NCLEX-RN
NCLEX Psychosocial Questions
1. While planning care for a 2-year-old hospitalized child, which situation would the nurse most likely expect to affect the behavior?
- A. Strange bed and surroundings.
- B. Separation from parents.
- C. Presence of other toddlers.
- D. Unfamiliar toys and games.
Correct answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is 'Separation from parents.' Separation anxiety is most evident from 6 months to 30 months of age. It is the greatest stress imposed on a toddler by hospitalization. If separation is avoided, young children have a tremendous capacity to withstand other stress. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because while strange bed and surroundings, presence of other toddlers, and unfamiliar toys and games may contribute to some level of stress or discomfort, the separation from parents is the primary factor affecting the behavior of a 2-year-old hospitalized child.
2. An older client who had abdominal surgery 3 days earlier was given a barbiturate for sleep and is now requesting to go to the bathroom. Which action should the nurse implement?
- A. Assist the client to walk to the bathroom and do not leave the client alone.
- B. Request that the UAP assist the client onto a bedpan.
- C. Ask if the client needs to have a bowel movement or void.
- D. Assess the client's bladder to determine if the client needs to urinate.
Correct answer: A
Rationale: Barbiturates cause central nervous system (CNS) depression, increasing the risk of falls. Therefore, the nurse should assist the client to the bathroom to ensure safety. Using a bedpan is not necessary if the client can safely walk to the bathroom. Asking about bowel movements or voiding, as in option C, is irrelevant to the immediate safety concern of assisting the client to the bathroom. Assessing the client's bladder, as in option D, is unnecessary in this situation as there is no indication that the client cannot communicate his or her needs effectively. The priority here is to prevent falls and ensure the client's safety while assisting to the bathroom.
3. A female adolescent has anorexia nervosa and is malnourished and severely underweight. Which statement indicates that she is experiencing secondary gains from her behavior?
- A. "I'm huge; I'm as big as a house."
- B. "I get straight A's in all my subjects."
- C. "My mother keeps trying to get me to eat."
- D. "My hair is beginning to fall out in clumps."
Correct answer: C
Rationale: The statement "My mother keeps trying to get me to eat" indicates that the adolescent is experiencing secondary gains from her behavior. This is because the behavior has garnered attention from her mother, providing a sense of power and control, which are considered secondary gains. The statement "I'm huge; I'm as big as a house" reflects a disturbed body perception and is not related to secondary gains. Getting straight A's in all subjects is an achievement but not a secondary gain related to anorexia nervosa. The hair falling out in clumps is a physical consequence of starvation, not a secondary gain.
4. When a man with dementia is admitted to a long-term care facility, his wife, who appears tired and angry, says in a sarcastic tone, 'Let's see what you can do with him.' Which response is therapeutic?
- A. It sounds like it's been difficult for you.'
- B. I don't understand what you mean.'
- C. 'I have experience with all types of clients.'
- D. It's too bad you didn't admit him sooner.'
Correct answer: A
Rationale: The correct response is to acknowledge the caregiver's feelings and challenges without blaming them. Option A, 'It sounds like it's been difficult for you,' shows empathy and opens the channel of communication. Options B and C, 'I don't understand what you mean' and 'I have experience with all types of clients,' are nurse-focused responses that block effective communication. Option D, 'It's too bad you didn't admit him sooner,' is a hostile response that shifts the blame to the caregiver, which is not therapeutic in this situation.
5. 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.
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