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Mental Health HESI Practice Questions
1. The nurse suspects child abuse when assessing a 3-year-old boy and noticing several small, round burns on his legs and trunk that might be the result of cigarette burns. Which parental behavior provides the greatest validation for such suspicions?
- A. The parents' explanation of how the burns occurred is different from the child's explanation of how they occurred.
- B. The parents seem to dismiss the severity of the child's burns, saying they are very small and have not posed any problem.
- C. The parents become very anxious when the nurse suggests that the child may need to be admitted for further evaluation.
- D. The parents tell the nurse that the child was burned in a house fire which is incompatible with the nurse's observation of the type of burn.
Correct answer: D
Rationale: (D) provides the most validation for suspecting child abuse. The parent's explanation (subjective data) that the child was burned in a house fire is incompatible with the objective data observed by the nurse (small, round burns on the legs and trunk). (A) relies on subjective data, and the child's explanation might not accurately reflect the situation due to various factors like age or fear. The apparent lack of concern from the parents (B) is inconclusive as the nurse's interpretation of their reaction could be subjective. While parental anxiety (C) could hint at potential child abuse, it's important to note that most parents would naturally be anxious about their child's hospitalization, making it a less definitive indicator compared to the inconsistency in the explanation provided by the parents in option (D).
2. The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan? (select one that does not apply)
- A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
- B. Keep quiet and calm.
- C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates against the abuser with injury.
- D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
Correct answer: C
Rationale: Taking a self-defense course that retaliates against the abuser with injury can escalate the level of violence and is not recommended in a safety plan for a victim of intimate partner violence. The correct strategies include establishing a code, having a bag ready, and planning an escape route, which enhance safety without increasing the risk of harm.
3. The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
- A. Stay with the client and remain calm.
- B. Encourage the client to express their feelings.
- C. Teach the client deep-breathing exercises.
- D. Administer prescribed anti-anxiety medication.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The priority intervention is to stay with the client and remain calm (A). This provides immediate support and reassurance. Encouraging the client to express their feelings (B) and teaching deep-breathing exercises (C) are important but should come after ensuring the client's immediate safety and comfort. Administering medication (D) might be necessary, but the nurse should first focus on providing a calming presence to help the client feel safe and supported during the panic attack.
4. A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful and states, 'I just feel so nervous all of the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I haven't been able to sleep at night and have hardly eaten for the past 3 or 4 days.' The nurse should initiate a referral based on which assessment?
- A. Altered thought processes.
- B. Moderate levels of anxiety.
- C. Inadequate social support.
- D. Altered health maintenance.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should initiate a referral based on moderate levels of anxiety (B) as the client reports feeling nervous all the time, sleep disturbances, poor appetite, and difficulty solving problems. These symptoms are indicative of significant anxiety levels. The client does not mention symptoms related to altered thought processes (A) or inadequate social support (C). There is insufficient information to suggest altered health maintenance (D) as a reason for referral in this scenario.
5. A young adult male client, diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, believes that the world is trying to poison him. What intervention should the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
- A. Remind the client that his suspicions are not true.
- B. Ask one nurse to spend time with the client daily.
- C. Encourage the client to participate in group activities.
- D. Assign the client to a room closest to the activity room.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: A client with paranoid schizophrenia has difficulty with trust and developing a trusting relationship with one nurse (B) is likely to be therapeutic for this client. Choice (A) is argumentative and may increase the client's resistance. Choice (C) might be too overwhelming and anxiety-provoking for the client. Choice (D) could increase the client's stress and anxiety, which are counterproductive in managing paranoid ideations.
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