Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style
Psychiatric Nursing
Q&A.pdf
Assessment & Care –
Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style
Q&A
Scope of Practice
Q: Which applies to the scope of practice of the Psychiatric/Mental Health RN?
A: Crisis intervention.
Rationale: Crisis intervention is a core professional responsibility of psychiatric nurses. RNs do
not need a master’s degree, cannot independently prescribe medications, and do not assign Axis
diagnoses.
Q: What is the overall priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment?
A: Stabilization and return to the community.
Rationale: The primary focus is on helping clients stabilize acute symptoms so they can safely
function in the community.
Q: When the nurse creates a healing environment, which assumptions apply? (Select all)
A:
A therapeutic relationship can be healing.
Group settings support ego strengths.
Treatment plans can be guided by observing social behaviors.
Rationale: Therapeutic relationships, group processes, and careful observation allow
nurses to tailor individualized care. Promoting countertransference is not therapeutic.
Historical & Community Context
Q: Why were large hospitals/asylums established for the mentally ill? (Select all)
A:
Mental illness perceived as incurable
Clients seen as a threat to self/others
Dorothea Dix advocated humane care
Rationale: Before 1840, no effective treatment existed. Asylums provided continuous
supervision and safety. Dix’s advocacy helped establish humane institutions.
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care –Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing
Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf /2026/ 2027
, Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style
Psychiatric Nursing
Q&A.pdf
Assessment & Care –
Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf
Q: What initiated the deinstitutionalization movement?
A: The Community Mental Health Centers Act.
Rationale: This Act promoted community-based care instead of long-term hospitalization.
Q: Which is an example of primary prevention in community mental health?
A: Teaching elementary students about stress management.
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on reducing the incidence of mental illness through
education.
Q: Which community nursing intervention reduces residual defects from chronic mental illness?
A: Referring clients to aftercare services (day treatment programs).
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to restore optimal functioning and reduce complications
from chronic conditions.
Assessment & Mental Status
Q: A client in the ED is aggressive and experiencing hallucinations and paranoid delusions.
Which setting is appropriate?
A: Short-term in-patient locked unit.
Rationale: Provides containment and structure for clients at risk of harming self or others.
Q: The nurse uses the clock face assessment test. What does it assess?
A: Early signs of dementia.
Rationale: This test evaluates visuospatial and executive functioning by having the client place
numbers correctly on a clock.
Q: Which is subjective vs. objective data?
A:
Subjective: "My wife is unfaithful, I feel worthless"
Objective: CIWA score of 10
Rationale: Subjective data are client-reported feelings; objective data are measurable,
such as rating scales or clinical tests.
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care –Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing
Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf /2026/ 2027
Psychiatric Nursing
Q&A.pdf
Assessment & Care –
Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style
Q&A
Scope of Practice
Q: Which applies to the scope of practice of the Psychiatric/Mental Health RN?
A: Crisis intervention.
Rationale: Crisis intervention is a core professional responsibility of psychiatric nurses. RNs do
not need a master’s degree, cannot independently prescribe medications, and do not assign Axis
diagnoses.
Q: What is the overall priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment?
A: Stabilization and return to the community.
Rationale: The primary focus is on helping clients stabilize acute symptoms so they can safely
function in the community.
Q: When the nurse creates a healing environment, which assumptions apply? (Select all)
A:
A therapeutic relationship can be healing.
Group settings support ego strengths.
Treatment plans can be guided by observing social behaviors.
Rationale: Therapeutic relationships, group processes, and careful observation allow
nurses to tailor individualized care. Promoting countertransference is not therapeutic.
Historical & Community Context
Q: Why were large hospitals/asylums established for the mentally ill? (Select all)
A:
Mental illness perceived as incurable
Clients seen as a threat to self/others
Dorothea Dix advocated humane care
Rationale: Before 1840, no effective treatment existed. Asylums provided continuous
supervision and safety. Dix’s advocacy helped establish humane institutions.
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care –Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing
Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf /2026/ 2027
, Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style
Psychiatric Nursing
Q&A.pdf
Assessment & Care –
Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf
Q: What initiated the deinstitutionalization movement?
A: The Community Mental Health Centers Act.
Rationale: This Act promoted community-based care instead of long-term hospitalization.
Q: Which is an example of primary prevention in community mental health?
A: Teaching elementary students about stress management.
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on reducing the incidence of mental illness through
education.
Q: Which community nursing intervention reduces residual defects from chronic mental illness?
A: Referring clients to aftercare services (day treatment programs).
Rationale: Tertiary prevention aims to restore optimal functioning and reduce complications
from chronic conditions.
Assessment & Mental Status
Q: A client in the ED is aggressive and experiencing hallucinations and paranoid delusions.
Which setting is appropriate?
A: Short-term in-patient locked unit.
Rationale: Provides containment and structure for clients at risk of harming self or others.
Q: The nurse uses the clock face assessment test. What does it assess?
A: Early signs of dementia.
Rationale: This test evaluates visuospatial and executive functioning by having the client place
numbers correctly on a clock.
Q: Which is subjective vs. objective data?
A:
Subjective: "My wife is unfaithful, I feel worthless"
Objective: CIWA score of 10
Rationale: Subjective data are client-reported feelings; objective data are measurable,
such as rating scales or clinical tests.
Psychiatric Nursing Assessment & Care –Psychiatric
Flashcard-Style
Nursing
Q&A
Assessment & Care – Flashcard-Style Q&A.pdf /2026/ 2027
