Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Latest Practice Test Bank
2025/2026 | Verified Study Answers & Detailed Rationales
Description
A comprehensive psychiatric mental health nursing practice resource containing 110 independently authored multiple-choice questions
with identified study answers, detailed rationales, and explanations of why alternative choices are incorrect. Coverage includes
therapeutic communication, mental status assessment, safety, mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, psychiatric medications,
substance use, neurocognitive disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, psychotherapy, crisis care, trauma-informed care,
recovery, patient education, and discharge planning.
Abstract
This independently created psychiatric nursing assessment contains 110 unique question formulations for educational review. Correct
answers in this version are highlighted in red. Each item includes an italicized rationale and distractor analysis. It is original study material
and is not copied from or represented as an official publisher test bank or secure live examination.
Overview
The practice set progresses from communication, boundaries, ethics, and mental status examination through suicide and violence safety,
depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety and trauma-related disorders, schizophrenia and antipsychotic therapy, mood-stabilizing and
antidepressant medications, substance-related disorders, neurocognitive conditions, eating and personality disorders, psychotherapies,
crisis intervention, recovery, and continuity of care.
Table of Contents
1. Therapeutic Communication, Ethics & Mental Status Assessment
2. Safety, Suicide Risk & Crisis Intervention
3. Depressive, Bipolar & Anxiety Disorders
4. Trauma, OCD & Related Conditions
5. Schizophrenia, Psychosis & Psychiatric Medications
6. Substance Use & Withdrawal
7. Neurocognitive, Eating & Personality Disorders
8. Psychotherapy, Recovery & Patient Education
9. Comprehensive Psychiatric Nursing Review
Study note: Original educational practice material. It is not an official publisher test bank, recalled exam, leaked exam, or live test. “Verified study answers”
refers only to answer checking within this independently authored practice resource.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 1
,1. Which option best reflects safe mental health nursing care related to lithium? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 001]
A. is an older antidepressant class with anticholinergic, cardiac, and overdose safety concerns
B. focuses on immediate safety, stabilization, coping, supports, and short-term problem solving
C. involves recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors and undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation
D. is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function
Correct Answer: D. is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function
Rationale: Is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function directly matches the
psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for lithium.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. is an older antidepressant class with anticholinergic, cardiac, and overdose safety concerns - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium. B. focuses on immediate safety, stabilization, coping, supports,
and short-term problem solving - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium. C. involves
recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors and undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium.
2. During a psychiatric nursing scenario involving eating disorder, which answer should the nurse select? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 002]
A. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity
B. is an antidepressant class that increases serotonergic and noradrenergic signaling
C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
D. involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences
Correct Answer: D. involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences
Rationale: Involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for eating disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity -
This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on eating disorder. B. is an antidepressant class that
increases serotonergic and noradrenergic signaling - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on
eating disorder. C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and
does not correctly answer the item on eating disorder.
3. Which statement about protective factor best supports therapeutic patient-centered nursing care? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 003]
A. uses plausible explanations to avoid the true reason for a behavior or feeling
B. is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience
C. is a controlled medical treatment that can be effective for severe mood disorders and selected other conditions
D. encourage patients to describe experiences, feelings, and concerns in their own words
Correct Answer: B. is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience
Rationale: Is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing
concept being tested for protective factor.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. uses plausible explanations to avoid the true reason for a behavior or feeling - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on protective factor. C. is a controlled medical treatment that can be effective for
severe mood disorders and selected other conditions - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on
protective factor. D. encourage patients to describe experiences, feelings, and concerns in their own words - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on protective factor.
4. A learner preparing for a psychiatric nursing assessment encounters flight of ideas. Which explanation is correct?
[Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 004]
A. involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes without a history of mania
B. include diminished emotional expression, avolition, alogia, anhedonia, and asociality
C. rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections
D. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity
Correct Answer: C. rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections
Rationale: Rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing
concept being tested for flight of ideas.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes without a history of mania - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas. B. include diminished emotional expression, avolition,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 2
, alogia, anhedonia, and asociality - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas. D.
can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas.
5. Which response best represents the clinical meaning or priority of post-traumatic stress disorder? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 005]
A. a fixed false belief not consistent with the person's cultural context
B. a newly created word or expression with meaning primarily to the speaker
C. can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal changes
D. uses the treatment environment and structured interactions to support therapeutic change
Correct Answer: C. can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal
changes
Rationale: Can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal changes directly matches
the psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a fixed false belief not consistent with the person's cultural context - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder. B. a newly created word or expression with meaning primarily
to the speaker - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder. D. uses
the treatment environment and structured interactions to support therapeutic change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does
not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder.
