LPN Psychosocial Integrity 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient with schizophrenia tells the LPN, 'The television is sending me secret messages.' Which response is most therapeutic?
- 'I can see the TV is on, but I don't receive messages from it.' (Correct answer)
- 'That's impossible — TVs can't send messages.'
- 'Tell me more about these messages.'
- 'You should ignore the television.'
Correct answer: 'I can see the TV is on, but I don't receive messages from it.'
The nurse acknowledges the patient's experience without reinforcing the delusion by stating their own reality calmly.
Question 2: Which behavior by an LPN best demonstrates active listening during a therapeutic interaction?
- Nodding, maintaining eye contact, and reflecting the patient's statements (Correct answer)
- Offering advice quickly to resolve the patient's concerns
- Changing the subject when the patient becomes emotional
- Completing documentation while the patient speaks
Correct answer: Nodding, maintaining eye contact, and reflecting the patient's statements
Active listening involves nonverbal cues, eye contact, and reflecting content to show the patient they are heard.
Question 3: A patient newly diagnosed with cancer states, 'Why bother treating it — I'm going to die anyway.' What stage of grief does this statement best reflect?
- Depression (Correct answer)
- Denial
- Bargaining
- Acceptance
Correct answer: Depression
Hopelessness and withdrawal of effort are hallmarks of the depression stage in Kübler-Ross's grief model.
Question 4: An LPN is caring for a patient experiencing a panic attack. Which intervention is the priority?
- Stay with the patient and speak in a calm, low voice (Correct answer)
- Leave the patient alone to reduce stimulation
- Encourage the patient to explain what triggered the attack
- Administer PRN anxiolytic without further assessment
Correct answer: Stay with the patient and speak in a calm, low voice
Remaining with the patient and using a calm demeanor provides reassurance and helps reduce the intensity of a panic attack.
Question 5: A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends 45 minutes washing their hands before meals. The LPN's best initial approach is to:
- Allow the ritual but set gentle time limits collaboratively (Correct answer)
- Physically prevent the patient from washing their hands
- Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcing it
- Tell the patient the ritual is unnecessary and harmful
Correct answer: Allow the ritual but set gentle time limits collaboratively
Abruptly interrupting rituals increases anxiety; collaboratively setting limits respects patient needs while working toward behavior modification.
Question 6: A patient who is widowed says, 'I talk to my husband's photo every night.' The LPN's best response is:
- 'That sounds like a comforting way to feel close to him.' (Correct answer)
- 'You should consider that this may not be healthy.'
- 'Have you thought about seeing a grief counselor?'
- 'It's important to accept that he is gone.'
Correct answer: 'That sounds like a comforting way to feel close to him.'
Acknowledging the patient's coping strategy as comforting validates their grief process without judgment.
Question 7: Which statement by a patient indicates a need for further mental health teaching about medication adherence in bipolar disorder?
- 'I can stop my lithium once I feel stable for a few weeks.' (Correct answer)
- 'I should have my lithium levels checked regularly.'
- 'I need to drink plenty of water while on lithium.'
- 'I should report hand tremors to my provider.'
Correct answer: 'I can stop my lithium once I feel stable for a few weeks.'
Discontinuing lithium when feeling stable is dangerous and a common cause of relapse; patients must understand that stability is due to the medication.
LPN Psychosocial Integrity 2
A patient with schizophrenia tells the LPN, 'The television is sending me secret messages.' Which response is most therapeutic?