NR 326 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Advanced Psychiatric Assessment
Psychopharmacology and Side Effect Management
Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention
Trauma-Informed Care
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Recovery-Oriented Practice
Comorbid Conditions in Mental Health
Community Mental Health and Case Management
Cultural Competence in Psychiatric Nursing
Legal and Forensic Issues in Mental Health
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate advanced clinical
knowledge and critical thinking skills in mental health nursing. The
assessment covers complex psychiatric conditions, psychopharmacology,
suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed care, therapeutic modalities,
and recovery-oriented practice. Through a series of multiple-choice
questions and clinical scenarios, students will demonstrate their ability to
apply theoretical knowledge to complex patient situations. The exam
emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient safety, cultural competence,
and ethical decision-making in psychiatric nursing. Successful completion
of this exam indicates readiness to provide advanced, compassionate, and
effective mental health care to diverse populations in various clinical
settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
,1. A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment on a client with
major depressive disorder. Which of the following findings
indicates the highest level of risk for suicide?
A. The client states, "I feel hopeless about the future."
B. The client reports having a specific plan to overdose on medication.
C. The client has a family history of depression.
D. The client reports feeling sad most of the day.
B. The client reports having a specific plan to overdose on
medication.
RATIONALE: A specific suicide plan, access to means, and intent are
the highest risk factors for suicide. The presence of a detailed plan
significantly increases the immediacy and severity of risk.
2. A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine. Which of the
following monitoring parameters is required for this medication?
A. Serum lithium levels
B. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
C. Serum glucose levels
D. Liver function tests
B. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential.
RATIONALE: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a
potentially fatal drop in white blood cells. The FDA requires regular
monitoring of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) through a complete
blood count with differential.
3. A client with bipolar disorder in the manic phase refuses to take
their prescribed lithium. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Allow the client to refuse the medication and document the refusal.
B. Educate the client about the importance of lithium in stabilizing mood.
C. Restrain the client to administer the medication.
D. Discharge the client from the unit for non-compliance.
, B. Educate the client about the importance of lithium in stabilizing
mood.
RATIONALE: The nurse should provide education about the
medication's benefits and side effects while respecting the client's
autonomy. Restraint is only indicated if the client poses an immediate
danger to self or others.
4. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports having
nightmares every night. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Prescribe a sedative to help the client sleep.
B. Teach the client about imagery rehearsal therapy.
C. Encourage the client to avoid sleeping.
D. Tell the client to "think about something pleasant" before bed.
B. Teach the client about imagery rehearsal therapy.
RATIONALE: Imagery rehearsal therapy is an evidence-based
intervention for PTSD-related nightmares. It involves changing the
narrative of the nightmare to reduce its distressing nature.
5. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing paranoia and
believes that the nurses are trying to poison their food. Which
nursing response is most therapeutic?
A. "That's not true. We would never poison you."
B. "I can see you're concerned about your food. I'll sit with you while you
eat."
C. "You need to trust us. We are here to help you."
D. "Why would we want to poison you?"
B. "I can see you're concerned about your food. I'll sit with you while
you eat."
, RATIONALE: This response validates the client's feelings without
reinforcing the delusion. Offering to sit with the client builds trust and
provides support in a non-threatening manner.
6. A client with borderline personality disorder is experiencing
intense anger and has just thrown a chair across the room. Which
nursing action is the priority?
A. Place the client in seclusion immediately.
B. Ensure the safety of the client and others.
C. Confront the client about their behavior.
D. Call for security to restrain the client.
B. Ensure the safety of the client and others.
RATIONALE: Safety is always the priority in any aggressive situation.
The nurse must first ensure that the client and others are safe from harm
before implementing other interventions.
7. A client with major depressive disorder is prescribed an SSRI and
reports sexual dysfunction. Which nursing action is most
appropriate?
A. Tell the client that this is a common side effect and they should accept
it.
B. Encourage the client to discuss the side effect with their prescriber.
C. Discontinue the medication immediately.
D. Increase the dose of the medication to reduce the side effect.
B. Encourage the client to discuss the side effect with their
prescriber.
RATIONALE: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of SSRIs that
can affect medication adherence. The nurse should encourage the client
to discuss this with the prescriber to explore alternatives.
8. A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted for detoxification.
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
EXAM 3 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS
RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT
DOWNLOAD PDF.
