2019 ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Related

Review 2019 ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam related questions and content

A nurse documents: "Patient is mute despite repeated efforts to elicit speech. Makes no eye contact. Inattentive to staff. Gazes off to the side or looks upward rather than at speaker." Which nursing diagnosis should be considered?

  • A. Defensive coping
  • B. Decisional conflict
  • C. Risk for other-directed violence
  • D. Impaired verbal communication
Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: Impaired verbal communication. The patient's inability to speak, make eye contact, and focus on the speaker indicates a communication issue. Impaired verbal communication relates to difficulty expressing thoughts, feelings, or needs. The patient's behavior aligns with this diagnosis as they are mute, inattentive, and not making eye contact. Defensive coping (A) involves protecting oneself from emotional pain. Decisional conflict (B) pertains to uncertainty about choices. Risk for other-directed violence (C) involves potential harm to others, which is not evident in the scenario. Thus, D is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis.