Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 – Q&A
1.
Which competency is most essential for nurses working in psychiatric–mental health
settings?
a. Managing transference
b. Listening with sympathy
c. Using confrontation techniques
d. Applying therapeutic communication
Correct Answer: d. Applying therapeutic communication
2.
When interpreting a patient’s nonverbal behavior, what should the nurse understand?
a. Patients are always conscious of their nonverbal signals
b. Verbal communication is more reliable than nonverbal cues
c. Nonverbal behaviors have universal meanings
d. Nonverbal communication is meaningful but requires validation
Correct Answer: d. Nonverbal communication is meaningful but requires validation
3.
A patient with paranoid schizophrenia frequently walks away during conversations. Which
nursing action best promotes comfort?
a. Sitting next to the patient within close proximity
b. Sitting across from the patient at eye level
c. Standing several feet away during the interaction
d. Speaking privately in the patient’s room with the door closed
Correct Answer: b. Sitting across from the patient at eye level
4.
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
,Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
During an interview, a patient repeatedly glances toward the door. What is the nurse’s
most therapeutic response?
a. “I notice you keep looking toward the door.”
b. “No one will interrupt us during this time.”
c. “You seem ready to end this conversation.”
d. “We can leave this room if you prefer.”
Correct Answer: a. “I notice you keep looking toward the door.”
5.
Effective use of the nursing process depends primarily on communication that is:
a. Structured and goal-focused
b. Mutually beneficial to nurse and patient
c. Spontaneous with shared personal experiences
d. Emotionally detached
Correct Answer: a. Structured and goal-focused
6.
A patient is withdrawn and distrustful. Which intervention best demonstrates appropriate
use of touch?
a. Avoiding physical contact
b. Touching the arm to provide reassurance
c. Offering a handshake upon introduction
d. Walking with an arm around the patient
Correct Answer: a. Avoiding physical contact
7.
Which question best assesses a patient’s social functioning?
a. “You need to become more assertive.”
b. “Describe a time you felt uncomfortable in a social situation.”
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
,Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
c. “Let’s practice assertiveness together.”
d. “What will you do differently next time?”
Correct Answer: b. “Describe a time you felt uncomfortable in a social situation.”
8.
A patient is diagnosed with impaired verbal communication related to lack of assertiveness.
How should the nurse involve the patient in setting priorities?
a. “Who do you struggle to communicate with most?”
b. “How important is it to you to become more assertive?”
c. “Let’s work on this problem together.”
d. “Would you like to attend an assertiveness group?”
Correct Answer: b. “How important is it to you to become more assertive?”
9.
To help a patient set realistic goals for expressing anger appropriately, the nurse should
ask:
a. “You have difficulty managing anger, don’t you?”
b. “I noticed you seemed angry earlier.”
c. “What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?”
d. “What upsets you most when you’re angry?”
Correct Answer: c. “What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?”
10.
Which technique allows a patient to practice new assertive behaviors in a safe
environment?
a. Clarification
b. Role-playing
c. Feedback
d. Evaluation
Correct Answer: b. Role-playing
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
, Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
9. A patient has difficulty expressing anger appropriately. The nurse encourages the
patient to set realistic goals by stating:
a. "You seem to have problems expressing anger in a nonaggressive way."
b. "I thought you sounded angry when I told you it was time for group."
c. "What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?"
d. "What bothers you about your actions when you get angry?"
C
10. A nurse wants to provide opportunities for a patient to try out new, more assertive
behaviors. Which technique should the nurse use?
a. Clarifying
b. Role-playing
c. Giving feedback
d. Encouraging evaluation
B
11. The nurse tells a patient, "I noticed that you frowned when we discussed your
relationship with your family." Which communication technique is the nurse using?
a. Clarifying
b. Interpreting
c. Giving information
d. Making observations
D
12. A nurse realizes that the comment just made to a patient was inconsiderate. Select
the nurse's most therapeutic statement in this situation.
a. "How do you feel about what I just said?"
b. "See, even nurses say stupid things sometimes."
c. "Sorry about that. Let's continue where we left off."
d. "That was an insensitive remark. I'm sorry if it hurt you."
D
13. A common mistake nurses make when developing therapeutic communication
techniques is:
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 – Q&A
1.
