Question 1

The nurse using the PACE interview guide for persons at risk for substance abuse arrives at a score of 2 for an adolescent patient. The nurse should assess this score as:

Accepted Answer

The PACE guide recommends that a score of 2 or higher would suggest the need for a referral for counseling about substance abuse.

Question 2

One psychosocial task of adolescence on which the nurse must focus when planning care, is the development of a sense of:

Accepted Answer

Psychosocial milestones that must be accomplished during adolescence include the five I's-image of self, identity, independence, interpersonal relationships, and intellectual maturity.

Question 3

The school nurse is planning a program for girls about the physical changes of puberty; this program should be directed to girls of the age:

Accepted Answer

Because puberty can occur in girls as early as age 10 years, instruction must be given by that age.

Question 4

A 13-year-old female tells the school nurse that she is getting fat, especially in her hips and legs. The understanding by the nurse that would best guide the response is:

Accepted Answer

Secondary sexual characteristics become apparent before menarche. Fat is deposited in the hips, thighs, and breasts, causing them to enlarge.

Question 5

The nurse explains that the restlessness seen in the adolescent is, in part, attributable to: Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

All the options listed are sources of stress to the adolescent and are stimulants to restlessness.

Question 6

The statement made by a parent indicating understanding about helping a 13-year-old manage allowance money is:

Accepted Answer

If money is simply handed out as requested, it is difficult to develop responsibility for finances and money management. The older adolescent is able to get a job. The younger teen can earn money by doing particular chores.

Question 7

An adolescent's parent comments, "My son seems so preoccupied with his appearance these days. Is this normal?" The nurse's best response would be:

Accepted Answer

Preoccupation with self-image is normal and accounts for the constant primping of teenagers.

Question 8

The nurse understands that the adolescent's avid sexual orientation to be based on Freud's theory, which describes adolescence as the _____ stage.

Accepted Answer

Freud describes the adolescent period as genital.

Question 9

The nurse suggests a good dietary source of zinc for an adolescent who is a vegetarian would be:

Accepted Answer

Zinc is essential for growth and sexual maturation in adolescence. Good vegetable sources include nuts, legumes, and wheat germ.

Question 10

The nurse is leading a discussion group with parents of adolescents. One parent comments, "My son can't do anything without checking with his friends first. My opinion doesn't count anymore." The nurse would formulate a response on the knowledge that this behavior is:

Accepted Answer

Parents may need help understanding that the teenager's exaggerated conformity is necessary for moving away from dependence and obtaining approval from persons outside the nuclear family.

Question 11

When planning to answer a 16-year-old girl's questions about menstruation, the nurse must consider cognitive development. According to Piaget, the cognitive aspect that is developed during adolescence is the ability to:

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, in the formal operations stage adolescents have the ability to think abstractly.

Question 12

The nurse teaching a seminar on teen pregnancy tells the parents that they should be alert for indications of a child concealing a pregnancy with such behaviors as: Select all that apply.

Accepted Answer

Wearing of concealing clothing, dieting to lose weight, and conspicuous "advertising" of a menstrual period are indicators of a hidden pregnancy. Wearing of excessive makeup and seeking privacy are normal adolescent behaviors.

Question 13

Foods that would be a healthy choice for an adolescent who just finished playing in a strenuous game would be:

Accepted Answer

A bagel provides a rapid supply of carbohydrates to the muscles, and skim milk provides a slow release of carbohydrates to the muscles.

Question 14

A girl tells the nurse that she and her best friend belong to the popular clique. She states, "I love Britney Spears and I want to be a singer." The nurse recognizes the girl's statement as characteristic of peer relationships in:

Accepted Answer

Cliques of unisex friends, having a best friend, and hero worship are characteristics of the early adolescent.

Question 15

A parent comments that her adolescent daughter seems to be daydreaming a lot these days. The nurse understands that this behavior indicates she is:

Accepted Answer

Daydreaming allows adolescents to act out in their imaginations what will be said or done in certain situations. This helps them to prepare for and cope with interactions with others.

Question 16

When assessing a 13-year-old boy, the nurse would keep in mind physical changes in the pubertal male, beginning with:

Accepted Answer

In boys, pubertal changes begin with enlargement of the testicles and internal structures.

Question 17

A 13-year-old boy states, "The girls in my class tower over me." The nurse's most informative response would be:

Accepted Answer

Although the age for growth spurts during puberty varies, growth spurts occur 2 years earlier for girls than for boys.

Question 18

The nurse planning a safety program for high school students should understand that most accidental deaths in adolescence are related to:

Accepted Answer

The chief safety hazard for the adolescent is automobiles.

Question 19

A 16-year-old excitedly tells his parents that he was offered a part-time job. Which response represents an effective problem-solving approach for his parents?

Accepted Answer

An effective approach to help adolescents learn to solve problems is for parents to guide them in exploring alternatives.

Question 20

The nurse points out to a group of parents that the most positive developmental significance of a peer group to the adolescent is that the group serves as:

Accepted Answer

Being a member of a peer group and communicating with and seeking approval from this group are the first separation from the family.

Quiz 20: The Adolescent