PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A 28-year-old male presents to the clinic saying he is
“stressed and not sleeping for weeks,” reports job loss last
month, tearfulness, and difficulty concentrating. He denies
suicidal intent but says “I don’t feel like myself.” As the
psychiatric nurse, which initial nursing action most
appropriately applies the contemporary recovery and strengths-
based perspective?
A. Administer a standardized depression screening and
,schedule follow-up in two weeks.
B. Validate his distress, ask about current supports and coping
strengths, and co-create immediate, small achievable goals.
C. Provide psychoeducation about major depressive disorder
and initiate a referral to psychiatry for medication.
D. Advise him to avoid stressors and return if symptoms worsen.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Validating distress while assessing
supports and strengths, and co-creating immediate attainable
goals, aligns with the recovery model and person-centered care;
it promotes engagement, builds self-efficacy, and guides
immediate safety/functional planning.
Rationale — A: Screening is appropriate but insufficient alone;
it delays collaborative planning and neglects strengths and
immediate supports.
Rationale — C: Psychoeducation and referral may be indicated,
but immediate collaborative goal setting and support
assessment should precede assuming need for medication.
Rationale — D: Passive monitoring minimizes therapeutic
engagement and delays intervention for functioning and safety.
Teaching point: Start with validation, strengths assessment, and
collaborative short-term goals.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations — Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
Stem: A nurse is admitting a 45-year-old woman with chronic
anxiety. The physician asks the nurse to document a DSM
diagnosis in the nursing assessment form. How should the
nurse respond to support accurate, legally appropriate
documentation?
A. Refuse and state that only the psychiatrist may record a DSM
diagnosis in any chart.
B. Record observed symptoms and functional impacts using
objective nursing language and note that diagnosis is pending
clinician evaluation.
C. Enter the physician’s bedside impression as the DSM
diagnosis without amendments.
D. Use common lay terms (e.g., “nervous disorder”) to avoid
potential labeling.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Nurses document nursing assessment
data (observed signs, symptoms, functional impairment) and
may note that diagnostic determination is by a licensed
clinician; objective nursing language supports multidisciplinary
diagnosis without overstepping scope.
Rationale — A: Absolute refusal is inappropriate; nurses should
clarify scope but still document assessments and collaborate.
Rationale — C: Recording an unverified clinician diagnosis as
, nursing documentation can blur roles and legal accountability.
Rationale — D: Lay terms are vague and reduce clinical
usefulness; precise, objective nursing language is required.
Teaching point: Document objective signs, symptoms, and
functional impact; avoid assigning medical diagnoses.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations — Historical Perspectives of
Treatment of Mental Illness
Stem: A student nurse asks why contemporary psychiatric
nursing emphasizes therapeutic relationships and patient rights,
asking the instructor to explain in clinical terms. Which
explanation best links historical abuses to current nursing
responsibilities?
A. Because past custodial care led to stigma, current nursing
focuses exclusively on medication compliance to reduce
relapse.
B. Historical institutionalization underscored the need for
patient autonomy, therapeutic relationship, and advocacy in
contemporary psychiatric nursing practice.
C. Early psychiatric practices were largely effective; modern
nurses keep the same approach but in community settings.
D. Historical practices are irrelevant to modern care and need
not influence current therapeutic decisions.
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A 28-year-old male presents to the clinic saying he is
“stressed and not sleeping for weeks,” reports job loss last
month, tearfulness, and difficulty concentrating. He denies
suicidal intent but says “I don’t feel like myself.” As the
psychiatric nurse, which initial nursing action most
appropriately applies the contemporary recovery and strengths-
based perspective?
A. Administer a standardized depression screening and
,schedule follow-up in two weeks.
B. Validate his distress, ask about current supports and coping
strengths, and co-create immediate, small achievable goals.
C. Provide psychoeducation about major depressive disorder
and initiate a referral to psychiatry for medication.
D. Advise him to avoid stressors and return if symptoms worsen.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Validating distress while assessing
supports and strengths, and co-creating immediate attainable
goals, aligns with the recovery model and person-centered care;
it promotes engagement, builds self-efficacy, and guides
immediate safety/functional planning.
Rationale — A: Screening is appropriate but insufficient alone;
it delays collaborative planning and neglects strengths and
immediate supports.
Rationale — C: Psychoeducation and referral may be indicated,
but immediate collaborative goal setting and support
assessment should precede assuming need for medication.
Rationale — D: Passive monitoring minimizes therapeutic
engagement and delays intervention for functioning and safety.
Teaching point: Start with validation, strengths assessment, and
collaborative short-term goals.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations — Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
Stem: A nurse is admitting a 45-year-old woman with chronic
anxiety. The physician asks the nurse to document a DSM
diagnosis in the nursing assessment form. How should the
nurse respond to support accurate, legally appropriate
documentation?
A. Refuse and state that only the psychiatrist may record a DSM
diagnosis in any chart.
B. Record observed symptoms and functional impacts using
objective nursing language and note that diagnosis is pending
clinician evaluation.
C. Enter the physician’s bedside impression as the DSM
diagnosis without amendments.
D. Use common lay terms (e.g., “nervous disorder”) to avoid
potential labeling.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Nurses document nursing assessment
data (observed signs, symptoms, functional impairment) and
may note that diagnostic determination is by a licensed
clinician; objective nursing language supports multidisciplinary
diagnosis without overstepping scope.
Rationale — A: Absolute refusal is inappropriate; nurses should
clarify scope but still document assessments and collaborate.
Rationale — C: Recording an unverified clinician diagnosis as
, nursing documentation can blur roles and legal accountability.
Rationale — D: Lay terms are vague and reduce clinical
usefulness; precise, objective nursing language is required.
Teaching point: Document objective signs, symptoms, and
functional impact; avoid assigning medical diagnoses.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations — Historical Perspectives of
Treatment of Mental Illness
Stem: A student nurse asks why contemporary psychiatric
nursing emphasizes therapeutic relationships and patient rights,
asking the instructor to explain in clinical terms. Which
explanation best links historical abuses to current nursing
responsibilities?
A. Because past custodial care led to stigma, current nursing
focuses exclusively on medication compliance to reduce
relapse.
B. Historical institutionalization underscored the need for
patient autonomy, therapeutic relationship, and advocacy in
contemporary psychiatric nursing practice.
C. Early psychiatric practices were largely effective; modern
nurses keep the same approach but in community settings.
D. Historical practices are irrelevant to modern care and need
not influence current therapeutic decisions.
