A nurse on a mental health unit notices that a client is becoming increasingly agitated and throws a table when he is unable to select the television (TV) channel. Which of the following should be a priority action by the nurse?

Attempt to talk the client down.

Administer a PRN antianxiety medication.

Place the client in a monitored seclusion room until he is calm.

Restrain the client to prevent injury to himself or others.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A rationale:

Attempting to talk the client down is the priority action in this situation. Agitation can escalate to aggression or violence if not addressed appropriately. Engaging in therapeutic communication can help de-escalate the client's agitation, express understanding, and potentially find out the underlying cause of their distress. This approach prioritizes a non-pharmacological intervention.

Choice B rationale:

Administer a PRN antianxiety medication. While medication might be a consideration for managing agitation, it's generally not the first action to take. Non-pharmacological interventions, like therapeutic communication, should be attempted first to minimize the reliance on medications to manage behaviors.

Choice C rationale:

Place the client in a monitored seclusion room until he is calm. Placing a client in seclusion should be a last resort and should only be done when there's an immediate risk of harm to the client or others. In this scenario, the client's agitation doesn't seem to present an imminent danger, so seclusion would be an excessive and restrictive intervention.

Choice D rationale:

Restrain the client to prevent injury to himself or others. Restraint should be an absolute last resort and only used when there's an imminent risk of harm that cannot be managed in any other way. Restraint can escalate agitation and trauma for the client, as well as pose legal and ethical concerns. Therefore, it should only be used when all other options have been exhausted and safety is a critical concern.

Nursing Test Bank

Quiz #1: RN Exams Pharmacology Exams Quiz #2: RN Exams Medical-Surgical Exams Quiz #3: RN Exams Fundamentals Exams Quiz #4: RN Exams Maternal-Newborn Exams Quiz #5: RN Exams Anatomy and Physiology Exams Quiz #6: RN Exams Obstetrics and Pediatrics Exams Quiz #7: RN Exams Fluid and Electrolytes Exams Quiz #8: RN Exams Community Health Exams Quiz #9: RN Exams Promoting Health across the lifespan Exams Quiz #10: RN Exams Multidimensional care Exams

Get 100+ Naxlex Exit Exams for $79 Try Naxlex NCLEX-RN (14 Day Free-Trial)

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

Quiz #1: Naxlex RN Comprehensive online practice 2019 B with NGN Quiz #2: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Quiz #3: Naxlex RN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 Exit Exam A Quiz #4: Naxlex HESI Exit LPN Exam Quiz #5: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor PN 2020 Quiz #6: Naxlex VATI PN Comprehensive Predictor 2020 Quiz #8: Naxlex PN Comprehensive Predictor 2023 - Exam 1 Quiz #10: Naxlex HESI PN Exit exam Quiz #11: Naxlex HESI PN EXIT Exam 2

Free Nursing Study Resources

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

The correct answer is choice D: Request a mental health consult.

Choice A rationale:

Planning a therapeutic diet for the client is important, but it may not be the first priority in this situation. The client's significant weight loss and distorted body image suggest potential psychological issues that should be addressed before focusing solely on a diet plan.

Choice B rationale:

Providing a structured environment is valuable in promoting stability, but it may not address the underlying psychological concerns that are likely contributing to the client's distorted body image and weight loss.

Choice C rationale:

Assessing the client's nutritional status is certainly important, as the weight loss needs to be understood from a medical perspective. However, given the client's belief that she is fat and the drastic weight loss, there are more urgent mental health concerns to address first.

Choice D rationale:

Requesting a mental health consult is the first priority for this client. The client's weight loss, distorted body image, and belief that she is fat indicate potential body dysmorphic disorder or an eating disorder. This suggests a serious psychological issue that requires immediate attention. A mental health consult can help assess the client's mental and emotional well-being, provide a proper diagnosis, and guide the appropriate interventions to address her distorted perception of her body.

A. Periods of elation with unusual talkativeness. B. Recurrent thoughts of past trauma. C. Preoccupied with folding clothes. D. Invents words that have no meaning.

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A rationale:

Periods of elation with unusual talkativeness. Rationale: While periods of elation with unusual talkativeness can be associated with certain mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, they are not specific to schizophrenia. These symptoms are more indicative of mania, which is characteristic of bipolar disorder.

Choice B rationale:

Recurrent thoughts of past trauma. Rationale: Recurrent thoughts of past trauma can be associated with various mental health disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but they are not specific to schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is primarily characterized by disturbances in thought processes, perception, and behavior.

Choice C rationale:

Preoccupied with folding clothes. Rationale: Preoccupation with folding clothes is not a hallmark symptom of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, and impaired social functioning.

Choice D rationale:

Invents words that have no meaning. Rationale: This statement is correct. Inventing words that have no meaning, also known as "neologisms," is a symptom often observed in individuals with schizophrenia. Neologisms are a manifestation of disorganized thinking and communication.

View Question and Answer

Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.

Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today

A nurse on a mental health unit notices that a client is becoming increasingly agitated and throws a table when he is unable to select the television (TV) channel. Which of the following should be a priority action by the nurse?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse in the ER is admitting a client who has experienced a weight loss of 11 kg (25 lb) in the past 3 months. The client weighs 40 kg (88 lb) and believes she is fat. Which of the following aspects of care should the nurse consider the first priority for this client?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is assessing a client diagnosed with schizophrenia. Which of the following behaviors should the nurse document to be associated with schizophrenia?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse is caring for a client who has been diagnosed with end-stage liver cancer. The nurse recognizes that which of the following responses is an indication the client is in the denial phase of the grief process?

A nurse is caring for a client who is withdrawing from opioids. Which of the following medications would the nurse prepare to administer?

A nurse is preparing to teach a client about the prescription of lithium (Eskalith) for the treatment of bipolar disorder. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?

A nurse in the ER is admitting a client who has experienced a weight loss of 11 kg (25 lb) in the past 3 months. The client weighs 40 kg (88 lb) and believes she is fat. Which of the following aspects of care should the nurse consider the first priority for this client?

A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who is experiencing mania. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?

Exhibit. The spouse of a male client with early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) tells the nurse, "I am just exhausted from the constant worry. I don't know what to do." Which action is best for the nurse to take next? (Select All That Apply.)

A nurse at a walk-in mental health clinic is assessing a client experiencing severe anxiety. The nurse should recognize the client might exhibit which of the following manifestations?