A person diagnosed with a serious mental illness (SMI) living in the community was punched, pushed to the ground, and robbed of 7 during the day on a public street. Which statements about violence and serious mental illness in general are accurate? Select one tha does not apply.
- A. Persons with SMI are more likely to be violent
- B. SMI persons experience higher rates of sexual assault and victimization than others
- C. Impaired judgment and social skills can provoke hostile or assaultive behavior
- D. Lower incomes force SMI persons to live in high-crime areas, increasing risk
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Mentally ill persons are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators of criminal acts. They are often victims of criminal behavior, including sexual crimes, at a higher rate than others. When a mentally ill person commits a crime, it is usually nonviolent. Mental illnesses interfere with employment and are associated with poverty, limiting SMI persons to living in inexpensive areas that also tend to be higher-crime areas. SMI persons may inadvertently provoke others because of poor judgment or socially inappropriate behavior, or they may be victimized because they are perceived as passive, less likely to resist, and less likely to be believed as witnesses.
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Which statement about aging provides the best rationale for focused assessment of elderly patients?
- A. The elderly are usually socially isolated and lonely
- B. Vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell decline with age
- C. The majority of elderly patients have some form of early dementia
- D. As people age, thinking becomes more rigid and learning is impaired
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Only the key is a true statement. It cues the nurse to assess sensory function in the elderly patient. Correcting vision and hearing are critical to providing safe care. The distracters are myths about aging.
The outcome that should be established for an elderly patient with delirium caused by fever and dehydration is that the patient will:
- A. Return to a premorbid level of functioning.
- B. Demonstrate motor responses to noxious stimuli.
- C. Identify stressors negatively affecting self.
- D. None of the above.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A because the goal in managing delirium in an elderly patient is to restore them to their premorbid level of functioning. This involves addressing the underlying causes like fever and dehydration. Option B is incorrect as it focuses on a neurological response rather than the overall outcome for the patient. Option C is also incorrect as it pertains to identifying stressors, which is not the primary goal in managing delirium. Option D is incorrect as it dismisses the importance of restoring the patient to their baseline level of functioning.
Conversion disorder and hypochondriasis are classified as
- A. physio-mental disorders
- B. somatoform disorders
- C. psychosomatic disorders
- D. somatization disorders
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms without medical cause, like conversion and hypochondriasis.
A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse that he is the President of the United States, and no logical reasoning with the client convinces him otherwise. This client is experiencing a:
- A. Mutism
- B. Delusion
- C. Neologism
- D. Flight of ideas
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Delusion. A delusion is a fixed false belief that is not based on reality, such as believing one is a famous figure like the President. In this scenario, the client's belief is firmly held despite evidence to the contrary, indicating a delusion. Mutism (A) is a lack of verbal communication, not applicable here. Neologism (C) is creating new words or phrases, not seen in this example. Flight of ideas (D) is a rapid, continuous flow of speech with abrupt topic changes, which is not demonstrated in the client's behavior described.
A salesman has had difficulty holding a job because he accuses co-workers of conspiring to take his sales. Today, he argued with several office mates and threatened to kill one of them. The police were called, and he was brought to the mental health center for evaluation. He has had previous admissions to the unit for stabilization of paranoid schizophrenia. When the nurse meets him, he points at staff in the nursing station and states loudly, 'They're all plotting to destroy me. Isn't that true?' Which would be the most appropriate response?
- A. No, that is not true. People here are trying to help you if you will let them.'
- B. Let's think about it: what reason would people have to want to destroy you?'
- C. Thinking that people want to destroy you must be very frightening.'
- D. That doesn't make sense; staff are health care workers, not murderers.'
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C: Thinking that people want to destroy you must be very frightening.
Rationale:
1. Acknowledges the patient's feelings: By stating that thinking people want to destroy him is frightening, the nurse shows empathy and validates his experience.
2. Validates the patient's emotions: This response does not directly agree or disagree but acknowledges the emotions behind the patient's statement.
3. Builds rapport: By showing understanding and empathy, the nurse can establish trust and rapport with the patient, leading to better communication and therapeutic relationship.
Summary of other options:
A: This response denies the patient's feelings and could potentially escalate the situation by invalidating his experiences.
B: This response may come off as confrontational and does not address the patient's underlying fears.
D: This response is dismissive and does not address the patient's emotional distress, potentially leading to further agitation.