NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. The nurse is caring for a Native American patient who has traditional beliefs about health and illness. Which action by the nurse is most appropriate?
- A. Avoid asking questions unless the patient initiates the conversation.
- B. Ask the patient whether it is important that cultural healers are contacted.
- C. Explain the usual hospital routines for meal times, care, and family visits.
- D. Obtain further information about the patient's cultural beliefs from a family member.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When caring for a patient with traditional health beliefs, it is essential to respect and address their cultural practices. Asking the patient whether it is important to involve cultural healers, such as a shaman, aligns with providing culturally sensitive care. Avoiding asking questions unless initiated by the patient may hinder effective communication and understanding of the patient's needs. Consulting a family member for cultural beliefs assumes that all family members share the same beliefs, which may not be accurate. Additionally, the patient's personal beliefs should be prioritized over family input. Explaining hospital routines without considering the patient's cultural preferences may lead to a lack of patient-centered care. Therefore, the most appropriate action is to inquire about the patient's preference regarding cultural healers.
2. A client is being treated for anxiety and desires to be free from anxious feelings and despair. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, which level does this client need to meet?
- A. Physiological
- B. Safety
- C. Belonging
- D. Self-esteem
Correct answer: B
Rationale: According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, safety needs come right after physiological needs. Safety needs include feelings of security and stability. When a client is treated for anxiety and seeks to be free from anxious feelings and despair, they are primarily aiming to meet their safety needs. By addressing anxiety and moving towards a sense of safety, the client can progress to addressing higher-level needs. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect in this scenario. Physiological needs (Choice A) refer to basic needs like food, water, and shelter. Belonging (Choice C) and self-esteem (Choice D) are higher-level needs in Maslow's hierarchy that come after safety needs. Therefore, the most appropriate level for the client in this case is safety.
3. Which instruction should the nurse provide to a preschool-age client to prevent altered growth and development?
- A. Trust
- B. Empathy
- C. Impulse control
- D. Problem-solving
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Teaching a preschool-age child and their parents about the importance of impulse control is essential to prevent the risk of altered growth and development. Preschool-age children are at a stage where they are developing self-regulation skills, so teaching them to manage their impulses can help in their overall growth and development. Trust is a critical concept taught during infancy to foster secure attachments. Empathy is crucial for parents of toddlers to understand their child's emotions. Problem-solving skills are typically emphasized for school-age children to enhance cognitive development.
4. 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.
5. What psychodynamic process is suggested by a client calling the emergency department during a suicide attempt?
- A. A cry for help
- B. A need for attention
- C. Ambivalence about dying
- D. An inability to stick to a decision
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Ambivalence about dying.' When a client calls the emergency department during a suicide attempt, it suggests conflicting feelings about living and dying. This act can indicate an unconscious desire to be stopped from dying, showing ambivalence between the wish to die and the wish to live. It is not primarily a cry for attention or a need to punish others. The client's intention of suicide alongside seeking help demonstrates the struggle between life and death, making ambivalence the key psychodynamic process at play.
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