Question 1

You are caring for an elderly woman who is a practicing Orthodox Judaism. Which meal would you most likely offer this client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Observant Orthodox Jewish dietary laws (kashrut) prohibit pork and prohibit mixing meat with dairy in the same meal. A dairy-based meal with fruit aligns with these restrictions and is broadly acceptable without requiring specific meat preparation or separation. Pork is non-kosher, making that option clearly inappropriate. A meat item served with milk violates the meat-and-dairy separation rule, and a mixed meat dish may be noncompliant depending on kosher certification and preparation.

Question 2

A client has been hospitalized with bipolar disorder, manic episode. The nursing care plan includes the diagnosis "Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements." Which of the following meal selections would be best for the client?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Finger foods and portable items improve intake while supporting safety and reducing agitation at mealtimes. This meal provides a handheld protein source and easy-to-eat sides, making it more realistic for sustained consumption in mania. A common distractor is a plated entrée meal that requires sitting and utensils, which manic clients are more likely to abandon before eating enough.

Question 3

A client who lives alone had a total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer 3 months ago. The client has a tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) to enable speech and tells the nurse, "It's a good thing it's cold outside, so I can keep the hole in my neck covered up with a scarf. I don't know what I'll do when the weather gets warmer." What is the most appropriate nursing diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: This reflects concern about self-concept and how the body looks to self/others rather than a primary physiologic problem. Although a TEP can affect communication, the client is not describing inability to speak or frustration with speech; the focus is concealment and embarrassment. Ineffective coping is broader and would be more appropriate if the client showed maladaptive behaviors or inability to manage daily life beyond the appearance concern. Ineffective self-health maintenance is not supported because no deficits in care of the stoma/TEP or health management are described.

Question 4

The nurse on the mental health unit receives report about a client diagnosed with schizophrenia who is experiencing a delusion of reference. Which client statement supports this symptom?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: " Delusions of reference involve the belief that neutral external events (e.g., music, TV, gestures) have special personal meaning directed at the client. Interpreting a song as a secret coded message meant specifically for them is a classic example. In contrast, believing bugs are under the skin reflects tactile hallucinations, and hearing a voice commanding harm reflects auditory command hallucinations. Believing Martians are poisoning the water is a persecutory/bizarre delusion, not a reference delusion.

Question 5

The nurse assesses an 85-year-old client. Which statement by the client requires follow-up?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: " Social withdrawal in an older adult is a red flag because it increases risk for isolation, depression, and cognitive decline and often reflects an addressable sensory deficit. Marked hearing difficulty that is changing behavior warrants follow-up assessment (hearing screening, evaluation for cerumen, medication effects, or need for amplification) and support to maintain communication and safety. The other statements describe common age-related changes (reduced night vision, decreased stamina, morning stiffness) that are often expected and already paired with an appropriate self-management strategy. The key issue is the functional impact and psychosocial consequence, not the presence of aging changes alone.

Question 6

A client with paranoid schizophrenia is withdrawn and suspicious of others and projects blame. The client's behavior reflects problems in which of the following stages of development identified by Erikson?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Prominent suspiciousness, interpersonal distrust, and attributing harmful intent to others are most consistent with an impaired foundation of basic trust. Paranoid schizophrenia commonly features persecutory ideation and projection, which align with pervasive mistrust rather than autonomy/initiative conflicts. Intimacy versus isolation more specifically concerns forming close adult relationships, whereas the core feature emphasized here is distrust and suspicion.

Question 7

A nurse is caring for an older adult client in a long-term care facility. Which of the following findings would alert the nurse to the possibility that the client had developed delirium?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: A key differentiator from dementia is an altered or fluctuating level of consciousness, often with inattention and disorganized thinking. Gradual memory loss and difficulty with abstract thought are more consistent with chronic neurocognitive disorder (dementia) rather than an acute confusional state. Hopelessness points more toward depression and does not specifically indicate an acute change in consciousness/attention.

Question 8

While assessing a Vietnamese child in the emergency department, the nurse notes erythematous, linear markings on the torso. As the caregiver explains how she put them there to treat fever, nurse Joanna suspects?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: The key principle is to distinguish culturally based healing practices from non-accidental injury by matching lesion pattern and caregiver history. Cupping typically produces round ecchymotic circles rather than linear marks. Chelation is a treatment for heavy metal poisoning and would not explain superficial linear skin markings.

Question 9

Which statement by a client with a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder would the nurse recognize as progress toward a positive therapeutic outcome?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: " Dependent personality disorder is characterized by excessive need to be taken care of, leading to submissive/clinging behavior and difficulty making independent decisions. This statement shows increased autonomy and independent problem-solving to meet a need despite lack of usual support, which reflects therapeutic progress. The other options either reinforce reliance on others (planning to stay with cousin when parents leave), focus on self-criticism without adaptive coping, or express gratitude that can signal continued overdependence on the nurse rather than growing self-efficacy. Improvement is best demonstrated by taking independent action in daily functioning.

Question 10

The nurse in labor and delivery provides care for a client who is Muslim and in active labor. The client's labor is long and difficult. Which cultural practice will the nurse expect after the birth?

Accepted Answer

Answer reason: Nursing care incorporates culturally congruent practices when they are safe and do not conflict with medical needs. In many Muslim communities, protective items such as an amulet or a blue stone (used to ward off the “evil eye”) may be used for newborn protection, especially after a difficult labor. The other choices are not typical, broadly recognized Muslim postpartum cultural practices and could reflect individual preference rather than a predictable expectation. Supporting this benign practice promotes trust and respects family beliefs while maintaining newborn safety (e.g., ensuring it is secured and not a choking/strangulation hazard).

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Mental Health Concepts Practice Test 9

Mental Health Concepts NCLEX Practice Test

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You are caring for an elderly woman who is a practicing Orthodox Judaism. Which meal would you most likely offer this client?

A client has been hospitalized with bipolar disorder, manic episode. The nursing care plan includes the diagnosis "Imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements." Which of the following meal selections would be best for the client?

The nurse on the mental health unit receives report about a client diagnosed with schizophrenia who is experiencing a delusion of reference. Which client statement supports this symptom?

The nurse assesses an 85-year-old client. Which statement by the client requires follow-up?

A client with paranoid schizophrenia is withdrawn and suspicious of others and projects blame. The client's behavior reflects problems in which of the following stages of development identified by Erikson?

A nurse is caring for an older adult client in a long-term care facility. Which of the following findings would alert the nurse to the possibility that the client had developed delirium?

While assessing a Vietnamese child in the emergency department, the nurse notes erythematous, linear markings on the torso. As the caregiver explains how she put them there to treat fever, nurse Joanna suspects?

Which statement by a client with a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder would the nurse recognize as progress toward a positive therapeutic outcome?

The nurse in labor and delivery provides care for a client who is Muslim and in active labor. The client's labor is long and difficult. Which cultural practice will the nurse expect after the birth?

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