Chapter 24: Human Sexuality

Question 1

1. A parent confides to the nurse that the parent’s 3-year-old son seems to be touching his genitals frequently. What response by the nurse is best?
   a.
   “This is normal behavior at his age.”
   b.
   “Why do you think he is doing that?”
   c.
   “Does he complain of burning with urination?”
   d.
   “I’d ignore that behavior; it’s attention-seeking.”

Answer 1

ANS: A

Question 2

2.	The nurse learns that spermatozoa are produced in which sexual organ?
a.
Scrotum
b.
Testes
c.
Glans
d.
Prostate

Answer 2

ANS: B

Question 3

3.	The nursing student learns that the function of the hypothalamus is to do which of the following?
a.
Cause lactation to begin
b.
Produce spermatozoa
c.
Release follicle-stimulating hormone
d.
Release gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Answer 3

ANS: D

Question 4

4.	A patient states, “I just don’t conform to my gender role.” What does the nurse understand about this statement?
a.
The patient is a homosexual.
b.
The patient’s behaviors are abnormal.
c.
The patient’s actions differ from what is expected.
d.
The patient is having a gender crisis.

Answer 4

ANS: C

Question 5

5.	A patient asks the nurse to recommend a non-prescription contraceptive. What options does the nurse discuss?
a.
Diaphragm
b.
Cervical cap
c.
Condom
d.
Intrauterine device

Answer 5

ANS: C

Question 6

6. A patient has been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) and the patient’s partner is angry, saying, “She must have cheated on me.” What response by the nurse is most appropriate?
   a.
   “This infection may have been present for a long time.”
   b.
   “You need to be tested for this disease too.”
   c.
   “Yes, you’re right; if you don’t have the STD, she cheated.”
   d.
   “Now, now, getting angry will not help anything.”

Answer 6

ANS: A

Question 7

7. A nurse is working with a patient using the PLISSIT model. In the LI phase, what is an appropriate activity?
   a.
   Educate the patient on water-based lubricants.
   b.
   Ask the patient for permission to discuss sexuality.
   c.
   Instruct the patient on positions acceptable after knee replacement.
   d.
   Refer the patient and partner to a licensed therapist.

Answer 7

ANS: A

Question 8

8.	A nurse in the emergency department wants to screen a patient for domestic violence, but the woman’s partner won’t leave. What action by the nurse is best?
a.
Ask the questions anyway.
b.
Tell the partner to leave.
c.
Go with the patient to the bathroom.
d.
Skip the abuse assessment.

Answer 8

ANS: C

Question 9

9. A woman complains that her partner threatens her and berates her in front of the children. She denies being in an abusive relationship or being the victim of physical violence. What action by the nurse is best?
   a.
   Tell the woman to leave the abusive partner.
   b.
   Educate the woman on forms of domestic abuse.
   c.
   Help the woman work on a physical safety plan.
   d.
   Insist the woman take written information.

Answer 9

ANS: B

Question 10

10. The nurse is working with a patient who has a sexual dysfunction. What statement by the patient indicates progress toward an important goal?
    a.
    “I am beginning to enjoy sex more these days.”
    b.
    “I’m glad my partner is understanding of the lack of sex.”
    c.
    “I wish I didn’t need these pills but I know they are important.”
    d.
    “I hope one day to have a sexual partner again.”

Answer 10

ANS: A

Question 11

11. A nurse is working with a patient after the patient had a heart attack and is using the PLISSIT model to address sexuality needs. For the SS phase, what action by the nurse is best?
    a.
    Ask the patient if he wants to discuss sexuality.
    b.
    Teach the patient positions that require less stress.
    c.
    Offer the patient a referral to a sex therapist.
    d.
    Direct the patient to speak with the doctor about sex.

Answer 11

ANS: B

Question 12

12. A nurse wishes to incorporate an assessment of patient sexuality into all patient encounters but is concerned about appearing inappropriate. What action by the nurse is best?
    a.
    State, “I always ask my patients permission to discuss sexuality. Is this alright?”
    b.
    Wait for the patient to bring the subject of sexuality up to the nurse.
    c.
    Give the patient written material on sexuality, then ask if he/she has questions.
    d.
    Tell patients that if they have any sexual concerns, you would be happy to discuss them.

