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# NUR 326 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
## COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE TEST BANK -
COMPLETE SET
### CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY | 2026-2027
ACADEMIC YEAR
## SECTION 1: ANXIETY DISORDERS (Questions 1-30)
### Question 1
A client presents to the emergency department with complaints of heart
palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and a feeling of impending
doom. These symptoms began suddenly approximately 10 minutes ago. The client
states, "I think I'm having a heart attack. I feel like I'm going to die." Cardiac
workup is negative. The nurse recognizes this presentation as which level of
anxiety according to Peplau?
A) Mild anxiety
B) Moderate anxiety
C) Severe anxiety
D) Panic anxiety
**Correct Answer: D**
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**Rationale:** Panic anxiety is the most intense level of anxiety and is
characterized by a sudden feeling of impending doom, severe physiological
symptoms (palpitations, sweating, trembling, SOB), and the individual may
experience a sense of terror. At this level, the individual may feel they are dying or
losing control. The client's presentation of sudden onset of symptoms with a
feeling of impending doom is classic for panic anxiety.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** Mild anxiety is associated with heightened perception and increased
alertness; learning is enhanced. The client would not experience such severe
physiological symptoms or a feeling of impending doom.
- **B:** Moderate anxiety involves a reduction in perceptual field and decreased
attention span, but the individual would not experience the severe physiological
and psychological symptoms of panic.
- **C:** Severe anxiety causes greatly diminished perceptual fields and limited
attention span, but the individual would not necessarily experience the full
physiological crisis of panic anxiety.
---
### Question 2
A client is experiencing persistent, intrusive thoughts about contamination and
engages in repetitive handwashing rituals to relieve the anxiety caused by these
thoughts. The nurse understands that the handwashing behavior is best described
as:
A) An obsession
B) A compulsion
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C) A phobia
D) A delusion
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A compulsion is a repetitive behavior or mental act that an
individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The compulsion
serves to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress. In this case, the handwashing is the
ritualistic behavior performed to relieve the anxiety from the obsessive thoughts
about contamination.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** An obsession is an intrusive, recurrent thought, urge, or image that causes
anxiety. The contamination thoughts are the obsession, not the behavior.
- **C:** A phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation, which is not
described in this scenario.
- **D:** A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not based in reality and is not
corrected by reasoning. Obsessions are ego-dystonic (the client recognizes them as
unwanted).
---
### Question 3
A client is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Which statement
by the client would the nurse identify as consistent with this diagnosis?
A) "I have sudden, unexpected panic attacks that come out of nowhere."
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B) "I worry excessively about my health, my family, and my job almost every
day."
C) "I am terrified of being trapped in an elevator."
D) "I have to wash my hands 15 times a day."
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about
multiple areas of life (e.g., health, family, work) that occurs more days than not for
at least six months. The client's statement reflects this pervasive worry pattern.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** This describes panic disorder, which involves recurrent unexpected panic
attacks.
- **C:** This describes a specific phobia (claustrophobia).
- **D:** This describes a compulsion associated with Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD).
---
### Question 4
A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which nursing intervention should be
implemented first?
A) Encourage the client to talk about the cause of the anxiety
B) Administer a PRN dose of a benzodiazepine
# NUR 326 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2
## COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE TEST BANK -
COMPLETE SET
### CHAMBERLAIN UNIVERSITY | 2026-2027
ACADEMIC YEAR
## SECTION 1: ANXIETY DISORDERS (Questions 1-30)
### Question 1
A client presents to the emergency department with complaints of heart
palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, and a feeling of impending
doom. These symptoms began suddenly approximately 10 minutes ago. The client
states, "I think I'm having a heart attack. I feel like I'm going to die." Cardiac
workup is negative. The nurse recognizes this presentation as which level of
anxiety according to Peplau?
A) Mild anxiety
B) Moderate anxiety
C) Severe anxiety
D) Panic anxiety
**Correct Answer: D**
,2|Page
**Rationale:** Panic anxiety is the most intense level of anxiety and is
characterized by a sudden feeling of impending doom, severe physiological
symptoms (palpitations, sweating, trembling, SOB), and the individual may
experience a sense of terror. At this level, the individual may feel they are dying or
losing control. The client's presentation of sudden onset of symptoms with a
feeling of impending doom is classic for panic anxiety.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** Mild anxiety is associated with heightened perception and increased
alertness; learning is enhanced. The client would not experience such severe
physiological symptoms or a feeling of impending doom.
- **B:** Moderate anxiety involves a reduction in perceptual field and decreased
attention span, but the individual would not experience the severe physiological
and psychological symptoms of panic.
- **C:** Severe anxiety causes greatly diminished perceptual fields and limited
attention span, but the individual would not necessarily experience the full
physiological crisis of panic anxiety.
---
### Question 2
A client is experiencing persistent, intrusive thoughts about contamination and
engages in repetitive handwashing rituals to relieve the anxiety caused by these
thoughts. The nurse understands that the handwashing behavior is best described
as:
A) An obsession
B) A compulsion
,3|Page
C) A phobia
D) A delusion
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** A compulsion is a repetitive behavior or mental act that an
individual feels driven to perform in response to an obsession. The compulsion
serves to prevent or reduce anxiety or distress. In this case, the handwashing is the
ritualistic behavior performed to relieve the anxiety from the obsessive thoughts
about contamination.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** An obsession is an intrusive, recurrent thought, urge, or image that causes
anxiety. The contamination thoughts are the obsession, not the behavior.
- **C:** A phobia is an irrational fear of a specific object or situation, which is not
described in this scenario.
- **D:** A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is not based in reality and is not
corrected by reasoning. Obsessions are ego-dystonic (the client recognizes them as
unwanted).
---
### Question 3
A client is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Which statement
by the client would the nurse identify as consistent with this diagnosis?
A) "I have sudden, unexpected panic attacks that come out of nowhere."
, 4|Page
B) "I worry excessively about my health, my family, and my job almost every
day."
C) "I am terrified of being trapped in an elevator."
D) "I have to wash my hands 15 times a day."
**Correct Answer: B**
**Rationale:** GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about
multiple areas of life (e.g., health, family, work) that occurs more days than not for
at least six months. The client's statement reflects this pervasive worry pattern.
**Incorrect Answer Rationales:**
- **A:** This describes panic disorder, which involves recurrent unexpected panic
attacks.
- **C:** This describes a specific phobia (claustrophobia).
- **D:** This describes a compulsion associated with Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder (OCD).
---
### Question 4
A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which nursing intervention should be
implemented first?
A) Encourage the client to talk about the cause of the anxiety
B) Administer a PRN dose of a benzodiazepine
