Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing-
Exam 1 2025 |EXAM (MULTIPLE
CHOICES) AND (RATIONALES)
QUESTION AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT 2025
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I
felt emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response
should the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired,
too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last
night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" -
correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine
the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of
"stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is
uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic
technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
,A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful
what you say." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your
illness." - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are
unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The
nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the
patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking
to talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the
subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited from operating in health care
facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch
with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always
agree." The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the
patient twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that
the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
,d. inadequate. - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent
messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well
in the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting
anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal message
being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's
comment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told
you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this
change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit
operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking
to me." - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation
phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an
example of "offering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse
cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-
therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example
of "offering hope."
, Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is
interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying." - correct answer✔ ✔
ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what
has been communicated. Restating is an active listening technique.
Judgments should be suspended in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-
ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific
information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply
states that he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no
way of measuring the understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse
wants to seek clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." - correct answer✔ ✔
ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to
ensure that both the nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the
Exam 1 2025 |EXAM (MULTIPLE
CHOICES) AND (RATIONALES)
QUESTION AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT 2025
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I
felt emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response
should the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired,
too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last
night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" -
correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine
the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of
"stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is
uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic
technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
,A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful
what you say." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your
illness." - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are
unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The
nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the
patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking
to talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the
subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited from operating in health care
facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch
with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always
agree." The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the
patient twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that
the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
,d. inadequate. - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent
messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well
in the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting
anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal message
being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's
comment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told
you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this
change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit
operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking
to me." - correct answer✔ ✔ ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation
phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an
example of "offering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse
cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-
therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example
of "offering hope."
, Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is
interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying." - correct answer✔ ✔
ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what
has been communicated. Restating is an active listening technique.
Judgments should be suspended in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-
ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific
information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply
states that he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no
way of measuring the understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse
wants to seek clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." - correct answer✔ ✔
ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to
ensure that both the nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the
