Mental Health › Substance Use & Addiction · 32 questions on this topic in NurseRank, 4 free to practise now.
Practise Substance Abuse for NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO and state nursing officer exams. Read the 4 sample questions below, tap Show answer and explanation to check yourself, then open the full topic practice.
Q1. A patient with a past history of substance abuse and opioid addiction comes to the hospital after falling off a ladder. Upon assessment, the patient reports his pain is a 9 out of 10 on the pain scale. The nurse would:
Chart "The patient has a past history of addiction and is claiming he has severe pain."
Chart "The patient states his pain is 9/10."
Report to the doctor the patient is likely seeking drugs
Ask the patient if his pain level is really as high as he states
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Chart "The patient states his pain is 9/10."
Pain is subjective and is always what the patient states. Therefore, the nurse should chart "The patient states his pain is 9/10." If the patient mentions that he has a history of addiction, the information can be charted. With prior opioid addiction, patients may experience pain more intensely. Pain management should not be withheld and levels should not be questioned.
Q2. Which person is displaying behaviors that most strongly suggest the need for additional screening for possible substance abuse?
Person with cancer progressively needs more pain medication to achieve relief
College student reports occasionally smoking marijuana during semester break
Stay-at-home mom reports drinking while her kids are in school and after they go to bed
Person with a fractured leg reports taking opioids and tapering off when pain subsides
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. Stay-at-home mom reports drinking while her kids are in school and after they go to bed
A woman who is drinking when her children are out of sight is displaying substance use that is not based on medical needs or social norms. The college student is using an illegal substance, but at this point, the frequency does not suggest that it is a compulsive problem. Person with cancer and person with a fracture are using medications for pain as indicated.
Q3. After the holiday season the clinic nurse weighed the patient who is overweight, and the patient had gained 2 pounds. Which comment is the nurse's best response?
"You know that you should not overeat during the ~ holiday season."
"Why would you get off your diet just because it was a holiday?" Mental Health Disorders 413
"Two pounds is not bad. Don't get discouraged; ~ just start back eating properly."
"I must document your 2-pound weight gain in your chart." Substance Abuse Disorder
Show answer and explanation
Answer: C. "Two pounds is not bad. Don't get discouraged; ~ just start back eating properly."
Q4. Of the following community resources, which referral is the nurse most likely to suggest for this patient?
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alateen
Al-Anon
The Substance Abuse Council
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B. Alateen
All the resources listed are helpful in some way to a person growing up in an alcoholic family. However, the one best suited for an adolescent is Alateen. Alateen focuses on providing support for teenagers in alcoholic families and helping them to see how the alcoholism affects their lives. One of the primary goals is to help break the pattern of alcoholism within the family.
Yes. The sample questions on this page are free, and you can practise this topic free after entering your name and mobile number. There is no OTP and no password.
Which exams do these Substance Abuse MCQs help with?
They are useful for AIIMS NORCET, RRB, ESIC, CHO, DSSSB and state staff nurse or nursing officer exams, and for NCLEX-style practice.
