Page 1 of 94
NUR 208 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
NUR 208 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
10-POINT EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY
1. Therapeutic Communication - Techniques, barriers, nurse-client relationship phases
2. Anxiety Disorders - GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, PTSD
3. Mood Disorders - Major depression, bipolar disorder, suicide risk assessment
4. Schizophrenia Spectrum - Positive/negative symptoms, antipsychotic medications
5. Personality Disorders - Cluster A, B, C characteristics and interventions
6. Substance Use Disorders - Withdrawal, detoxification, addiction treatment
7. Eating Disorders - Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder
8. Crisis Intervention - Assessment, triage, disaster response, grief
9. Psychopharmacology - Medication classifications, side effects, nursing considerations
10. Legal & Ethical Issues - Informed consent, confidentiality, involuntary commitment
1|Page
,Page 2 of 94
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION (25 QUESTIONS)
Question 1: Which therapeutic communication technique involves the nurse restating the
client's message in different words to confirm understanding of what was communicated?
A) Clarification
B) Paraphrasing
C) Reflection
D) Summarizing
Rationale: Paraphrasing involves restating the client's message in different words to confirm
understanding. Clarification seeks explicit meaning, reflection mirrors feelings, and summarizing
recaps multiple points discussed.
Question 2: A nurse is communicating with a client who states "I feel like nobody cares about
me anymore." Which response demonstrates the therapeutic technique of reflection?
A) "Why do you think nobody cares about you?"
B) "You feel that nobody cares about you anymore."
C) "Your family visits you every day."
D) "Things will get better soon."
Rationale: Reflection involves mirroring the client's statement back to validate their feelings.
"Why" questions are nontherapeutic, reassuring statements minimize feelings, and
contradicting the client blocks communication.
Question 3: Which communication technique should the nurse recognize as a barrier that
interferes with establishing a therapeutic relationship with a newly admitted psychiatric client?
A) Using silence during moments of client distress
B) Asking the client "why" they stopped taking their medication
2|Page
,Page 3 of 94
C) Offering self by stating "I will stay with you"
D) Accepting the client's feelings without judgment
Rationale: Asking "why" questions is a nontherapeutic technique that can make clients
defensive and imply criticism. Silence, offering self, and acceptance are therapeutic techniques
that facilitate trust and openness.
Question 4: During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which action should
the nurse prioritize to establish a foundation of trust and mutual respect?
A) Establishing rapport and clarifying expectations
B) Evaluating progress toward mutually set goals
C) Exploring the client's childhood experiences
D) Terminating the relationship with a summary
Rationale: The orientation phase focuses on establishing rapport, clarifying roles, and setting
goals. Evaluation occurs in the working phase, childhood exploration is not phase-specific, and
termination occurs in the final phase.
Question 5: A client tells the nurse "I don't want to talk about my feelings right now." Which
response by the nurse demonstrates respect for the client's boundaries?
A) "You need to talk about your feelings to get better."
B) "That's okay. We can talk when you're ready."
C) "Why are you being so difficult today?"
D) "I'll document that you refused to cooperate."
Rationale: Respecting the client's right to decline discussion demonstrates therapeutic
communication and builds trust. Pressuring, questioning, or threatening documentation are
nontherapeutic responses that damage the relationship.
3|Page
, Page 4 of 94
Question 6: Which nonverbal behavior by the nurse would most likely communicate genuine
interest and acceptance to a client during a therapeutic interaction?
A) Maintaining an open posture with appropriate eye contact
B) Crossing arms while sitting across from the client
C) Looking at the clock frequently during the session
D) Standing over the client while they are seated
Rationale: Open posture and appropriate eye contact convey interest and acceptance. Crossing
arms appears defensive, clock-watching suggests disinterest, and standing over clients can be
intimidating.
Question 7: A nurse uses the therapeutic technique of "offering self" when interacting with a
depressed client who is withdrawn and isolating in their room.
A) "I'll sit with you for a while if you'd like."
B) "You should come out of your room more often."
C) "Why are you isolating yourself from others?"
D) "Other clients are wondering where you are."
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available to the client without expectations.
Advising, questioning, and mentioning other clients are nontherapeutic and do not convey
genuine presence and support.
Question 8: When a client becomes angry and starts yelling at the nurse, which communication
approach would be most therapeutic in de-escalating the situation?
