California Psychiatric Technician (PT) Board Psychiatric Nursing Practice Exam

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• The Psychiatric Technician walks in on a teenaged female who has a sharp object and is cutting her arm, causing bleeding. Which of the following is the best initial response for the Psychiatric Technician?
• Universality in group therapy most directly counteracts which experience?
• During an intake interview, which approach best encourages the client to share experiences?
• Which is most important when caring for a client in the first phase of alcohol withdrawal?
• What type of activities would typically be provided for a 1-year-old with mild mental retardation?
• What best describes the treatment approach for an elderly patient with depression?
• Which approach is most appropriate when a patient with confusion about the date presents with a misperception of a social event?
• Which term describes rewarding a child for positive behavior, such as giving a movie trip after improvement?
• Which statement best demonstrates reflective listening?
• A client tells you that you can be trusted and they want to share something with you but does not want you to tell anyone else. Your best response would be:
• Which question assesses abstract thinking?
• Which statement reflects the use of normalization principles when guiding communication with a person who has limited sign language?
• Which biological mechanism explains why some antipsychotic medications can cause gynecomastia in adolescent males?
• A client with paranoid schizophrenia is acutely disturbed and agitated. Which environmental measure best supports an appropriate assessment interview?
• An 82-year-old client does not recognize her shoes as being 'shoes.' This symptom is best described as which of the following?
• Which drug should be avoided with hypnotics due to additive CNS depression?
• Which question would best encourage a client to discuss their reaction to an accident?
• What is the first priority for a client experiencing extreme suspiciousness, panic anxiety and command hallucinations?
• What is an appropriate nursing approach when an adolescent on antipsychotics develops gynecomastia?
• Which would be the most appropriate intervention with a patient who has a history of acting upon obsessions?
• Which statement best demonstrates active listening?
• A four-year-old child is hospitalized and has begun wetting the bed. This is an example of which coping mechanism?
• Which statement reflects a principle of therapeutic communication?
• Which action best supports safety planning for someone in an abusive relationship?
• Earlier in the afternoon, a depressed client visited the dining room and sat at a table with two other clients. What is the best feedback the psychiatric technician can give the client?
• In assessing a patient with fear about sleep, which approach is most appropriate?
• A client who reports feeling depressed and hearing voices that urge self-harm cannot be safely contracted for; what is the best intervention at this time?
• What is the most empathic response when a client expresses persecutory beliefs?
• What is the best non-confrontational response by the nurse when a client mentions concern about a spouse's forgetfulness?
• Which statement about an adolescent's report of an intimate partner's behavior would NOT be an issue of concern for a psychiatric technician?
• A client on one-to-one observation resists by leading the nurse into the bathroom and yells that being followed is like being treated as a child. What is the best response?
• To support a confused elderly client, which communication approach is most appropriate?
• To help a geriatric client build self-esteem, which action is most useful?
• In group processes, which approach best promotes problem solving?
• Which urine color change is considered normal for a patient taking amitriptyline?
• When a patient reports distressing auditory hallucinations but the PT does not hear them, which response is best?
• A Psychiatric Technician may do which of the following client-care interventions?
• Following a cerebrovascular accident, a patient does not understand spoken language. Which term describes this deficit?
• Which option best demonstrates an appropriate way to respond to a patient with paranoid delusions who asks whether the voices are real?
• The first priority in providing care for a person in a tonic-clonic seizure is to:
• Which statement best characterizes the initial phase of group development?
• The Psychiatric Technician has been asked to address a class of third graders on the topic of substance abuse. Which of the following topics would be most appropriate to include?
• Which behavior would indicate burnout in a hospice caregiver?
• Which approach is least consistent with a healing-oriented Psychiatric Technician?
• At the end of a therapeutic relationship, which action best facilitates healthy closure?
• Which approach helps a child cope with procedures to be done in a hospital?
• A person experiencing depression will most likely describe themselves as:
• In documenting a 7-day diet plan for a patient with binge eating disorder, which statement indicates the patient can create a diet with appropriate caloric intake?
• The client receiving Diuril might need which of the following mineral supplements?
• A client reports a history of absence seizures. Which observation would you most likely notice?
• A patient on alcohol withdrawal who reports tactile hallucinations should be responded to by stating which of the following?
• Which technique is effective for relieving chronic pain in a client?
• After three days of taking the medication, the client says, 'I don’t think this medicine is doing any good.' What is the most appropriate response by the psychiatric technician?
• Your client states they have been journaling every day for six months and still cannot figure out what triggers their panic attacks. The best teaching response would be:
• Dual diagnosis is best described as which combination?
• Which option demonstrates proper scope of practice for a Psychiatric Technician?
• In assessing alcohol dependence, which question is most critical to evaluate withdrawal risk?
• During an assertiveness training group, a client asks why we need to learn about this stuff The best response is:
• Which is the best therapeutic response to the client expressing persecutory delusions about FBI and food preparers?
• Which statement best describes Paxil's effects and monitoring?
• What is the most appropriate long-term goal for a client with an anxiety disorder on the treatment planning team?
• Which indicates pathological grief in a person whose child died 10 months ago?
• In relapse prevention, which statement would indicate the client is using a sober support network?
• Which symptom is not typical of extrapyramidal symptoms and might indicate another issue?
• The Psychiatric Technician is using modeling to improve the behavior of a client in a group. Which of the following would the Psychiatric Technician do?
• The frequency of those using homecare for mental health services has:
• Which clothing item would indicate membership in a neo-Nazi hate group?
• When wrist restraints are placed at 5:00 pm, which time is best to remove the restraints to allow range of motion exercises?
