ANXIETY DISORDERS PRACTICE QUESTIONS NCLEX TEST WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A client is experiencing a severe ANS: C
panic attack. Which nursing inter- The nurse can meet this client's imme-
vention would meet this client's im- diate need by staying with the client
mediate need? and offering reassurance of safety and
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation security. The client may fear for his or
exercises her life and the presence of a trusted
B. Place the client in a Trendelen- individual provides assurance of per-
burg position sonal safety.
C. Stay with the client and offer re-
assurance of safety
D. Administer the ordered PRN bus-
pirone (BuSpar)
2. A nurse has been caring for a ANS: C
client diagnosed with post-traumat- The nurse should include obtaining
ic stress disorder. What short-term, adequate sleep without zolpidem (Am-
realistic, correctly written outcome bien) by discharge as a realistic out-
should be included in this client's come for this client. Having no flash-
plan of care? backs and experiencing a full range of
A. The client will have no flash- emotions are long-term not short-term
backs. outcomes for this client. Clients are
B. The client will be able to feel a full encouraged to discuss the traumatic
range of emotions by discharge. event.
C. The client will not require zolpi-
dem (Ambien) to obtain adequate
sleep by discharge.
D. The client will refrain from dis-
cussing the traumatic event.
3. A client is prescribed alprazolam ANS: A
(Xanax) for acute anxiety. What The nurse should question a prescrip-
client history should cause a nurse tion of alprazolam (Xanax) for acute
to question this order? anxiety if the client has a history
A. History of alcohol dependence of alcohol dependence. Alprazolam is
B. History of personality disorder a benzodiazepine used in the treat-
C. History of schizophrenia ment of anxiety and has an increased
D. History of hypertension risk for physiological dependence and
tolerance. A client with a history of
substance abuse may be more likely
, ANXIETY DISORDERS PRACTICE QUESTIONS NCLEX TEST WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
to abuse other addictive substances
and/or combine this drug with alcohol.
4. Which nursing diagnosis would ANS: B
best describe the problems ev- Post-trauma syndrome is defined as
idenced by the following client a sustained maladaptive response to
symptoms: avoidance, poor con- a traumatic, overwhelming event. This
centration, nightmares, hypervig- nursing diagnosis addresses the prob-
ilance, exaggerated startle re- lems experienced by clients diag-
sponse, detachment, emotional nosed with post-traumatic stress dis-
numbing, and flashbacks? order.
A. Ineffective coping
B. Post-trauma syndrome
C. Complicated grieving
D. Panic anxiety
5. How should a nurse best describe ANS: C
the major maladaptive client re- The major maladaptive client re-
sponse to panic disorder? sponse to panic disorder is the percep-
A. Clients overuse medical care due tion of having no control over life situa-
to physical symptoms. tions which leads to nonparticipation in
B. Clients use illegal drugs to ease decision making and doubts regarding
symptoms. role performance.
C. Clients perceive having no con-
trol over life situations.
D. Clients develop compulsions to
deal with anxiety.
6. A college student has been diag- ANS: A, D, E
nosed with generalized anxiety dis- The nurse should expect that a client
order (GAD). Which of the following diagnosed with GAD would experi-
symptoms should a campus nurse ence fatigue, insomnia, and irritabili-
expect this client to exhibit? (Select ty. GAD is characterized by chronic,
all that apply.) unrealistic, and excessive anxiety and
A. Fatigue worry.
B. Anorexia
C. Hyperventilation
D. Insomnia
E. Irritability
VERIFIED ANSWERS
1. A client is experiencing a severe ANS: C
panic attack. Which nursing inter- The nurse can meet this client's imme-
vention would meet this client's im- diate need by staying with the client
mediate need? and offering reassurance of safety and
A. Teach deep breathing relaxation security. The client may fear for his or
exercises her life and the presence of a trusted
B. Place the client in a Trendelen- individual provides assurance of per-
burg position sonal safety.
C. Stay with the client and offer re-
assurance of safety
D. Administer the ordered PRN bus-
pirone (BuSpar)
2. A nurse has been caring for a ANS: C
client diagnosed with post-traumat- The nurse should include obtaining
ic stress disorder. What short-term, adequate sleep without zolpidem (Am-
realistic, correctly written outcome bien) by discharge as a realistic out-
should be included in this client's come for this client. Having no flash-
plan of care? backs and experiencing a full range of
A. The client will have no flash- emotions are long-term not short-term
backs. outcomes for this client. Clients are
B. The client will be able to feel a full encouraged to discuss the traumatic
range of emotions by discharge. event.
C. The client will not require zolpi-
dem (Ambien) to obtain adequate
sleep by discharge.
D. The client will refrain from dis-
cussing the traumatic event.
3. A client is prescribed alprazolam ANS: A
(Xanax) for acute anxiety. What The nurse should question a prescrip-
client history should cause a nurse tion of alprazolam (Xanax) for acute
to question this order? anxiety if the client has a history
A. History of alcohol dependence of alcohol dependence. Alprazolam is
B. History of personality disorder a benzodiazepine used in the treat-
C. History of schizophrenia ment of anxiety and has an increased
D. History of hypertension risk for physiological dependence and
tolerance. A client with a history of
substance abuse may be more likely
, ANXIETY DISORDERS PRACTICE QUESTIONS NCLEX TEST WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
to abuse other addictive substances
and/or combine this drug with alcohol.
4. Which nursing diagnosis would ANS: B
best describe the problems ev- Post-trauma syndrome is defined as
idenced by the following client a sustained maladaptive response to
symptoms: avoidance, poor con- a traumatic, overwhelming event. This
centration, nightmares, hypervig- nursing diagnosis addresses the prob-
ilance, exaggerated startle re- lems experienced by clients diag-
sponse, detachment, emotional nosed with post-traumatic stress dis-
numbing, and flashbacks? order.
A. Ineffective coping
B. Post-trauma syndrome
C. Complicated grieving
D. Panic anxiety
5. How should a nurse best describe ANS: C
the major maladaptive client re- The major maladaptive client re-
sponse to panic disorder? sponse to panic disorder is the percep-
A. Clients overuse medical care due tion of having no control over life situa-
to physical symptoms. tions which leads to nonparticipation in
B. Clients use illegal drugs to ease decision making and doubts regarding
symptoms. role performance.
C. Clients perceive having no con-
trol over life situations.
D. Clients develop compulsions to
deal with anxiety.
6. A college student has been diag- ANS: A, D, E
nosed with generalized anxiety dis- The nurse should expect that a client
order (GAD). Which of the following diagnosed with GAD would experi-
symptoms should a campus nurse ence fatigue, insomnia, and irritabili-
expect this client to exhibit? (Select ty. GAD is characterized by chronic,
all that apply.) unrealistic, and excessive anxiety and
A. Fatigue worry.
B. Anorexia
C. Hyperventilation
D. Insomnia
E. Irritability