6. In a mental health nursing knowledge check about alcohol withdrawal, which option is most accurate? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 006]
A. a hallucinated voice directing the person to perform an action and requiring careful safety assessment
B. can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens
C. is the capacity to adapt and recover in the face of adversity
D. uses therapeutic interaction among members to promote insight, support, skills, and change
Correct Answer: B. can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens
Rationale: Can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens directly matches the psychiatric mental health
nursing concept being tested for alcohol withdrawal.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a hallucinated voice directing the person to perform an action and requiring careful safety assessment - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal. C. is the capacity to adapt and recover
in the face of adversity - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal. D. uses
therapeutic interaction among members to promote insight, support, skills, and change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and
does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal.
7. Which description of cognitive behavioral therapy is most appropriate in psychiatric nursing practice? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 007]
A. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
B. examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns
C. channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities
D. is a commonly used antidepressant class that increases serotonergic signaling
Correct Answer: B. examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns
Rationale: Examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy. C. channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable
activities - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy. D. is a
commonly used antidepressant class that increases serotonergic signaling - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not
correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy.
8. For a psychiatric mental health nursing practice question on informed consent, which answer reflects the correct
principle? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 008]
A. a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy and marked functional change
B. is a mood-stabilizing anticonvulsant requiring monitoring for important hepatic, hematologic, and reproductive risks
C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
D. requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 3
, Correct Answer: D. requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity
Rationale: Requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity directly matches the psychiatric mental
health nursing concept being tested for informed consent.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy and marked functional
change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent. B. is a mood-stabilizing
anticonvulsant requiring monitoring for important hepatic, hematologic, and reproductive risks - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept
and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent. C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent.
9. In a psychiatric mental health nursing review, which statement best explains major depressive disorder? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 009]
A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus
B. involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment
C. a sudden interruption in the train of thought
D. is a severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome involving delirium and autonomic hyperactivity
Correct Answer: B. involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment
Rationale: Involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment directly matches the psychiatric mental health
nursing concept being tested for major depressive disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing
concept and does not correctly answer the item on major depressive disorder. C. a sudden interruption in the train of thought - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on major depressive disorder. D. is a severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome involving
delirium and autonomic hyperactivity - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on major
depressive disorder.
10. A psychiatric nurse is reviewing lithium toxicity. Which response is most accurate? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item
010]
A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus
B. can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation
C. uses planned safe exposure to feared cues to reduce avoidance and anxiety
D. involves obsessions, compulsions, or both that are time-consuming or impairing
Correct Answer: B. can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation
Rationale: Can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for lithium toxicity.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing
concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium toxicity. C. uses planned safe exposure to feared cues to reduce avoidance and anxiety - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium toxicity. D. involves obsessions, compulsions, or
both that are time-consuming or impairing - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium
toxicity.
11. Which option best reflects safe mental health nursing care related to anorexia nervosa? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001,
Item 011]
A. is an emergency restrictive intervention used only when justified for safety and according to law and policy
B. involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior interfering with weight gain
C. is a defense mechanism involving polarized all-good or all-bad perceptions
D. is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort with prominent physical and cognitive symptoms
Correct Answer: B. involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior
interfering with weight gain
Rationale: Involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior interfering with weight gain
directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for anorexia nervosa.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. is an emergency restrictive intervention used only when justified for safety and according to law and policy - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia nervosa. C. is a defense mechanism involving
polarized all-good or all-bad perceptions - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia
nervosa. D. is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort with prominent physical and cognitive symptoms - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia nervosa.
12. During a psychiatric nursing scenario involving resilience, which answer should the nurse select? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 012]
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 4
2025/2026 | Verified Study Answers & Detailed Rationales
Description
A comprehensive psychiatric mental health nursing practice resource containing 110 independently authored multiple-choice questions
with identified study answers, detailed rationales, and explanations of why alternative choices are incorrect. Coverage includes
therapeutic communication, mental status assessment, safety, mood and anxiety disorders, psychosis, psychiatric medications,
substance use, neurocognitive disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, psychotherapy, crisis care, trauma-informed care,
recovery, patient education, and discharge planning.
Abstract
This independently created psychiatric nursing assessment contains 110 unique question formulations for educational review. Correct
answers in this version are highlighted in red. Each item includes an italicized rationale and distractor analysis. It is original study material
and is not copied from or represented as an official publisher test bank or secure live examination.
