PSYCHIATRIC NURSING EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Which qualifications are appropriate to the scope of practice of the psychiatric/mental
health registered nurse generalist?
-The nurse generalist is qualified to implement crisis intervention. - CORRECT
ANSWER --Part of the professional responsibilities of the psychiatric/mental health
registered nurse generalist is crisis intervention.
The test taker must be familiar with the scope of practice of various educational levels of
the registered nurse and the roles and responsibilities within this scope.
Which is the overall, priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment?
- Stabilization and return to the community. - CORRECT ANSWER --Stabilization and
return to the community is the overall priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment.
Understanding the current trends in the delivery of mental health care is in the
community and in-patient settings assists the test taker in answering this question
correctly. Note the keywords, "priority" and "in-patient," which determine the correct
answer to this question.
When the nurse creates an environment to facilitate healing, the nurse's actions are
based on which of the following assumptions? Select all that apply.
- A therapeutic relationship can be a healing experience.
- Group settings can support ego strengths.
- Treatment plans can be formulated by observing social behaviors. - CORRECT
ANSWER -- A therapeutic relationship is characterized by rapport, genuineness, and
respect and can be a healing experience.
- Group processes provide learning experiences and support a client's ego strengths.
,- During group processes and interactions, staff members can observe social behaviors,
and this can determine client needs. Treatment plans can be customized to meet these
needs.
Reviewing the nurse's actions that assist in creating an environment that facilitates
healing assists the test taker in determining the correct answer to this question.
Understanding the meaning of counterttansference eliminates option 5.
Which of the folloing was the reason for the establishment of large hospitals or asylums
that addressed the care of the mentally ill?
- Mental illness was perceived as incurable.
- Clients with mental illness were perceived as a threat to self and others.
- Dorothea Dix saw a need for humane care for the mentally ill. - CORRECT ANSWER -
- Because there was no treatment for mental illness before 1840, it was perceived as
incurable and there was a need to provide continuous supervision in hospitals or
asylums.
- Clients with mental illness were thought to be violent toward themselves and others,
and a "reasonable" solution to care was to remove them from contract with the general
population and observe them continuously in hospitals or asylums.
- Dorothea Dix advocated for humane treatment for the mentally ill, and this led to the
establishment of many hospitals devoted to their care.
Reviewing the history of mental health care assists the test taker in inderstanding how
care was delivered in the past.
Which of the following are examples of primary prevention in a community mental health
setting? Select all that apply
- Teaching physical and psychosocial effects of stress to elementary school students.
- Teaching a class on child-rearing skills for a group of new parents. - CORRECT
ANSWER -- This is an example of primary prevention, which is focused on educational
programs to help prevent the incidence of mental illness.
, - This is an example of primary prevention, which is focused on educational programs to
help prevent the incidence of mental illness.
Understanding the public health model that describes primary, secondary, and tertiary
prevention assist the test taker in answering this question correctly.
Which nursing intervention within the community is aimed at reducing the residual
defects that are associated with severe or chronic mental illness?
- Referring clients for various aftercare services such as day treatment programs. -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Tertiary prevention is aimed at reducing the residual defects
that are associated with severe or chronic mental illness. Providing aftercare services,
such as day treatment programs, is one way to accomplish this.
Reviewing the functions of the nurse at all levels of community mental health prevention
helps the test taker to distinguish interventions in each prevention category.
In the emergency department, the nurse assesses a client who is aggressive and
experiencing auditory hallucinations. The client states, "The CIA is plotting to kill me." To
which mental health setting would the nurse expect this client to be admitted?
- Short-term, in-patient, locked unit. - CORRECT ANSWER -- A short-term, in patient,
locked unit would be most appropriate for this client. This setting provides containment
and structure for clients who are at risk for harming themselves or others.
Understanding the types of care available to mentally ill clients and the types of clients
these various settings serve assists the test taker in answering this question.
Which action of a mental health nurse case manager reflects the activity of service
planning?
- Holding a care conference for a client who is having difficulty returning to school. -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Holding a care conference for a client who is having difficulty
returning to school reflects the activity of service planning. A service care plan is
devised with client participation and should include mutually agreed on goals, specific
WITH CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
Which qualifications are appropriate to the scope of practice of the psychiatric/mental
health registered nurse generalist?
