NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. When doing an admission assessment for a patient, the nurse notices that the patient pauses before answering questions about the health history. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. Interview a family member instead.
- B. Wait for the patient to answer the questions.
- C. Remind the patient that you have other patients who need care.
- D. Give the patient an assessment form listing the questions and a pen.
Correct answer: Wait for the patient to answer the questions.
Rationale: When a patient pauses before answering questions about their health history, it is important for the nurse to be patient and wait for the patient to answer the questions. Patients from different cultures may take time to consider a question carefully before responding. By waiting patiently, the nurse shows respect for the patient's pace and helps foster a trusting relationship. Asking a family member to answer instead may not provide accurate information from the patient themselves. Reminding the patient about other patients needing care could make the patient feel rushed or unimportant. Giving the patient an assessment form and pen does not address the underlying reason for the pause and may come across as dismissive of the patient's need for time to respond thoughtfully.
2. Which of the following is a symptom associated with sensory overload?
- A. Disorientation
- B. Drowsiness
- C. Emotional lability
- D. Depression
Correct answer: Disorientation
Rationale: Disorientation is a common symptom associated with sensory overload. When an individual experiences sensory overload, their brain may become overwhelmed with excessive information, leading to disorientation. This can manifest as an inability to concentrate, racing thoughts, and restless behavior. Sensory overload occurs when a person is unable to either control the amount of environmental stimuli they are exposed to or process the stimuli effectively. Drowsiness, emotional lability, and depression are not typical symptoms of sensory overload. Drowsiness may indicate fatigue or boredom, emotional lability refers to rapid and exaggerated changes in mood, and depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
3. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority when planning care for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter?
- A. Self-care deficit
- B. Functional incontinence
- C. Fluid volume deficit
- D. High risk for infection
Correct answer: High risk for infection
Rationale: The correct answer is 'High risk for infection.' When caring for a client with an indwelling urinary catheter, the highest priority is to prevent infections, as these catheters are a significant source of infection. Options A and B, self-care deficit and functional incontinence, may be concerns but are not directly related to the indwelling catheter. Option C, fluid volume deficit, is not typically associated with the presence of an indwelling urinary catheter.
4. A female client with frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs) asks the nurse to explain her friend's advice about drinking a glass of juice daily to prevent future UTIs. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
- A. Orange juice has vitamin C that deters bacterial growth.
- B. Apple juice is the most useful in acidifying the urine.
- C. Cranberry juice stops pathogens' adherence to the bladder.
- D. Grapefruit juice increases absorption of most antibiotics.
Correct answer: Cranberry juice stops pathogens' adherence to the bladder.
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Cranberry juice stops pathogens' adherence to the bladder.' Cranberry juice maintains urinary tract health by reducing the adherence of Escherichia coli bacteria to cells within the bladder. This helps prevent UTIs. Options A, B, and D are incorrect because orange juice with vitamin C, apple juice for urine acidification, and grapefruit juice for antibiotic absorption do not have the same proven effectiveness in preventing UTIs as cranberry juice does.
5. A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident. Which statement used by the client would indicate to the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of 'suppression'?
- A. “I don’t remember anything about what happened to me.”
- B. “I’d rather not talk about it right now.”
- C. “It’s the other entire guy’s fault! He was going too fast.”
- D. “My mother is heartbroken about this.”
Correct answer: “I don’t remember anything about what happened to me.”
Rationale: The correct answer is, '“I don’t remember anything about what happened to me.”' Suppression involves willfully putting an unacceptable thought or feeling out of one’s mind. In this case, the client is purposely choosing not to remember details of the traumatic event to avoid dealing with the associated emotions. Choice B, '“I’d rather not talk about it right now,”' suggests avoidance or deflection rather than active suppression. Choice C, '“It’s the other entire guy’s fault! He was going too fast,”' indicates blaming someone else for the situation, which is a form of defense mechanism known as externalization. Choice D, '“My mother is heartbroken about this,”' expresses empathy towards the mother's emotions and does not demonstrate suppression of personal feelings.
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