State Exam Practice #3

Question 1

Mental status assessment using the ‘batomi’ formation is a useful nursing assessment tool because it tells you

a) Whether or not a client has a mental illness
b) Details about an individual’s feeling state and cognitive functioning
c) Whether a mental illness is organic or functional in origin
d) The history of a clients symptoms and his response to stress

Answer 1

b) Details about an individual’s feeling state and cognitive functioning

Question 2

Persons with an acute psychotic illness have most difficulty in

a) Meeting dependency needs
b) Maintaining grooming and personal hygiene
c) Distinguishing between reality and unreality
d) Displaying personal feelings

Answer 2

c) Distinguishing between reality and unreality

Question 3

People who have a personality disorder

a) Frequently progress to a psychotic illness
b) Become psychotic under severe stress
c) Are known as borderline personalities
d) Have ongoing difficulties in relating to others

Answer 3

d) Have ongoing difficulties in relating to others

Question 4

A social factor contributing to the incidence of eating disorders is

a) economic disadvantage
b) educational disadvantage
c) gender stereotyping
d) unemployment

Answer 4

c) gender stereotyping

Question 5

The most appropriate treatment for phobias is

a) anxiolytic drugs
b) cognitive restructuring
c) relaxation exercises
d) systematic desensitisation

Answer 5

d) systematic desensitisation

Question 6

Anxiety is best described as

a) mild form of psychosis
b) disorder of mood
c) response to stress
d) distorted sense of perception

Answer 6

c) response to stress

Question 7

Which of the following is common feature of anxiety

a) Paranoid delusions
b) Social withdrawal
c) Impaired concentration
d) Auditory hallucinations

Answer 7

c) Impaired concentration

Question 8

A comparison of maori and non maori suicide rates shows that

a) Maori are less likely to commit suicide
b) Maori are much more likely to commit suicide
c) There is no difference between maori and non maori suicide rates
d) There are differences but they are not statistically significant

Answer 8

b) Maori are much more likely to commit suicide

Question 9

A person who is currently acutely depressed expresses an intention to self harm. Your initial response would be to

a) Distract the client by talking about less depressing thoughts or ideas
b) Encourage the client to discuss their ideas of suicide to establish potential for self harm
c) Suggest the client involves themselves with other clients to establish supportive relationships
d) Ask the client to explain their reasons for contemplating self harm

Answer 9

b) Encourage the client to discuss their ideas of suicide to establish potential for self harm

Question 10

A depressed client is prescribed amitriptyline. This would have the effect of

a) Clarifying his thought processes
b) Helping to raise his mood
c) Eliminating negative ideas
d) Promoting greater self awareness

Answer 10

b) Helping to raise his mood

Question 11

Support for a client with an eating disorder involves

a) Avoidance of family conflicts
b) Discussion of health ways of losing weight
c) Encouragement to explore issues of concern
d) Daily checks for changes in weight

Answer 11

c) Encouragement to explore issues of concern

Question 12

A side effect resulting from long term use of antipsychotic medication is tardive dyskinesia. Features of tardive dyskinesia include

a) Involuntary lip smacking and tongue movements
b) Dry mouth and blurred vision
c) Muscular rigidity and shuffling gait
d) Nausea and vomiting

Answer 12

a) Involuntary lip smacking and tongue movements

Question 13

A nurse working in a long term ward becomes aware that they are becoming institutionalised. Which of the following behaviours would they be most likely to have noticed

a) An excessive and unrealistic concern for the welfare of clients
b) A tendency to become involved in new activities
c) A lack of satisfaction with existing methods of work
d) Resistance to new ideas and change

Answer 13

d) Resistance to new ideas and change

Question 14

The drug most commonly used In the long term treatment of bi polar disorder is

a) Diazepam
b) Lithium carbonate
c) Clozapine
d) Sodium Amytal

Answer 14

b) Lithium carbonate

Question 15

A client who is committed under the mental health act (1992) is discharged from hospital on leave. When visited by the community mental health nurse he refused his injection of antipsychotic medication which is due that day. The best initial approach to this would be to

a) Explain that this will mean his immediate return to hospital
b) Visit again the next day and attempt to persuade the client to accept his medication
c) Inform the medical staff so that the clients legal status can be changed
d) Explore with the client alternative forms of treatment to medication

Answer 15

a) Explain that this will mean his immediate return to hospital

Question 16

A client expresses the belief that he is the illegitimate son of a famous family. This is an example of

a) Paranoid thinking
b) Pressure of speech
c) A delusion of grandeur
d) Ideas of reference

Answer 16

c) A delusion of grandeur

Question 17

Which of the following statements related to the treatment, with lithium carbonate, of person with bipolar disorder is true

a) Most will need to take lithium carbonate for an extended period of time, perhaps for life
b) Once the persons mood becomes euthymic, treatment can be discontinued in most cases
c) Because of the need to maintain constant blood levels, long term injections is the preferred form of treatment
d) Treatment is most effective in the acute stage of the illness although some people will need long term treatment

Answer 17

d) Treatment is most effective in the acute stage of the illness although some people will need long term treatment

Question 18

An acutely ill client with the diagnosis of scizophrenia has just been admitted to the mental health unit. When working with this client initially the nurses most therapeutic action would be to

a) Use diversional activity and involve the client in occupational therapy
b) Build trust and demonstrate acceptance by spending some time with the client
c) Delay one to one interactions until medications reduce the psychotic symptoms
d) Involve the client in multiple small group discussions to distract attention from the fantasy world

Answer 18

b) Build trust and demonstrate acceptance by spending some time with the client

Question 19

To give effective nursing care to a client who is using ritualistic behaviour, the nurse must first recognize that the client

a) Should be prevented from performing the rituals
b) Needs to realise that the rituals serve no purpose
c) Must immediately be diverted when performing the ritual
d) Does not want to repeat the ritual, but feels compelled to do so

Answer 19

b) Needs to realise that the rituals serve no purpose