NU 160 Mental Health Nursing
Concepts Exam 1: Complete Q&A
Study Guide (2026 Edition)
Section 1: Foundational Concepts of Mental
Health
Q: What is the Earth-illness continuum?
ANSWER Behaviors relating to health exist over a broad
spectrum, ranging from wellness to illness .
Q: How is mental health defined?
ANSWER The ability to "cope with and adjust to the recurrent
stresses of living in an acceptable way" .
Q: What defines a mental illness disorder?
ANSWER A disturbance in one's ability to cope effectively .
Q: When encountering a psychiatric patient, what comes
first?
ANSWER Listening. Establishing rapport begins with active
listening, allowing acknowledgment of the patient's feelings
and concerns while gathering essential assessment
information .
Section 2: Historical Perspectives
Q: What did primitive societies believe caused mental
illness?
,ANSWER Mental illness was believed to be caused by evil
spirits and demonic possession .
Q: What is trephining?
ANSWER Cutting holes in the skull to encourage evil spirits to
leave the body .
Q: What were demonic exorcisms?
ANSWER Religious ceremonies in which patients were
physically punished to drive away possessing evil spirits .
Q: What does the term "lunacy" refer to?
ANSWER A disorder believed to be caused by lunar bodies (the
moon) .
Q: What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
ANSWER Artificial induction of a grand mal seizure by passing
a controlled electrical current through electrodes applied to
one or both temples, primarily used to treat severe depression .
Q: What is a lobotomy?
ANSWER A surgical procedure that severs the frontal lobes of
the brain from the thalamus .
Section 3: Therapeutic Communication
Q: What is an example of non-therapeutic communication?
ANSWER Giving advice. Providing unsolicited solutions can be
judgmental and undermines patient autonomy .
Q: What is an example of a therapeutic communication
technique?
ANSWER Active listening - maintaining eye contact and
,nodding while the patient speaks demonstrates full attention
and builds trust .
Q: What is therapeutic silence?
ANSWER Sitting quietly with a tearful patient without speaking
allows time to process emotions and communicates
acceptance .
Q: What is an example of a non-therapeutic response?
ANSWER Telling a patient, "Don't worry, everything will be just
fine" - this is false reassurance that dismisses the patient's
feelings .
Section 4: The Nurse-Patient Relationship
Q: What are the phases of a therapeutic relationship?
ANSWER
• Preparation phase: Review all available patient
information
• Orientation phase: Get to know the client, explain
purpose of interaction, establish roles, identify problems
• Working phase: Plan outcomes and interventions,
develop goals, help client express feelings
• Termination phase: Conclude the relationship
Q: During which phase does the nurse establish trust and
define the purpose of the relationship?
ANSWER The orientation phase, where rapport is built,
confidentiality is explained, and goals are set .
, Q: How does trust apply to therapeutic relationships?
ANSWER Establish a "no harm" covenant and build consistent,
reliable interactions .
Section 5: Legal and Ethical Principles
Q: What is veracity?
ANSWER The duty to tell the truth .
Q: What is confidentiality?
ANSWER The duty to respect private information .
Q: What is fidelity?
ANSWER The obligation to keep your word .
Q: What is beneficence?
ANSWER Actively doing good; promoting patient well-being .
Q: What is nonmaleficence?
ANSWER The duty to "do no harm" .
Q: What is an ethical dilemma?
ANSWER Uncertainty or disagreement about which moral
principles endorse different courses of action .
Q: What is informed consent?
ANSWER Promotes autonomy by providing relevant
information and choice for the client .
Q: What is false imprisonment?
ANSWER Detaining a competent person against their will .
Concepts Exam 1: Complete Q&A
Study Guide (2026 Edition)
Section 1: Foundational Concepts of Mental
Health
Q: What is the Earth-illness continuum?
ANSWER Behaviors relating to health exist over a broad
spectrum, ranging from wellness to illness .
Q: How is mental health defined?
ANSWER The ability to "cope with and adjust to the recurrent
stresses of living in an acceptable way" .
Q: What defines a mental illness disorder?
ANSWER A disturbance in one's ability to cope effectively .
Q: When encountering a psychiatric patient, what comes
first?
ANSWER Listening. Establishing rapport begins with active
listening, allowing acknowledgment of the patient's feelings
and concerns while gathering essential assessment
information .
Section 2: Historical Perspectives
Q: What did primitive societies believe caused mental
illness?
,ANSWER Mental illness was believed to be caused by evil
spirits and demonic possession .
Q: What is trephining?
ANSWER Cutting holes in the skull to encourage evil spirits to
leave the body .
Q: What were demonic exorcisms?
ANSWER Religious ceremonies in which patients were
physically punished to drive away possessing evil spirits .
Q: What does the term "lunacy" refer to?
ANSWER A disorder believed to be caused by lunar bodies (the
moon) .
Q: What is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)?
ANSWER Artificial induction of a grand mal seizure by passing
a controlled electrical current through electrodes applied to
one or both temples, primarily used to treat severe depression .
Q: What is a lobotomy?
ANSWER A surgical procedure that severs the frontal lobes of
the brain from the thalamus .
Section 3: Therapeutic Communication
Q: What is an example of non-therapeutic communication?
ANSWER Giving advice. Providing unsolicited solutions can be
judgmental and undermines patient autonomy .
Q: What is an example of a therapeutic communication
technique?
ANSWER Active listening - maintaining eye contact and
,nodding while the patient speaks demonstrates full attention
and builds trust .
Q: What is therapeutic silence?
ANSWER Sitting quietly with a tearful patient without speaking
allows time to process emotions and communicates
acceptance .
Q: What is an example of a non-therapeutic response?
ANSWER Telling a patient, "Don't worry, everything will be just
fine" - this is false reassurance that dismisses the patient's
feelings .
Section 4: The Nurse-Patient Relationship
Q: What are the phases of a therapeutic relationship?
ANSWER
• Preparation phase: Review all available patient
information
• Orientation phase: Get to know the client, explain
purpose of interaction, establish roles, identify problems
• Working phase: Plan outcomes and interventions,
develop goals, help client express feelings
• Termination phase: Conclude the relationship
Q: During which phase does the nurse establish trust and
define the purpose of the relationship?
ANSWER The orientation phase, where rapport is built,
confidentiality is explained, and goals are set .
, Q: How does trust apply to therapeutic relationships?
ANSWER Establish a "no harm" covenant and build consistent,
reliable interactions .
Section 5: Legal and Ethical Principles
Q: What is veracity?
ANSWER The duty to tell the truth .
Q: What is confidentiality?
ANSWER The duty to respect private information .
Q: What is fidelity?
ANSWER The obligation to keep your word .
Q: What is beneficence?
ANSWER Actively doing good; promoting patient well-being .
Q: What is nonmaleficence?
ANSWER The duty to "do no harm" .
Q: What is an ethical dilemma?
ANSWER Uncertainty or disagreement about which moral
principles endorse different courses of action .
Q: What is informed consent?
ANSWER Promotes autonomy by providing relevant
information and choice for the client .
Q: What is false imprisonment?
ANSWER Detaining a competent person against their will .
