The nurse is preparing to perform a psychosocial assessment on a patient. Which of the following should be included in the environment to promote an effective assessment? (Select all that apply)

Crowded room

Avoiding eye contact

A television on for background noise

Adequate lighting

A quiet and private area

Answer and Explanation

Correct Answer : D,E

Choice A reason: A crowded room creates distractions and compromises patient confidentiality, hindering open communication during a psychosocial assessment. Effective assessments require a private, calm environment to foster trust and focus, as external stimuli can exacerbate anxiety or disrupt emotional disclosure, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Avoiding eye contact can signal disengagement or discomfort, undermining the therapeutic alliance needed for a psychosocial assessment. Appropriate eye contact fosters trust and encourages patients to share sensitive information, as it reflects attentiveness and empathy, making this choice incorrect for an effective assessment environment.

Choice C reason: A television on for background noise introduces auditory distractions, reducing the patient’s ability to focus and share openly during a psychosocial assessment. A quiet environment is essential to ensure clear communication and minimize sensory overload, which can affect emotional regulation, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Adequate lighting creates a comfortable, non-threatening environment for a psychosocial assessment, allowing the nurse to observe nonverbal cues like facial expressions, which are critical for assessing emotional states. Proper lighting supports patient comfort and accurate observation, making this a correct choice for the assessment setting.

Choice E reason: A quiet and private area ensures confidentiality and minimizes distractions, fostering a safe space for patients to discuss sensitive psychosocial issues. This environment supports emotional disclosure and reduces anxiety, enabling accurate assessment of mental health status, making this a correct choice for effective assessments.

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 A

Explanation

Choice A reason: Asking about a specific plan to hurt oneself is a critical closed-ended question to assess suicide risk in depression. It identifies intent and means, guiding immediate safety interventions, as suicidal ideation with a plan increases risk, making this the correct choice.

Choice B reason: Asking what helps the patient feel better explores coping strategies, not immediate safety. While useful for long-term management, it does not directly assess suicide risk, which is critical given the patient’s statement, making this choice less urgent.

Choice C reason: Inquiring about the duration of feelings provides context but does not directly assess immediate suicide risk. Understanding chronicity is secondary to evaluating intent and plans, which are critical for safety in depression, making this choice incorrect.

Choice D reason: Asking “why” explores the reasons for suicidal thoughts but is open-ended and less focused on immediate safety. Closed-ended questions about specific plans are more effective for rapid risk assessment in depression, making this choice incorrect.

A. Our staff is excellent, and you are in good hands. B. I think you should calm down and look at the positive side. C. Are you feeling that no one understands? D. I find that hard to believe.

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

Choice A reason: Praising the staff dismisses the patient’s feelings, a nontherapeutic response. It fails to explore the patient’s sense of isolation, potentially worsening distrust, as it does not engage the emotional distress expressed, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: Telling the patient to calm down and focus on positives minimizes their feelings, a nontherapeutic approach. It ignores the underlying emotional distress, potentially inhibiting therapeutic communication and trust, making this choice incorrect for the scenario.

Choice C reason: Reflecting the patient’s feeling of being misunderstood is therapeutic, as it validates their emotions and invites further exploration. This open-ended response engages the patient’s limbic system, fostering trust and emotional processing, making this the correct choice.

Choice D reason: Expressing disbelief invalidates the patient’s experience, a nontherapeutic response. It risks alienating the patient, hindering therapeutic alliance by dismissing their emotional distress rather than exploring it, making this choice incorrect.

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

The nurse is preparing to perform a psychosocial assessment on a patient. Which of the following should be included in the environment to promote an effective assessment? (Select all that apply)

Nursing Test Bank

Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams

A patient with depression tells the nurse, “Sometimes I think people would be better off without me being alive.” Which closed-ended question should the nurse ask next to assess the patient’s safety?

Correct Answer is A

Explanation

A client on a psychiatric unit states, “It’s a waste of time being here. I can’t talk to you or anyone.” Which is the correct nursing response?

Correct Answer is C

Explanation

What is psychomotor retardation as seen in psychiatric patients?

A nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia. During the interaction, the nurse notices that the patient’s facial expressions are minimal and do not seem to match the emotions being expressed verbally. This is an example of:

During a mental health assessment, a patient laughs manically while describing a recent loss of a loved one. The nurse recognizes this emotional expression as:

A patient recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes tells the nurse, “This is all my fault. If I had taken better care of myself, I wouldn’t be in this situation.” Which response by the nurse is the most therapeutic?

A woman experiences deep sadness after the death of her “side-piece,” but she feels unable to openly mourn because their relationship was not recognized openly. The nurse identifies this as an example of:

A patient missed a treatment option. Later, the patient appears withdrawn and avoids eye contact when discussing calling loved ones. Which is the best nursing action?

An elderly patient with advanced Alzheimer’s disease is admitted to the unit. The nurse is informed that the patient has a court-appointed legal guardian. The guardian arrives and asks for information about the patient’s medications and plan of care. What is the nurse’s best response?

A nurse is caring for an elderly patient with advanced dementia who is unable to make healthcare decisions independently. The patient’s adult child has been appointed legal guardian. What is the nurse’s best action regarding the patient’s care decisions?