NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. A woman who had a mastectomy is scheduled for a mastectomy peer support visit arranged by her primary health care provider. What is the purpose of the referral?
- A. To teach arm exercises
- B. To prevent social isolation
- C. To meet her physical needs
- D. To view her surgical incision
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The purpose of a mastectomy peer support visit is to prevent social isolation. This visit helps the client maintain her social connections and learn about community resources. Teaching arm exercises and meeting physical needs are tasks for healthcare professionals, not the primary goal of a peer support visit. Viewing the surgical incision is also not the primary purpose of such a visit.
2. Which behavior would the nurse recognize as developmentally atypical in preschoolers?
- A. Thumb sucking during stress
- B. Feeling guilty for behaving inappropriately
- C. Feeling happy if there is a newborn in the family
- D. Curiosity about their surroundings
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is feeling happy if there is a newborn in the family. Preschoolers are more likely to exhibit feelings of stress and jealousy rather than happiness with the arrival of a new baby in the family. Thumb sucking and bed-wetting are common behaviors displayed by preschoolers during times of stress. Guilt typically arises in children when they perceive that they have not behaved appropriately. Preschoolers are known to be naturally curious about their surroundings, showing an interest in exploring and learning about the environment around them. Therefore, feeling happy with the birth of a new baby is developmentally atypical for preschoolers.
3. A nurse is assigned to care for a close friend in the hospital setting. Which action should the nurse take first when given the assignment?
- A. Notify the friend that all medical information will be kept confidential.
- B. Explain the relationship to the charge nurse and ask for reassignment.
- C. Approach the client and ask if the assignment is uncomfortable.
- D. Accept the assignment but protect the client's confidentiality.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: When a nurse is assigned to care for a close friend, it is essential to maintain professional boundaries to ensure the best care for the client and the nurse. The most appropriate action for the nurse to take first is to explain the relationship to the charge nurse and ask for reassignment (B). This is important to avoid potential conflicts of interest and maintain objectivity in the care provided. Option A, notifying the friend about confidentiality, may not address the underlying issue of the conflict of interest. Option C, asking the client if the assignment is uncomfortable, may not be appropriate as it puts the client in a difficult position. Option D, accepting the assignment but protecting the client's confidentiality, does not address the conflict of interest and potential ethical issues that may arise from caring for a close friend.
4. While conducting an intake assessment of an adult male at a community mental health clinic, the nurse notes that his affect is flat, he responds to questions with short answers, and he reports problems with sleeping. He reports that his life partner recently died from pneumonia. Which action is most important for the nurse to implement?
- A. Encourage the client to see the clinic's grief counselor.
- B. Determine if the client has a family history of suicide attempts.
- C. Inquire about whether the life partner was suffering from AIDS.
- D. Consult with the health care provider about the client's need for antidepressant medications.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The client is exhibiting normal grieving behaviors, so referral to a grief counselor is the most important intervention for the nurse to implement. Option B is relevant but is not a high-priority intervention compared to addressing the immediate grief support needs of the client. Option C is irrelevant at this time but might be important when determining the client's risk for contracting the illness. While antidepressant medication might be necessary based on further assessment, grief counseling is a more appropriate initial action as grief is a typical response to the loss of a loved one.
5. Which term or description would the nurse use for a client who repeatedly performs ritualistic behaviors throughout the day to limit anxious feelings?
- A. Obsessions
- B. Compulsions
- C. Under personal control
- D. Related to rebelliousness
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Compulsions.' A compulsion is an uncontrollable, persistent urge to perform an act repetitively to relieve anxiety. In this scenario, the client's repetitive ritualistic behaviors are indicative of compulsions. Obsessions, on the other hand, are persistent ideas, thoughts, or impulses that cannot be eliminated with logical reasoning. The behavior is not under personal control because avoiding it increases anxiety, making it a defense mechanism. It is not related to rebelliousness; instead, clients engage in these behaviors to reduce anxiety.
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