NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensiv… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensive Study
Guide 2026/2027 UPDATE Galen College
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensiv… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer a PRN dose of a sedative to help the client sleep.
B. Tell the client that the voices are not real and only in their mind.
C. Encourage the client to listen to loud music to drown out the voices.
D. Ask the client directly what the voices are saying to assess for risk of harm.
Answer: D
Rationale: The priority is to assess for command hallucinations that might instruct the client to harm
themselves or others. Safety is always the first priority in mental health nursing. Knowing the reason
behind the correct answer makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice
that protects the client and matches the priority need. Knowing the reason behind the correct answer
makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice that protects the client and
matches the priority need.
2. A client is prescribed Clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Which laboratory
result must the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
B. Serum potassium levels
C. B. Serum potassium levels
D. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Answer: A
Rationale: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal drop in white blood cells.
Strict monitoring of the ANC is required by the FDA. Knowing the reason behind the correct answer
makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice that protects the client and
matches the priority need. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act
before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensiv… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. The nurse is assessing a client with Anorexia Nervosa. Which physical finding would
indicate a need for immediate hospitalization?
A. Potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L
B. Body mass index (BMI) of 17
C. Heart rate of 62 beats per minute
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: A potassium level below 3.0 mEq/L indicates severe electrolyte imbalance and risk for
cardiac dysrhythmias, necessitating acute medical stabilization. In practice, this guides the nurse to set
priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent
priorities. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety,
nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities.
4. A client with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) tells a nurse, ‘You are the only one
who cares. The night shift nurse is mean and incompetent.’ This is an example of:
A. Rationalization
B. Splitting
C. Reaction Formation
D. tells a nurse, ‘You are the only one who cares. The night shift nurse is mean and incompetent.’
This is an example of:
Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is a common defense mechanism in BPD where individuals view others as all
good or all bad, often playing staff members against each other. Understanding this helps the nurse
notice early warning signs and act before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger
complications for the client. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act
before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensive Study
Guide 2026/2027 UPDATE Galen College
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensiv… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. What is the priority nursing action?
A. Administer a PRN dose of a sedative to help the client sleep.
B. Tell the client that the voices are not real and only in their mind.
C. Encourage the client to listen to loud music to drown out the voices.
D. Ask the client directly what the voices are saying to assess for risk of harm.
Answer: D
Rationale: The priority is to assess for command hallucinations that might instruct the client to harm
themselves or others. Safety is always the first priority in mental health nursing. Knowing the reason
behind the correct answer makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice
that protects the client and matches the priority need. Knowing the reason behind the correct answer
makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice that protects the client and
matches the priority need.
2. A client is prescribed Clozapine for treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Which laboratory
result must the nurse monitor most closely?
A. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
B. Serum potassium levels
C. B. Serum potassium levels
D. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Answer: A
Rationale: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially fatal drop in white blood cells.
Strict monitoring of the ANC is required by the FDA. Knowing the reason behind the correct answer
makes it easier to rule out the wrong options quickly. Look for the choice that protects the client and
matches the priority need. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act
before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, NUR 253 Mental Health Nursing Exam 3 Comprehensiv… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. The nurse is assessing a client with Anorexia Nervosa. Which physical finding would
indicate a need for immediate hospitalization?
A. Potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L
B. Body mass index (BMI) of 17
C. Heart rate of 62 beats per minute
D. Hyperactive bowel sounds
Answer: A
Rationale: A potassium level below 3.0 mEq/L indicates severe electrolyte imbalance and risk for
cardiac dysrhythmias, necessitating acute medical stabilization. In practice, this guides the nurse to set
priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent
priorities. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety,
nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities.
4. A client with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) tells a nurse, ‘You are the only one
who cares. The night shift nurse is mean and incompetent.’ This is an example of:
A. Rationalization
B. Splitting
C. Reaction Formation
D. tells a nurse, ‘You are the only one who cares. The night shift nurse is mean and incompetent.’
This is an example of:
Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is a common defense mechanism in BPD where individuals view others as all
good or all bad, often playing staff members against each other. Understanding this helps the nurse
notice early warning signs and act before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger
complications for the client. Understanding this helps the nurse notice early warning signs and act
before the problem gets worse. Early action often prevents bigger complications for the client.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
