Deck 30: Disorders of Childhood and Adolescence

Question 1

A nurse is considering reporting suspected abuse by a step-father, but she is worried that she might jeopardize a developing relationship with the child's mother. What legal ramifications should she consider?

A) If she does not report her suspicions, she could lose her license.
B) If she makes a report, the step-father could sue her for false arrest.
C) If she makes the report, the mother could accuse her of alienation of affection.
D) If she does not make a report, her agency could be liable for any medical expenses.

Answer 1

If she does not report her suspicions, she could lose her license.

Question 2

The school nurse recommends that the parents of a student seek help because the student is constantly in trouble and recently has set several small fires on school grounds. What condition is the school nurse suspecting?

A) Depression
B) Conduct disorder
C) Oppositional defiant disorder
D) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Answer 2

Conduct disorder

Question 3

A 14-year-old patient has been raised from infancy in a series of foster homes and has difficulty forming significant and stable emotional connections. This increases the patient's risk for which responses or disorders? Select all that apply.

A) Anxiety
B) Suicidality
C) Drug abuse
D) Depression
E) Schizophrenia

Answer 3

Anxiety
Suicidality
Drug abuse
Depression

Question 4

A group of nurses were discussing psychological issues related to childhood abuse. Which statement indicates their understanding of these issues?

A) "It doesn't matter where the abuse occurs."
B) "Children under 10 can't be diagnosed with PTSD."
C) "Most abused children develop long-term psychological problems."
D) "The frequency and number of abusive events influences the severity of the psychological distress."

Question 5

A nurse is working with a family that demonstrates a high level of conflict. Which intervention would be most appropriate?

A) Help them to learn more effective communication skills.
B) Help them obtain medication to decrease their intensity levels.
C) Help them to identify the family member who is causing the conflict.
D) Help them decide which family member should have the most power in decision making.

Question 6

A 7-year-old patient tells the nurse, "I did bad things today," and the nurse responds, "Tell me about the bad things you did today." What is the nurse doing to connect to the child's experience?

A) Talking about the child's problem behavior.
B) Using the child's own language to engage with him.
C) Asking for specific information about the child's activity.
D) Repeating what the child said to reflect the child's statement back to him.

Question 7

A community nurse is concerned about risky adolescent behavior online. What might be an appropriate subject for a parent workshop to help address this issue?

A) How to use social media
B) How to keep children off the Internet
C) Strategies that promote Internet safety
D) Techniques for getting access to children's Internet communications

Question 8

A 7-year-old child recently experienced the death of the family's pet dog. The dog was the child's constant companion. What does the nurse understand the child is at risk for developing as a result of the pet's death?

A) Agoraphobia
B) Conduct disorder
C) Elimination disorder
D) Separation anxiety disorder

Question 9

A nurse is meeting with a 14-year-old girl who reveals that she frequently engages in cutting. Which thought of the nurse's would be most therapeutic?

A) She must be depressed.
B) She needs an immediate medication evaluation.
C) This is typical behavior adolescent behavior and not really a big problem.
D) I must make sure she is safe and then I think we will need to work on this patient developing new coping skills.

Question 10

A parent reports that her nine-year-old son experiences nocturnal bed-wetting several times each month. The parent wants to know if this problem will cure itself. Which is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

A) "This problem responds only to treatment with family therapy."
B) "Unless you consider using medications, the problem will continue."
C) "Most children stop wetting the bed at night by the time they reach adolescence."
D) "Most cases of enuresis are a result of organic causes and require medical treatment."

Question 11

A nurse is working with a 16-year-old tornado survivor who is diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What therapy might she use to emphasize positive outcomes of trauma?

A) Somatic experiencing
B) Posttraumatic growth (PTG)
C) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
D) Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)

Question 12

A parent tells the nurse that her brother has Tourette syndrome and she is concerned that her five-year-old son may be at risk for the same disorder. Which is the most appropriate reply?

A) There is no known genetic association in Tourette syndrome.
B) There may be a genetic predisposition for developing Tourette syndrome.
C) A person whose uncle has Tourette syndrome will definitely develop the condition.
D) We do not have any information on the hereditary factors associated with Tourette syndrome.

Question 13

The psychiatric nurse is discussing indicators of conduct disorders in children with a group of student nurses. The nurse will be sure to discuss which behavior that children with conduct disorders find challenging?

A) Seeking out peers
B) Eating a balanced diet
C) Following rules and norms of behavior
D) Interpreting internal stimuli or external cues

Question 14

A school nurse wants to design an in-school program to help improve the mental health of the students. What topic would be an appropriate choice that would affect the most students?

A) Weight control
B) Drug abuse prevention
C) Collaborative antibullying
D) Effective studying techniques

Question 15

A nurse is working with a 17-year-old girl with bulimia nervosa. What experience in the nurse's own life could interfere most with nurse's objectivity?

A) The nurse has a poor body image.
B) The nurse has a friend who was bulimic.
C) The nurse was bulimic as an adolescent.
D) The nurse has never had any personal experience of bulimia.

