, TABLE OF CONTENTS
Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach — 10th Edition
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE CHAPTER TITLE PAGE
01 Mental Health and Mental Illness 3 19 Sleep–Wake Disorders 208
02 Theories and Therapies 13 20 Sexual Dysfunctions, Gender Dysphoria, and 217
03 Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology 26 Paraphilic Disorders
04 Treatment Settings 38 21 Impulse Control Disorders 227
05 Cultural Implications 51 22 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders 237
06 Legal and Ethical Considerations 62 23 Neurocognitive Disorders 249
07 The Nursing Process and Standards of Care 73 24 Personality Disorders 260
08 Therapeutic Relationships 84 25 Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury 271
09 Therapeutic Communication 95 26 Crisis and Disaster 281
10 Stress Responses and Stress Management 104 27 Anger, Aggression, and Violence 291
11 Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Disorders 114 28 Child, Older Adult, and Intimate Partner Violence 301
12 Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders 124 29 Sexual Assault 310
13 Bipolar and Related Disorders 138 30 Dying, Death, and Grieving 319
14 Depressive Disorders 151 31 Older Adults 327
15 Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders 163 32 Serious Mental Illness 339
16 Trauma, Stressor-Related, and Dissociative 176 33 Forensic Nursing 352
Disorders 34 Therapeutic Groups 361
17 Somatic Symptom Disorders 188 35 Family Interventions 372
18 Eating and Feeding Disorders 198 36 Integrative Care 383
Chapter page numbers reflect this updated PDF with the contents page inserted after the cover.
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 10th
9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses “lose all their clinical nursing
skills.” Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. “Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical–surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help clients
with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses
must have. Nurse–client ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like
other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
, ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping clients understand
their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,
public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since
funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-
writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of clients who are unable to articulate
their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member’s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. “I’ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.”
b. “I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.”
c. “I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.”
d. “It’s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.”
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may
be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach — 10th Edition
CHAPTER TITLE PAGE CHAPTER TITLE PAGE
01 Mental Health and Mental Illness 3 19 Sleep–Wake Disorders 208
02 Theories and Therapies 13 20 Sexual Dysfunctions, Gender Dysphoria, and 217
03 Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology 26 Paraphilic Disorders
04 Treatment Settings 38 21 Impulse Control Disorders 227
05 Cultural Implications 51 22 Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders 237
06 Legal and Ethical Considerations 62 23 Neurocognitive Disorders 249
07 The Nursing Process and Standards of Care 73 24 Personality Disorders 260
08 Therapeutic Relationships 84 25 Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury 271
09 Therapeutic Communication 95 26 Crisis and Disaster 281
10 Stress Responses and Stress Management 104 27 Anger, Aggression, and Violence 291
11 Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Disorders 114 28 Child, Older Adult, and Intimate Partner Violence 301
12 Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders 124 29 Sexual Assault 310
13 Bipolar and Related Disorders 138 30 Dying, Death, and Grieving 319
14 Depressive Disorders 151 31 Older Adults 327
15 Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders 163 32 Serious Mental Illness 339
16 Trauma, Stressor-Related, and Dissociative 176 33 Forensic Nursing 352
Disorders 34 Therapeutic Groups 361
17 Somatic Symptom Disorders 188 35 Family Interventions 372
18 Eating and Feeding Disorders 198 36 Integrative Care 383
Chapter page numbers reflect this updated PDF with the contents page inserted after the cover.
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 10th
9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses “lose all their clinical nursing
skills.” Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. “Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical–surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help clients
with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses
must have. Nurse–client ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like
other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
, ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping clients understand
their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,
public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since
funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-
writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of clients who are unable to articulate
their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member’s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. “I’ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.”
b. “I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.”
c. “I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.”
d. “It’s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.”
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may
be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
