A patient admitted for injuries sustained while intoxicated has been hospitalized for 48 hours. The patient is now shaky, irritable, anxious, and diaphoretic and reports nightmares. The pulse rate is 130 beats/minute. The patient shouts, "Bugs are crawling on my bed. I've got to get out of here." Select the most accurate assessment of this situation. The patient

is attempting to obtain attention by manipulating staff.

has symptoms of alcohol withdrawal delirium.

may have sustained a head injury before admission.

is having an acute psychosis.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

A. The patient’s symptoms are physiological and neurological, not intentional behaviors for attention.

B. Alcohol withdrawal delirium (delirium tremens) typically occurs 48–72 hours after the last drink and includes tremors, agitation, anxiety, diaphoresis, tachycardia, hallucinations, and nightmares—all present in this patient.

C. Although head injury can cause confusion and agitation, the timing of symptoms following alcohol withdrawal aligns more closely with delirium tremens.

D. Acute psychosis can present with hallucinations, but in this case, the onset following alcohol cessation and accompanying autonomic hyperactivity point toward alcohol withdrawal delirium.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A. Magical thinking involves belief that one has special powers or that thoughts/actions can influence unrelated events. Claiming an ability to decode DNA by sight reflects an irrational belief in a special, unrealistic power.
B. Ideas of reference are the belief that neutral events (TV, conversations) refer specifically to oneself; that is not described here.
C. Visual hallucinations are false sensory perceptions (seeing things that aren't there); the statement describes a belief about an ability, not a sensory experience.
D. Thought insertion is the delusional belief that others are putting thoughts into one’s mind; the patient is claiming a personal ability, not externally implanted thoughts.

A. A man is extremely anxious about his problems and sometimes experiences dazed periods of several minutes passing without conscious awareness of them, B. A woman reports that when she feels tired or stressed, it seems like her body is not real and is somehow growing smaller. C. A woman finds unfamiliar clothes in her closet, is recognized when she goes to new restaurants, and complains of "blackouts" despite not drinking D. After being caught in an extramarital affair, a man disappeared but then reappeared months later with no memory of what occurred while he was missing

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A. Extreme anxiety with brief dazed periods describes depersonalization or dissociative episodes, but not a fugue, because identity and travel are not involved.

B. Feeling like the body is unreal or shrinking is indicative of depersonalization-derealization disorder, not dissociative fugue.

C. Unfamiliar clothes and blackouts without alcohol may suggest dissociative identity disorder, as multiple identities or personality states are involved.

D. Dissociative fugue involves sudden, unexpected travel away from one’s home or workplace, inability to recall the past, and confusion about personal identity or assumption of a new identity. The scenario describes disappearance, travel, and memory loss consistent with dissociative fugue.

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Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient insistently states, "I can decipher codes of DNA just by looking at someone." Which problem is evident?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Which scenario demonstrates a dissociative fugue?

Correct Answer is D

Explanation

A nurse can anticipate teaching a patient to expect anticholinergic side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, mydriasis, constipation, and urinary retention when they are prescribed which medication?

A nurse is caring for a child who has autism spectrum disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? (Select all that apply).

A patient diagnosed with alcoholism says. "Drinking helps me cope with being a single parent." Which therapeutic response by the nurse would help the patient conceptualize the drinking objectively?

The nurse expects which medication to be prescribed to maintain abstinence to a patient with an addiction to either alcohol or opioids?

An older adult diagnosed with dementia lives with family in a rural area. During the week, this adult attends a day care center while the family is at work. In the evenings, members of the family provide care. Which factor makes this adult most vulnerable to abuse?

A nurse in a substance abuse clinic is assessing a client who was recently prescribed disulfiram. The patient suddenly stopped taking this medication and is now complaining of severe nausea and vomiting. What should the nurse suspect is likely the cause of the client's distress?

Over the past year, a woman has cooked gourmet meals for her family but eats only tiny servings. This person wears layered loose clothing. Her current weight is 95 pounds and has a loss of 35 pounds. Which medical diagnosis is most likely?

A health teaching plan for a patient taking lithium should include instructions to