Which competency is most essential for nurses working in psychiatric–mental health
settings?
a. Managing transference
b. Listening with sympathy
c. Using confrontation techniques
d. Applying therapeutic communication
Correct Answer: d. Applying therapeutic communication
2.
When interpreting a patient’s nonverbal behavior, what should the nurse understand?
a. Patients are always conscious of their nonverbal signals
b. Verbal communication is more reliable than nonverbal cues
c. Nonverbal behaviors have universal meanings
d. Nonverbal communication is meaningful but requires validation
Correct Answer: d. Nonverbal communication is meaningful but requires validation
3.
A patient with paranoid schizophrenia frequently walks away during conversations. Which
nursing action best promotes comfort?
a. Sitting next to the patient within close proximity
b. Sitting across from the patient at eye level
c. Standing several feet away during the interaction
d. Speaking privately in the patient’s room with the door closed
Correct Answer: b. Sitting across from the patient at eye level
4.
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
,Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
During an interview, a patient repeatedly glances toward the door. What is the nurse’s
most therapeutic response?
a. “I notice you keep looking toward the door.”
b. “No one will interrupt us during this time.”
c. “You seem ready to end this conversation.”
d. “We can leave this room if you prefer.”
Correct Answer: a. “I notice you keep looking toward the door.”
5.
Effective use of the nursing process depends primarily on communication that is:
a. Structured and goal-focused
b. Mutually beneficial to nurse and patient
c. Spontaneous with shared personal experiences
d. Emotionally detached
Correct Answer: a. Structured and goal-focused
6.
A patient is withdrawn and distrustful. Which intervention best demonstrates appropriate
use of touch?
a. Avoiding physical contact
b. Touching the arm to provide reassurance
c. Offering a handshake upon introduction
d. Walking with an arm around the patient
Correct Answer: a. Avoiding physical contact
7.
Which question best assesses a patient’s social functioning?
a. “You need to become more assertive.”
b. “Describe a time you felt uncomfortable in a social situation.”
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
,Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
c. “Let’s practice assertiveness together.”
d. “What will you do differently next time?”
Correct Answer: b. “Describe a time you felt uncomfortable in a social situation.”
8.
A patient is diagnosed with impaired verbal communication related to lack of assertiveness.
How should the nurse involve the patient in setting priorities?
a. “Who do you struggle to communicate with most?”
b. “How important is it to you to become more assertive?”
c. “Let’s work on this problem together.”
d. “Would you like to attend an assertiveness group?”
Correct Answer: b. “How important is it to you to become more assertive?”
9.
To help a patient set realistic goals for expressing anger appropriately, the nurse should
ask:
a. “You have difficulty managing anger, don’t you?”
b. “I noticed you seemed angry earlier.”
c. “What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?”
d. “What upsets you most when you’re angry?”
Correct Answer: c. “What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?”
10.
Which technique allows a patient to practice new assertive behaviors in a safe
environment?
a. Clarification
b. Role-playing
c. Feedback
d. Evaluation
Correct Answer: b. Role-playing
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
, Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf
9. A patient has difficulty expressing anger appropriately. The nurse encourages the
patient to set realistic goals by stating:
a. "You seem to have problems expressing anger in a nonaggressive way."
b. "I thought you sounded angry when I told you it was time for group."
c. "What do you think needs to change about how you express anger?"
d. "What bothers you about your actions when you get angry?"
C
10. A nurse wants to provide opportunities for a patient to try out new, more assertive
behaviors. Which technique should the nurse use?
a. Clarifying
b. Role-playing
c. Giving feedback
d. Encouraging evaluation
B
11. The nurse tells a patient, "I noticed that you frowned when we discussed your
relationship with your family." Which communication technique is the nurse using?
a. Clarifying
b. Interpreting
c. Giving information
d. Making observations
D
12. A nurse realizes that the comment just made to a patient was inconsiderate. Select
the nurse's most therapeutic statement in this situation.
a. "How do you feel about what I just said?"
b. "See, even nurses say stupid things sometimes."
c. "Sorry about that. Let's continue where we left off."
d. "That was an insensitive remark. I'm sorry if it hurt you."
D
13. A common mistake nurses make when developing therapeutic communication
techniques is:
Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1 Psychiatric Nursing Exam 1.pdf /2026/ 2027
