NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. The nurse has just admitted a client with severe depression. From which focus should the nurse identify a priority nursing diagnosis?
- A. Nutrition
- B. Elimination
- C. Activity
- D. Safety
Correct answer: D
Rationale: In caring for a client with severe depression, ensuring safety is a top priority. Suicide prevention measures must be incorporated into the care plan as individuals with depression are at increased risk. While nutrition, elimination, and activity are important aspects of care, safety takes precedence due to the critical need to prevent harm or self-harm in depressed individuals.
2. A mother complains to the nurse that her 3-year-old child refuses to go to preschool. The child rarely interacts and avoids playing with other children. Which statement would the nurse provide?
- A. Do not be concerned because all toddlers behave this way.
- B. Ask the teacher to push the child to speak up and open up to the other kids.
- C. Set boundaries and supervise the child closely.
- D. Give your child time to get acquainted and warm up to the new environment.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: According to the mother's description, the child is a slow-to-warm-up child. These children are uneasy in new situations or with unfamiliar people. The nurse would educate the mother to give the child time to be more familiar with the new environment. All toddlers do not behave in the same manner. A slow-to-warm-up child should not be pressured to do anything against his or her wishes. Setting boundaries and closely supervising the child is not the best approach for a child who needs time to adapt. Asking the teacher to push the child to open up can create more anxiety and stress for the child, which is not recommended.
3. A client has just died, and their son states, 'She was the most wonderful mother. There was no one who was a better mother than she was. She was perfect.' Which stage of grief is this son experiencing?
- A. Denial
- B. Anger
- C. Idealization
- D. Shock
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The son is experiencing the idealization stage of grief. During this stage, individuals tend to idealize the deceased person and remember them in a highly positive light, overlooking any negative aspects. This idealization serves as a coping mechanism to deal with the loss. Choice A, Denial, is incorrect as denial involves refusing to accept the reality of the loss. Choice B, Anger, is incorrect as it involves feelings of resentment and frustration. Choice D, Shock, is incorrect as shock is the initial reaction to the loss and is different from idealizing the deceased individual.
4. A client was admitted to the psychiatric unit after complaining to her friends and family that neighbors have bugged her home in order to hear all of her business. She remains aloof from other clients, paces the floor and believes that the hospital is a house of torture. Nursing interventions for the client should appropriately focus on efforts to
- A. Convince the client that the hospital staff is trying to help
- B. Help the client to enter into group recreational activities
- C. Provide interactions to help the client learn to trust staff
- D. Arrange the environment to limit the client's contact with other clients
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct nursing intervention for the client in this scenario is to provide interactions to help the client learn to trust staff. This approach focuses on building trust and establishing a therapeutic alliance between the client and the healthcare team. Choice A is incorrect because simply convincing the client that the hospital staff is trying to help may not address the underlying issue of trust. Choice B is not the priority at this stage as the client is exhibiting symptoms of paranoia and discomfort. Choice D may further isolate the client and hinder the therapeutic relationship. Therefore, the most appropriate intervention is to engage in interactions that promote trust and a therapeutic connection between the client and the staff.
5. Which communication technique is a part of therapeutic communication?
- A. Asking for explanations
- B. Showing sympathy to the client
- C. Asking personal questions of the client
- D. Providing relevant information to the client
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is providing relevant information to the client. In therapeutic communication, it is essential to provide clients with all pertinent information to help them understand their health status and what to expect. This empowers clients and promotes trust in the nurse-client relationship. Asking for explanations, showing sympathy, and asking personal questions are examples of nontherapeutic communication techniques. Asking personal questions can intrude on the client's privacy and may not be relevant to their care. Showing sympathy, while well-intentioned, may come across as pity rather than true empathy. Asking for explanations can sometimes put clients on the defensive rather than fostering a collaborative dialogue.
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