def METHOD_NAME(self, value):
    base = value[0]
    if isinstance(base, list):
        self.METHOD_NAME(value[0])
    if isinstance(base, dict) and base['is_node']:
        return [self.get_mock_node_from_obj(base, base.get('oid', self.get_mock_oid()))]
    # assume value is list of non node items aka strings
    return valu