ATI RN
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2023 Quizlet
1. When assessing a patient with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which symptom would a nurse most likely observe?
- A. Flashbacks
- B. Excessive worry
- C. Hallucinations
- D. Compulsive behaviors
Correct answer: B
Rationale: Excessive worry is a primary characteristic of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Patients with GAD experience persistent and excessive worry about various aspects of their lives, often anticipating disaster or catastrophic outcomes. This worry is difficult to control and can be accompanied by physical symptoms like restlessness, fatigue, irritability, muscle tension, and difficulty concentrating. Flashbacks are more commonly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hallucinations are more typical of psychotic disorders, and compulsive behaviors are characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Therefore, when assessing a patient with GAD, a nurse would most likely observe excessive worry.
2. A client has been prescribed diazepam (Valium) for the treatment of anxiety. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
- A. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication.
- B. Take the medication with food to avoid stomach upset.
- C. Stop taking the medication if you feel better.
- D. Double the dose if you miss a dose.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct instruction is to avoid drinking alcohol while taking diazepam (Valium) as it can potentiate the sedative effects and increase the risk of side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness. Taking the medication with food may help reduce stomach upset, but avoiding alcohol is crucial to ensure safe and effective use of diazepam. Choice B is partially correct, as taking the medication with food can indeed help with stomach upset, but it is not as crucial as avoiding alcohol. Choice C is incorrect because abruptly stopping diazepam can lead to withdrawal symptoms and should only be done under medical supervision. Choice D is incorrect as doubling the dose is dangerous and should never be done without healthcare provider approval.
3. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. Which intervention should the nurse implement to address this symptom?
- A. Encourage the client to discuss the voices.
- B. Tell the client that the voices are not real.
- C. Provide reality-based feedback to the client.
- D. Distract the client from the voices.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: When a client with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations, providing reality-based feedback is a therapeutic intervention. This helps the client differentiate between what is real and what is not, aiding in reducing the impact of hallucinations. Encouraging the client to discuss the voices may validate the hallucinations, telling the client that the voices are not real dismisses their experience, and distracting the client may not address the underlying issue of the hallucinations.
4. A client has been prescribed escitalopram (Lexapro) for depression. Which instruction should the nurse include in the discharge teaching?
- A. Take the medication at bedtime to prevent daytime drowsiness.
- B. Avoid consuming alcohol while taking this medication.
- C. Take the medication with food to prevent stomach upset.
- D. Discontinue the medication if you start feeling better.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct instruction for the nurse to include in the discharge teaching is to advise the client to avoid consuming alcohol while taking escitalopram (Lexapro). Alcohol can potentiate side effects such as drowsiness and dizziness when combined with this medication. Choice A is incorrect because escitalopram is usually taken in the morning due to its potential to cause insomnia if taken at bedtime. Choice C is incorrect because taking the medication with or without food does not significantly affect its absorption or side effects. Choice D is incorrect because it is essential for the client to continue taking the medication even if they start feeling better, as abruptly stopping an antidepressant can lead to withdrawal symptoms and a relapse of depression.
5. A 10-year-old boy breaks his mother's vase while playing. When the mother asks who broke the vase, the little boy says that his sister did it. The little boy is exhibiting which defense mechanism?
- A. Projection
- B. Displacement
- C. Dissociation
- D. Sublimation
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Projection is a defense mechanism where one attributes their own unacceptable thoughts, feelings, or impulses onto another person. In this scenario, the little boy is projecting his actions onto his sister by falsely claiming she broke the vase. Displacement involves transferring emotions from the original source to a substitute target. Dissociation is a disconnection between thoughts, identity, consciousness, and memory. Sublimation is the redirection of unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities.
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