Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 8th
Edition by Morgan Townsend Newest 2026 Updated
Test Bank | Real Exam Questions & Expert-
Verified Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly admitted client.
Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a positive impact on the
individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance
Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy, independence,
self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life, emotional resilience or
hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or stress management abilities.
Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of separateness and connectedness are
both needed for good mental health, and therefore a healthy person would need others for
companionship. A family history of mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an
individual, which may have a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a
negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-
reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily life.
,E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships
and self.
Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental illness may
be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental illness. Individuals
suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from
mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in other
cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive
self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may see
that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult to define
precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive self-
concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but
the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to
mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill because
she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships, ineffective
, coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be culturally expected.
Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered mental illness. False
reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
D) To serve as a guide for client assessment
Ans: D
Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and identifies
underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or prognostic outcomes of
treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the generalist RN's scope of practice, so
documenting the code in the medical record would be inappropriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM-5?
A) Identifying the medical diagnosis
B) Treat clients
C) Evaluate treatments
D) Understand the reason for the admission and the nature of psychiatric illnesses.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Although student nurses do not use the DSM to diagnose clients, they will find it a helpful
resource to understand the reason for the admission and to begin building knowledge about the
nature of psychiatric illnesses. Identifying the medical diagnosis, treating, and evaluating
treatments are not a part of the nursing process.
7. The legislation enacted in 1963 was largely responsible for which of the following shifts in
care for the mentally ill?
A) The widespread use of community-based services
B) The advancement in pharmacotherapies
C) Increased access to hospitalization
D) Improved rights for clients in long-term institutional care
Ans: A
Feedback:
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 accomplished the release of
Edition by Morgan Townsend Newest 2026 Updated
Test Bank | Real Exam Questions & Expert-
Verified Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly admitted client.
Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a positive impact on the
individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance
Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy, independence,
self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life, emotional resilience or
hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or stress management abilities.
Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of separateness and connectedness are
both needed for good mental health, and therefore a healthy person would need others for
companionship. A family history of mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an
individual, which may have a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a
negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-
reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily life.
,E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships
and self.
Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental illness may
be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental illness. Individuals
suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from
mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in other
cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive
self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may see
that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult to define
precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive self-
concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but
the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to
mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill because
she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings."
Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships, ineffective
, coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be culturally expected.
Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered mental illness. False
reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
D) To serve as a guide for client assessment
Ans: D
Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and identifies
underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or prognostic outcomes of
treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the generalist RN's scope of practice, so
documenting the code in the medical record would be inappropriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM-5?
A) Identifying the medical diagnosis
B) Treat clients
C) Evaluate treatments
D) Understand the reason for the admission and the nature of psychiatric illnesses.
Ans: D
Feedback:
Although student nurses do not use the DSM to diagnose clients, they will find it a helpful
resource to understand the reason for the admission and to begin building knowledge about the
nature of psychiatric illnesses. Identifying the medical diagnosis, treating, and evaluating
treatments are not a part of the nursing process.
7. The legislation enacted in 1963 was largely responsible for which of the following shifts in
care for the mentally ill?
A) The widespread use of community-based services
B) The advancement in pharmacotherapies
C) Increased access to hospitalization
D) Improved rights for clients in long-term institutional care
Ans: A
Feedback:
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 accomplished the release of
