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During an initial patient interview, the psychiatric-mental health nurse begins by asking the patient to describe their:
- A. current situation
- B. feelings about the current situation
- C. personal history
- D. thoughts about the current situation
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Starting with the current situation provides a concrete entry point to assess the patient's immediate needs and context.
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A patient diagnosed with serious mental illness was living successfully in a group home but wanted an apartment. The prospective landlord said, 'People like you have trouble getting along and paying their rent.' The patient and nurse meet for a problem-solving session. Which options should the nurse endorse? Select one tha does not apply.
- A. Coach the patient in ways to control symptoms effectively
- B. Seek out landlords less affected by the stigma associated with mental illness
- C. Threaten the landlord with legal action because of the discriminatory actions
- D. Have the case manager meet with the landlord to provide education about mental illness
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Managing symptoms so that they are less obvious or socially disruptive can reduce negative reactions and reduce rejection due to stigma. Seeking a more receptive landlord might be the most expeditious route to housing for this patient. Educating the landlord to reduce stigma might make him more receptive and give the case manager an opportunity to address some of his concerns (e.g., the case manager could arrange a payee to assure that the rent is paid each month). However, threatening a lawsuit would increase the landlords defensiveness and would likely be a long and expensive undertaking. Delaying the patients efforts to become more independent is not clinically necessary according to the data noted here; the problem is the landlords bias and response, not the patients illness. It would be unethical to encourage falsification and poor role modeling to do so; further, if falsification is discovered, it could permit the landlord to refuse or cancel her lease.
When a patient with paranoid schizophrenia has a recurrence of positive symptoms after stopping his antipsychotic medication because of its postural hypotension (orthostasis) side effect, he is readmitted to the mental health unit. What measure should the nurse suggest to help the patient address this side effect?
- A. Ask the doctor to prescribe an anticholinergic drug like trihexyphenidyl (Artane).
- B. Chew sugarless gum or use sugarless hard candy to moisten your mouth.
- C. Increase the amount of sleep you get, and try to take frequent rest breaks.
- D. Wear elastic support hose, drink adequate fluids, and change position slowly.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D because orthostatic hypotension is a common side effect of antipsychotic medications. Elastic support hose can help improve venous return, adequate fluids can prevent dehydration which worsens hypotension, and changing position slowly can prevent sudden drops in blood pressure. This measure directly addresses the side effect.
A: Anticholinergic drugs can worsen orthostatic hypotension.
B: Chewing gum or using candy does not address the physiological issue of orthostatic hypotension.
C: Increasing sleep and rest breaks may help overall well-being but does not directly address orthostatic hypotension.
When planning nursing care for a client with a dependent personality disorder, the nurse recognizes which of the following as characteristic behavior for someone with this disorder? The client:
- A. Perceives his or her behavior to be embarrassing
- B. Believes he or she cannot function without help of others
- C. Exaggerates the potential dangers of ordinary situations
- D. Demands excessive attention from others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B because individuals with dependent personality disorder typically believe they cannot function without the help of others. This is a key characteristic of the disorder as they rely heavily on others for decision-making and day-to-day tasks. This behavior stems from an intense fear of separation and abandonment.
Choice A (perceiving behavior as embarrassing) is incorrect as it is more aligned with social anxiety disorder rather than dependent personality disorder. Choice C (exaggerating dangers) is incorrect as it is more characteristic of individuals with anxiety disorders. Choice D (demanding excessive attention) is incorrect as it is more typical of individuals with histrionic personality disorder.
An 18-year-old referred to the mental health center often cooks gourmet meals but eats only tiny portions. The patient wears layers of loose clothing saying, "I like the style."Â The patient's weight dropped from 130 to 95 pounds. She has amenorrhea. Which diagnosis is most likely?
- A. Eating disorder not otherwise specified
- B. Anorexia nervosa
- C. Bulimia nervosa
- D. Binge eating
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Anorexia nervosa. This diagnosis fits the patient's symptoms of restrictive eating, significant weight loss, amenorrhea, and denial of the severity of the situation. The patient's behavior of cooking gourmet meals but eating tiny portions and wearing layers of clothes to hide weight loss are classic signs of anorexia nervosa. The other choices are incorrect because:
A: Eating disorder not otherwise specified does not fully capture the severity and specific symptoms exhibited by the patient.
C: Bulimia nervosa involves binge-eating followed by compensatory behaviors, which are not described in the scenario.
D: Binge eating disorder involves recurrent episodes of binge eating without compensatory behaviors, which is not indicated.
A patient with many positive symptoms of schizophrenia, whose behavior is disorganized and who is highly anxious, tells the nurse in the psychiatric emergency department, 'You have got to help me. I do not know what is going on. I think someone is trying to wipe me out. I have to get a gun.' The patient, a college student, lives alone and has no family or support system in the immediate area. He has not left his room in 2 weeks, has not eaten in several days, and is unkempt. Of the available treatment settings, the nurse should recommend:
- A. admission to an unlocked residential crisis unit.
- B. inpatient hospitalization on a locked unit.
- C. attending a day treatment program for 4 weeks.
- D. admission to a partial hospital program.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: inpatient hospitalization on a locked unit. This option is the most appropriate given the patient's presentation. The patient is experiencing severe positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as delusions and disorganized behavior, posing a risk to himself and others by expressing intent to obtain a gun. Additionally, the patient is neglecting basic needs, indicating a need for close monitoring and intervention. Inpatient hospitalization on a locked unit provides a structured and secure environment for intensive treatment, ensuring safety and stabilization.
Incorrect choices:
A: Admission to an unlocked residential crisis unit may not provide the level of monitoring and security needed for a patient with active psychotic symptoms and self-harm potential.
C: Attending a day treatment program for 4 weeks does not address the acute safety concerns and level of impairment displayed by the patient.
D: Admission to a partial hospital program may not offer the round-the-clock supervision and immediate intervention required for someone at risk of harming themselves or others.