• Your client has obsessive-compulsive disorder with ritualistic behavior. Which of the following statements would support this diagnosis?
• A Psychiatric Technician may do which of the following client-care interventions?
• A group is meeting and one member makes the following statement, "Today, we have been focusing in how we can be more assertive in our interactions at work." This client is playing which of the following roles?
• When a client has not shown improvement after several days on medication, which statement best explains the expected timeline for pharmacotherapy response?
• The term for a newly coined word used by a person with psychosis is which of the following?
• Naloxone (Narcan) given to the patient in an opioid overdose will:
• A client believes the CIA has placed them in witness protection because of a connection to the President. This is best described as:
• While talking with a client diagnosed with schizophrenia, you notice the client loses eye contact and stares at the wall with facial grimaces. The most appropriate intervention would be to:
• In relapse prevention, which statement indicates that a client is learning to use a sober support network?
• When communicating with a client experiencing a disturbance in cognition which of the following communication strategies would be best?
• The client with dementia of the Alzheimer's type says to the psychiatric technician, "I have a date tonight for the Valentine's dance." The most appropriate response is:
• Which intervention is the last to be taken according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?
• In addressing disruptive behavior of a child with a neurodevelopmental syndrome, which approach is most appropriate?
• A client is observed talking to an imaginary person. The client is most likely responding to which phenomenon?
• Partial Hospitalization Programs have which of the following characteristics?
• What is an appropriate long-term goal for a patient with anorexia nervosa?
• In preparing a client for electroconvulsive therapy, which precaution must be observed?
• A client experiences periods of hypersomnia and lack of interest alternating with episodes of elation and high energy. Which disorder is most likely?
• You learn that a client witnessed his mother being abused by his father as a child and later forgot the incident, with no memory of it. This is an example of which defense mechanism?
• What is the effect of reinforcing desirable behavior in a reinforcement schedule?
• In a group, one member has taken the role of harmonizer. Which statement would the Psychiatric Technician expect the client to make?
• The Psychiatric Technician is observing the client for early symptoms of opiate withdrawal. Which of the following would the Psychiatric Technician most likely observe?
• A technique in which a teenager observes and practices handling a conflict with a sibling is known as which?
• Electroconvulsive therapy in treating depression is most valuable when
• In response to paranoia, which statement is most therapeutic for a client?
• The question 'Are you sad today?' is an example of which type of sentence?
• When a client asks you to keep information confidential but indicates they want you to withhold it from others, the ethically appropriate response is to:
• Which action best supports therapeutic communication with a client who is angry?
• During a session with a client who states, 'Everyone is spying on me,' the most appropriate nursing response is to:
• Which coping pattern is commonly observed in children?
• The client says, 'My, I love babies. They're so little, like dolls. Did you see Carol Channing sing Hello Dolly!' I guess blondes do have more fun. The Psychiatric Technician will document this as:
• A client expresses a persistent belief about being targeted for harm by others due to a high-status connection. This is best described as:
• Which indicates improvement in a client with chronic delusions?
• A child in hospitalization who begins bedwetting is an example of which coping pattern?
• The Psychiatric Technician is establishing the use of a token economy in the group of ADD children. Which of the following will make this system more successful in getting the desired behaviors?
• A 22-year-old college student is brought to the psychiatric unit by a roommate who reports that he is acting strangely and won't come out of their room. The most appropriate first intervention is to ...
• A Psychiatric Technician is helping a homeless client build self-confidence. Which activity is most likely to help achieve this goal?
• Which concept describes a client unconsciously redirecting feelings about others onto the therapist?
• A client with a positive wound culture requires which type of isolation precautions?
• What is the primary function of the psychiatric technician in a disaster situation?
• Before using a secondary positive reinforcer with a client, what must the therapist establish?
• Which statement best describes the goal when a family questions a patient’s decision-making capacity and the clinician must assess this capacity?
• Which of the following is an early sign of lithium toxicity that the patient should report?
• Which statement best demonstrates the development of self-respect in a client?
• Which electrolyte balance should be monitored in a patient taking the diuretic Diuril?
• For a client recovering from a cerebrovascular accident, which technique helps regain awareness of a paralyzed limb?
• Which of the following indicates the most appropriate client reaction to the termination of the psychiatric technician-client relationship?
• In choosing restraints, which factor should guide the decision first?
• Which of the following is NOT a therapeutic technique?
• Which phobia is described by fear of open spaces or leaving a safe place?
• A client reports anxiety, drowsiness, and headaches. These are side effects most commonly associated with which medication class?
• Amprenavir (Agenerase) is used to treat which infection?
• A schizophrenic client says 'Everyone here works for the secret service and is checking if I want to harm the president' and refuses to take his medications. What is the most appropriate response by the psychiatric technician?
• The Psychiatric Technician is giving instructions to a 12 year-old developmentally disabled client. Which of the following instructions will be most likely to produce the desired effect?
• When the antecedent is a clenched fist before a potential strike, the best response is to:
• As part of an interdisciplinary team, which treatment plan is most effective for a client with depression?
• Which approach to addressing a confused elderly client provides the most structured and appropriate plan for the day?
• The client has a history of abusing barbiturates. The Psychiatric Technician can expect to see which of the following in this client?
• Which mental health client is a candidate for treatment in a community-based setting?
• If a person doesn't agree with IPP decisions, what action can be taken?
• Which activity will the Psychiatric Technician discourage for a client who has been on phenothiazines for several weeks?
• During a panic attack at night, if the patient refuses to stay in their room, which action is appropriate?
• When assessing a patient with agitation on a psychiatric unit, what environmental modification best supports assessment and safety?
