A patient has acute anxiety related to a car accident. The nurse knows the patient will need teaching about which medication category?

Mood stabilizers

Antidepressants

Antipsychotics

Anxiolytics

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is D

Choice A reason: Mood stabilizers, like lithium, are used for bipolar disorder to regulate mood swings, not for acute anxiety. They target long-term mood stabilization, not immediate symptom relief, which is critical for post-traumatic anxiety, making this category inappropriate for the patient’s condition.

Choice B reason: Antidepressants, such as SSRIs, treat depression and chronic anxiety over weeks, not acute anxiety. Their delayed onset makes them unsuitable for immediate relief following a traumatic event like a car accident, where rapid symptom management is needed, making this choice incorrect.

Choice C reason: Antipsychotics treat psychosis or severe agitation, not primary anxiety. Their use in anxiety is off-label and typically reserved for cases unresponsive to anxiolytics, with higher side effect risks. This makes them inappropriate for acute anxiety management, rendering this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Anxiolytics, like benzodiazepines, provide rapid relief for acute anxiety by enhancing GABA activity, calming the central nervous system. They are the primary choice for short-term management of anxiety post-trauma, aligning with clinical guidelines, making this the correct medication category for patient teaching.

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Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Administering medications addresses symptoms pharmacologically but is not a core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention. CBT focuses on modifying thoughts and behaviors, not drug therapy, making this choice incorrect for the specified theoretical approach.

Choice B reason: CBT targets negative thought patterns to modify maladaptive behaviors and emotions, central to treating anxiety. Challenging distorted cognitions helps the patient reframe perceptions, reducing withdrawal, aligning with CBT principles, making this the correct choice.

Choice C reason: Group therapy encourages social interaction but is not a primary CBT intervention. CBT focuses on individual cognitive restructuring, not group dynamics, making this choice less relevant for the specified theoretical approach to anxiety treatment.

Choice D reason: Relaxation techniques are adjunctive in CBT but not the primary focus. Challenging negative thoughts is the core intervention, directly addressing cognitive distortions driving anxiety, making relaxation a secondary approach and this choice incorrect.

A. Trust, collaboration, and boundaries B. Medication adherence strategies C. Coping skill development D. Long-term treatment goals

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: In Peplau’s orientation phase, the nurse establishes trust, fosters collaboration, and sets boundaries to build a therapeutic relationship. This foundation is critical for patients with psychiatric disorders, ensuring a safe space for engagement, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Medication adherence is a clinical intervention addressed later, in the working phase, not orientation. The initial phase focuses on relationship-building, not specific treatments, making this choice incorrect for the orientation phase’s goals.

Choice C reason: Coping skill development occurs in the working phase, after trust is established. Orientation prioritizes relationship foundations like trust and boundaries, not skill-building, making this choice incorrect for the initial nurse-patient interaction phase.

Choice D reason: Long-term goals are addressed in the working or termination phases, not orientation, which focuses on establishing trust and rapport. Setting goals prematurely may hinder relationship-building, making this choice incorrect for the orientation phase.

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A patient has acute anxiety related to a car accident. The nurse knows the patient will need teaching about which medication category?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

When using cognitive behavioral theory with an anxious, withdrawn patient, interventions should focus on which of the following?

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Hildegard Peplau came up with the phases of the nurse-patient relationship. What does the nurse address during the orientation phase with a patient diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Applying a bitter substance to the nails for people who tend to bite their nails is a form of which type of therapy?

A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I don’t belong here." Which response is most appropriate?

Which tasks are safe and appropriate to be performed by a basic-level nurse for a patient suffering from mental illness?

When considering the suggestions of Hildegard Peplau, which activity should the nurse regularly engage in that supports the theory of interpersonal relations?

A patient asks, "What are neurotransmitters? My doctor said mine are imbalanced." Select the nurse’s best response.

What must the nurse obtain from the patient in order for medical information to be released to another health care facility or third party regarding a patient diagnosed with a mental illness?

Which comments by a nurse demonstrate the use of therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that apply)

Which therapeutic technique best communicates to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?