Question 16

During a therapy session an 11-year-old patient tells the psychiatric advanced practice nurse that he wants to leave. The nurse wants to understand what created this feeling. How might she respond to the patient's statement?

A) "Is there somewhere you want to go?"
B) "I guess you're upset about something."
C) "What happened to make you feel the need to leave?"
D) "Why don't you just sit down for a minute so we can talk some more?"

Question 17

A kindergarten teacher refers a student to the school nurse because he appears unable to engage in play with the other children and insists on playing alone with a particular toy. He also shows delayed language development. What disorder might the nurse suspect?

A) Conduct disorder
B) Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
C) Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
D) Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Question 18

A 12-year-old patient, who was recently place in foster care after one year in a residential facility, reports recurring nightmares about a violent event in the residence. He also has some difficulty remembering and concentrating. The nurse suspects the patient may be developing which disorder?

A) Depression
B) Separation anxiety
C) Pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD)
D) Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Question 19

A nurse is describing the multifactorial perspective of mental health and illness to the parents of a child recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Which statement would the nurse utilize when describing this approach?

A) Exposure to drugs and alcohol has been associated with psychiatric disorders.
B) Early psychological trauma may create deficits or abnormalities in brain structure.
C) The child's genetically determined attributes and life experiences interact to influence mental health outcomes.
D) The feedback mechanism appears dysfunctional, creating neurotoxic effects on brain development and function.

Question 20

The school nurse is meeting with a child and his parents. The child was recently diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). What is an appropriate goal for this first meeting?

A) Provide information on ASD.
B) Improve the child's school behavior.
C) Determine the causes of the child's ASD.
D) Determine an appropriate medication regimen for the child.

Question 21

A nurse is working with a six-year-old diagnosed with OCD. What medication might the nurse expect would be prescribed for this patient?

A) Clomipramine (Anafranil)
B) Sertraline (Zoloft)
C) Methylphenidate (Ritalin)
D) Olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Question 22

The nurse is preparing patient education for parents of children who have experienced trauma. What will the nurse explain regarding how the incorporation of yoga in the treatment plan might help a childhood trauma victim?

A) It can improve problem solving skills.
B) Yoga practice supports an improved self-image.
C) It may help trauma victims feel safe and grounded.
D) Yoga practice improves social skills and interactions.

Question 23

The nurse administers lithium carbonate (Lithobid) to a child with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which therapeutic effect will the nurse anticipate?

A) Weight loss
B) Weight gain
C) Elevated mood
D) Decreased agitation

Question 24

A patient in a residential treatment facility who was behaving aggressively was prescribed risperidone. How should this patient be monitored? Select all that apply.

A) IQ test
B) Lab panels
C) Physical exam
D) Baseline EKG
E) Pulmonary function evaluation

Question 25

The nurse observes an 8-year-old child regressing to behavior that is characteristic of a toddler when faced with new situations. The child has been in several foster care families over the past three years. Which intervention is most appropriate for this child?

A) Providing for unmet needs.
B) Ignoring the regressive behavior.
C) Providing consistency and continuity of caregivers.
D) Ignoring the negative behavior and reinforcing the positive behavior.

Question 26

An advanced practice psychiatric nurse (APRN-PMH) is evaluating what the most effective intervention options might be for a child diagnosed with selective mutism. What are some options the nurse should consider? Select all that apply.

A) Hypnotherapy
B) Parenting education classes
C) Antidepressant medications
D) Brief-solution focused therapy
E) Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)

Question 27

The nurse is discussing the benefits of play therapy with the parents of a 4-year-old child. The nurse explains that play theory assists children with developing which skills? Select all that apply.

A) Expressing feelings
B) Working through conflicts
C) Interrupting patterned behavior
D) Improving problem solving skills
E) Improving eye-hand coordination

Question 28

A nurse has been hired to work in a milieu management program. With which techniques should the nurse be familiar? Select all that apply.

A) Hypnotherapy
B) Reinforcement
C) Psychoanalysis
D) Pattern interruption
E) Affect management

Question 29

The stepfather of a child diagnosed with a conduct disorder wants to know the reason for including him in family therapy sessions. What will the nurse tell the stepfather is the goal of family therapy?

A) Help the child relive past events and related feelings.
B) Increase the probability that the child's mental health will improve.
C) Speak for the child so the parents can become more aware of the child's potential.
D) Provide an opportunity for the parents to interact with their child in a safe environment.

Question 30

A nurse is providing community mental health services to families identified as at risk for attachment disorder. What treatment might a nurse consider as most effective?

A) Mindfulness education
B) Parenting skills education
C) Brief solution-focused therapy
D) Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Question 31

A 12-year-old with ADHD is experiencing insomnia. The nurse anticipates providing patient education for which therapy?

A) Fluoxetine (Prozac)
B) Atomoxetine (Strattera)
C) Amphetamine sulfate (Adderall)
D) Melatonin

Question 32

The nurse is assessing a child with depression. What is the best approach the nurse will use when assessing the child's socialization?

A) "How many friends do you have at school?"
B) "So you spend a lot of time with your friends?"
C) "Tell me about the friends you enjoy being with."
D) "You seem like a person who would have a lot of friends."