• When instructing a client with crutches to go upstairs, which weight-bearing method is correct?
• A nursing intervention to support coping for a client with a psychotic disorder would include which of the following?
• Which statement best describes shaping in behavior modification?
• A mother states, 'It's my fault because I had to work so much when he was younger.' This statement is an indication of which concept?
• What is the safest immediate action when there is a risk of self-harm?
• To help a client from a different culture adjust to life in a new community, which approach is most effective?
• Which statement would a client diagnosed with social phobia make in response to: 'What is most disruptive in your life?'
• In the initial phase of group therapy, when a member exhibits testing behaviors, the facilitator should respond by:
• The Psychiatric Technician is displaying the use of a negative reinforcer when working with a class of ADD students. Which of the following situations illustrates this?
• Which statement about HIV medication instructions is most accurate?
• Which behavior illustrates escalation from normal behavior patterns?
• Which medication might be used to facilitate the discontinued use of narcotics in addicts?
• A key element in the intervention program for a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder would be ...
• During the impact stage of recovery from a traumatic experience, the Psychiatric Technician knows that the focus of care is on:
• The client who engages in frequent hand washing is most likely doing so to accomplish which of the following?
• Which of the following is an open-ended question?
• A client in a locked unit stares at a staff member intently, paces angrily, and mutters profanity under his breath. The psychiatric technician interprets this behavior as indicating the client:
• The Psychiatric Technician is helping to determine if a 78 year-old client can continue to live at home alone. When he asks the client, 'What would you do if you dropped and broke a glass on the floor?', he is testing which of the following?
• The statement, 'I'm always worrying about my son. Sometimes I can't concentrate on anything else,' may be an example of which of the following?
• Which approach aligns with normalization principles when assisting a person who uses sign language?
• An elderly client tells you that her husband is forgetful and sometimes leaves the stove on. Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
• Which factor will increase the likelihood that an individual with mental retardation will be cared for in the family home?
• You walk in on a teen who is cutting with a sharp object. What is the best initial action?
• A person reverts to a more childlike behavior when under stress. This is an example of which defense mechanism?
• The use of denial as a coping mechanism in children is which of the following?
• Which vital sign pattern would be most concerning in a patient with anorexia nervosa?
• For a burn survivor with disfigured hands, which intervention helps develop control over anxious feelings?
• Which intervention is primary for the impulsive, egocentric, and aggressive behaviors of children with conduct disorders?
• In caring for a client with schizotypal personality disorder, which statement best reflects an appropriate nursing stance?
• The Psychiatric Technician has decided to use the technique of "shaping" to enable the developmentally disabled student to complete his homework assignments. Which of the following should the Psychiatric Technician do?
• What is the first priority for a client experiencing extreme suspiciousness, panic anxiety and command hallucinations?
• A survivor’s guilt after not saving all children in a fire incident: which response best validates the survivor’s emotion?
• Your patient becomes delusional and agitated. Your primary response would be:
• A client with schizophrenia says, 'Can't you hear him, it's the devil. He's telling me I'm going to hell.' What is the best response?
• When teaching a health education program to young students, which topic would be most appropriate to cover first?
• A client on the unit has a diagnosis of paranoid-type schizophrenia. The new mental health care worker asks the psychiatric technician about the best way to work with this client. The technician should respond:
• Post-surgical directions after knee surgery instruct the patient to sit on the edge of the bed, dangle, and move the knee in small back and forth movements. This is necessary because ...
• During admission to a recovery facility, the patient states I dont have a problem with alcohol I can handle my booze better than anyone I know My boss is a jerk I havent missed any more days than my co workers Your best response is
• What is an important concept to remember when a bipolar patient who is pregnant smokes and drinks daily?
• Which statement best describes the approach to desensitization in treating fears?
• A client expresses the belief that the FBI and food preparers are out to kill him. Which response is the most therapeutic?
• What should be documented when a client is restrained?
• During an intake interview, which response most strongly suggests depression?
• In the psychosocial rehabilitation model, the nature of the therapeutic relationship is best described as which?
• A 6-year-old admitted to the hospital resumes thumb-sucking after a 2-year absence. This behavior demonstrates which defense mechanism?
• Which characteristic should a Psychiatric Technician cultivate to function effectively as a healer?
• Upon admission to an acute care facility, which article of clothing would most indicate that the client belongs to a gang?
• Which of the following is suggestive that a client with a history of suicide attempts has ingested poison?
• A client loses his father in a plane crash and questions his beliefs about religion, crying out in anger. Which is the best psychiatric nursing response at this time?
• Which defense mechanism involves consciously blocking thoughts from awareness?
• Which intervention helps an ADHD client learn to incorporate new responses into daily living?
• To reduce elder abuse by caregivers, which strategy best describes?
• A 12 year-old boy brings home a passing grade for a subject he previously failed. The father rewards him with a trip to the movies. This is an example of which of the following?
• The client has accepted electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for resistant depression. The Psychiatric Technician will instruct the client in which of the following before the procedure?
• The psychiatric technician knows that task analysis is best described as:
• Your client is an adolescent with Oppositional Defiant Disorder who is exhibiting aggressive behavior. Which of the following is the priority?
• Which statement best demonstrates acceptance in a therapeutic relationship?
• Which of the following interventions would be contraindicated as part of such a violence intervention protocol?
• The client suddenly begins to hyperventilate and complains of being scared but doesn't know why. The psychiatric technician most correctly assesses this event as due to:
• Which communication method should the Psychiatric Technician use to assist an autistic client?
• After electroconvulsive therapy, which action is most appropriate?
