Nursing Elites

1. A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless, and the nurse finds her trying to leave the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse, 'Please let me go! I must leave because the secret police are after me.' Which response is best for the nurse to make?

• A. No one is after you; you're safe here.
• B. You'll feel better after you have rested.
• C. I know you must feel lonely and frightened.
• D. Come with me to your room, and I will sit with you.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: In this scenario, the best response for the nurse is to offer presence and a safe environment without validating the delusion or arguing with the client. By inviting the client to the room and offering to sit with her, the nurse is providing support and reassurance. Choice A is incorrect because directly denying the client's belief may escalate the situation. Choice B is inappropriate as it dismisses the client's concerns without addressing the underlying issue. Choice C acknowledges the client's feelings but does not provide immediate support or safety, unlike Choice D which offers both.

2. A male client approaches the nurse with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice, saying, 'My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch him out!' The nurse recognizes that the client is using which defense mechanism?

• A. Denial
• B. Projection
• C. Rationalization
• D. Splitting

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Projection. In this scenario, the client is projecting his own feelings of anger and selfishness onto his roommate. Projection is a defense mechanism where individuals attribute their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, and motives to another person. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Denial is refusing to acknowledge an aspect of reality or experience. Rationalization is providing logical-sounding reasons to justify unacceptable behaviors or feelings. Splitting is seeing individuals as all good or all bad, with no middle ground.

3. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is being taught about buspirone (BuSpar) by a nurse. Which statement by the client indicates a need for further teaching?

• A. I should take this medication on an empty stomach.
• B. It may take several weeks before I feel better.
• C. This medication does not cause dependence.
• D. I can drink alcohol while taking this medication.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The statement 'I can drink alcohol while taking this medication' (D) indicates a need for further teaching. Clients should avoid alcohol while taking buspirone because it can increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness. Choices A, B, and C are correct statements regarding buspirone and do not require further teaching.

4. A male client with alcohol use disorder is admitted for detoxification. The nurse knows that which symptom is a sign of severe alcohol withdrawal?

• A. Bradycardia
• B. Seizures
• C. Hyperglycemia
• D. Constipation

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Seizures are a sign of severe alcohol withdrawal and can be life-threatening, requiring immediate medical attention. Bradycardia, hyperglycemia, and constipation are not typically associated with severe alcohol withdrawal. Bradycardia is more commonly seen in opioid withdrawal, hyperglycemia could be due to other reasons like uncontrolled diabetes, and constipation is not a typical symptom of severe alcohol withdrawal.

5. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends several hours a day washing his hands. What is the most therapeutic nursing intervention?

• A. Allow the client to continue the behavior to reduce anxiety.
• B. Schedule specific times for handwashing.
• C. Encourage the client to discuss the thoughts and feelings behind the behavior.
• D. Restrict the client's access to soap and water.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Encouraging the client to discuss the thoughts and feelings behind the behavior is the most therapeutic nursing intervention for a client with OCD who excessively washes hands. This approach can help the client understand the underlying reasons for the behavior, address the associated anxiety, and work toward behavior modification. Choices A, allowing the behavior to continue, and D, restricting access to soap and water, do not address the root cause of the behavior and may exacerbate anxiety. Choice B, scheduling specific times for handwashing, does not address the underlying emotional factors contributing to the behavior and may not effectively reduce the client's anxiety.

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