Exam 1 Materials - Mental Health
Nursing PNG 2254 Lethbridge College ||
All Answers are Valid.2026/2027
1. What is the primary goal of mental health nursing?
A. To cure mental illness
B. To promote mental health, prevent mental illness, and provide care for individuals
with mental disorders
C. To administer medications only
D. To provide custodial care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary goal of mental health nursing is to promote mental health,
prevent mental illness, and provide care for individuals with mental disorders. This
includes assessment, intervention, and support .
2. Which of the following is a key component of the therapeutic relationship in
mental health nursing?
A. Socializing with the patient
B. Maintaining professional boundaries
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Providing advice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining professional boundaries is essential in the therapeutic
relationship. This ensures the relationship remains focused on the patient's needs and
prevents dual relationships .
3. Which theorist developed the concept of the "therapeutic milieu"?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Hildegard Peplau
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Erik Erikson
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hildegard Peplau is credited with developing the concept of the therapeutic
milieu and the nurse-patient relationship. Her interpersonal theory is foundational to
psychiatric nursing .
4. The concept of "therapeutic use of self" refers to:
A. Using personal experiences to help the patient
B. Using one's personality, knowledge, and skills to promote healing
C. Avoiding all personal interactions
D. Focusing only on medication administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic use of self involves using the nurse's personality, knowledge,
and skills to promote healing and growth in the patient. It is a core concept in
psychiatric nursing .
5. Which of the following is an example of a therapeutic communication
technique?
A. Giving advice
B. Active listening
C. Changing the subject
D. Offering false reassurance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Active listening is a therapeutic communication technique that involves fully
focusing on the patient, understanding their message, and responding appropriately. It
promotes trust and understanding .
6. Which of the following is a non-therapeutic communication technique?
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Giving advice
D. Reflecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Giving advice is a non-therapeutic communication technique because it
, imposes the nurse's values on the patient and undermines the patient's autonomy.
Therapeutic techniques include restating, clarifying, and reflecting .
7. The nurse asks, "What are you feeling right now?" This is an example of which
therapeutic technique?
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Exploring
D. Reflecting
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Reflecting involves directing the patient's feelings and thoughts back to the
patient. It encourages the patient to explore their own feelings and promotes self-
awareness .
8. In the therapeutic relationship, the "working phase" is characterized by:
A. Establishing trust
B. Exploring and resolving problems
C. Terminating the relationship
D. Collecting data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The working phase is the middle phase of the therapeutic relationship where
the nurse and patient work together to explore and resolve problems. The orientation
phase establishes trust, and the termination phase ends the relationship .
9. Which of the following is the most important skill for a mental health nurse?
A. Technical skills
B. Medication administration
C. Therapeutic communication
D. Physical assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Therapeutic communication is the most important skill for a mental health
nurse. It is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship and essential for assessment,
intervention, and support .
Nursing PNG 2254 Lethbridge College ||
All Answers are Valid.2026/2027
1. What is the primary goal of mental health nursing?
A. To cure mental illness
B. To promote mental health, prevent mental illness, and provide care for individuals
with mental disorders
C. To administer medications only
D. To provide custodial care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The primary goal of mental health nursing is to promote mental health,
prevent mental illness, and provide care for individuals with mental disorders. This
includes assessment, intervention, and support .
2. Which of the following is a key component of the therapeutic relationship in
mental health nursing?
A. Socializing with the patient
B. Maintaining professional boundaries
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Providing advice
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Maintaining professional boundaries is essential in the therapeutic
relationship. This ensures the relationship remains focused on the patient's needs and
prevents dual relationships .
3. Which theorist developed the concept of the "therapeutic milieu"?
A. Sigmund Freud
B. Hildegard Peplau
C. Florence Nightingale
D. Erik Erikson
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hildegard Peplau is credited with developing the concept of the therapeutic
milieu and the nurse-patient relationship. Her interpersonal theory is foundational to
psychiatric nursing .
4. The concept of "therapeutic use of self" refers to:
A. Using personal experiences to help the patient
B. Using one's personality, knowledge, and skills to promote healing
C. Avoiding all personal interactions
D. Focusing only on medication administration
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The therapeutic use of self involves using the nurse's personality, knowledge,
and skills to promote healing and growth in the patient. It is a core concept in
psychiatric nursing .
5. Which of the following is an example of a therapeutic communication
technique?
A. Giving advice
B. Active listening
C. Changing the subject
D. Offering false reassurance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Active listening is a therapeutic communication technique that involves fully
focusing on the patient, understanding their message, and responding appropriately. It
promotes trust and understanding .
6. Which of the following is a non-therapeutic communication technique?
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Giving advice
D. Reflecting
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Giving advice is a non-therapeutic communication technique because it
, imposes the nurse's values on the patient and undermines the patient's autonomy.
Therapeutic techniques include restating, clarifying, and reflecting .
7. The nurse asks, "What are you feeling right now?" This is an example of which
therapeutic technique?
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Exploring
D. Reflecting
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Reflecting involves directing the patient's feelings and thoughts back to the
patient. It encourages the patient to explore their own feelings and promotes self-
awareness .
8. In the therapeutic relationship, the "working phase" is characterized by:
A. Establishing trust
B. Exploring and resolving problems
C. Terminating the relationship
D. Collecting data
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The working phase is the middle phase of the therapeutic relationship where
the nurse and patient work together to explore and resolve problems. The orientation
phase establishes trust, and the termination phase ends the relationship .
9. Which of the following is the most important skill for a mental health nurse?
A. Technical skills
B. Medication administration
C. Therapeutic communication
D. Physical assessment
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Therapeutic communication is the most important skill for a mental health
nurse. It is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship and essential for assessment,
intervention, and support .