• Which stage of grief is associated with sadness, withdrawal, and a sense of hopelessness?
• Universality in group therapy best describes which outcome?
• The client receiving amprenavir (Agenerase) would have which of the following?
• Which statement would be helpful when communicating with a confused elderly client?
• Which action is appropriate when a patient taking Mellaril (thioridazine) complains of dry mouth, blurred vision and eyes hurting in bright light?
• When communicating with a client who has delirium, which approach is best to prevent a startle response?
• Command hallucinations require alertness because they may lead to
• In a group therapy context, which comment signals that a member is acting as the gatekeeper?
• Memory gaps can occur during stress; explain this calmly and provide grounding.
• Absence seizures are characterized by which feature?
• Which scale is used to measure abnormal involuntary movements in patients on anticholinergic therapy?
• A client is placed in wrist restraints at 1:00 pm. When should the skin integrity be assessed next?
• A patient who experiences an inability to recognize familiar objects despite intact senses is described as having which condition?
• Schizophrenic clients who are unresponsive to conventional antipsychotic drugs may be helped by which drug?
• During stair climbing with crutches, which statement best describes the weight-bearing sequence?
• Which strategy would help reduce elder abuse by caregivers?
• In using a token economy, what is the purpose of pairing token delivery with a social reinforcer?
• Parents ask the P.T. what to say when the paranoid schizophrenic son reports hearing voices. The best response is?
• Which practice is most useful in helping a client cope with a stressful situation?
• The client has applied for a habeas corpus. Which of the following is this client requesting?
• Which principle guides restraint use in psychiatric care?
• During an intake interview with an older patient, which of the following is most appropriate to avoid, given a tendency to speak loudly or rapidly?
• To help a client with schizophrenia develop adaptive coping, which intervention is appropriate?
• A client reports that his wife of 20 years left without warning and says they were never compatible, but he speaks calmly about it and appears detached. This is most consistent with which defense mechanism?
• A client taking sertraline (Zoloft) reports dry mouth. Which action is appropriate?
• Which statement best describes a typical characteristic of an abused elderly client?
• The Psychiatric Technician is assisting the client recovering from a CVA to regain awareness of his paralyzed side. Which of the following actions should the Psychiatric Technician take?
• For a patient choosing herbal therapy, what is the most appropriate stance for the Psychiatric Technician?
• The Psychiatric Technician is planning interventions according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Which of the following would be the first action to be taken for a client just admitted to the unit?
• In adherence to the principle of least-restrictive interventions, instead of restraining the client, you might:
• A college student reprimanded for failing to turn in a term paper on time; later the student starts an argument with her younger brother. This behavior is an example of which defense mechanism?
• Which staff behavior is most likely to increase the risk of violence on a psychiatric unit?
• After restraints are removed, a patient yells about bugs, claiming bugs are all over. Which is the best initial response?
• In gathering history, which question best clarifies the chief complaint?
• For a group therapy aimed at empathy and cohesion, which criterion is used for member selection?
• Dissociative disorder begins as a defense mechanism against anxiety.
• While speaking with a client, the Psychiatric Technician observes that the client is jumbling his words and that they make no sense. This describes which phenomenon?
• The term for incoherent speech consisting of meaningless words is which?
• Which of the following would be the most appropriate approach when interacting with a client experiencing disturbance in cognition?
• The consumer being treated for narcotic addiction might receive which of the following medications?
• The client awakens uncommunicative with no response to staff or peers. What is the most appropriate approach?
• What is the purpose of taking a baseline in behavior analysis?
• Which factor is associated with an increased likelihood that a family will care for a person with mental retardation at home?
• Which question is most appropriate when assessing why a newly admitted client is fatigued due to sleep disturbance?
• Which scenario best illustrates a compulsion?
• A patient recovering from surgery expresses fear about the future. What should the nurse do first?
• Which disorder is characterized by alternating mood episodes including mania?
• A toy selection for a hospitalized four-year-old to promote cognitive development is which of the following?
• The myocardial infarction is least likely to affect which aspect of the client's life?
• Which finding is monitored by the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS)?
• The client is somewhat irritable and is focusing on solving a problem. The Psychiatric Technician knows that the client is experiencing what level of anxiety?
• Which statement best describes the cognitive function of judgment in mental status assessment?
• A bipolar patient is prescribed lithium carbonate 600 mg daily. Before discharge, what statement best educates the patient about this medication?
• If a discussion shifts to a TV program, the most appropriate action by the psychiatric technician is to?
• In providing an appropriate environment for assessment when paranoid schizophrenia is acutely disturbed, which action is most helpful?
• Which technique would a psychiatric technician use to resolve anger when confronted with an angry client?
• A hallmark of bipolar disorder is alternating periods of elevated mood and depression. This pattern best fits which diagnosis?
• Which statement illustrates the characteristic of 'obsession' in the codependent individual?
• Which of these statements would be the best statements that the Psychiatric Technician could use when communicating with the confused elderly client?
• When de-escalating an acutely agitated patient, which approach is most appropriate to maintain safety?
• The delusion 'I am the mother of God' is best addressed by the nurse by attempting to determine underlying needs.
• In the intake process for a homeless client, what is a key role of involving a social worker?
• Which medication may be administered to prevent further alcohol ingestion in chronic alcoholics?
• Which statement describes a therapeutic milieu most accurately?
• In a crisis situation where a patient reports hearing voices, what is the best initial nursing response?
• Which of the following describes the term "scope of practice"?
• Which behavior suggests incongruence?
• Which client needs to be treated in an inpatient setting rather than a community setting? The client who:
• Which response best illustrates the principle of acceptance in a therapeutic relationship?
