1
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach,
8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention? a. Conduct mental
health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists 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.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP:
Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses ―lose all their clinical
nursing skills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
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.‖
2
,b. ―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
c. ―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.‖
d. ―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical– surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: 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 are as real as physical pain and suffering.
3
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach,
8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention? a. Conduct mental
health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists 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.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP:
Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses ―lose all their clinical
nursing skills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
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.‖
2
,b. ―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
c. ―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.‖
d. ―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical– surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: 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 are as real as physical pain and suffering.
3
, PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4
