NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. When performing a cultural assessment with a patient from a different culture, what action should the nurse take first?
- A. Request an interpreter before interviewing the patient
- B. Wait until a family member is available to help with the assessment
- C. Ask the patient about any affiliation with a particular cultural group
- D. Tell the patient what the nurse already knows about the patient's culture
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When conducting a cultural assessment, the first step is to inquire if the patient has any affiliation with a specific cultural group. This helps the nurse understand the patient's background and beliefs. Requesting an interpreter before interviewing the patient may be necessary if language barriers exist. Waiting for a family member to assist with the assessment may delay the process and compromise patient confidentiality. Telling the patient what the nurse knows about their culture assumes knowledge and may lead to misunderstandings or inaccuracies.
2. A client arrives at an occupational health clinic after being struck by lightning while working in a truck bed. The client is alert but reports feeling faint. Which assessment will the nurse perform first?
- A. Pulse characteristics
- B. Open airway
- C. Entrance and exit wounds
- D. Cervical spine injury
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Assessing pulse characteristics is the priority in this situation due to the potential impact of lightning as a form of electrical current, which can cause irregular heart rhythms. It is crucial to evaluate the pulse rate and regularity to assess for adequate circulation and potential cardiac issues. Since the client is alert and talking, the airway is likely patent, making assessing the airway less urgent. Entrance and exit wounds and cervical spine injury assessments should follow the evaluation of pulse characteristics to ensure proper circulation and prioritize life-threatening issues first. Checking the pulse first will guide further interventions and help in determining the client's hemodynamic status.
3. When a client who has had a mastectomy sees her incision for the first time, she exclaims, 'I look horrible! Will it ever look better?' Which response would the nurse provide?
- A. 'You seem shocked by the way you look now.'
- B. 'Now that the tumor is gone, the area will heal quickly.'
- C. After it heals, others won't even know you had surgery.'
- D. 'You will feel better about it when the swelling subsides.'
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct response, 'You seem shocked by the way you look now,' acknowledges the client's feelings and provides an opportunity for the client to express emotions freely. This reflection of feelings may help promote eventual acceptance of body image changes. Choices B, C, and D provide false reassurance and negate the client's feelings. Saying that the area will heal quickly now that the tumor is gone dismisses the client's concerns. Similarly, stating that others won't know about the surgery or that the client will feel better once the swelling subsides does not address the client's current emotional state and may undermine trust in the nurse-client relationship.
4. Which response would the nurse make when a client moans softly, 'Oh no, I'm next. They couldn't protect him, and they can't protect me,' after learning a recently discharged client committed suicide?
- A. ''The other person was a lot sicker than you are.''
- B. 'You seem to be afraid that you'll hurt yourself.''
- C. 'That was different. He was at home, but you're here.''
- D. 'There's no need to worry. You have a better support system.''
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The nurse would make the statement, 'You seem to be afraid that you'll hurt yourself.' This response acknowledges the client's emotional distress and opens up the opportunity for the client to discuss their feelings, showing empathy and understanding. Choice A, 'The other person was a lot sicker than you are,' dismisses the client's emotions and fails to address the underlying fear of self-harm. Choice C, 'That was different. He was at home, but you're here,' invalidates the client's concerns and does not encourage further discussion. Choice D, 'There's no need to worry. You have a better support system,' offers false reassurance and does not address the client's expressed fear, missing an opportunity for therapeutic communication.
5. Which priority action would the nurse manager use to help the nurse who may be experiencing burnout?
- A. Transfer the nurse to another unit in the facility.
- B. Help the nurse choose a position on a low-stress unit.
- C. Encourage the nurse to attend educational programs.
- D. Help the nurse identify personal responses to job stress.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: The correct priority action for the nurse manager to help a nurse experiencing burnout is to assist the nurse in identifying personal responses to job stress. This involves recognizing work stressors in the environment and evaluating coping strategies to determine their effectiveness. While transferring the nurse to another unit could be a solution, the initial focus should be on self-awareness and coping strategies. Choosing a position on a low-stress unit and attending educational programs can be beneficial in reducing burnout, but they are not the primary steps to address burnout when it occurs.
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