• To assist the client with a psychotic disorder develop new coping strategies the Psychiatric Technician should do which of the following?
• Which approach is most appropriate when supporting a patient in the denial stage of illness?
• In the psychosocial rehabilitation model, the primary focus is on which of the following aspects of the client?
• Which statement is least therapeutic when a client expresses anger about a loss, and which would be the most supportive?
• Which statement indicates the patient is in the bargaining stage of dying?
• Which statement is NOT characteristic of Alzheimer's disease?
• Which is the highest-level need in Maslow's hierarchy?
• A patient recovering from abdominal surgery asks when the nasogastric tube will be removed. What is the best response?
• Which term best describes the rapid, continuous flow of ideas with abrupt topic shifts, as seen in some psychiatric conditions?
• The parents of a 10 year-old client consent to treatment of their son. This is referred to as which of the following?
• A client placed on one-to-one observation follows the technician into the bathroom and angrily says, 'I’m sick of being followed around like a small child.' The best response by the PT is:
• Your teaching includes the importance of following an interdisciplinary treatment plan including?
• A client with dissociative identity disorder, who is now 20 minutes late for group, is adamant that she was never told to go to the cognitive therapy group. The best response is:
• War veterans that experience rage and guilt as part of post-traumatic stress disorder would benefit most from which of the following interventions?
• Which finding may be consistent with sleep apnea?
• In assessing a client with fear about going to sleep, what is the first step?
• Which dietary instruction is most appropriate for a patient on lithium maintenance?
• Which statement demonstrates clarification as an active listening technique?
• In community-based care, which statement best describes a key advantage?
• Upon admission to an acute care facility, which clothing item would most indicate membership in a neo-Nazi hate group?
• Which of the following interventions is the least restrictive when a violent client begins to escalate?
• In a facility licensed for physical restraints, what determines which restraints to use in on particular client?
• Which statement accurately reflects involuntary commitment criteria?
• Periactin is the brand name for which active ingredient?
• Which question is most helpful for treatment planning after a crisis has occurred?
• To honor a patient's autonomy when considering complementary therapies, the best approach is to
• In codependent relationship patterns, which trait most clearly reflects difficulty maintaining personal boundaries?
• Which symptom most clearly indicates severe anxiety in a client with anxiety history?
• When planning care for a child with ADHD, which element is essential?
• If a client describes demophobia, the nurse should expect this person fears which of the following?
• To test abstract thinking, which prompt would you ask?
• During a tonic-clonic seizure, what is the first action the Psychiatric Technician should take?
• An 85-year-old female who is confused, malnourished, dehydrated, and reluctant to explain how a fall happened has a daughter who interrupts the interview. Which intervention is a priority?
• Which statement best describes the setting for many psychiatric technicians in correctional facilities?
• The client has been placed in wrist restraints at 5:00 pm. Which of the following times best indicates when the restraints should be removed to allow range of motion activities for this client?
• A child coping by focusing on technical details to avoid emotional distress is displaying which defense mechanism?
• Culturally sensitive care is best demonstrated when a Native American client requests a special receptacle for drinking water. Which statement is most appropriate?
• Among patients with depression, which statement about ECT is correct?
• What is a key challenge for psychiatric technicians working in correctional facilities?
• A client keeps calling loudly for the staff all night long. When you respond the client requests minor things such as closing the drapes. Which of the following concepts is most important to understand in order to appropriately assist this client?
• In addition to drug therapy which of the following actions by the teacher would be most beneficial to the 8 year-old with ADHD?
• Which of the following would be considered an open-ended question?
• Which statement about inpatient treatment is most consistent with a recovery-oriented approach?
• A patient on a medical detox unit reports tactile hallucinations ('My skin is crawling with ants.'). What is the best nurse response?
• In a shared room, which action best honors privacy while addressing rights when a patient chooses to sleep nude?
• What is the appropriate safety action when a client threatens self-harm?
• A client who is receiving an anxiolytic medication is refusing to participate in group therapy The best teaching response is
• To help an ADHD client learn new responses in daily living, which intervention is appropriate?
• When a patient expresses paranoid beliefs about surveillance, the best approach is to:
• Which defense mechanism involves expressing an opposite emotion to what is truly felt, such as showing excessive warmth when angry?
• When a patient asks for a date after discharge, the most appropriate response is to:
• Which approach best helps a child cope with hospital procedures?
• Family members question the ability of a newly admitted client to make decisions about his/her own health care. The Psychiatric Technician's first response should be to:
• A client stated she had been brutally raped by her date, with bruises and severe anxiety. The priority intervention is:
• For a patient treated for anorexia, which medication may be prescribed?
• Chronic use of aspirin and alcohol may increase the risk of which complication?
• Which of the following individuals could be hospitalized on an involuntary basis?
• A client tells you that you can be trusted and they want to share something with you but does not want you to tell anyone else. Your best response would be:
• Which statement demonstrates cultural sensitivity in psychiatric care?
• In inpatient care using the medical model, which statement best describes the treatment focus?
• One day after surgery, alcoholic client is restless and reports a new symptom: 'there is a man in the bed.' What is the initial intervention?
• Which intervention is most appropriate when planning for a disruptive child with a developmental disorder in a classroom setting?
• Which statement about narcolepsy management is true?
• Which action best addresses physiologic instability in delirium tremens?
• An extremely agitated 15-year-old student in the school clinic asks to be tested for pregnancy after forced sex. What is the most appropriate intervention?
• A group has been meeting and one member makes the following statement, "I felt betrayed when my wife teased me in front of our friends." Which group role is this client taking?
