NSG 3450 Exam 1 2026/2027 Galen Mental Health
Nursing Practice Actual Exam Questions Verified
Answers Study Guide Grade A
1. When providing respectful, appropriate nursing care, how should the nurse identify
the patient and his or her observable characteristics?
A. The schizophrenic patient in room 234
B. The patient with schizophrenia in room 234
C. The manic patient in room 234
D. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Correct Answer: D. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Rationale: Respectful care requires identifying the patient as a person first, not labeling
the individual by their diagnosis. Describing the behavior rather than labeling the person
maintains dignity and reduces stigma.
2. Recognizing the frequency of depression among the American population, the nurse
should advocate for which mental health promotion intervention?
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A. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and teenage students
B. Encouraging regular exercise for older adults
C. Teaching stress management techniques to corporate employees
D. Offering grief counseling to bereaved individuals
Correct Answer: A. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and
teenage students
Rationale: Early identification through screening is a key mental health promotion
intervention. Depression is prevalent among adolescents, and regular screening
facilitates early intervention and prevention of progression.
3. Which statement made by a patient demonstrates a healthy degree of
resilience? Select all that apply.
A. "I try to remember not to take other people's bad moods personally."
B. "I've learned to calm down before trying to defend my opinions."
C. "I know that discussing issues with my boss would help me get my point across."
D. "When things go wrong, I usually assume it's my fault."
E. "I can't seem to get over the way my parents treated me."
Correct Answer: A, B, C
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Rationale: Resilience involves adaptive coping strategies such as emotional regulation
(A, B) and effective communication (C). Blaming oneself (D) and ruminating on past
mistreatment (E) indicate maladaptive coping.
4. Which statement demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the effect of
environmental factors on a patient's mental health?
A. "The patient's symptoms are clearly genetic in origin."
B. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
C. "The patient's family history explains his current diagnosis."
D. "Medication nonadherence is the primary cause of relapse."
Correct Answer: B. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
Rationale: Environmental factors include cultural influences on mental health.
Recognizing that cultural background affects how suicide is viewed demonstrates
understanding of environmental impacts on mental health.
5. When considering stigmatization, which statement made by the nurse
demonstrates a need for immediate intervention by the nurse manager?
A. "I find it challenging to work with patients who are actively psychotic."
B. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with alcohol use."
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C. "Patients with personality disorders often test our boundaries."
D. "It's frustrating when patients refuse their prescribed medications."
Correct Answer: B. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with
alcohol use."
Rationale: This statement reflects ethnic stereotyping and stigmatization, which is
discriminatory and unprofessional. It requires immediate intervention to address bias
and ensure culturally competent care.
6. A nursing student new to psychiatric-mental health nursing asks a peer what
resource he can use to figure out which symptoms are present in a specific psychiatric
disorder. The best answer would be?
A. NANDA
B. DSM
C. ICD-10
D. NIC
Correct Answer: B. DSM
Rationale: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) provides
diagnostic criteria, including specific symptoms, for each psychiatric disorder. It is the
standard reference for psychiatric diagnosis.