FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH
CARE
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MICHELLE
MORRISON-VALFRE
TEST BANK
Unit I — Chapter 1: The History of Mental Health Care
1) Early Years
Reference: Ch. 1 — Early Years
Question Stem:
A community health nurse is teaching a family whose relative is
experiencing bizarre behavior. One family member says,
“People like this are controlled by evil forces, so there is nothing
medical to do.” The nurse wants to respond in a way that
,reflects modern mental health care while respecting the
family’s perspective. Which response is best?
Options:
A. “That belief is incorrect, so it is best to stop discussing it.”
B. “Let’s talk about what changes you have noticed and how the
behavior is affecting safety.”
C. “Mental illness is always caused by stress, not spiritual
beliefs.”
D. “The patient should be separated from the family until the
behavior stops.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct: This response is therapeutic, nonjudgmental, and
focused on assessment and safety. It respects the family’s
viewpoint while shifting the conversation toward observable
behavior and nursing priorities.
A: Shuts down communication and may increase mistrust.
C: Replaces one absolute explanation with another and may
invalidate the family’s beliefs.
D: Unnecessary separation can worsen stigma and does not
address assessment or support.
Teaching Point:
Start with assessment and safety, not confrontation.
,Citation:
Morrison-Valfre, M. Foundations of Mental Health Care (8th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Early Years
Reference: Ch. 1 — Early Years
Question Stem:
A nursing student is reviewing historical explanations for mental
illness and notices that early care often involved confinement,
fear, and supernatural interpretations. The student asks what
lesson is most important for current psychiatric nursing
practice. Which response by the instructor is best?
Options:
A. “Historical beliefs are useful because they explain most
current mental illness.”
B. “Mental health care has progressed from blame and isolation
toward assessment, treatment, and dignity.”
C. “Patients with mental illness are safest when kept away from
society indefinitely.”
D. “Early treatments were effective because they removed
patients from stress.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct: This statement accurately captures the major historical
shift toward humane care, scientific understanding, and patient
, rights. It also supports current nursing values of dignity and
therapeutic relationships.
A: Overstates historical beliefs and ignores evidence-based care.
C: Reinforces stigma and outdated custodial thinking.
D: Confinement was not a reliable or humane treatment
approach.
Teaching Point:
Mental health care evolved from fear to evidence-based,
person-centered practice.
Citation:
Morrison-Valfre, M. Foundations of Mental Health Care (8th
ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Nineteenth-Century United States
Reference: Ch. 1 — Nineteenth-Century United States
Question Stem:
A psychiatric nurse is caring for a patient who repeatedly says,
“I am just being punished for being a burden.” The nurse
recognizes that this shame-based view resembles the social
attitudes that shaped much 19th-century care. Which nursing
response is most appropriate?
Options:
A. “You should feel grateful that you are receiving any care at
all.”
B. “Tell me more about what has made you feel like a burden.”
CARE
8TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)MICHELLE
MORRISON-VALFRE
TEST BANK
Unit I — Chapter 1: The History of Mental Health Care
1) Early Years
Reference: Ch. 1 — Early Years
Question Stem:
A community health nurse is teaching a family whose relative is
experiencing bizarre behavior. One family member says,
“People like this are controlled by evil forces, so there is nothing
medical to do.” The nurse wants to respond in a way that
,reflects modern mental health care while respecting the
family’s perspective. Which response is best?
Options:
A. “That belief is incorrect, so it is best to stop discussing it.”
B. “Let’s talk about what changes you have noticed and how the
behavior is affecting safety.”
C. “Mental illness is always caused by stress, not spiritual
beliefs.”
D. “The patient should be separated from the family until the
behavior stops.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct: This response is therapeutic, nonjudgmental, and
focused on assessment and safety. It respects the family’s
viewpoint while shifting the conversation toward observable
behavior and nursing priorities.
A: Shuts down communication and may increase mistrust.
C: Replaces one absolute explanation with another and may
invalidate the family’s beliefs.
D: Unnecessary separation can worsen stigma and does not
address assessment or support.
Teaching Point:
Start with assessment and safety, not confrontation.
,Citation:
Morrison-Valfre, M. Foundations of Mental Health Care (8th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Early Years
Reference: Ch. 1 — Early Years
Question Stem:
A nursing student is reviewing historical explanations for mental
illness and notices that early care often involved confinement,
fear, and supernatural interpretations. The student asks what
lesson is most important for current psychiatric nursing
practice. Which response by the instructor is best?
Options:
A. “Historical beliefs are useful because they explain most
current mental illness.”
B. “Mental health care has progressed from blame and isolation
toward assessment, treatment, and dignity.”
C. “Patients with mental illness are safest when kept away from
society indefinitely.”
D. “Early treatments were effective because they removed
patients from stress.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
Correct: This statement accurately captures the major historical
shift toward humane care, scientific understanding, and patient
, rights. It also supports current nursing values of dignity and
therapeutic relationships.
A: Overstates historical beliefs and ignores evidence-based care.
C: Reinforces stigma and outdated custodial thinking.
D: Confinement was not a reliable or humane treatment
approach.
Teaching Point:
Mental health care evolved from fear to evidence-based,
person-centered practice.
Citation:
Morrison-Valfre, M. Foundations of Mental Health Care (8th
ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Nineteenth-Century United States
Reference: Ch. 1 — Nineteenth-Century United States
Question Stem:
A psychiatric nurse is caring for a patient who repeatedly says,
“I am just being punished for being a burden.” The nurse
recognizes that this shame-based view resembles the social
attitudes that shaped much 19th-century care. Which nursing
response is most appropriate?
Options:
A. “You should feel grateful that you are receiving any care at
all.”
B. “Tell me more about what has made you feel like a burden.”
