Psychosocial and Emotional Aspects of Care # MCQs Practice set

Q.1 Which of the following is the most appropriate nursing intervention for a patient experiencing anxiety before surgery?

Ignore the anxiety and focus on medical care
Provide emotional support and explain the procedure
Prescribe sedatives without explanation
Encourage the patient to read medical textbooks
Explanation - Providing emotional support and explaining the procedure helps reduce anxiety, promotes trust, and prepares the patient psychologically.
Correct answer is: Provide emotional support and explain the procedure

Q.2 A patient expresses feelings of hopelessness after a chronic illness diagnosis. The nurse should first:

Offer solutions to fix the illness
Listen actively and validate the feelings
Tell the patient to be positive
Avoid discussing emotions
Explanation - Active listening and validating emotions helps the patient feel understood and supported, which is crucial for emotional coping.
Correct answer is: Listen actively and validate the feelings

Q.3 Which factor most commonly affects the psychosocial adjustment of elderly patients in a hospital?

Age-related hearing loss
Loss of independence and social isolation
Preference for hospital food
Medication side effects
Explanation - Elderly patients often experience anxiety and depression due to loss of independence and social connections, which can impact recovery.
Correct answer is: Loss of independence and social isolation

Q.4 A patient refuses to participate in therapy due to fear of embarrassment. The nurse should:

Force the patient to participate
Explore the fears and provide reassurance
Ignore the behavior and continue therapy
Warn the patient about consequences
Explanation - Addressing fears through reassurance and discussion helps build trust and encourages patient participation.
Correct answer is: Explore the fears and provide reassurance

Q.5 Which technique is most effective for a nurse to establish rapport with a new patient?

Maintaining eye contact and using active listening
Discussing medical terminology
Rushing through admission forms
Giving detailed medical lectures
Explanation - Rapport is built through empathy, active listening, and nonverbal communication like eye contact.
Correct answer is: Maintaining eye contact and using active listening

Q.6 A patient with chronic pain becomes irritable and withdrawn. The nurse identifies this as a sign of:

Physical fatigue only
Psychosocial distress
Complete recovery
Normal aging
Explanation - Chronic pain can lead to emotional and social challenges, including irritability, withdrawal, and depression.
Correct answer is: Psychosocial distress

Q.7 During patient education, the nurse notices confusion and fear. The best approach is to:

Use simple language and repeat instructions
Give lengthy explanations
Ignore the confusion
Leave written materials only
Explanation - Patients cope better when information is simplified, repeated, and clarified, reducing fear and misunderstanding.
Correct answer is: Use simple language and repeat instructions

Q.8 Which of the following is a key psychosocial need for hospitalized adolescents?

Autonomy and peer interaction
High-calorie diet
Extended bed rest
Medication compliance only
Explanation - Adolescents need independence and peer support; hospital routines can impact their emotional well-being.
Correct answer is: Autonomy and peer interaction

Q.9 A terminally ill patient expresses anger toward the nursing staff. The nurse should:

Take the anger personally
Recognize it as part of the grieving process
Punish the patient
Ignore the emotional expression
Explanation - Anger is a normal stage of grief; understanding this helps the nurse respond with empathy and maintain trust.
Correct answer is: Recognize it as part of the grieving process

Q.10 Which nursing action best supports a patient with depression post-surgery?

Encourage expression of feelings and provide social support
Focus only on wound care
Avoid talking about emotions
Leave the patient alone
Explanation - Emotional support and encouraging communication can improve recovery and reduce depressive symptoms.
Correct answer is: Encourage expression of feelings and provide social support

Q.11 A nurse observes a patient crying silently in the hospital. The most appropriate first response is:

Ask the patient why they are crying
Sit with the patient and offer presence
Tell them to stop crying
Ignore the behavior
Explanation - Offering presence and a nonjudgmental attitude demonstrates support and encourages emotional expression.
Correct answer is: Sit with the patient and offer presence

Q.12 Which psychosocial intervention is appropriate for a patient experiencing loneliness during prolonged hospitalization?

