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. Which intervention should the nurse use for a client who hallucinates, yells, and curses throughout the day?
- A. Ignore the client's behavior if the client is not harming anyone.
- B. Isolate the client until the behavior decreases or stops.
- C. Explain how the behavior affects other people on the unit.
- D. Seek to understand what the behavior means to the client.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: When a client experiences hallucinations, yells, and curses, it is essential to seek to understand the underlying meaning of their behavior. All behavior has significance, and understanding the client's perspective can guide appropriate interventions. Ignoring the behavior may exacerbate the situation and isolating the client could lead to increased anxiety and further acting out. Explaining the impact on others is not helpful in this scenario as the client is not intentionally hallucinating; yelling and cursing are responses to the hallucinations.
4. Which term describes what an adolescent client is experiencing when she says to the nurse who has been caring for her, 'You're just like my mother; I hate you'?
- A. Insight
- B. Universality
- C. Transference
- D. Identification
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Transference occurs when a client unconsciously assigns feelings and attitudes originally associated with another important person in the client's life. In this scenario, the adolescent client is projecting emotions connected to her mother onto the nurse. This client's statement does not demonstrate insight but rather reflects the mechanism of transference. Universality refers to the sense that one is not alone in any situation, which is not evident in the client's statement. Identification is a defense mechanism where an individual takes on characteristics of someone considered admirable, which is not the case in this situation.
5. What behavior is expected of members of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?
- A. Speaking at and participating in weekly meetings
- B. Promising to attend at least 12 meetings yearly
- C. Maintaining controlled drinking after 6 months
- D. Acknowledging an inability to control the drinking
Correct answer: D
Rationale: A fundamental aspect of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the acceptance of one's inability to control their drinking behavior. This acknowledgment is crucial for individuals seeking recovery from alcohol abuse issues. While speaking at and participating in meetings is encouraged, it is not a strict requirement for AA members. Similarly, there is no specific mandate on the number of meetings to attend yearly, as long as the individual finds the support they need. Maintaining controlled drinking after 6 months is not aligned with AA principles, as the group emphasizes complete abstinence from alcohol to support long-term sobriety.
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