Overview
The practice set progresses from communication, boundaries, ethics, and mental status examination through suicide and violence safety,
depressive and bipolar disorders, anxiety and trauma-related disorders, schizophrenia and antipsychotic therapy, mood-stabilizing and
antidepressant medications, substance-related disorders, neurocognitive conditions, eating and personality disorders, psychotherapies,
crisis intervention, recovery, and continuity of care.
Table of Contents
1. Therapeutic Communication, Ethics & Mental Status Assessment
2. Safety, Suicide Risk & Crisis Intervention
3. Depressive, Bipolar & Anxiety Disorders
4. Trauma, OCD & Related Conditions
5. Schizophrenia, Psychosis & Psychiatric Medications
6. Substance Use & Withdrawal
7. Neurocognitive, Eating & Personality Disorders
8. Psychotherapy, Recovery & Patient Education
9. Comprehensive Psychiatric Nursing Review
Study note: Original educational practice material. It is not an official publisher test bank, recalled exam, leaked exam, or live test. “Verified study answers”
refers only to answer checking within this independently authored practice resource.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 1
,1. Which option best reflects safe mental health nursing care related to lithium? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 001]
A. is an older antidepressant class with anticholinergic, cardiac, and overdose safety concerns
B. focuses on immediate safety, stabilization, coping, supports, and short-term problem solving
C. involves recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors and undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation
D. is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function
Correct Answer: D. is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function
Rationale: Is a mood stabilizer with a narrow therapeutic range requiring monitoring of serum levels and organ function directly matches the
psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for lithium.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. is an older antidepressant class with anticholinergic, cardiac, and overdose safety concerns - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium. B. focuses on immediate safety, stabilization, coping, supports,
and short-term problem solving - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium. C. involves
recurrent binge eating with compensatory behaviors and undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium.
2. During a psychiatric nursing scenario involving eating disorder, which answer should the nurse select? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 002]
A. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity
B. is an antidepressant class that increases serotonergic and noradrenergic signaling
C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
D. involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences
Correct Answer: D. involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences
Rationale: Involves persistent disturbances in eating behavior with significant health or psychosocial consequences directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for eating disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity -
This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on eating disorder. B. is an antidepressant class that
increases serotonergic and noradrenergic signaling - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on
eating disorder. C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and
does not correctly answer the item on eating disorder.
3. Which statement about protective factor best supports therapeutic patient-centered nursing care? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 003]
A. uses plausible explanations to avoid the true reason for a behavior or feeling
B. is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience
C. is a controlled medical treatment that can be effective for severe mood disorders and selected other conditions
D. encourage patients to describe experiences, feelings, and concerns in their own words
Correct Answer: B. is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience
Rationale: Is a characteristic or resource associated with reduced risk or improved resilience directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing
concept being tested for protective factor.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. uses plausible explanations to avoid the true reason for a behavior or feeling - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on protective factor. C. is a controlled medical treatment that can be effective for
severe mood disorders and selected other conditions - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on
protective factor. D. encourage patients to describe experiences, feelings, and concerns in their own words - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on protective factor.
4. A learner preparing for a psychiatric nursing assessment encounters flight of ideas. Which explanation is correct?
[Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 004]
A. involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes without a history of mania
B. include diminished emotional expression, avolition, alogia, anhedonia, and asociality
C. rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections
D. can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity
Correct Answer: C. rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections
Rationale: Rapid shifting between topics with understandable but accelerated connections directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing
concept being tested for flight of ideas.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. involves hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes without a history of mania - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas. B. include diminished emotional expression, avolition,
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 2
, alogia, anhedonia, and asociality - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas. D.
can cause agitation, autonomic instability, hyperreflexia, clonus, and fever after excessive serotonergic activity - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on flight of ideas.
5. Which response best represents the clinical meaning or priority of post-traumatic stress disorder? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 005]
A. a fixed false belief not consistent with the person's cultural context
B. a newly created word or expression with meaning primarily to the speaker
C. can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal changes
D. uses the treatment environment and structured interactions to support therapeutic change
Correct Answer: C. can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal
changes
Rationale: Can develop after trauma exposure and involves intrusion, avoidance, negative mood or cognition, and arousal changes directly matches
the psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a fixed false belief not consistent with the person's cultural context - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder. B. a newly created word or expression with meaning primarily
to the speaker - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder. D. uses
the treatment environment and structured interactions to support therapeutic change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does
not correctly answer the item on post-traumatic stress disorder.
