Medical Tests Medical Tests Certifications CEN Questions & Answers

• Question 101:

  Your patient in the emergency department has been sexually assaulted. The patient is withdrawn, confused and at times physically withdrawn. You realize that these behaviors are:

  A. Sign of the patients increased risk for suicide

  B. An indication of the patient's need for admission

  C. Signs of depression D. Normal reactions to sexual assault

  Correct Answer: D

  These symptoms are normal for a patient who has been through such a traumatic event. During the acute phase of rape crisis, the patient can display a wide variety of emotional responses. The patient should be observed closely, but the patient may not need to be admitted to the hospital. The patient is not necessarily suicidal or depressed at this point.

• Question 102:

  You are caring for a patient with major depression. The patient has become unable to complete her activities of daily living (ADLs). What intervention should the nurse take to help this patient?

  A. Complete all ADLs for the patient until the patient is able to do so for herself.

  B. Adjust the patient's schedule so that there is enough time for her to complete all her ADLs.

  C. Give the patient consequences for not completing ADLs.

  D. Have peers confront the patient on how noncompliance affects the unit.

  Correct Answer: A

  Until the patient is able to complete the ADLs, the nurse should complete them for the patient. The symptoms of major depression are depressed mood, loss of interest, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, agitation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness and recurrent thoughts of death. The patient will not have the energy or interest in completing her ADLs.

• Question 103:

  You are caring for a suicidal patient with a plan. You have developed a plan of care. What would the outcome of your plan of care be?

  A. Coping and problem solving skills

  B. Less anxiety and agitation

  C. Develops a relationship with staff and peers

  D. Denies suicidal ideations and identifies options to deal with stressors

  Correct Answer: D

  The patient will be able to deny suicidal ideations and identify options for dealing with stressors at the completion of care. The patient has developed a plan for his suicidal ideations and this should be directed as the priority for care. The patient will need to learn to identify other options for dealing with his stress rather than suicide.

• Question 104:

  Your patient was brought to the emergency department by the police. He has serious lacerations on both wrists. What would the nurse's first priority be?

  A. Examine and treat both wounds.

  B. Get a complete history from the patient.

  C. Work with the patient to discuss feelings.

  D. Give anti-anxiety medication.

  Correct Answer: A

  The first priority of the nurse would be the wounds on the patient's wrists. The other interventions would follow after the wounds have been treated. The wounds on the patient's wrists could be life threatening.

• Question 105:

  Your patient has been admitted to the hospital following a suicide attempt by hanging. What would be important to include in this patient plan of care to maintain patient safety?

  A. Assign a staff member to the patient at all times.

  B. Place the patient in a seclusion room.

  C. Place the patient in a hospital gown.

  D. Have another patient stay with the patient.

  Correct Answer: A

  A staff member would need to be assigned to stay with the patient at all times. The plan of care for this patient must reflect the seriousness of the attempt to commit suicide. The staff member must be within arm's reach at all times. All other options are insufficient to keep the patient from harm.

• Question 106:

  Which of the following if observed by the nurse would indicate that a depressed patient is becoming suicidal?

  A. The patient becomes angry when speaking on the phone and slams the phone down.

  B. The patient becomes angry during group therapy and runs out of the room.

  C. The patient becomes angry at her roommate for borrowing her clothes.

  D. The patient starts giving away her most prized possessions.

  Correct Answer: D

  The patient giving away her most prized possessions can be an indication that she is suicidal. The patient is saying good-bye with this gesture and hoping that someone will remember them when they are gone. This patient needs to be observed closely at this time to insure that they remain safe.

• Question 107:

  You are caring for a patient who has been displaying aggressive behavior. You observe that his behavior seems to be escalating. Which intervention by the nurse would be least helpful to this patient?

  A. Acknowledge the patient's behavior.

  B. Maintain a safe distance from the patient.

  C. Assist the patient to a quiet environment.

  D. Initiate confinement measures.

  Correct Answer: D

  Initiating confinement measures would be least helpful to this patient. The patient is moving toward loss of control. During this phase the nurse want to take control, maintain a safe distance, acknowledge the patient's behavior, move the patient to a quiet area and medicate if necessary. Initiating confinement would be appropriate during the crisis period.

• Question 108:

  You are caring for a patient in a crisis state. What would you want to consider when planning care for this patient?

  A. All individuals experiencing a crisis will have the same symptoms.

  B. The patient is suffering from a mental illness if they are in a crisis state.

  C. The patient is suffering from an emotional illness if they are in a crisis state.

  D. Each person reacts differently to a crisis.

  Correct Answer: D

  Each individual response to a crisis is different. Different patients will not necessarily present with similar symptoms when they are in crisis. What constitutes a crisis for one person may not be the same for another person.

• Question 109:

  Your patient has been admitted to the hospital with acute blindness. After many tests are run the physician can find no organic reason for the patient's blindness. You learn that the patient became blind after witnessing a serious car accident where several people were killed. What do you suspect is the cause of the patient's blindness?

  A. Psychosis

  B. Conversion disorder

  C. Dissociative disorder

  D. epression

  Correct Answer: B

  The patient is suffering from conversion disorder. The patient has witnessed something so unbelievable that they have gone blind in order to deal with the conflict. Conversion disorder is when a patient has an alteration or loss of physical functioning that has not pathological cause.

• Question 110:

  You are caring for a patient who has a fear of leaving his house. He only comes outside when accompanied by his spouse. What do you determine the patient is experiencing?

  A. Social phobia

  B. Agoraphobia

  C. Claustrophobia

  D. Hypochondriasis

  Correct Answer: B

  The patient is suffering from agoraphobia. Agoraphobia is the fear of open spaces and the fear of being trapped in a situation they may not be able to escape. It also includes a sense of helplessness or embarrassment if an attack occurs. This leads to a reduction in social or professional interactions.