Which scenario best depicts a behavioral crisis?

Crying hysterically after receiving a phone call from a friend

Making threats to harm self and others

Pacing nervously in the hallway

Wrapped up in a blanket during group therapy

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is B

Choice A reason: Hysterical crying may indicate emotional distress but does not necessarily constitute a behavioral crisis unless it escalates to danger. It reflects an emotional response, not an immediate threat requiring urgent intervention, making it less severe than harm threats.

Choice B reason: Making threats to harm self and others indicates a behavioral crisis, signaling imminent danger due to a mental health condition. This requires immediate intervention to ensure safety, aligning with psychiatric emergency criteria, making this the correct choice.

Choice C reason: Nervous pacing suggests anxiety but does not inherently indicate a behavioral crisis. It lacks the immediate risk of harm to self or others, requiring monitoring but not urgent intervention, making this choice incorrect for a crisis scenario.

Choice D reason: Being wrapped in a blanket during group therapy suggests withdrawal or discomfort, not a behavioral crisis. It does not indicate imminent danger or severe behavioral dysregulation, making it an incorrect choice compared to explicit harm threats.

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Correct Answer is A

Explanation

Choice A reason: A neutral attitude in psychiatric nursing maintains professional boundaries and objectivity, preventing bias or emotional entanglement. This fosters a therapeutic environment, allowing patients to express feelings without judgment, aligning with principles of therapeutic communication and mental health care, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Brief check-ins, while useful, may not provide the depth needed for therapeutic care in mental health settings. Consistent, meaningful engagement is more effective for building trust and addressing complex emotional needs, making this approach less optimal compared to maintaining neutrality.

Choice C reason: Discussing a patient’s feelings with another individual risks breaching confidentiality unless authorized by the patient or legally required. This violates ethical standards in mental health care, which prioritize privacy, making this approach non-therapeutic and incorrect for supporting patient care.

Choice D reason: Sharing personal mental health information blurs professional boundaries, potentially shifting focus from the patient’s needs to the nurse’s experiences. This undermines therapeutic communication and objectivity, risking patient trust and care quality, making this approach inappropriate and incorrect.

A. Were you feeling this way before this hospitalization? B. You don’t think this is the right place for your care? C. Suggest you discuss your concerns with the doctor in the morning D. This is an inappropriate statement for you to make

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

Choice A reason: Asking if the client felt this way before hospitalization focuses on past feelings, which may not address the current emotional state or therapeutic needs. While it gathers history, it lacks empathy and does not encourage the client to elaborate on their current concerns, making it less therapeutic.

Choice B reason: Reflecting the client’s statement by asking if they feel the setting is wrong demonstrates active listening and empathy, key components of therapeutic communication. It encourages the client to express feelings, fostering trust and exploration of their concerns, aligning with psychiatric nursing principles, making this the correct choice.

Choice C reason: Suggesting the client discuss concerns later with a doctor dismisses their current emotional state, potentially undermining trust in the nurse-client relationship. It avoids immediate engagement and fails to address the client’s feelings, which is critical in psychiatric care, making this response non-therapeutic and incorrect.

Choice D reason: Labeling the client’s statement as inappropriate is judgmental and dismissive, hindering therapeutic communication. It may increase the client’s sense of alienation or shame, contrary to psychiatric nursing goals of building trust and validating feelings. This response is non-therapeutic and does not support the client’s emotional needs.

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Which scenario best depicts a behavioral crisis?

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A nurse is caring for a patient with a mental health disorder. Which approach best supports therapeutic care?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

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

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?

Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental illness?

Which scenario best depicts a behavioral crisis?

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

A 52-year-old woman says to the nurse, "I should have accomplished more in life, what was I thinking?" Which psychosocial crisis is she experiencing?

A nurse instructs a patient taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) drug to avoid certain foods and drugs because of the risk of which condition?

An adolescent hospitalized after a physical outburst tells the nurse, "I’m going to kill my father, but you can’t tell anyone." Select the nurse’s best response.

A nurse is preparing morning medications for all patients, and one patient says, "I am not taking any of those pills!" The nurse gets frustrated and forcefully holds the patient to administer the medication over the patient’s objection. Which term best describes this action?