Nursing Exam Test V

Crisis Intervention
1. True or false; Stress has the ability to precipitate a crisis?
Answer: True; any stressful situation can precipitate a crisis

2. What does problem solving during the crisis period do?

A. Nothing, a pt is not able to resolve a problem during the crisis period
B. Makes the crisis worse. During a crisis period trying to solve the problem
will cause stress which will precipitate the crisis
C. It will preserve self-esteem and promote growth with resolution.
D. It will cause the patient to withdraw and go into depression
Answer: C; problem solving during the crisis period preserves self
esteem and promotes growth with resolution

3. A disaster leaves victims with a (select all that apply)

A. damaged sense safety
B. varying amount of emotional trauma
C. damaged sense of coping mechinisims
D. damaged sense of well being
Answer: A, B, D; disasters leave victims with a damaged sense of
safety and well-being, and varying amounts of emotional trauma.

4. A common feature of disasters is that they(select all that apply)

A. Threaten the safety of the community
B. overwhelm local resources
C. cause a sensory overload in the elderly
D. threaten the function of the community
Answer: A,B,D - a common feature of disasters is that they overwhelm
local resources and threaten the function and safety of the community.

5. Nurse Jane is working on crisis intervention with a patient, she takes the
information she has gathered about the stressor and writes the following statement
in her nurses notes:
“Ineffective coping r/t mental illness AEB pt stating that she drinks 7
days a week until she passes out. “Pt. will identify 1 positive coping skill by
discharge”
What phase of crisis intervention is nurse Jane completing?
A. Intervention (Phase 3)
B. Assessment (Phase 1)
C. Planning of therapeutic intervention (Phase 2)
D. Evaluation of crisis resolution and anticipatory planning (4)
Answer: The correct answer is C; the planning therapeutic intervention
is the stage where from the assessment data the nurse selects appropriate nursing
diagnoses that reflect the immediacy of the crisis situation.

6. Stacy comes home to find her house has been burglarized. She is very upset and
immediately calls the cops. For months after the burglary Stacy cannot sleep, she
awakes in the middle of the night thinking that she hears footsteps or glass breaking.
Stacy’s current mental state is a result of which type of crises?
A. Crisis reflecting psychopathology
B. Maturational/developmental crisis
C. Crisis of anticipated life transition
D. Crisis resulting from traumatic stress
Answer: D; a crisis resulting from traumatic strees results from an
unexpected external stressor which the individual has little or no control, (causing
them to feel defeated or overwhelmed)

7. A sudden event in ones life that disrupts homeostasis during which usual coping
mechanisms can’t resolve the problem is defined as:
A. Crisis B. Monumental moment
C. Disaster D. Intervention
Answer: A. Crisis

8. Nurse Jane has just met with a new client who is having trouble coping with his
crisis. Jane begins the interview buy asking what happened to cause this patient to
become so upset, she finds out when the event happens, if it has ever happened
before, if so what coping skills has the client used in the past and did they work. She
also pays close attention the clients physical and mental state during this period
Nurse Jane is acting out what phase in crisis intervention.
A. Intervention (Phase 3)
B. Assessment (Phase 1)
C. Planning of therapeutic intervention (Phase 2)
D. Evaluation of crisis resolution and anticipatory planning (4)
Answer: B, assessment is the period when a nurse gathers information
about the stressors in the clients life.

9. Interventions with the client who has experienced a traumatic even are aimed at
(select all that apply)
A. Maintaining anxiety at a manageable level
B. Stopping the crisis completely and immediately
C. Developing a trusting relationship with the client
D. Encouraging expression of beliefs and values
Answer A, C, D - you also want to keep a calm and confident manor
with the pt, speak in an even tone and use short simple sentences.