Encourage family visits and social interaction
Reduce physical therapy sessions
Focus solely on medications
Limit nurse interaction
Explanation - Maintaining social connections supports emotional well-being and reduces feelings of isolation.
Correct answer is: Encourage family visits and social interaction

Q.13 The nurse notices that a patient avoids eye contact and refuses conversation. This behavior may indicate:

Effective coping
Psychosocial distress or depression
Normal behavior
Physical illness only
Explanation - Avoiding interaction and eye contact often signals emotional distress, requiring psychosocial support.
Correct answer is: Psychosocial distress or depression

Q.14 Which strategy helps reduce stress in hospitalized children?

Involving them in play and therapeutic activities
Restricting visits from parents
Administering sedatives routinely
Providing no explanation of procedures
Explanation - Play therapy helps children understand their environment, express feelings, and reduce hospital-related stress.
Correct answer is: Involving them in play and therapeutic activities

Q.15 A patient expresses guilt over a lifestyle-related illness. The nurse should:

Reassure that feelings are common and provide emotional support
Blame the patient further
Avoid the discussion
Focus only on medical treatment
Explanation - Acknowledging feelings and offering support helps patients cope with guilt and enhances adherence to care plans.
Correct answer is: Reassure that feelings are common and provide emotional support

Q.16 Which of the following is a sign of emotional distress in a hospitalized adult?

Frequent mood swings and tearfulness
Consistent smiling
Engaging in conversation normally
Regular sleeping patterns
Explanation - Mood swings, tearfulness, and irritability are common indicators of emotional distress requiring nursing attention.
Correct answer is: Frequent mood swings and tearfulness

Q.17 Which nursing intervention best promotes coping in patients with long-term illnesses?

Encourage participation in support groups
Restrict social interaction
Focus only on physical care
Avoid discussing illness
Explanation - Support groups provide social support, shared experiences, and coping strategies for chronic illness patients.
Correct answer is: Encourage participation in support groups

Q.18 A patient shows signs of withdrawal and isolation after surgery. The nurse should:

Assess emotional needs and offer support
Leave the patient alone
Scold the patient for being uncooperative
Focus only on medication administration
Explanation - Withdrawal may indicate anxiety, depression, or fear; assessing needs and providing support is essential for recovery.
Correct answer is: Assess emotional needs and offer support

Q.19 During discharge teaching, a patient appears anxious and forgetful. The nurse should:

Simplify instructions and provide written materials
Rush through the teaching
Ignore the anxiety
Give only verbal instructions once
Explanation - Simplifying instructions and providing written materials accommodates anxiety and enhances comprehension and adherence.
Correct answer is: Simplify instructions and provide written materials

Q.20 Which of the following is most important when addressing spiritual needs of patients?

Respecting beliefs and facilitating spiritual practices
Ignoring religious practices
Advising the patient to follow the nurse's beliefs
Discouraging prayer or rituals
Explanation - Supporting spiritual needs can reduce stress, improve coping, and enhance overall well-being.
Correct answer is: Respecting beliefs and facilitating spiritual practices

Q.21 A hospitalized adolescent refuses to eat meals. This behavior may indicate:

Emotional distress or depression
Normal appetite changes
Preference for hospital food
Physical illness only
Explanation - Refusal to eat may be a sign of emotional problems such as depression or anxiety, requiring psychosocial assessment.
Correct answer is: Emotional distress or depression

Q.22 Which action helps reduce fear in a patient undergoing invasive procedures?

Explain the procedure and allow questions
Perform the procedure without explanation
Avoid discussing risks
Use complex medical jargon
Explanation - Patient education, clear communication, and answering questions help reduce fear and promote cooperation.
Correct answer is: Explain the procedure and allow questions

Q.23 A patient demonstrates increased dependency on nurses after surgery. The nurse should:

Encourage gradual independence and decision-making
Continue performing all tasks for the patient
Criticize the patient for dependence
Ignore the behavior
Explanation - Promoting independence supports self-esteem, coping, and psychosocial recovery.
Correct answer is: Encourage gradual independence and decision-making

Q.24 Which approach is best for a nurse addressing fears of death in terminal patients?

Provide empathetic listening and discuss fears openly
Avoid discussing death
Provide false reassurance
Focus only on medical care
Explanation - Open discussion and empathetic listening support emotional processing and reduce existential anxiety.
Correct answer is: Provide empathetic listening and discuss fears openly