STNA Mental Health and Social Service Needs 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A resident frequently talks about feeling worthless and hopeless. Which action should the nursing assistant take first?
- Tell the resident these feelings will pass
- Report the statements to the nurse immediately (Correct answer)
- Distract the resident with an activity
- Leave the resident alone to process their feelings
Correct answer: Report the statements to the nurse immediately
Statements indicating worthlessness and hopelessness may signal depression or suicidal ideation and must be reported to the nurse immediately for proper assessment.
Question 2: Which behavior is a common sign of depression in an elderly resident?
- Increased appetite and energy
- Withdrawal from activities and social interaction (Correct answer)
- Elevated mood and talkativeness
- Increased interest in hobbies
Correct answer: Withdrawal from activities and social interaction
Withdrawal from activities and social interaction is a hallmark sign of depression, particularly in elderly residents.
Question 3: A resident with dementia becomes agitated during evening hours. This behavior pattern is known as:
- Confabulation
- Perseveration
- Sundowning (Correct answer)
- Catastrophic reaction
Correct answer: Sundowning
Sundowning refers to increased confusion, agitation, and behavioral changes that occur in late afternoon or evening in residents with dementia.
Question 4: When communicating with a resident who has severe anxiety, the nursing assistant should:
- Speak quickly to complete tasks efficiently
- Remain calm and use a slow, reassuring tone (Correct answer)
- Avoid making eye contact to reduce pressure
- Discuss the cause of their anxiety in detail
Correct answer: Remain calm and use a slow, reassuring tone
A calm, slow, and reassuring tone helps reduce anxiety by providing the resident with a sense of safety and stability.
Question 5: A resident refuses to eat, bathe, or participate in any activities for several days. The nursing assistant should:
- Respect the resident's wishes and document nothing
- Force the resident to participate for their own good
- Report the behavior change to the nurse (Correct answer)
- Tell other residents to encourage the person
Correct answer: Report the behavior change to the nurse
A sudden change in behavior such as refusing care and activities may indicate a mental health issue and must be reported to the nurse for evaluation.
Question 6: Which approach is most effective when caring for a resident experiencing a panic attack?
- Leave the room and return when the resident calms down
- Stay with the resident, speak calmly, and encourage slow breathing (Correct answer)
- Administer a PRN medication without nurse authorization
- Restrain the resident to prevent injury
Correct answer: Stay with the resident, speak calmly, and encourage slow breathing
Staying with the resident, speaking calmly, and guiding slow breathing helps reduce the intensity of a panic attack by providing reassurance and regulation techniques.
Question 7: A resident with schizophrenia tells the nursing assistant that the television is sending them secret messages. The nursing assistant should:
- Agree with the resident to avoid conflict
- Argue that the television cannot send messages
- Acknowledge the resident's feelings without reinforcing the delusion (Correct answer)
- Ignore the resident completely
Correct answer: Acknowledge the resident's feelings without reinforcing the delusion
Acknowledging feelings without agreeing or arguing respects the resident and avoids reinforcing the delusion while maintaining a therapeutic relationship.
STNA Mental Health and Social Service Needs 1
A resident frequently talks about feeling worthless and hopeless.
Which action should the nursing assistant take first?