PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction / Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 38-year-old client arrives at the community clinic complaining
of “feeling off” for several weeks but continuing to work and
care for the children. The client reports occasional sleep
disruption and reduced enjoyment in hobbies but denies
suicidal ideation. Which nursing action most appropriately
,applies the concept of mental health vs. mental illness in initial
care planning?
Options
A. Immediately apply DSM criteria and prepare the client for a
psychiatric diagnosis.
B. Conduct a focused assessment of functioning, stressors,
coping, and cultural context before labeling.
C. Provide reassurance that this is not a mental health problem
since the client is still working.
D. Refer the client to psychiatry for medication evaluation
without further nursing assessment.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): Nursing judgment requires assessment of
functioning, stressors, coping, and cultural meaning before
pathologizing. Videbeck emphasizes distinguishing
transient distress from disorder by evaluating level of
impairment and context. This approach prevents
premature labeling and guides appropriate interventions.
• Incorrect (A): Jumping to DSM diagnosis before
assessment risks misdiagnosis; DSM application follows a
thorough evaluation.
, • Incorrect (C): Functioning alone does not rule out mental
illness; minimizing symptoms is nontherapeutic and may
delay care.
• Incorrect (D): Immediate psychiatric referral without
nursing assessment bypasses scope-appropriate triage and
may be premature.
Teaching point
Assess function and context before applying diagnostic labels.
Citation
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Stem
A family asks why the clinician used DSM diagnostic codes
during a care conference. As the psychiatric nurse, which
explanation best conveys the DSM’s purpose consistent with
nursing practice?
Options
A. The DSM defines people by their illnesses so we can choose
the correct medication.
B. The DSM standardizes diagnostic language to guide
, assessment, treatment planning, and interprofessional
communication.
C. The DSM replaces clinical judgment—following it exactly is
mandatory for all clinical decisions.
D. The DSM is used primarily for insurance billing and has little
clinical relevance.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): The DSM provides standardized diagnostic
criteria that facilitate consistent assessment, treatment
planning, and communication across providers—aligning
with Videbeck’s presentation of the DSM as a clinical tool,
not a person-defining label.
• Incorrect (A): Framing the DSM as defining people is
stigmatizing and inaccurate; it supports clinical
formulation, not identity.
• Incorrect (C): The DSM complements but does not replace
clinical judgment; nurses integrate DSM criteria with
holistic assessment.
• Incorrect (D): While DSM codes are used for billing, they
have important clinical utility and are not merely
administrative.
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Introduction / Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 38-year-old client arrives at the community clinic complaining
of “feeling off” for several weeks but continuing to work and
care for the children. The client reports occasional sleep
disruption and reduced enjoyment in hobbies but denies
suicidal ideation. Which nursing action most appropriately
,applies the concept of mental health vs. mental illness in initial
care planning?
Options
A. Immediately apply DSM criteria and prepare the client for a
psychiatric diagnosis.
B. Conduct a focused assessment of functioning, stressors,
coping, and cultural context before labeling.
C. Provide reassurance that this is not a mental health problem
since the client is still working.
D. Refer the client to psychiatry for medication evaluation
without further nursing assessment.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): Nursing judgment requires assessment of
functioning, stressors, coping, and cultural meaning before
pathologizing. Videbeck emphasizes distinguishing
transient distress from disorder by evaluating level of
impairment and context. This approach prevents
premature labeling and guides appropriate interventions.
• Incorrect (A): Jumping to DSM diagnosis before
assessment risks misdiagnosis; DSM application follows a
thorough evaluation.
, • Incorrect (C): Functioning alone does not rule out mental
illness; minimizing symptoms is nontherapeutic and may
delay care.
• Incorrect (D): Immediate psychiatric referral without
nursing assessment bypasses scope-appropriate triage and
may be premature.
Teaching point
Assess function and context before applying diagnostic labels.
Citation
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Stem
A family asks why the clinician used DSM diagnostic codes
during a care conference. As the psychiatric nurse, which
explanation best conveys the DSM’s purpose consistent with
nursing practice?
Options
A. The DSM defines people by their illnesses so we can choose
the correct medication.
B. The DSM standardizes diagnostic language to guide
, assessment, treatment planning, and interprofessional
communication.
C. The DSM replaces clinical judgment—following it exactly is
mandatory for all clinical decisions.
D. The DSM is used primarily for insurance billing and has little
clinical relevance.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): The DSM provides standardized diagnostic
criteria that facilitate consistent assessment, treatment
planning, and communication across providers—aligning
with Videbeck’s presentation of the DSM as a clinical tool,
not a person-defining label.
• Incorrect (A): Framing the DSM as defining people is
stigmatizing and inaccurate; it supports clinical
formulation, not identity.
• Incorrect (C): The DSM complements but does not replace
clinical judgment; nurses integrate DSM criteria with
holistic assessment.
• Incorrect (D): While DSM codes are used for billing, they
have important clinical utility and are not merely
administrative.
