topic of violence
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rationale for Correct Answer (C): Providing a safe, nonintimidating environment is crucial to encourage the client to disclose domestic violence. This approach helps establish trust and confidentiality, making the client feel secure to share sensitive information. It creates a conducive setting for open communication without fear of repercussions.
Summary of Incorrect Choices:
A: Interviewing her in the presence of another professional may not ensure privacy and could potentially increase the client's discomfort or fear of being overheard.
B: Speaking with the client in the absence of her husband might not guarantee safety and confidentiality, as the client may still feel threatened or hesitant to reveal the abuse.
D: Allowing the client to initiate the topic of violence puts the burden on the client, who may already be feeling overwhelmed or unable to bring up the sensitive issue without support and encouragement.
A 10-year-old boy is diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Which assessment finding would the nurse expect?
- A. Having tea parties with dolls
- B. A compromised sexual response cycle
- C. Identifying with boys who are athletic
- D. Intense urges to watch his parents have sex
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because a child with gender dysphoria may display behaviors that align with the gender they identify with, such as engaging in activities typically associated with that gender. Tea parties with dolls may indicate the child's preference for activities stereotypically linked to girls, indicating a mismatch between their assigned gender and gender identity. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as they do not align with typical assessment findings for gender dysphoria in children. B is more related to sexual dysfunction, C is a common behavior for all children, and D is inappropriate and unrelated to the diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
A nurse finds a patient with anorexia nervosa vigorously exercising before gaining the agreed-upon weekly weight. Select the nurse's best comment.
- A. It bothers me to see you exercising.
- B. You and I will have to sit down and discuss this problem.
- C. Let's discuss the relationship between exercise and weight loss and how that affects your body.
- D. According to our agreement, exercising is not permitted until you have gained a specific amount of weight.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because it directly addresses the behavior in relation to the agreed-upon plan and sets clear boundaries. By stating that exercising is not permitted until the patient has gained a specific amount of weight, the nurse reinforces the importance of following the treatment plan to ensure the patient's health and well-being.
A: This response does not address the behavior in a constructive manner and may come across as judgmental.
B: While discussing the problem is important, it does not provide clear guidance on addressing the immediate issue of exercising before reaching the weight goal.
C: While discussing the relationship between exercise and weight loss can be helpful, it does not provide a clear directive on what action should be taken in this specific situation.
The nurse who assesses a patient previously diagnosed as having paranoid personality disorder is most likely to describe the patient as:
- A. superficially charming.
- B. intense and impulsive.
- C. guarded and distant.
- D. friendly and open.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: guarded and distant. This is because individuals with paranoid personality disorder typically exhibit suspiciousness, mistrust, and a reluctance to confide in others. They tend to be hypervigilant and wary of others, leading them to appear guarded and distant.
A: Superficially charming is incorrect because individuals with paranoid personality disorder are more likely to be cautious and suspicious rather than charming.
B: Intense and impulsive is incorrect as this description is more characteristic of individuals with borderline personality disorder, not paranoid personality disorder.
D: Friendly and open is incorrect because individuals with paranoid personality disorder are more likely to be reserved and cautious in their interactions.
In summary, the correct answer is C because individuals with paranoid personality disorder typically exhibit guarded and distant behavior due to their suspicious and mistrustful nature.
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