Answer 12

ANS: A

Question 13

13. An emergency department (ED) manager wants to improve care for victims of sexual assault. What action by the manager is best?
    a.
    Designate a private area of the ED for examinations.
    b.
    Establish a SART team for the department.
    c.
    Ask nurses to volunteer to be advocates for these patients.
    d.
    Have victims examined immediately, rather than waiting their turn.

Answer 13

ANS: B

Question 14

14. A nurse is caring for a victim of domestic violence. What charting by the nurse is most appropriate?
    a.
    Patient allegedly beat up by her boyfriend.
    b.
    Patient has several bruises on the legs.
    c.
    Patient states, “My boyfriend hit me with a hammer.”
    d.
    Patient claims she was assaulted last night.

Answer 14

ANS: C

Question 15

15.	A patient is recovering from colostomy surgery and states, “I guess I’ll never be able to have sex again…who would want me?” What nursing diagnosis is most important for this patient?
a.
Sexual dysfunction
b.
Ineffective sexuality pattern
c.
Knowledge deficit
d.
Ineffective coping

Answer 15

ANS: B

Question 16

16. A male patient takes a medication known to cause erectile dysfunction. What action by the nurse is best?
    a.
    State, “If this medication has bad side effects, talk to your doctor.”
    b.
    Ask, “Are you having any sexual problems in your life right now?”
    c.
    Give the patient written information on the side effects of the drug.
    d.
    State, “Many men have erectile dysfunction on this drug.”

Answer 16

ANS: D

Question 17

17. A school nurse is planning a sex education activity. What information from research does the nurse apply to this education?
    a.
    Sex education should wait until high school.
    b.
    Parents desire multiple educational strategies.
    c.
    Abstinence is the only birth control method that should be taught.
    d.
    No need to change the current method of education.

Answer 17

ANS: B

Question 18

1. A nurse is teaching patients about their medications and implications for sexuality. Which combinations are correct? (Select all that apply.)
   a.
   Antipsychotics: Erectile dysfunction
   b.
   Phenytoin: Decreased desire
   c.
   Antihistamines: Increased vaginal lubrication
   d.
   SSRIs: Prolonged orgasm
   e.
   Marijuana: Chronic use—reduced inhibitions

Answer 18

ANS: A, B

Question 19

2.	A nurse is planning sexuality education programs. Which topics are important to each age group? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Adolescents: contraception
b.
Adolescents: infertility
c.
Young adults: conception
d.
Middle adulthood: sexual dysfunction
e.
Old age: decreased sexuality

Answer 19

ANS: A, C, D

Question 20

3.	The student learns that which are cycles in the female sexual response cycle? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Excitement
b.
Orgasm
c.
Resolution
d.
Detumescence
e.
Plateau

Answer 20

ANS: A, B, C, E

Question 21

4. A nurse is uncomfortable with a patient’s comments, which are sexual in nature. Which actions by the nurse are most appropriate? (Select all that apply.)
   a.
   Tell the patient to stop making sexual comments.
   b.
   Try joking with the patient to establish rapport.
   c.
   Tell the patient you are leaving and will return in a few minutes.
   d.
   Inform the patient he/she can be sued for this behavior.
   e.
   Explain to the patient how you feel about the comments.

Answer 21

ANS: A, C, E

Question 22

5. The nurse has assessed a patient and determined that the patient has a sexual issue that needs to be addressed. What actions by the nurse are most appropriate? (Select all that apply.)
   a.
   Use information from multiple sources to help plan care.
   b.
   Collaborate with other health professionals to develop the plan.
   c.
   Involve the patient and significant other in the process.
   d.
   Use standard care plans to limit patient embarrassment.
   e.
   Examine one’s own biases before implementing the plan.

Answer 22

ANS: A, B, C, E

Question 23

6.	A nurse is planning an educational event of safer sex. What topics does the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Proper use of condoms
b.
Avoidance of risky behaviors
c.
Need for routine examinations
d.
Avoidance of homosexual activity
e.
Symptoms of common STDs

Answer 23

ANS: A, B, C, E

Question 24

7.	A nurse understands that which characteristics of family dynamics impact a patient’s sexuality? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Religion
b.
Age
c.
Ethnicity
d.
Culture
e.
Geographic location

Answer 24

ANS: A, B, C, D

Question 25

8.	The nurse is assessing factors that affect sexual function in patients with chronic diseases. What topics does the nurse include in the assessment? (Select all that apply.)
a.
Fatigue
b.
Medications
c.
Pain
d.
Occupation
e.
Physical impairment

Answer 25

ANS: A, B, C, E