Crisis Intervention Practice Test 3
Crisis Intervention NCLEX Practice Test
Crisis Intervention is a key topic within the NCLEX test plan, located under Psychosocial Integrity → Coping and Adaptation → Crisis Intervention. This section stabilizes acute psychological crises with rapid assessment and linkage to ongoing mental health support. Each test contains 50 questions designed to mirror the difficulty and variety of the real exam.
This is the 3rd part of the Crisis Intervention series. To explore all practice tests under this topic, use the “Back to Main Topic” button at the end of the page.
Continue Learning
In the Crisis Intervention Study Cards section, shared by real NCLEX candidates, you’ll find concise summaries and high-yield insights related to the most tested concepts. It’s a perfect space to reinforce challenging topics and sharpen your recall through quick, focused repetitions. Short, powerful, and repeatable!
Crisis Intervention Practice Test 3
A young adult with obesity comes to the free clinic for a 2-week post-antibiotic follow-up visit for a superficial abdominal skin abscess. The client has a history of major depressive disorder and was hospitalized twice in the past 6 months for attempted suicide. The client now reports feeling "emotionally upset, alone, and at the end of my rope," due to difficulty finding a job and inability to qualify for medical insurance. The client is currently prescribed fluoxetine but has not been able to follow up with the prescribing health care provider (HCP). What is the priority nursing diagnosis (ND) at this time?
- Hopelessness
- Ineffective coping
- Risk for infection
- Risk for suicide
Explanation: Answer reason: This client has recent suicide attempts, major depressive disorder, escalating psychosocial stressors, and statements indicating despair and potential intent, which together signal high acute risk. The most urgent nursing focus is to identify and mitigate imminent self-directed violence through assessment, safety planning, and rapid referral/monitoring. Concerns like coping deficits or hopelessness are important but are addressed after ensuring the client is not in immediate danger, and the superficial abscess follow-up does not outweigh life-threatening risk.
The nurse is caring for a client at risk for suicide. Which client behavior is most indicative that the client may be contemplating suicide?
- The client shares that he is finally happy.
- The client sits and cries for long periods of time.
- The client prefers to spend long periods of time alone.
- The client reports a variety of sleep pattern disturbances.
Explanation: Answer reason: A sudden, unexpected improvement in mood in a previously suicidal client can signal that the person has decided on a plan and feels relief because the internal conflict is “resolved.” This apparent calmness may occur shortly before an attempt, making it a higher-risk warning sign than ongoing distress alone. Prolonged crying, social withdrawal, and sleep disturbance are common depressive symptoms, but they do not specifically suggest imminent action as strongly as an abrupt shift to feeling “finally happy.” This change warrants immediate suicide-risk reassessment, closer observation, and safety interventions.
Think you’re ready for the NCLEX?
Run through a full 150-question exam just like the real thing. You’ll hit the 85-question checkpoint and get a clear report showing where you stand.