• A person with depression is recovering but had to be hospitalized for a hernia repair. The person says, "I'm not sure I'm going to pull through." The Psychiatric Technician's initial reply should be to...
• A client states, 'I am terrified of leaving my apartment!' This describes which phobia?
• A staff member reassures a distressed patient who is angry about a loss. Which response best maintains support while avoiding judgment?
• Which of the following is the most common psychiatric condition of the homeless population?
• For forming a cohesive group, which type of participants is typically selected?
• In bereavement, if a client expresses anger toward God after a loss, which response best demonstrates supportive, nonjudgmental listening?
• What indicates possible onset of Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome in a patient on antipsychotics who develops rigidity, fever, sweating, BP fluctuations and confusion?
• For a 22-year-old with PKU and limited motor control, which leisure activity is most appropriate?
• In addition to drug therapy which of the following actions by the mother would be most beneficial to the 8 year-old with ADHD?
• To increase socialization and be incompatible with pinching, which behavior should be taught?
• Open-ended questions encourage clients to ...
• During an AIMS assessment, which symptom should the client report to indicate movement abnormalities?
• Which leisure activity will provide the most benefit to an adult with hemiplegic cerebral palsy?
• Which medication may be used to prevent alcohol relapse?
• Which coping strategy is effective for narcolepsy?
• Which statement reflects the most appropriate long-term goal for anxiety management?
• A 72-year-old client recovering from a cerebrovascular accident cannot understand the Psychiatric Technician's speech. This condition is best described as which of the following?
• Which presentation would most strongly indicate involuntary hospitalization?
• The most common reason depressed patients discontinue tricyclic antidepressants is
• On a locked unit, a Bipolar I client yells loudly at another client. To provide a safe environment, the PT will:
• Most medications used to treat co-morbid conditions of eating disorders may cause which side effect?
• In codependent relationship patterns, which trait most clearly reflects difficulty maintaining personal boundaries?
• Which guideline is not appropriate for safety when sleepwalking a 12-year-old child?
• The client receiving naltrexone should be monitored for which of the following side effects?
• Which scale best measures the effectiveness of anticholinergic therapy?
• Prior to electroconvulsive therapy, which item should be removed from the patient?
• Discharge planning for a mental health client should involve which individuals?
• What environment is recommended for a client with extreme suspiciousness and command hallucinations?
• Which option lists the activity most associated with anxiety management within group settings?
• Clozapine is most appropriately used for which scenario?
• In a shared room, a consumer requests to sleep nude. What is the best intervention?
• Which question would be most appropriate to assess for signs of generalized anxiety disorder?
• For depression, which pairing is most effective in an interdisciplinary plan?
• Which statement would indicate obsessive-compulsive disorder with ritualistic behavior?
• In an outpatient group, two clients discuss anger about job loss. What should the Psychiatric Technician do?
• To prepare clients for group termination, when is the termination date ideally announced?
• Which of the following comes under the term 'scope of practice' for Psychiatric Technicians?
• If a patient on an antipsychotic develops fever, rigidity, and altered mental status, the nurse should
• Which term describes a client’s creation of new words during speech?
• A client on an MAO inhibitor reports a pounding headache. The appropriate nursing action is to:
• Which group recreational activity is considered best for a patient diagnosed with an anxiety disorder?
• Which measure is most effective in reducing delirium tremens risk during alcohol withdrawal?
• Which response demonstrates an appropriate approach when a patient expresses distrust of the environment?
• Which statement best describes cohesive teamwork in a mental health setting?
• Psychiatric Technician observed the client pinching himself. Which of the following would be appropriate Psychiatric Technician behavior? Verbal redirection and...?
• Which action best addresses Maslow's esteem needs?
• Which symptom best characterizes generalized anxiety disorder?
• Which complication should be included in teaching about repeated vomiting and laxative use?
• A patient with a positive wound culture requires which isolation precautions?
• Which statement best describes how family members should respond to a dying person when expressing sadness aloud?
• A client who lost his father in a plane crash is angry and questions his belief in God. The most therapeutic response is:
• The defense mechanism in which emotional distress is expressed as a physical symptom, such as nausea, is called:
• The 22-year-old client has an abnormal, excessive fear of being disfigured. The Psychiatric Technician knows that the client has which of these?
• Which defense mechanism is demonstrated by forgetting an abusive event from childhood, so it is no longer accessible to consciousness?
• In opening a newly formed group, which approach is most appropriate to encourage participation?
• Your client is taking digoxin 0.250 mg PO daily. Which signs may indicate toxicity?
• Your client has Alzheimer’s disease and is found at night near the fire escape. Which response indicates the most accurate assessment and intervention?
• In the treatment of anorexia nervosa, which goal best reflects recovery?
• Psychiatric Technician observed the client pinching himself. Which of the following would be appropriate Psychiatric Technician behavior? Verbal redirection and...
• If a client says, 'I feel like I'm so inadequate. I can't do anything right,' which response is most appropriate?
• If a client states they intend to harm someone, the Psychiatric Technician should
• When determining restraints, what is the basis for the decision?
• During a seizure, which action is essential to protect the patient’s airway?
• What setting is most effective for practicing real-world grocery shopping after learning objectives?
• When a patient with paranoid schizophrenia asks, 'Are the voices real?' what is the best approach?
• A 19-year-old suddenly becomes another personality with different behavior patterns. This is most consistent with which condition?
• Which intervention promotes opportunities for a client with ADHD to experience successful behavior?
• Which behavior by the Psychiatric Technician is likely to increase the possibility of violence by the clients on the unit?
• In the context of codependency, which term describes learned behaviors reinforced by experience?