6. In a mental health nursing knowledge check about alcohol withdrawal, which option is most accurate? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 006]
A. a hallucinated voice directing the person to perform an action and requiring careful safety assessment
B. can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens
C. is the capacity to adapt and recover in the face of adversity
D. uses therapeutic interaction among members to promote insight, support, skills, and change
Correct Answer: B. can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens
Rationale: Can progress from tremor and autonomic symptoms to seizures or delirium tremens directly matches the psychiatric mental health
nursing concept being tested for alcohol withdrawal.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a hallucinated voice directing the person to perform an action and requiring careful safety assessment - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal. C. is the capacity to adapt and recover
in the face of adversity - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal. D. uses
therapeutic interaction among members to promote insight, support, skills, and change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and
does not correctly answer the item on alcohol withdrawal.
7. Which description of cognitive behavioral therapy is most appropriate in psychiatric nursing practice? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 007]
A. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
B. examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns
C. channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities
D. is a commonly used antidepressant class that increases serotonergic signaling
Correct Answer: B. examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns
Rationale: Examines relationships among thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and develops more adaptive patterns directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for cognitive behavioral therapy.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy. C. channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable
activities - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy. D. is a
commonly used antidepressant class that increases serotonergic signaling - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not
correctly answer the item on cognitive behavioral therapy.
8. For a psychiatric mental health nursing practice question on informed consent, which answer reflects the correct
principle? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item 008]
A. a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy and marked functional change
B. is a mood-stabilizing anticonvulsant requiring monitoring for important hepatic, hematologic, and reproductive risks
C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life
D. requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 3
, Correct Answer: D. requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity
Rationale: Requires adequate information, voluntariness, understanding, and decision-making capacity directly matches the psychiatric mental
health nursing concept being tested for informed consent.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a distinct period of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable mood with increased energy and marked functional
change - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent. B. is a mood-stabilizing
anticonvulsant requiring monitoring for important hepatic, hematologic, and reproductive risks - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept
and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent. C. involves excessive difficult-to-control worry across multiple areas of life - This describes a
different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on informed consent.
9. In a psychiatric mental health nursing review, which statement best explains major depressive disorder? [Psychiatric
Nursing Set 001, Item 009]
A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus
B. involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment
C. a sudden interruption in the train of thought
D. is a severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome involving delirium and autonomic hyperactivity
Correct Answer: B. involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment
Rationale: Involves persistent depressive symptoms with clinically significant distress or impairment directly matches the psychiatric mental health
nursing concept being tested for major depressive disorder.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing
concept and does not correctly answer the item on major depressive disorder. C. a sudden interruption in the train of thought - This describes a different
psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on major depressive disorder. D. is a severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome involving
delirium and autonomic hyperactivity - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on major
depressive disorder.
10. A psychiatric nurse is reviewing lithium toxicity. Which response is most accurate? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001, Item
010]
A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus
B. can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation
C. uses planned safe exposure to feared cues to reduce avoidance and anxiety
D. involves obsessions, compulsions, or both that are time-consuming or impairing
Correct Answer: B. can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation
Rationale: Can produce gastrointestinal, neurologic, and cardiac manifestations and requires prompt evaluation directly matches the psychiatric
mental health nursing concept being tested for lithium toxicity.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. a sensory perception occurring without an external stimulus - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing
concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium toxicity. C. uses planned safe exposure to feared cues to reduce avoidance and anxiety - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium toxicity. D. involves obsessions, compulsions, or
both that are time-consuming or impairing - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on lithium
toxicity.
11. Which option best reflects safe mental health nursing care related to anorexia nervosa? [Psychiatric Nursing Set 001,
Item 011]
A. is an emergency restrictive intervention used only when justified for safety and according to law and policy
B. involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior interfering with weight gain
C. is a defense mechanism involving polarized all-good or all-bad perceptions
D. is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort with prominent physical and cognitive symptoms
Correct Answer: B. involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior
interfering with weight gain
Rationale: Involves restriction leading to significantly low weight with intense fear of weight gain or persistent behavior interfering with weight gain
directly matches the psychiatric mental health nursing concept being tested for anorexia nervosa.
Why the other choices are wrong: A. is an emergency restrictive intervention used only when justified for safety and according to law and policy - This
describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia nervosa. C. is a defense mechanism involving
polarized all-good or all-bad perceptions - This describes a different psychiatric or nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia
nervosa. D. is an abrupt surge of intense fear or discomfort with prominent physical and cognitive symptoms - This describes a different psychiatric or
nursing concept and does not correctly answer the item on anorexia nervosa.
12. During a psychiatric nursing scenario involving resilience, which answer should the nurse select? [Psychiatric Nursing
Set 001, Item 012]
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice Set 001 | Page 4