10. The individuals perception of the event; the availability of situational support;
availability of adequate coping mechanisms are all examples of what?
A. Maturational crises
B. Balancing Factors
C. Developmental Factors
D. Situational Crises
Answer: B. Balancing factors

11. Crisis situations in which general functioning has been severely impaired and the
individual rendered incompetent or unable to assume personal responsibility are
known as:
A. Situational Crisis B.Crises reflecting psychopathology
C. Developmental emergencies D. Psychiatric emergencies
Answer; D. Psychiatric emergencies

12. Put the following phases in the development of a crisis into chronological order;
A. All possible resources, both internal and external, are called on to resolve
the problem and relieve the discomfort
B. The individual is exposed to a precipitating stressor anxiety is increased.
 C. If resolution has not occurred in previous phases, the tension mounts
beyond a further threshold or its burden increases over time to a breaking point.
Major disorganization of the individual with drastic results often occurs.
D. When previous problem-solving techniques do not relieve the stressor,
anxiety increases further
Answer: B, D, A, C

13. Sharon is on phase 2 in the development of a crisis. She normally writes in her
journal as a coping mechanism and it makes her feel better. This coping mechanism
does not work. How is sharon most likely to feel?
A. She is most likely to feel at ease with the failure and move on in a strategic
monor
B. She is most likely to look to others and remain calm until a solution is found
C. She is most likely to feel more anxious, disorganized and helpless
D. She is most likely to look further into her past and find another coping
mechanism
Answer: C, if techniques do not relieve the stressor the individual will
feel more anxious, disorganized and helpless.

14. True or False; A crisis occurs in only unstable individuals and is a sign of
psychological weakness
Answer: False; crisis occurs in all individuals at one time or another and
is not necessarly equated with psychopathology.

15. Sally is dealing with a crisis situation in her life which of the following statements
are true about crisis. (select all that apply)
A. Crisis are contagious
B. Crisis are personal by nature
D. Crisis are chronic and do not have to be resolved for a person to live a
fulfilled life
D. Crises are precipitated by specific identifiable events
Answer: B- crises are precipated by specific identifiable events,
they are personal by nature, and are acute not chronic and are resolved in one way
or another within a brief period. It contains the potential for psychological growth or
deterioration.

16. The nurse is working with Max who is in stage II of the development of a crisis.
The new problem solving techniques they discussed are not working. If max’s crisis
is not resolved he will most likely experience which of following: (All that apply)
A. Dramatic Thinking B. Psychotic Thinking
B. Panic State C. Depression State

17. Darla’s father passed away the previous night in his sleep. He had no pre
existing conditions and was in great health for his age. What type of crisis is Darla
most likely to experience.
A. Dispositional Crisis
B. Maturational or developmental Crisis
C. Crisis resulting from Traumatic stress
D. Crisis reflecting psychopathology
Answer: C- Traumatic stress crisis occurs from situations that are
imposed on an individual out of his or her control. Such as rape, robbery, sudden
death, sudden loss, and receiving ill health information

18. A pt comes into the ER the pt is screaming and ranting. He has erratic hand
movements and is not making sense. As a nurse you know that this man is in a state
of panic. As a nurse you should do which of following steps first;
A. send a large man in the room to calm the pt before you go in and
talk to him
B. Tell the pt he is acting ridiculous and he should come back when he
is able to follow the rules.
C. Allow the pt to sit the room and calm himself before you go in and
talk to him
D. Remain with the individual and help him figure out what caused him
to act this way

19. The goal of crisis resolution is the (select all that apply)
A. psychological resolution of the immediate crisis
B. focuses should be on making the pt realize that he is wrong and should
change his ways
C. Bring the pt back to the level you think they should be at
D. Differs with each person
Answer: A, the goal of crisis intervention is psychological resolution of
the individual’s immediate crisis and restoration to at least the level of functioning
that existed before the crisis period. Max goal is to improve the functioning above
the pre-crisis level

20. A family that just had a new baby is suffering from which type of crisis?
A. Dispositional Crisis
B. Maturational or developmental Crisis
C. Anticipated Life transitions crisis
D. Crisis reflecting psychopathology
Answer: C - any normal stages of life such as a new baby, a new stage
in life, a new job, marriage, separation, divorce etc.