9 Mental Health NCLEX® Questions

A client is experiencing stress after delivering twins 3 weeks ago. The nurse is helping to manage her stress levels and cope with her situation. Which best describes the role of the nurse in crisis intervention?

• The nurse encourages the client to try any method of coping for the situation
• The nurse assesses the client's perception of parenthood during the early stages of crisis therapy
• The nurse helps the client to distract herself from negative feelings while managing a crisis
• The nurse avoids discussing consequences of the client's behavior during the crisis

A client with a history of severe depression and anxiety is in the hospital after attempting suicide. Which evidence would most likely be seen that indicates a crisis in a person with a mental illness? Select all that apply.

• The client is crying
• The client has not slept for several nights in a row
• The client is socially withdrawn
• The client is unable to concentrate
• The client has increased interest in personal hygiene

A 45-year-old client with schizophrenia has been brought to the hospital after trying to commit suicide. The client tells the nurse that the voices he hears told him to do it. He is extremely anxious and upset. Which assessment question would most likely help the nurse to assess the client’s perception of this event?

• Have you had thoughts of hurting others?
• Do you know what today's date is?
• Who do you live with?
• What happened that has made you so upset?

A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who tells her he believes that everyone else in the inpatient unit is secretly laughing at him behind his back. Which response by the nurse is best?

• There are some people here who are laughing but I do not think they are laughing at you.
• Did you hear someone say something about you?
• They are probably just laughing about someone else.
• Do you think they do not like you?

A nurse is caring for a client in crisis who has endured a physical assault. The nurse would expect to see which behavior associated with the integration phase of crisis? Select all that apply.

• The client starts to resolve feelings of blame
• The client tries to control every situation
• The client becomes isolated from others
• The client tries to make sense of what happened
• The client gets angry when talking about the event

The nurse is caring for a client with generalized anxiety disorder requiring treatment. Which of the following treatments does the nurse anticipate the client will need? Select all that apply.

• Antipsychotic medications
• SSRI medications
• Psychoanalysis
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• BuSpar (buspirone)

The nurse is caring for a suicidal client who began taking an antidepressant two weeks before attempting suicide. The nurse knows that first-line antidepressants that have the fewest side effects are which of the following?

• Atypical antidepressants
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors

A nurse is caring for a client with bipolar disorder who is frequently manic. What describes the most appropriate psychotherapy for a client with this condition? Select all that apply.

• Electroconvulsive therapy
• 12-step programs
• Cognitive-behavior therapy
• Family focused therapy
• Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy

A 46-year-old client is experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder after being involved in a traumatic accident. The client has symptoms of nightmares and flashbacks about the event. The nurse knows that these symptoms most likely develop because of which of the following?

• The client may have a hyperactive amygdala that leads to an increase in feelings of fear
• The client's pituitary gland works in overdrive and consistently causes flashbacks
• The body secretes too much melatonin, which leads to an increase in nightmares
• The client is no longer able to regulate levels of serotonin