• A client tells you that they feel you care about them and will protect them. This is an example of which phenomenon?
• The family reaction after learning death is imminent is most consistent with which stage in the dying process?
• Naltrexone initiation requires the patient to be opiate-free for how long?
• An extremely agitated client with multiple drainage tubes and an IV line is restrained. A family member asks for an explanation. The best initial response by the PT is?
• A patient experiencing an asthma attack treated with albuterol may show which side effect?
• A male client has Schizotypal Personality Disorder. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
• Which statement best describes a therapeutic approach when a client persists with persecutory delusions while maintaining trust?
• Why is involving the family in counseling important when managing a child with ADHD?
• Before undergoing electroconvulsive therapy, the patient should be instructed to:
• To reduce anxiety during cast removal, the patient should be told that:
• In absence seizures, which feature best describes the seizure type?
• During a seizure, which action is not appropriate?
• In establishing a therapeutic relationship, which behavior is imperative for the Psychiatric Technician to demonstrate?
• The client with a history of anxiety shows which symptom indicating severe anxiety?
• Which food may a client taking an MAOI have at a graduation party?
• To demonstrate therapeutic communication when saying, 'Tell me about your visit with your family this morning,' which technique is being used?
• When should termination date be announced for group sessions?
• Which strategy would help reduce the incidence of elder abuse by caregivers?
• To decrease 'out of seat' behavior, which approach is most effective?
• A parent says, "If only God spares my son I will devote my life to caring for other sick children." This indicates which grief stage?
• The Psychiatric Technician needs to select toys for the 4-year-old hospitalized child. Which of the following would be the best choice?
• Which intervention would help the burn-injury client develop control over anxious feelings related to the trauma?
• Which scenario demonstrates client involvement in care planning?
• When promoting prevention of lead poisoning, you would tell parents that adverse effects can result from
• When a client is restrained in a hospital bed, which practice is correct?
• Which of the following are considered therapeutic techniques that encourage communication when interviewing a client?
• A client with chronic schizophrenia is taking an atypical antipsychotic. Which observation would most suggest a reduction in negative symptoms?
• After a depressed client spends time with others in the coffee shop, what is the appropriate feedback?
• The term describing impairment of language ability due to brain injury is which of the following?
• Which characteristic is associated with Alzheimer's disease?
• For a client with anorexia nervosa, what approach best ensures the daily caloric requirements are met?
• In a patient with anorexia nervosa, the highest treatment priority is:
• According to Maslow's Hierarchy, which of the following would be addressed last when assisting a client to meet needs?
• In a group meeting, a member interrupts another and states, 'I must add that if we meet on Thursdays like we used to, I can get a sitter for my children.' This client is displaying which group role?
• After three days of taking a medication, a client says they don’t feel it is helping. What is the most appropriate response?
• The client receiving methadone should be monitored for which of the following side effects?
• During vital signs assessment of a patient with anorexia nervosa, which pattern is most consistent with the condition?
• A nurse asks, "What would you do if you see a lit cigarette dropped on the carpet?" This question primarily assesses which cognitive function?
• Your client is about to begin systematic desensitization and is terrified to face their fears. Which teaching would be appropriate?
• When doing a patient history which question is most effective when trying to determine the reason for the patient's visit or chief complaint?
• When a client reports seeing something on the wall during a discussion, what is the most appropriate intervention?
• In assisting the geriatric client build feelings self-esteem, the most useful action on the part of the Psychiatric Technician would be to:
• Which symptom list could indicate digoxin toxicity if observed in a patient on digoxin?
• Which symptom is typical of hypochondriasis?
• Which of the following qualities is most useful to the Psychiatric Technician in establishing a therapeutic relationship?
• Which is the priority intervention for a client admitted with acute alcohol intoxication?
• The wife of a client who tends to dissociate under stress asks if there is anything she can do to help him. The psychiatric technician's best response is:
• Which adolescent is most likely to have the greatest difficulty adjusting?
• The Psychiatric Technician has worked in an inpatient facility for the last 6 years. Which behavior by the Psychiatric Technician suggests burnout?
• Which intervention promotes opportunities for the client with ADHD to experience successful behavior?
• In a crisis center, a female presents with a broken wrist after domestic violence. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
• The Psychiatric Technician observes that the client is making up words; these words are known as what?
• In correctional settings, the psychiatric technician is most likely to work with clients who have which condition?
• In a conversion disorder, which sign would a Psychiatric Technician expect to observe?
• A male client with dissociative identity disorder suddenly begins to speak with a woman's voice. Which response is most therapeutic?
• The client is recovering from electroconvulsive therapy. The Psychiatric Technician can expect which of the following about the client's memory?
• Which precaution MUST be taken prior to treatment with naltrexone?
• The shift of treatment from institutional care to the community increases the likelihood that the psychiatric technician will:
• The Psychiatric Technician working in a correctional facility will face which of the following challenges?
• During an intake interview of an elderly client, you can improve communication by
• Which of the following will best help the health team to be cohesive?
• Which of the following approaches is an example of behaviorism?
• Which behavior is commonly observed in a client with bulimia?
• When a client arrives at a crisis center for the first time, what is the most appropriate initial question to ask?
• Which statement best describes the inpatient psychosocial rehabilitation model as it applies to treatment planning?
• The Psychiatric Technician is caring for terminally ill clients. Which of the following behaviors by the Psychiatric Technician may indicate that he or she is experiencing hopelessness in the work environment?
• Which statement best demonstrates empathetic listening?
• A paranoid schizophrenic reports voices seeming to come from the radio and telling him what to do. What is the best intervention?