Advanced Psychiatric Assessment
Psychopharmacology and Side Effect Management
Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention
Trauma-Informed Care
Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies
Recovery-Oriented Practice
Comorbid Conditions in Mental Health
Community Mental Health and Case Management
Cultural Competence in Psychiatric Nursing
Legal and Forensic Issues in Mental Health
This comprehensive examination is designed to evaluate advanced clinical
knowledge and critical thinking skills in mental health nursing. The
assessment covers complex psychiatric conditions, psychopharmacology,
suicide risk assessment, trauma-informed care, therapeutic modalities,
and recovery-oriented practice. Through a series of multiple-choice
questions and clinical scenarios, students will demonstrate their ability to
apply theoretical knowledge to complex patient situations. The exam
emphasizes evidence-based practice, patient safety, cultural competence,
and ethical decision-making in psychiatric nursing. Successful completion
of this exam indicates readiness to provide advanced, compassionate, and
effective mental health care to diverse populations in various clinical
settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1 – 100
,1. A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment on a client with
major depressive disorder. Which of the following findings
indicates the highest level of risk for suicide?
A. The client states, "I feel hopeless about the future."
B. The client reports having a specific plan to overdose on medication.
C. The client has a family history of depression.
D. The client reports feeling sad most of the day.
B. The client reports having a specific plan to overdose on
medication.
RATIONALE: A specific suicide plan, access to means, and intent are
the highest risk factors for suicide. The presence of a detailed plan
significantly increases the immediacy and severity of risk.
2. A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine. Which of the
following monitoring parameters is required for this medication?
A. Serum lithium levels
B. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential
C. Serum glucose levels
D. Liver function tests
B. Complete blood count (CBC) with differential.
RATIONALE: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a
potentially fatal drop in white blood cells. The FDA requires regular
monitoring of absolute neutrophil count (ANC) through a complete
blood count with differential.
3. A client with bipolar disorder in the manic phase refuses to take
their prescribed lithium. Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A. Allow the client to refuse the medication and document the refusal.
B. Educate the client about the importance of lithium in stabilizing mood.
C. Restrain the client to administer the medication.
D. Discharge the client from the unit for non-compliance.
, B. Educate the client about the importance of lithium in stabilizing
mood.
RATIONALE: The nurse should provide education about the
medication's benefits and side effects while respecting the client's
autonomy. Restraint is only indicated if the client poses an immediate
danger to self or others.
4. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports having
nightmares every night. Which nursing intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Prescribe a sedative to help the client sleep.
B. Teach the client about imagery rehearsal therapy.
C. Encourage the client to avoid sleeping.
D. Tell the client to "think about something pleasant" before bed.
B. Teach the client about imagery rehearsal therapy.
RATIONALE: Imagery rehearsal therapy is an evidence-based
intervention for PTSD-related nightmares. It involves changing the
narrative of the nightmare to reduce its distressing nature.
5. A client with schizophrenia is experiencing paranoia and
believes that the nurses are trying to poison their food. Which
nursing response is most therapeutic?
A. "That's not true. We would never poison you."
B. "I can see you're concerned about your food. I'll sit with you while you
eat."
C. "You need to trust us. We are here to help you."
D. "Why would we want to poison you?"
B. "I can see you're concerned about your food. I'll sit with you while
you eat."
, RATIONALE: This response validates the client's feelings without
reinforcing the delusion. Offering to sit with the client builds trust and
provides support in a non-threatening manner.
6. A client with borderline personality disorder is experiencing
intense anger and has just thrown a chair across the room. Which
nursing action is the priority?
A. Place the client in seclusion immediately.
B. Ensure the safety of the client and others.
C. Confront the client about their behavior.
D. Call for security to restrain the client.
B. Ensure the safety of the client and others.
RATIONALE: Safety is always the priority in any aggressive situation.
The nurse must first ensure that the client and others are safe from harm
before implementing other interventions.
7. A client with major depressive disorder is prescribed an SSRI and
reports sexual dysfunction. Which nursing action is most
appropriate?
A. Tell the client that this is a common side effect and they should accept
it.
B. Encourage the client to discuss the side effect with their prescriber.
C. Discontinue the medication immediately.
D. Increase the dose of the medication to reduce the side effect.
B. Encourage the client to discuss the side effect with their
prescriber.
RATIONALE: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of SSRIs that
can affect medication adherence. The nurse should encourage the client
to discuss this with the prescriber to explore alternatives.
8. A client with alcohol use disorder is admitted for detoxification.
Which assessment finding requires immediate intervention?
