Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter:Varcarolis's Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Edition
26
20
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following would the nurse
ne
expect as an advanced practice intervention?
Ju
26
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication
k
c. Establish therapeutic relationships
n
d. Individualize nursing care plans
Ba
ANS:B
st
Prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
Te
2
prescribing medication; thus it is an advanced-practice intervention. The nurse prepared at the
20
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized
ne
care planning.
Ju
DIF:Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs:Safe Effective Care
Environment
k
an
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses "lose all their nursing
skills," which of the following is the best response by the mental health nurse?
s tB
Te
26
a. “ Psychiatric nurses practise in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient
20
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
n e
b."Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
Ju
multidimensional problems.I am challenged by those situations."
26
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high-technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
k
an
tB
s
Te
, d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
26
ANS:B
20
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills from medical-surgical nursing, though there is
ne
substantial overlap. Two domains relate specifically to psychiatric nursing: behavioural, including communication, coping,
and education; and safety, covering crisis and risk management. Basic psychosocial nursing concepts are central to
Ju
psychiatric nursing practice and increase your competency as
26
a practitioner in all clinical settings. Whatever setting you choose to work in, you will have the opportunity to
n k
improve the lives of people who are experiencing mental illness as an additional challenge
Ba
st
to their health.
Your experience in the mental health nursing rotation can help you gain insight into yourself and greatly increase your
Te
2
insight into the experiences of others. This part of nursing education can provide guidelines
20
ne
for and the opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with a variety of challenging behaviours.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
Ju
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care
Environment nk
3.When a new bill introduced in Parliament reduces funding for careof people with mental illness, a group of
Ba
people with mild mental illness write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation for
st
Te
26
all people with mental illness. Which role does this action portray?
20
a.Recovery
ne
b.Self-care
C.Advocacy
Ju
26
d.Social action
nk
ANS:C
Ba
st
Te
, An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to do
26
that for himself or herself. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking,and publication in
20
the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for people with
ne
mental illness, the letter-writingcampaign advocates for the cause for all people with mental illness.
Ju
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care
Environment
n k
4.Which of the following has been identified as a significant trend that will affect the
Ba
future of psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada?
st
a.Decrease in the aging population
Te
b. Increase in cultural diversity
2
20
c. Role of the advanced-practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ne
ANS:B
Ju
Four significant trends have been identified that will affect the future of psychiatric mental health nursing
26
k
in Canada; these include an aging population, an increase in cultural diversity, expanding technology, and an increased
an
awareness of the impact of the determinants of health on mental illness.
tB
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP:Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
s
Te
26
5.Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental illness?
20
a. The patient reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. The patient reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
n e
c. The patient is able to describe the difference between"asif"and “for real."
Ju
d. The patient perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
26
ANS:B
k
an
tB
s
Te
, The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. Alterations in cognition,mood,or
26
behaviour that are coupled with significant distress and impaired functioning characterize mental illness. The distracters
20
describe behaviours that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
ne
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP:Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Ju
6.Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrates mentally healthy behaviour"was achieved?
26
k
a. A patient sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
n
b. A patient behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
Ba
c. A patient aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
st
d. A patient seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
Te
2
20
ANS:A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behaviour. The WHO defines mental health as “a state of well-
ne
being in which each individual is able to realize his or her own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work
Ju
productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to the community"(World Health Organization, 2010). The
26
distracters describe maladaptive behaviours.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
nk
Ba
MSC:Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
st
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's admission form.Which
Te
26
20
resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
ne
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
Ju
26
b.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
nk
d.NurseOne online
Ba
st
Te
Halter:Varcarolis's Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Edition
26
20
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following would the nurse
ne
expect as an advanced practice intervention?
Ju
26
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication
k
c. Establish therapeutic relationships
n
d. Individualize nursing care plans
Ba
ANS:B
st
Prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
Te
2
prescribing medication; thus it is an advanced-practice intervention. The nurse prepared at the
20
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized
ne
care planning.
Ju
DIF:Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs:Safe Effective Care
Environment
k
an
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses "lose all their nursing
skills," which of the following is the best response by the mental health nurse?
s tB
Te
26
a. “ Psychiatric nurses practise in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient
20
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
n e
b."Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
Ju
multidimensional problems.I am challenged by those situations."
26
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high-technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
k
an
tB
s
Te
, d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
26
ANS:B
20
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills from medical-surgical nursing, though there is
ne
substantial overlap. Two domains relate specifically to psychiatric nursing: behavioural, including communication, coping,
and education; and safety, covering crisis and risk management. Basic psychosocial nursing concepts are central to
Ju
psychiatric nursing practice and increase your competency as
26
a practitioner in all clinical settings. Whatever setting you choose to work in, you will have the opportunity to
n k
improve the lives of people who are experiencing mental illness as an additional challenge
Ba
st
to their health.
Your experience in the mental health nursing rotation can help you gain insight into yourself and greatly increase your
Te
2
insight into the experiences of others. This part of nursing education can provide guidelines
20
ne
for and the opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with a variety of challenging behaviours.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
Ju
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care
Environment nk
3.When a new bill introduced in Parliament reduces funding for careof people with mental illness, a group of
Ba
people with mild mental illness write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation for
st
Te
26
all people with mental illness. Which role does this action portray?
20
a.Recovery
ne
b.Self-care
C.Advocacy
Ju
26
d.Social action
nk
ANS:C
Ba
st
Te
, An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to do
26
that for himself or herself. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking,and publication in
20
the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for people with
ne
mental illness, the letter-writingcampaign advocates for the cause for all people with mental illness.
Ju
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
26
TOP:Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care
Environment
n k
4.Which of the following has been identified as a significant trend that will affect the
Ba
future of psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada?
st
a.Decrease in the aging population
Te
b. Increase in cultural diversity
2
20
c. Role of the advanced-practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ne
ANS:B
Ju
Four significant trends have been identified that will affect the future of psychiatric mental health nursing
26
k
in Canada; these include an aging population, an increase in cultural diversity, expanding technology, and an increased
an
awareness of the impact of the determinants of health on mental illness.
tB
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP:Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
s
Te
26
5.Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental illness?
20
a. The patient reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. The patient reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
n e
c. The patient is able to describe the difference between"asif"and “for real."
Ju
d. The patient perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
26
ANS:B
k
an
tB
s
Te
, The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. Alterations in cognition,mood,or
26
behaviour that are coupled with significant distress and impaired functioning characterize mental illness. The distracters
20
describe behaviours that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
ne
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP:Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Ju
6.Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrates mentally healthy behaviour"was achieved?
26
k
a. A patient sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
n
b. A patient behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
Ba
c. A patient aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
st
d. A patient seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
Te
2
20
ANS:A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behaviour. The WHO defines mental health as “a state of well-
ne
being in which each individual is able to realize his or her own potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work
Ju
productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to the community"(World Health Organization, 2010). The
26
distracters describe maladaptive behaviours.
DIF:Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
nk
Ba
MSC:Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
st
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's admission form.Which
Te
26
20
resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
ne
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
Ju
26
b.Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
nk
d.NurseOne online
Ba
st
Te