• Which of the following is an indication that the Psychosocial Rehabilitation Model is being used as the guide for care of the client?
• A 4-year-old client is recovering from burns. Which diet is most appropriate to promote healing?
• When a paranoid schizophrenia client stops mid-sentence and tilts his head as if listening to something, what is the most appropriate intervention?
• A high school student dies in a car accident. Which reaction would the Psychiatric Technician expect from the family when they first receive the news?
• A suicidal client with low self-esteem seems less lethargic today and agrees to participate in an occupational therapy program. To help make the session most successful, the psychiatric technician should:
• A 16-year-old girl is caught shoplifting; the mother says, 'It's my fault. I don't earn enough money to get the things she wants.' Which term best describes the mother's pattern?
• Which drug is used for treatment-resistant schizophrenia?
• In behavior planning, what is the next step after identifying the behavior to change?
• The client asks about Paxil; which statement would be most appropriate?
• During pre-surgical preparation, the client says, 'OK' in a quivering voice. Which statement shows the nurse's understanding?
• Which approach best aligns with nonpunitive behavior management?
• When assessing a client with schizophrenia for auditory hallucinations, what is the most effective method to obtain this data?
• The consumer who is scared to drive in traffic can use a behavior plan that resembles which principle?
• The Psychiatric Technician has been asked to conduct the opening session of a newly formed group. Which comment by the Psychiatric Technician would be most appropriate?
• The Psychiatric Technician is working with a client who is in a manic phase and whose thoughts are difficult to follow. This is described as which of the following?
• In the homeless intake, what is a key action a social worker facilitates?
• Following extinction, the best action is to:
• The client with hypochondriasis will display which of the following behaviors?
• The defense mechanism used when a college student experiences nausea and vomiting before exams is most likely:
• The wife of a client who has returned to his pre-fugue state asks if her husband will be able to remember what happened during the time of the fugue. The nurse's best response is:
• Which statement best describes the scope of practice?
• Which adverse antipsychotic reaction would impact the quality of life of a teenaged boy in a normal high school setting?
• Which term best describes speech that moves from one topic to another with little logical connection?
• For what reason is it preferred that a mental health client be cared for at home?
• When evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment plan for an anxious client, which statement demonstrates understanding?
• When a patient is in restraints and seclusion, what is the nurse's responsibility?
• For a consumer learning to shop for groceries, where should the training take place after completing initial objectives?
• Which intervention is most effective when a client is severely anxious?
• Which of the following clients would best be treated in an inpatient facility rather than in the community?
• A fifteen-year-old patient states, 'I going to be a Psych Tech.' This best demonstrates which defense mechanism?
• Which of the following is a characteristic of a therapeutic milieu?
• The Psychiatric Technician is observing a normally quiet client for escalation in normal behavior patterns. Which of the following behaviors is an example of this?
• Which article of clothing is most indicative of gang affiliation upon admission?
• If during an interview your patient stated: 'I feel like dying.' What should be your primary response?
• A single mother who escaped a burning house and feels she failed her children says, 'I’m such a terrible mother!' The best response at this time is:
• In group therapy, which concept describes the realization that other members share similar experiences?
• An adolescent client returns from group angry stating: 'The other kids are being mean to me, no matter what I try to do, they just make fun of me.' Your best response would be:
• A client states that she cannot stop worrying about her son and his lack of what she sees as adequate playing time on the high school soccer team. This behavior is best described as which of the following?
• Which of the following is an appropriate intervention strategy when working with families?
• The question, 'Will you tell me about what you did this week?' is an example of which of the following?
• In the initial phase of systematic desensitization, which element is emphasized?
• The Psychiatric Technician is working with a chronically mentally ill client in a homeless shelter. The priority of care for this client is which of the following?
• You may have to explain to a family the reason for involuntary commitment of their family member. You may give the following information to the family about the involuntary commitment without violating HIPAA regulations:**
• A client states, 'My, I love babies... Hello Dolly!' The documentation would categorize this as:
• In the psychosocial rehabilitation model used in inpatient care, which aspect is emphasized in treatment?
• A client believes the CIA has placed him in witness protection because of connections to the President. This is best described as
• The withdrawn client stands up in living area and states emphatically, 'I am the mother of God and He is my Son.' When a client exhibits this behavior, the Psychiatric Technician should:
• The Psychiatric Technician is admitting a client with a diagnosis of alcohol dependency. What would be the most important information for the Psychiatric Technician to have?
• During an attempt to understand what the client is saying you state I am confused about what you just said Could you tell me again This is an example of
• Which of the following may be considered a factor in child abuse?
• Your client refuses to shower, stating the government has cameras everywhere monitoring her. Your best response would be:
• A patient says, 'I cannot sleep at night, I'm afraid of dying.' What is the best initial response?
• To determine the client's perception of the reason for admission, which is the most appropriate question to ask?
• The client receiving Elavil (amitriptyline HCL) should be given which of the following instructions?
• A client has wrist restraints applied at 1:00 pm. When is the skin integrity next assessed?
• A new mother is anxious about leaving the hospital; what would be an appropriate statement from the psychiatric technician?
• Which of the following is an appropriate priority intervention for a patient admitted with acute alcohol intoxication?
• The client states to the Psychiatric Technician, "I'm going to slit my roommate's throat one of these days." Keeping in mind the client's right to confidentiality, which action should the Psychiatric Technician take?
• To help a client with schizophrenia develop adaptive coping strategies, which intervention is appropriate?
• An 8-year-old hospitalized child uses intellectualization as a coping mechanism. Which response would the technician expect?
• Which statement best reflects supportive care for families when a loved one is dying and family members express emotions?