NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Integrity Questions
1. Which response would the nurse make to a client with borderline personality disorder who receives the wrong tray for lunch and becomes upset at the dietary staff regarding this mistake?
- A. ''Getting angry is not appropriate; let’s address this calmly.''
- B. ''Yelling is not acceptable and won't help us resolve this issue.''
- C. ''You must eat the first tray of food, and then I’ll get another tray for you.''
- D. ''It must be frustrating to get the wrong tray. I’ll order another tray for you.''
Correct answer: ''It must be frustrating to get the wrong tray. I’ll order another tray for you.''
Rationale: The most appropriate response from the nurse would be, ''It must be frustrating to get the wrong tray. I’ll order another tray for you.'' When interacting with clients with borderline personality disorder, it is crucial for nurses to acknowledge the client’s emotions empathetically and provide constructive solutions. While expressing anger is understandable, guiding the client towards a more constructive approach is essential. Yelling is not a helpful way to address the situation and threatening seclusion is inappropriate. Additionally, instructing the client to eat the first tray before receiving another one is punitive and disregards the client's preferences and rights.
2. A newly diagnosed client with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) comments to the nurse, 'There are so many rotten people around. Why couldn’t one of them get HIV instead of me?' Which statement is the nurse‘s best response?
- A. 'I can understand why you are afraid of dying.'
- B. 'It seems unfair that you contracted this disorder.'
- C. 'Do you really wish this disorder on someone else?'
- D. 'Have you thought of speaking with your religious adviser?'
Correct answer: 'It seems unfair that you contracted this disorder.'
Rationale: The client is expressing feelings of unfairness and questioning why they have HIV. The nurse's best response is to acknowledge the client's emotions. Choice B, 'It seems unfair that you contracted this disorder,' reflects empathy and validates the client's feelings, which can help them move towards acceptance. Choice A, 'I can understand why you are afraid of dying,' introduces the topic of death, which may not be the primary concern at this stage. Choice C, 'Do you really wish this disorder on someone else?' is judgmental and could induce guilt in the client. Choice D, 'Have you thought of speaking with your religious adviser?' deflects the conversation and does not address the client's current emotional needs.
3. A 17-year-old Asian client is being seen for lower abdominal pain in the right quadrant. The client is accompanied by his parents. The nurse notes that the client's father does not make eye contact and shows little response when told that the client will need surgery. Which of the following is the most appropriate action of the nurse?
- A. Contact an interpreter to give the information again in the father's native language
- B. Continue to provide information about surgery to both the client and his parents
- C. Call social services to evaluate the parent's standard of care
- D. Contact the physician about postponing the surgery
Correct answer: Continue to provide information about surgery to both the client and his parents
Rationale: Nurses may work with clients who have varying cultural beliefs. Because of this, nurses must remain aware of the cultural practices associated with certain ethnic groups. Asian Americans may avoid eye contact as a sign of respect; additionally, emotional responses may be avoided except for in private situations. If this family did not have a language barrier, the nurse should continue to provide appropriate information about the surgery and recognize the cultural differences that exist. Contacting an interpreter is not necessary as there was no mention of a language barrier. Calling social services to evaluate the parent's standard of care is premature and not within the nurse's immediate scope of practice. Contacting the physician about postponing the surgery is not warranted based on the information provided.
4. A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident. Which statement used by the client would indicate to the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of "suppression"?
- A. "I don't remember anything about what happened to me."
- B. "I'd rather not talk about it right now."
- C. "It's the other guy's fault! He was going too fast."
- D. "My mother is heartbroken about this."
Correct answer: "I don't remember anything about what happened to me."
Rationale: The correct answer is "I don't remember anything about what happened to me." This statement indicates the use of suppression, which is the willful act of putting an unacceptable thought or feeling out of one’s mind. In this case, the client is deliberately excluding memories of the traumatic event to protect their self-esteem. The other choices do not reflect suppression: Choice B shows avoidance or deflection, Choice C demonstrates blame shifting, and Choice D indicates empathy towards another individual.
5. A client says, 'I hear a man speaking from the corner of the room. Do you hear him, too?' Which response is best?
- A. What is he saying to you? Does it make any sense?
- B. Yes, I hear him. What do you think he is saying?
- C. No one is in the corner of the room. Can’t you see that?
- D. No, I don’t hear him, but that must be upsetting for you.
Correct answer: No, I don’t hear him, but that must be upsetting for you.
Rationale: The best response is D: 'No, I don’t hear him, but that must be upsetting for you.' This response acknowledges the client's experience without validating the hallucination. The nurse expresses empathy by acknowledging the client's feelings ('that must be upsetting for you'), showing understanding and support. Choice A focuses on the content of the hallucination, which may inadvertently reinforce the delusion. Choice B validates the hallucination by agreeing that the nurse also hears the man. Choice C denies the client's experience and can lead to further distress by invalidating their perception.
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