A nursing student says, “Little of what takes place on the behavioral health unit seems to be theory-based.” A nurse educates the student by identifying which is a common use of Sullivan’s theory on the inpatient psychiatric unit?

Structure of the therapeutic milieu of most behavioral health units

Assessment tools based on age-appropriate versus arrested behaviors

Frequent use of restraint and seclusion for behavior modification

Use of the nursing process to determine the best sequence for nursing actions

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is A

Choice A reason: Sullivan’s interpersonal theory emphasizes therapeutic relationships and social environments to foster mental health. The therapeutic milieu, structured to promote safety and interaction, aligns with Sullivan’s focus on interpersonal dynamics, reducing symptoms like anxiety through supportive settings, which stabilize neurotransmitter imbalances, enhancing patient recovery on psychiatric units.

Choice B reason: Sullivan’s theory does not focus on age-appropriate versus arrested behaviors. It emphasizes interpersonal relationships, not developmental stages. Assessment tools for behavior typically rely on other frameworks, like Erikson’s, which address developmental milestones, not Sullivan’s interpersonal model, making this option scientifically inaccurate for the theory’s application.

Choice C reason: Restraint and seclusion are not part of Sullivan’s theory, which promotes therapeutic relationships to reduce anxiety, not coercive measures. These interventions contradict Sullivan’s focus on supportive environments, as they may exacerbate stress and neurotransmitter dysregulation, such as increased cortisol, worsening mental health outcomes in psychiatric settings.

Choice D reason: The nursing process is a general framework, not specific to Sullivan’s theory. Sullivan’s interpersonal model focuses on relationships to alleviate symptoms, not on sequencing nursing actions. While the nursing process guides care, it is not derived from Sullivan’s principles, making this option unrelated to his theoretical application.

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Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Histamine regulates wakefulness and allergic responses, not anxiety or fear. Its receptors in the brain promote alertness, but excessive histamine does not drive sympathetic activation like increased heart rate. This makes histamine an incorrect choice for the symptoms described, which align with autonomic arousal.

Choice B reason: Acetylcholine mediates parasympathetic responses, like slowing heart rate, not the sympathetic activation seen in anxiety. While it plays a role in attention, it does not primarily cause fear or tachycardia, making it an unsuitable choice compared to norepinephrine’s role in stress responses.

Choice C reason: GABA inhibits neural activity, reducing anxiety via GABA-A receptor activation. Low GABA levels may contribute to anxiety, but the symptoms described (tachycardia, fear) result from sympathetic activation, not GABA excess. This makes GABA incorrect for the neurotransmitter driving these symptoms.

Choice D reason: Norepinephrine, released during stress, activates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing heart rate and inducing fear via locus coeruleus activation. It heightens arousal in the amygdala, contributing to anxiety symptoms. This aligns with the fight-or-flight response, making norepinephrine the correct neurotransmitter for these symptoms.

A. Receiver, feedback, flow, and expression B. Sender, receiver, flow, and message C. Message, sender, feedback, and gesture D. Feedback, sender, receiver, and message

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Choice A reason: Flow and expression are not standard communication model elements. Communication involves sender, receiver, message, and feedback, with neural processing in the cortex enabling understanding. This option omits message, critical for transmitting meaning, making it scientifically incomplete for the communication process.

Choice B reason: Flow is not a recognized component of communication models. Sender, receiver, message, and feedback facilitate information exchange, with neural pathways like the auditory cortex processing signals. Omitting feedback, essential for verifying understanding, renders this option inaccurate for describing communication dynamics.

Choice C reason: Gesture is a channel, not a core element. The communication model includes sender, receiver, message, and feedback, processed via sensory and cognitive neural networks. Excluding the receiver, critical for decoding messages, makes this option incomplete and incorrect for the model’s structure.

Choice D reason: Sender, receiver, message, and feedback are core elements of communication. The sender encodes the message, the receiver decodes it via cortical processing, and feedback confirms understanding. This model reflects neurobiological communication processes, making it the accurate description of the communication framework.

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A nursing student says, “Little of what takes place on the behavioral health unit seems to be theory-based.” A nurse educates the student by identifying which is a common use of Sullivan’s theory on the inpatient psychiatric unit?

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient presents with anxiety, increased heart rate, and fear. The nurse suspects the activation of which neurotransmitter?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

Which of the following options best describes the basic elements of the communication model?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse caring for a withdrawn, suspicious patient recognizes the development of feelings of anger toward the patient. What is the nurse’s best response to these feelings?

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After assessing the patient and formulating the nursing diagnoses for a plan of care, what is the next action a nurse should take?

Which principle should guide the nurse in determining when to use silence during a patient interview?

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At one point in an assessment interview, a nurse asks, “Does your faith help you in stressful situations?” What assessment topic does this question fall under?

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