Mental Health NCLEX Disorders of Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence
This set focuses on Disorders of Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence for the Mental Health NCLEX, emphasizing age-specific anxiety symptoms and developmental differences in how children express emotional distress. It supports understanding of pediatric mental health assessment.
Which complaint is representative of anxiety in a 6-year-old child?
a. “I worry that my dad will get hurt at work.”
b. “I get a stomach ache when it’s my weekend at my dad’s house.”
c. “I can’t sleep when I stay at Grandma’s because I worry about my mom.”
d. “I’m not going to sports camp because I don’t like being away from my friends.”
ANS: A
Developmental differences exist with regard to the symptoms of anxiety. Children between the ages of 5 and 8 years old most commonly report unrealistic worry about harm to their parents. Between the ages of 9 and 12 years, children report excessive distress during times of separation. Adolescents typically report somatic complaints.
Key Terms
Which complaint is representative of anxiety in a 6-year-old child?
a. “I worry that my dad will get hurt at work.”
b. “I get a stomach ache when it’s my weekend at my dad’s house.”
c. “I can’t sleep when I stay at Grandma’s because I worry about my mom.”
d. “I’m not going to sports camp because I don’t like being away from my friends.”
ANS: A
Developmental differences exist with regard to the symptoms of anxiety. Children between the ages of 5 and 8 years old most commonly repo...
Which of the following meets the DSM-IV-TR criteria for moderate mental retardation?
a. Requires constant one-on-one supervision and total physical care
b. Advanced as far as the sixth grade and works at a warehouse every day and supports himself
c. Advanced as far as the second grade and provides her own personal care with supervision
d. Attends the local community college for developmental English and math courses
ANS: C
Individuals diagnosed as having moderate mental retardation acquire some communication skills, but rarely advance academically beyond the...
The nurse is assessing a child with autism. Which of the following behaviors would the nurse expect to observe?
a. Referring to their imaginary friend, Skipper
b. Asking to telephone ‘my friends’ on the weekends
c. Repeating, ‘milk, milk, milk, milk’ until given a drink
d. Is insistent that a dim light be left on in the bedroom at night
ANS: C
Stereotyped and repetitive use of language or idiosyncratic language is one of the characteristic behaviors seen in autism. The remaining...
Which behavior best supports the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in an 8-year-old child?
a. Cries when separated from his mother or father
b. Refuses to pick up toys as instructed by his parents
c. Is fascinated with spinning and moving toys and objects
d. Can concentrate on school work for only very short periods of time
ANS: D
Experiencing difficulty concentrating on tasks is a hallmark for ADHD. Crying is a characteristic of separation anxiety. Disobedience as ...
Which behavior is most characteristic of a conduct disorder?
a. Frequently getting up and interrupting while being read to
b. Only apologizes for hitting a friend to avoid being punished
c. Finds it difficult to spend the night away from family members
d. Becomes extremely agitated when the television is turned off
ANS: B
Children or adolescents with conduct disorder generally do not empathize with other people’s feelings and are unconcerned with other’s si...
Which assessment finding should be considered a high risk factor for adolescent suicide?
a. Being sexually abused
b. Having experienced panic attacks
c. Being mildly cognitively impaired
d. Having a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes
ANS: A
Suicide risk factors include a history of sexual abuse. There is no current research to support a strong relationship between suicide att...
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Term | Definition |
---|---|
Which complaint is representative of anxiety in a 6-year-old child? a. “I worry that my dad will get hurt at work.” | ANS: A |
Which of the following meets the DSM-IV-TR criteria for moderate mental retardation? a. Requires constant one-on-one supervision and total physical care | ANS: C |
The nurse is assessing a child with autism. Which of the following behaviors would the nurse expect to observe? a. Referring to their imaginary friend, Skipper | ANS: C |
Which behavior best supports the diagnosis of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in an 8-year-old child? a. Cries when separated from his mother or father | ANS: D |
Which behavior is most characteristic of a conduct disorder? a. Frequently getting up and interrupting while being read to | ANS: B |
Which assessment finding should be considered a high risk factor for adolescent suicide? a. Being sexually abused | ANS: A |
Planning for a patient with Asperger’s disorder will be facilitated if the nurse understands that this disorder is different from autism. The nurse will base care on knowledge that Asperger’s disorder is characterized by: a. Repetitive patterns of behavior | ANS: B |
Which behaviors would support a diagnosis of oppositional-defiant disorder? a. Exhibits involuntary facial twitching and blinking and makes barking sounds | ANS: B |
Which child’s history is a risk for developing a reactive attachment disorder? a. Father is a chronic alcoholic | ANS: D Reactive attachment disorder is a disorder that occurs in some children who are institutionalized. |
Which intervention will best help a teenager manage aggressive behavior? a. Administering prescribed medication as ordered | ANS: C |
Which intervention will best help a child manage hyperactive behavior? a. Arranging for the child to play basketball 4 times a week | ANS: A |
The nursing diagnosis that would be universally applicable for children with autistic disorder would be: a. Risk for constipation related to odd eating habits | ANS: C |
A child’s diagnosis of conduct disorder is supported by the fact that: a. The child’s mother is a chronic alcoholic. | ANS: B (book) A (rationale) |
Which intervention will best help minimize parental guilt in the family of a child diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder? a. Helping them to develop realistic expectations for their child | ANS: A |
Which behavior demonstrates that a child is achieving appropriate management of separation anxiety? a. Earned two As, three Bs, and one C this report card period | ANS: A |
A 15-year-old has been diagnosed with major depression and admitted to the adolescent unit. Which behavior would the nurse expect to observe in this patient? a. Discussing repeated “run-ins” with the law | ANS: D |
When discussing depression and suicide with parents of teenagers, the nurse is accurate in reporting that the most common method used in late adolescent suicide is: a. Hanging | ANS: B |
Planning safety interventions for a teenager with a history of self-injurious behavior is based on what research-based information? a. Teenagers rarely entertain the idea of suicide. | ANS: B |
Which statement made by a teenage male hospitalized after a failed suicide attempt is most concerning to the nurse? a. “My uncle shot himself but he didn’t die.” | ANS: C |
The mother of a child describes her child’s “annoying behavior” as not being able to sit still or to stop jerking his arms when told to. Which disorder does the nurse suspect? a. Tourette’s disorder | ANS: A |
Which response is most therapeutic when a parent whose child is diagnosed with Tourette’s disorder voices concerns that their child’s facial contortions are merely acts of defiance? a. “Your child isn’t defiant but rather mentally ill.” | ANS: D |
Which description is characteristic of an impulsive child? a. Pacing and speaking in a very loud, disruptive voice | ANS: C |
Which intervention would qualify as primary prevention of violent behaviors in children and adolescents? a. Forbidding the child to continue friendships with violent peers | ANS: B |
A friend says to a nurse, “I am not going to get vaccines for my baby. I hear that vaccines cause autism.” The nurse’s best reply is: a. “The exact cause of autism is not really known” | ANS: C |
A 5-year-old girl on a behavior modification program is admitted to the unit. The nurse would expect to participate in which activity based on this approach? a. Firmly challenging the child’s irrational thoughts | ANS: B |
A mother asks why the whole family needs to meet with the therapist because it is her teenage stepdaughter who has the substance abuse problem. The nurse replies with the knowledge that: a. Mothers usually have insight into their children’s problem. | ANS: D |
The parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD ask the nurse what current medications are available for their child. The nurse should list which of the following medications? (Select all that apply.) a. Methylphenidate (Concerta) | ANS: A, C, D |