NUR 253-256 Mental Health Exam 3: 2026/2027
Questions and 100% Correct Answers Latest –
Galen
OVERVIEW:
NUR 253-256 Mental Health Exam 3 covers PTSD, dissociative fugue, amnesia,
identity, depersonalization, somatic symptom, conversion, factitious imposed on
another, malingering, dementia redirection, hallucinations, interpreter use, head
injury dementia risk, delirium assessment, suicide risk and lethality, Alzheimer's
donepezil, autism signs, ADHD stimulants, self-injury, conduct versus ODD,
Tourette tics, and personality disorders borderline, antisocial, narcissistic,
schizoid, avoidant, dependent, histrionic, OCPD, emphasizing safety, consistency,
boundaries, and therapeutic communication for holistic mental health nursing.
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
1. The nurse is educating a 20yr old client who has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about
the disorder. The client was sexually assaulted during a live concert. Which of the following is
included in the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD?
a) looking at pictures of concerts on the internet repeatedly
b) listening to the same music from the concert throughout the day
c) increased attendance to live concerts with friends
d) recurring dreams of the incident during the live concert
Rationale: PTSD DSM-5 requires intrusion symptoms: recurrent distressing memories,
recurring distressing dreams about trauma, flashbacks, intense psychological distress to
cues. Recurring dreams of assault qualifies. Increased attendance would be opposite of
avoidance symptom; PTSD clients avoid trauma reminders.
2. The Nurse is caring for a client who was found confused and wandering around a
playground. The client is unable to identify who they are and where they live. The nurse
expects that the client is experiencing
, a) Acute stress disorder
b) Dissociative fugue
c) Depersonalization disorder
d) Dissociative identity disorder
Rationale: Dissociative fugue is subtype of dissociative amnesia characterized by sudden
unexpected travel and inability to recall identity and information about past. Wandering
and not knowing who/where fits fugue.
3. The nurse is caring for a 6yr old child who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The
parents are concerned because the child has stopped playing with friends and continues to
draw pictures of themselves as a bad guy. Which of the following responses is appropriate for
the nurse to tell the parents?
a) Don't worry. This will pass with time
b) just let them be alone, a child this age needs to deal with these emotions internally
c) Let's speak with a doctor, your child needs some intense therapy
d) This is part of the grieving process and a response to the trauma
Rationale: In children PTSD may present as social withdrawal, repetitive play/drawings of
trauma, negative self-view (bad guy). It is part of trauma response/grieving. Parents need
education, support, and referral for trauma-focused CBT, not dismissal or isolation.
4. The nurse is caring for a client with unexplained recurring abdominal pain. Multiple medical
tests have been administered with no significant findings. After assessing the clients pain,
which of the following assessment questions should the nurse ask the client? (somatic
disorder)
a) Have you considered this is not real pain and is in your head?
b) Have you faked pain before to get attention?
c) Have you tried to just take more antacids?
d) Have you been seen by anyone in the past for this problem?
, Rationale: For somatic symptom disorder, assess history without judgment. Asking about
past care for same problem identifies chronicity and doctor-shopping patterns. Avoid
accusatory statements that imply faking; pain is real to client.
5. The nurse is working on the mental health unit is caring for a newly admitted client. The
client was in an argument with their spouse. The spouse asked for a divorce and suddenly the
client could not hear anymore. Which of the following conditions should the nurse identify the
client is experiencing?
a) Factitious disorder
b) Illness anxiety disorder
c) Conversion disorder (functional neurological disorder)
d) Somatic symptom disorder
Rationale: Conversion disorder: sudden loss of sensory/motor function (deafness,
blindness, paralysis) following stressor/conflict, without organic cause. Divorce argument
precedes sudden deafness fits conversion.
6. The nurse is caring for a 8yr old child who was brought to the emergency department by a
parent. Chart: 8yr female, rule out back pain, VS WNL, WBC 10.0, X-ray no abnormalities, 6th
visit to ED in 6 months, unable to verify illness, parent states 'I have a very sickly child who
needs medical attention regardless of what tests show'
a) Factitious disorder imposed on another (Munchausen by proxy)
b) Conversion disorder
c) Somatic symptom disorder
d) Anxiety disorder
Rationale: Factitious disorder imposed on others: caregiver deliberately falsifies illness in
dependent, frequent medical visits without verifiable illness, insists child is sick despite
normal tests. Requires reporting and child protection evaluation.
7. The nurse is preparing a care plan for a newly admitted 73yr old client who lost their spouse
last year and is suffering from depression. After assessing for suicidal ideation, which of the
following interventions is a priority for this client?