-The nurse generalist is qualified to implement crisis intervention. - CORRECT
ANSWER --Part of the professional responsibilities of the psychiatric/mental health
registered nurse generalist is crisis intervention.
The test taker must be familiar with the scope of practice of various educational levels of
the registered nurse and the roles and responsibilities within this scope.
Which is the overall, priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment?
- Stabilization and return to the community. - CORRECT ANSWER --Stabilization and
return to the community is the overall priority goal of in-patient psychiatric treatment.
Understanding the current trends in the delivery of mental health care is in the
community and in-patient settings assists the test taker in answering this question
correctly. Note the keywords, "priority" and "in-patient," which determine the correct
answer to this question.
When the nurse creates an environment to facilitate healing, the nurse's actions are
based on which of the following assumptions? Select all that apply.
- A therapeutic relationship can be a healing experience.
- Group settings can support ego strengths.
- Treatment plans can be formulated by observing social behaviors. - CORRECT
ANSWER -- A therapeutic relationship is characterized by rapport, genuineness, and
respect and can be a healing experience.
- Group processes provide learning experiences and support a client's ego strengths.
,- During group processes and interactions, staff members can observe social behaviors,
and this can determine client needs. Treatment plans can be customized to meet these
needs.
Reviewing the nurse's actions that assist in creating an environment that facilitates
healing assists the test taker in determining the correct answer to this question.
Understanding the meaning of counterttansference eliminates option 5.
Which of the folloing was the reason for the establishment of large hospitals or asylums
that addressed the care of the mentally ill?
- Mental illness was perceived as incurable.
- Clients with mental illness were perceived as a threat to self and others.
- Dorothea Dix saw a need for humane care for the mentally ill. - CORRECT ANSWER -
- Because there was no treatment for mental illness before 1840, it was perceived as
incurable and there was a need to provide continuous supervision in hospitals or
asylums.
- Clients with mental illness were thought to be violent toward themselves and others,
and a "reasonable" solution to care was to remove them from contract with the general
population and observe them continuously in hospitals or asylums.
- Dorothea Dix advocated for humane treatment for the mentally ill, and this led to the
establishment of many hospitals devoted to their care.
Reviewing the history of mental health care assists the test taker in inderstanding how
care was delivered in the past.
Which of the following are examples of primary prevention in a community mental health
setting? Select all that apply
- Teaching physical and psychosocial effects of stress to elementary school students.
- Teaching a class on child-rearing skills for a group of new parents. - CORRECT
ANSWER -- This is an example of primary prevention, which is focused on educational
programs to help prevent the incidence of mental illness.
, - This is an example of primary prevention, which is focused on educational programs to
help prevent the incidence of mental illness.
Understanding the public health model that describes primary, secondary, and tertiary
prevention assist the test taker in answering this question correctly.
Which nursing intervention within the community is aimed at reducing the residual
defects that are associated with severe or chronic mental illness?
- Referring clients for various aftercare services such as day treatment programs. -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Tertiary prevention is aimed at reducing the residual defects
that are associated with severe or chronic mental illness. Providing aftercare services,
such as day treatment programs, is one way to accomplish this.
Reviewing the functions of the nurse at all levels of community mental health prevention
helps the test taker to distinguish interventions in each prevention category.
In the emergency department, the nurse assesses a client who is aggressive and
experiencing auditory hallucinations. The client states, "The CIA is plotting to kill me." To
which mental health setting would the nurse expect this client to be admitted?
- Short-term, in-patient, locked unit. - CORRECT ANSWER -- A short-term, in patient,
locked unit would be most appropriate for this client. This setting provides containment
and structure for clients who are at risk for harming themselves or others.
Understanding the types of care available to mentally ill clients and the types of clients
these various settings serve assists the test taker in answering this question.
Which action of a mental health nurse case manager reflects the activity of service
planning?
- Holding a care conference for a client who is having difficulty returning to school. -
CORRECT ANSWER -- Holding a care conference for a client who is having difficulty
returning to school reflects the activity of service planning. A service care plan is
devised with client participation and should include mutually agreed on goals, specific
