Test Bank for Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing 8th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter | Complete Questions & Answers | All Chapters | 2025/2026 Updated Guide

TESTBANK
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,Chapter01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
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MULTIPLE CHOICE n




1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
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practice nurse to perform which additional intervention? a.
n n Conduct mental health n n n n n n n n




assessments.
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b. Prescribepsychotropic medication. n n




c. Establish therapeutic relationships. n n




d. Individualize nursing care plans. n n n




ANS: B n




In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners and
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clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
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prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
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relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP:
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Nursing Process: Implementation
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MSC:Client Needs: Safe,Effective Care Environment
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2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses “lose all their clinical nursing
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skills.” Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
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a. “Psychiatric nurses practicein safer environments than otherspecialties. Nurse-to-patient n n n n n n n n n




ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients’ problems.”
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b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve n n n n n n n n n n n n




multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
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c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently usehigh technology monitoring
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equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.”
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d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical– n n n n n n n n n n n n n n




surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.”
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ANS: B n




The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical nursing,
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though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical
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as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have.
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Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatricsettings have increased, just like other
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specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial
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pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: Pages 1-2, 21 n TOP: NursingProcess: Implementation
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n MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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, 3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
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mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the
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legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
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a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice n




ANS: C n




An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
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ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand
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their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public
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speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition.
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Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the
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letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate
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their own needs.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26 TOP:
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Nursing Process: Evaluation
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MSC:Client Needs: Safe,Effective Care Environment
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4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
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member’s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
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a. “I’ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.” n n n n n n n n n n




b. “Iremember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.”
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c. “Iwill make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.”
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d. “It’s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.”
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ANS: C n




The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the importance of
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relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills, learning,
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emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in lifemay be healthy, but
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the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect responses show
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blaming and avoidance.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level:Analyze (Analysis)
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REF: Pages 1-2, 3, 32 (Figure 1-1)
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Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental
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illness? The patient
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a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety. n n n n




b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood. n n n n n n n




c. is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
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d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs. n n n n n n n n n

, ANS: B n




The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
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describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
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PTS: 1 n DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) n n n n




REF: Pages 1-2 to 4
n TOP: NursingProcess: Assessment
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n MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
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achieved for an adult patient? The patient
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a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
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b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions. n n n n n n n




c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others. n n n n n n n n n




d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
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ANS: A n




Thecorrect response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior.The distracters describe maladaptive
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behaviors.
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PTS: 1 n DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) n n n n




REF: Pages 1-2 to 4
n TOP: NursingProcess: Evaluation
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n MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient’s admission form. Which
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resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis? a.
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International Statistical Classification ofDiseases andRelated Health Problems
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(ICD-10)
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b. TheANA’sPsychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scopeand Standards of Practice
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c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) n n n n n n n




d. A behavioral health reference manual
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ANS: C n




The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the official guideline for
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diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a
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psychiatric illness.
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PTS: 1 n DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) n n n n




REF: Pages 1-18, 19
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n MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which resource
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would have the most complete information?
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a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) n n n




b. DSM-V
c. TheANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scopeand Standards of Practice d. ICD-10
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