NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice Examination
NRS 3015
Kaplan Practice A, B, & C
100 Questions with Complete Solutions and Rationales
Updated 2026 Edition
Core Topic Areas:
1. Therapeutic Communication & Relationship
2. Psychiatric Disorders & Assessment
3. Psychopharmacology
4. Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention
5. Substance Use Disorders
6. Mood & Bipolar Disorders
7. Anxiety & Stress Responses
8. Legal, Ethical & Special Populations
Prepared for Mental Health Nursing | Kaplan Prep 2026
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
,NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Contents
1 Therapeutic Communication & Nurse-Client Relationship 3
2 Psychiatric Disorders & Assessment 7
3 Psychopharmacology 11
4 Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention 15
5 Substance Use Disorders 18
6 Mood Disorders & Bipolar Disorder 21
7 Anxiety Disorders & Stress Responses 24
8 Legal & Ethical Issues, Abuse, and Special Populations 27
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
,NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Section 1: Therapeutic Communication & Nurse-Client
Relationship (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient with major depressive disorder states, "I might as well end it all because nothing matters
anyway." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Invite the patient to discuss feelings about worthlessness
B) Assess the patient for immediate suicidal ideation and plan
C) Administer the prescribed antidepressant medication
D) Call the family member to come to the hospital immediately
Answer
B
Rationale
When a patient expresses thoughts of ending their life, the priority is immediate suicide risk assessment to
determine if there is an active plan and intent. Safety assessment takes precedence over therapeutic
communication, medication administration, or contacting family.
Question 2
Which nursing response best demonstrates therapeutic communication with an anxious client?
A) "You need to calm down."
B) "Tell me what is making you feel this way."
C) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
D) "Why are you reacting like this?"
Answer
B
Rationale
This open-ended response encourages the client to explore their feelings and promotes therapeutic
communication. Telling a client to "calm down" is dismissive, offering false reassurance is nontherapeutic,
and asking "why" can be perceived as confrontational.
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
, NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Question 3
A client tells the nurse, "I don't think anyone really cares about me." Which of the following is the
most therapeutic response?
A) "Your family cares about you."
B) "Why do you think that?"
C) "You sound upset. Tell me more about what's bothering you."
D) "That's not true; many people care about you."
Answer
C
Rationale
This response acknowledges the client's feelings and invites further exploration. Offering false reassurance
or asking "why" can shut down communication. The most therapeutic approach is to validate the client's
feelings and encourage expression.
Question 4
The nurse provides care to a client who has been informed that the results of the client's liver
biopsy are positive for cancer. The client is extremely upset and repeats, "What am I going to do?"
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) "You need to stay positive and fight this."
B) "Everything happens for a reason."
C) "Express concern then sit quietly with the client."
D) "Let's focus on the next steps in your treatment."
Answer
C
Rationale
When a client is in shock after receiving bad news, the most appropriate response is to express concern
and provide a silent, supportive presence. This allows the client to process their emotions without feeling
pressured to respond or make decisions.
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice Examination
NRS 3015
Kaplan Practice A, B, & C
100 Questions with Complete Solutions and Rationales
Updated 2026 Edition
Core Topic Areas:
1. Therapeutic Communication & Relationship
2. Psychiatric Disorders & Assessment
3. Psychopharmacology
4. Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention
5. Substance Use Disorders
6. Mood & Bipolar Disorders
7. Anxiety & Stress Responses
8. Legal, Ethical & Special Populations
Prepared for Mental Health Nursing | Kaplan Prep 2026
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
,NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Contents
1 Therapeutic Communication & Nurse-Client Relationship 3
2 Psychiatric Disorders & Assessment 7
3 Psychopharmacology 11
4 Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention 15
5 Substance Use Disorders 18
6 Mood Disorders & Bipolar Disorder 21
7 Anxiety Disorders & Stress Responses 24
8 Legal & Ethical Issues, Abuse, and Special Populations 27
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
,NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Section 1: Therapeutic Communication & Nurse-Client
Relationship (Questions 1-15)
Question 1
A patient with major depressive disorder states, "I might as well end it all because nothing matters
anyway." What is the nurse's priority action?
A) Invite the patient to discuss feelings about worthlessness
B) Assess the patient for immediate suicidal ideation and plan
C) Administer the prescribed antidepressant medication
D) Call the family member to come to the hospital immediately
Answer
B
Rationale
When a patient expresses thoughts of ending their life, the priority is immediate suicide risk assessment to
determine if there is an active plan and intent. Safety assessment takes precedence over therapeutic
communication, medication administration, or contacting family.
Question 2
Which nursing response best demonstrates therapeutic communication with an anxious client?
A) "You need to calm down."
B) "Tell me what is making you feel this way."
C) "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
D) "Why are you reacting like this?"
Answer
B
Rationale
This open-ended response encourages the client to explore their feelings and promotes therapeutic
communication. Telling a client to "calm down" is dismissive, offering false reassurance is nontherapeutic,
and asking "why" can be perceived as confrontational.
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
, NRS 3015 Mental Health - Kaplan Practice 2026
Question 3
A client tells the nurse, "I don't think anyone really cares about me." Which of the following is the
most therapeutic response?
A) "Your family cares about you."
B) "Why do you think that?"
C) "You sound upset. Tell me more about what's bothering you."
D) "That's not true; many people care about you."
Answer
C
Rationale
This response acknowledges the client's feelings and invites further exploration. Offering false reassurance
or asking "why" can shut down communication. The most therapeutic approach is to validate the client's
feelings and encourage expression.
Question 4
The nurse provides care to a client who has been informed that the results of the client's liver
biopsy are positive for cancer. The client is extremely upset and repeats, "What am I going to do?"
Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A) "You need to stay positive and fight this."
B) "Everything happens for a reason."
C) "Express concern then sit quietly with the client."
D) "Let's focus on the next steps in your treatment."
Answer
C
Rationale
When a client is in shock after receiving bad news, the most appropriate response is to express concern
and provide a silent, supportive presence. This allows the client to process their emotions without feeling
pressured to respond or make decisions.
NRS 3015 Kaplan Study Guide | Updated Rationales
