NUR 402 MENTAL –HEALTH NURSING FINAL EXAM
2026| REAL 370+Qs&As|ALREADY GRADED A+
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may
expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication
D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who
have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student
wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll lose all your skills."
Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am
challenged by those situations."
,c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations
in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical-surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-
surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be
able to help patients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting
the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and
workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties.
Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with
mental illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice
A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy
include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a
community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is
necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the
,letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which
comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make
it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps
me feel like I'm not alone."
D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps
change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection
that alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples of statements
that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real."
, B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects mental
illness. The distracters describe mentally healthy behaviors.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
A
A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. To determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the nurse
should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
b. A nursing diagnosis handbook
c. A psychiatric nursing textbook
d. A behavioral health reference manual
A
The DSM-IV-TR gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. The
distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
2026| REAL 370+Qs&As|ALREADY GRADED A+
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may
expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication
D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who
have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student
wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll lose all your skills."
Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am
challenged by those situations."
,c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations
in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical-surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-
surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be
able to help patients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting
the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and
workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties.
Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with
mental illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice
A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy
include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a
community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is
necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the
,letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which
comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make
it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps
me feel like I'm not alone."
D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps
change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection
that alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples of statements
that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real."
, B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects mental
illness. The distracters describe mentally healthy behaviors.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
A
A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. To determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the nurse
should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
b. A nursing diagnosis handbook
c. A psychiatric nursing textbook
d. A behavioral health reference manual
A
The DSM-IV-TR gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. The
distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
