Study
Homework Help
Writing
Blog
Pricing
Medical, Pharmaceutical & Health SciencesbackNursingbackOtherbackEssentials of Psychiatric Mental Health NursingbackPractice Set 3back

Suicidal Thoughts And Behavior

This question bank verified by Studydeets

Questions Bank

All Questions
Filter by:
Question 1
Free
Multiple Choice

Which change in brain biochemical function is most associated with suicidal behavior?

Choose correct answer/s
A

Dopamine excess

B

Serotonin deficiency

C

Acetylcholine excess

D

Gamma-aminobutyric acid deficiency

Check answer
Question 2
Free
Multiple Choice

A college student failed two tests. Afterward, the student cried for hours and then tried to telephone a parent but got no answer. The student then gave several expensive sweaters to a roommate. Which behavior provides the strongest clue of an impending suicide attempt?

Choose correct answer/s
A

Calling parents

B

Excessive crying

C

Giving away sweaters

D

Staying alone in a dorm room

Check answer
Question 3
Free
Multiple Choice

A nurse uses the modified SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to:

Choose correct answer/s
A

current stress level.

B

mood disturbance.

C

suicide potential.

D

level of anxiety.

Check answer
Question 4
Free
Multiple Choice

A person intentionally overdoses on antidepressant drugs. Which nursing diagnosis has the highest priority?

Choose correct answer/s
A

Powerlessness

B

Social isolation

C

Risk for suicide

D

Ineffective management of the therapeutic regimen

Check answer
Question 5
Free
Multiple Choice

A person attempts suicide by overdose, is treated in the emergency department, and then hospitalized. What is the best initial outcome? The patient will:

Choose correct answer/s
A

verbalize a will to live by the end of the second hospital day.

B

describe two new coping mechanisms by the end of the third hospital day.

C

accurately delineate personal strengths by the end of first week of hospitalization.

D

exercise suicide self-restraint by refraining from gestures or attempts to kill self for 24 hours.

Check answer
Question 6
Multiple Choice

A college student who attempted suicide by overdose is hospitalized. When the parents are contacted, they respond, "There must be a mistake. This could not have happened. We've given our child everything." The parents' reaction reflects:

Choose correct answer/s
A
denial.
B
anger.
C
anxiety.
D
rescue feelings.
To unlock the question
Question 7
Multiple Choice

An adolescent tells the school nurse, "My friend threatened to take an overdose of pills." The nurse talks to the friend who verbalized the suicide threat. The most critical question for the nurse to ask would be:

Choose correct answer/s
A
"Why do you want to kill yourself?"
B
"Do you have access to medications?"
C
"Have you been taking drugs and alcohol?"
D
"Did something happen with your parents?"
To unlock the question
Question 8
Multiple Choice

An adult attempts suicide after declaring bankruptcy. The patient is hospitalized and takes an antidepressant medication for five days. The patient is now more talkative and shows increased energy. Select the highest priority nursing intervention.

Choose correct answer/s
A
Supervise the patient 24 hours a day.
B
Begin discharge planning for the patient.
C
Refer the patient to art and music therapists.
D
Consider the discontinuation of suicide precautions.
To unlock the question
Question 9
Multiple Choice

A nurse and patient construct a no-suicide contract. Select the preferable wording for the contract.

Choose correct answer/s
A
"I will not try to harm myself during the next 24 hours."
B
"I will not make a suicide attempt while I am hospitalized."
C
"For the next 24 hours, I will not kill or harm myself in any way."
D
"I will not kill myself until I call my primary nurse or a member of the staff."
To unlock the question
Question 10
Multiple Choice

A tearful, anxious patient at the outpatient clinic reports, "I should be dead." The initial task of the nurse conducting the assessment interview is to:

Choose correct answer/s
A
assess the lethality of a suicide plan.
B
encourage expression of anger.
C
establish a rapport with the patient.
D
determine risk factors for suicide.
To unlock the question
Question 11
Multiple Choice

Select the most helpful response for a nurse to make when a patient being treated as an outpatient states, "I am considering suicide."

Choose correct answer/s
A
"I'm glad you shared this. Please do not worry. We will handle it together."
B
"I think you should admit yourself to the hospital to get help."
C
"We need to talk about the good things you have to live for."
D
"Bringing this up is a very positive action on your part."
To unlock the question
Question 12
Multiple Choice

Which intervention should a nurse recommend for the distressed family and friends of someone who has committed suicide?

Choose correct answer/s
A
Participating in reminiscence therapy
B
Attending a self-help group for survivors
C
Contracting for two sessions of group therapy
D
Completing a psychological postmortem assessment
To unlock the question
Question 13
Multiple Choice

Which statement provides the best rationale for why a nurse should closely monitor a severely depressed patient during antidepressant medication therapy?

Choose correct answer/s
A
As depression lifts, physical energy becomes available to carry out suicide.
B
Suicide may be precipitated by a variety of internal and external events.
C
Suicidal patients have difficulty using social supports.
D
Suicide is an impulsive act.
To unlock the question
Question 14
Multiple Choice

A nurse assesses a patient who reports a 3-week history of depression and crying spells. The patient says, "My business is bankrupt, and I was served with divorce papers." Which subsequent statement by the patient alerts the nurse to a concealed suicidal message?

Choose correct answer/s
A
"I wish I were dead."
B
"Life is not worth living."
C
"I have a plan that will fix everything."
D
"My family will be better off without me."
To unlock the question
Question 15
Multiple Choice

A depressed patient says, "Nothing matters anymore." What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

Choose correct answer/s
A
"Are you having thoughts of suicide?"
B
"I am not sure I understand what you are trying to say."
C
"Try to stay hopeful. Things have a way of working out."
D
"Tell me more about what interested you before you began feeling depressed."
To unlock the question
Question 16
Multiple Choice

A nurse counsels a patient with recent suicidal ideation. Which is the nurse's most therapeutic comment?

Choose correct answer/s
A
"Let's make a list of all your problems and think of solutions for each one."
B
"I'm happy you're taking control of your problems and trying to find solutions."
C
"When you have bad feelings, try to focus on positive experiences from your life."
D
"Let's consider which problems are most important and which are less important."
To unlock the question
Question 17
Multiple Choice

When assessing a patient's plan for suicide, what aspect has priority?

Choose correct answer/s
A
Patient's financial and educational status
B
Patient's insight into suicidal motivation
C
Availability of means and lethality of method
D
Quality and availability of patient's social support
To unlock the question
Question 18
Multiple Choice

Which understanding about individuals who attempt suicide will help a nurse plan the care for a suicidal patient? Every suicidal person should be considered:

Choose correct answer/s
A
mentally ill.
B
intent on dying.
C
cognitively impaired.
D
experiencing hopelessness.
To unlock the question
Question 19
Multiple Choice

Which statement by a patient during an assessment interview should alert the nurse to the patient's need for immediate, active intervention?

Choose correct answer/s
A
"I am mixed up, but I know I need help."
B
"I have no one for help or support."
C
"It is worse when you are a person of color."
D
"I tried to get attention before I shot myself."
To unlock the question
Question 20
Multiple Choice

The feeling experienced by a patient that should be assessed by the nurse as most predictive of elevated suicide risk is:

Choose correct answer/s
A
hopelessness.
B
sadness.
C
elation.
D
anger.
To unlock the question