NUR253 Exam 1 V3 | Mental Health
Nursing Q&A with Rationale | Galen
College of Nursing
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized for a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions by the nurse demonstrates the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. Ensuring the client understands the risks of a procedure.
B. Spending extra time with a client who is feeling anxious.
C. Treating all clients equally regardless of their diagnosis.
D. Allowing the client to make their own choices about treatment.
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act in a way that benefits others or promotes good.
By spending extra time with an anxious client, the nurse is actively working to improve the
client’s well-being. This principle focuses on the quality of care and the positive impact on
the patient’s emotional state.
2. During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which of the following is the
nurse’s primary goal?
A. Overcoming resistance to change.
B. Evaluating progress toward goals.
C. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills.
,D. Establishing trust and rapport.
Answer: D
Rationale: The orientation phase is the initial stage where the nurse and client meet and
define the parameters of their relationship. Establishing trust and rapport is critical during
this time to create a safe environment for therapeutic work. Without a solid foundation of
trust, the subsequent phases of the relationship cannot be successful.
3. A client tells the nurse, ‘I don’t think I can handle this anymore. Everything is falling apart.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. It sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed right now.
B. Why do you feel that everything is falling apart?
C. Don’t worry, things will get better soon.
D. You should focus on the positive things in your life.
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse’s response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection and
validation of feelings. This allows the client to know that their message was heard and
understood without being judged. It encourages further exploration of the client’s emotions
rather than shutting down the conversation with clichés.
4. Which legal concept refers to the nurse’s responsibility to protect a third party from a
client’s threat of violence?
A. Informed consent
, B. Duty to warn
C. False imprisonment
D. Beneficence
Answer: B
Rationale: The ‘Duty to Warn’ is a legal obligation for healthcare professionals to notify a
specific individual if a client makes a credible threat of harm against them. This principle
originated from the Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California case. It overrides
patient confidentiality when there is a clear danger to public safety.
5. A nurse is assessing a client for a potential involuntary admission. Which criterion is
necessary for this type of admission?
A. The client refuses to take prescribed medications.
B. The client has a diagnosed mental illness.
C. The client is unable to pay for voluntary care.
D. The client is a danger to self or others.
Answer: D
Rationale: Involuntary admission is generally reserved for individuals who pose a
significant threat of harm to themselves or others due to mental illness. Legal standards
require evidence of dangerousness or the inability to provide for basic personal needs. This
Nursing Q&A with Rationale | Galen
College of Nursing
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized for a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions by the nurse demonstrates the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. Ensuring the client understands the risks of a procedure.
B. Spending extra time with a client who is feeling anxious.
C. Treating all clients equally regardless of their diagnosis.
D. Allowing the client to make their own choices about treatment.
Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the duty to act in a way that benefits others or promotes good.
By spending extra time with an anxious client, the nurse is actively working to improve the
client’s well-being. This principle focuses on the quality of care and the positive impact on
the patient’s emotional state.
2. During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which of the following is the
nurse’s primary goal?
A. Overcoming resistance to change.
B. Evaluating progress toward goals.
C. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills.
,D. Establishing trust and rapport.
Answer: D
Rationale: The orientation phase is the initial stage where the nurse and client meet and
define the parameters of their relationship. Establishing trust and rapport is critical during
this time to create a safe environment for therapeutic work. Without a solid foundation of
trust, the subsequent phases of the relationship cannot be successful.
3. A client tells the nurse, ‘I don’t think I can handle this anymore. Everything is falling apart.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. It sounds like you are feeling overwhelmed right now.
B. Why do you feel that everything is falling apart?
C. Don’t worry, things will get better soon.
D. You should focus on the positive things in your life.
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse’s response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection and
validation of feelings. This allows the client to know that their message was heard and
understood without being judged. It encourages further exploration of the client’s emotions
rather than shutting down the conversation with clichés.
4. Which legal concept refers to the nurse’s responsibility to protect a third party from a
client’s threat of violence?
A. Informed consent
, B. Duty to warn
C. False imprisonment
D. Beneficence
Answer: B
Rationale: The ‘Duty to Warn’ is a legal obligation for healthcare professionals to notify a
specific individual if a client makes a credible threat of harm against them. This principle
originated from the Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California case. It overrides
patient confidentiality when there is a clear danger to public safety.
5. A nurse is assessing a client for a potential involuntary admission. Which criterion is
necessary for this type of admission?
A. The client refuses to take prescribed medications.
B. The client has a diagnosed mental illness.
C. The client is unable to pay for voluntary care.
D. The client is a danger to self or others.
Answer: D
Rationale: Involuntary admission is generally reserved for individuals who pose a
significant threat of harm to themselves or others due to mental illness. Legal standards
require evidence of dangerousness or the inability to provide for basic personal needs. This