Questions and 100% Correct Answers Latest –
Galen
OVERVIEW:
NUR 253-256 Mental Health Exam 3 covers PTSD, dissociative fugue, amnesia,
identity, depersonalization, somatic symptom, conversion, factitious imposed on
another, malingering, dementia redirection, hallucinations, interpreter use, head
injury dementia risk, delirium assessment, suicide risk and lethality, Alzheimer's
donepezil, autism signs, ADHD stimulants, self-injury, conduct versus ODD,
Tourette tics, and personality disorders borderline, antisocial, narcissistic,
schizoid, avoidant, dependent, histrionic, OCPD, emphasizing safety, consistency,
boundaries, and therapeutic communication for holistic mental health nursing.
Correct answer highlighted in bold Green + rationales.
1. The nurse is educating a 20yr old client who has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) about
the disorder. The client was sexually assaulted during a live concert. Which of the following is
included in the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD?
a) looking at pictures of concerts on the internet repeatedly
b) listening to the same music from the concert throughout the day
c) increased attendance to live concerts with friends
d) recurring dreams of the incident during the live concert
Rationale: PTSD DSM-5 requires intrusion symptoms: recurrent distressing memories,
recurring distressing dreams about trauma, flashbacks, intense psychological distress to
cues. Recurring dreams of assault qualifies. Increased attendance would be opposite of
avoidance symptom; PTSD clients avoid trauma reminders.
2. The Nurse is caring for a client who was found confused and wandering around a
playground. The client is unable to identify who they are and where they live. The nurse
expects that the client is experiencing
, a) Acute stress disorder
b) Dissociative fugue
c) Depersonalization disorder
d) Dissociative identity disorder
Rationale: Dissociative fugue is subtype of dissociative amnesia characterized by sudden
unexpected travel and inability to recall identity and information about past. Wandering
and not knowing who/where fits fugue.
3. The nurse is caring for a 6yr old child who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The
parents are concerned because the child has stopped playing with friends and continues to
draw pictures of themselves as a bad guy. Which of the following responses is appropriate for
the nurse to tell the parents?
a) Don't worry. This will pass with time
b) just let them be alone, a child this age needs to deal with these emotions internally
c) Let's speak with a doctor, your child needs some intense therapy
d) This is part of the grieving process and a response to the trauma
Rationale: In children PTSD may present as social withdrawal, repetitive play/drawings of
trauma, negative self-view (bad guy). It is part of trauma response/grieving. Parents need
education, support, and referral for trauma-focused CBT, not dismissal or isolation.
4. The nurse is caring for a client with unexplained recurring abdominal pain. Multiple medical
tests have been administered with no significant findings. After assessing the clients pain,
which of the following assessment questions should the nurse ask the client? (somatic
disorder)
a) Have you considered this is not real pain and is in your head?
b) Have you faked pain before to get attention?
c) Have you tried to just take more antacids?
d) Have you been seen by anyone in the past for this problem?
, Rationale: For somatic symptom disorder, assess history without judgment. Asking about
past care for same problem identifies chronicity and doctor-shopping patterns. Avoid
accusatory statements that imply faking; pain is real to client.
5. The nurse is working on the mental health unit is caring for a newly admitted client. The
client was in an argument with their spouse. The spouse asked for a divorce and suddenly the
client could not hear anymore. Which of the following conditions should the nurse identify the
client is experiencing?
a) Factitious disorder
b) Illness anxiety disorder
c) Conversion disorder (functional neurological disorder)
d) Somatic symptom disorder
Rationale: Conversion disorder: sudden loss of sensory/motor function (deafness,
blindness, paralysis) following stressor/conflict, without organic cause. Divorce argument
precedes sudden deafness fits conversion.
6. The nurse is caring for a 8yr old child who was brought to the emergency department by a
parent. Chart: 8yr female, rule out back pain, VS WNL, WBC 10.0, X-ray no abnormalities, 6th
visit to ED in 6 months, unable to verify illness, parent states 'I have a very sickly child who
needs medical attention regardless of what tests show'
a) Factitious disorder imposed on another (Munchausen by proxy)
b) Conversion disorder
c) Somatic symptom disorder
d) Anxiety disorder
Rationale: Factitious disorder imposed on others: caregiver deliberately falsifies illness in
dependent, frequent medical visits without verifiable illness, insists child is sick despite
normal tests. Requires reporting and child protection evaluation.
7. The nurse is preparing a care plan for a newly admitted 73yr old client who lost their spouse
last year and is suffering from depression. After assessing for suicidal ideation, which of the
following interventions is a priority for this client?