A) Remain calm and speak in a low, controlled voice
B) Match the client's volume to show you understand
C) Leave the room immediately without explanation
D) Tell the client they will be restrained if they continue
4|Page
NUR 208 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST EDITION 2026
NUR 208 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
10-POINT EXAM COVERAGE SUMMARY
1. Therapeutic Communication - Techniques, barriers, nurse-client relationship phases
2. Anxiety Disorders - GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD, PTSD
3. Mood Disorders - Major depression, bipolar disorder, suicide risk assessment
4. Schizophrenia Spectrum - Positive/negative symptoms, antipsychotic medications
5. Personality Disorders - Cluster A, B, C characteristics and interventions
6. Substance Use Disorders - Withdrawal, detoxification, addiction treatment
7. Eating Disorders - Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge-eating disorder
8. Crisis Intervention - Assessment, triage, disaster response, grief
9. Psychopharmacology - Medication classifications, side effects, nursing considerations
10. Legal & Ethical Issues - Informed consent, confidentiality, involuntary commitment
1|Page
,Page 2 of 94
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION (25 QUESTIONS)
Question 1: Which therapeutic communication technique involves the nurse restating the
client's message in different words to confirm understanding of what was communicated?
A) Clarification
B) Paraphrasing
C) Reflection
D) Summarizing
Rationale: Paraphrasing involves restating the client's message in different words to confirm
understanding. Clarification seeks explicit meaning, reflection mirrors feelings, and summarizing
recaps multiple points discussed.
Question 2: A nurse is communicating with a client who states "I feel like nobody cares about
me anymore." Which response demonstrates the therapeutic technique of reflection?
A) "Why do you think nobody cares about you?"
B) "You feel that nobody cares about you anymore."
C) "Your family visits you every day."
D) "Things will get better soon."
Rationale: Reflection involves mirroring the client's statement back to validate their feelings.
"Why" questions are nontherapeutic, reassuring statements minimize feelings, and
contradicting the client blocks communication.
Question 3: Which communication technique should the nurse recognize as a barrier that
interferes with establishing a therapeutic relationship with a newly admitted psychiatric client?
A) Using silence during moments of client distress
B) Asking the client "why" they stopped taking their medication
2|Page
,Page 3 of 94
C) Offering self by stating "I will stay with you"
D) Accepting the client's feelings without judgment
Rationale: Asking "why" questions is a nontherapeutic technique that can make clients
defensive and imply criticism. Silence, offering self, and acceptance are therapeutic techniques
that facilitate trust and openness.
Question 4: During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which action should
the nurse prioritize to establish a foundation of trust and mutual respect?
A) Establishing rapport and clarifying expectations
B) Evaluating progress toward mutually set goals
C) Exploring the client's childhood experiences
D) Terminating the relationship with a summary
Rationale: The orientation phase focuses on establishing rapport, clarifying roles, and setting
goals. Evaluation occurs in the working phase, childhood exploration is not phase-specific, and
termination occurs in the final phase.
Question 5: A client tells the nurse "I don't want to talk about my feelings right now." Which
response by the nurse demonstrates respect for the client's boundaries?
A) "You need to talk about your feelings to get better."
B) "That's okay. We can talk when you're ready."
C) "Why are you being so difficult today?"
D) "I'll document that you refused to cooperate."
Rationale: Respecting the client's right to decline discussion demonstrates therapeutic
communication and builds trust. Pressuring, questioning, or threatening documentation are
nontherapeutic responses that damage the relationship.
3|Page
, Page 4 of 94
Question 6: Which nonverbal behavior by the nurse would most likely communicate genuine
interest and acceptance to a client during a therapeutic interaction?
A) Maintaining an open posture with appropriate eye contact
B) Crossing arms while sitting across from the client
C) Looking at the clock frequently during the session
D) Standing over the client while they are seated
Rationale: Open posture and appropriate eye contact convey interest and acceptance. Crossing
arms appears defensive, clock-watching suggests disinterest, and standing over clients can be
intimidating.
Question 7: A nurse uses the therapeutic technique of "offering self" when interacting with a
depressed client who is withdrawn and isolating in their room.
A) "I'll sit with you for a while if you'd like."
B) "You should come out of your room more often."
C) "Why are you isolating yourself from others?"
D) "Other clients are wondering where you are."
Rationale: Offering self involves making oneself available to the client without expectations.
Advising, questioning, and mentioning other clients are nontherapeutic and do not convey
genuine presence and support.
Question 8: When a client becomes angry and starts yelling at the nurse, which communication
approach would be most therapeutic in de-escalating the situation?
A) Remain calm and speak in a low, controlled voice
B) Match the client's volume to show you understand
C) Leave the room immediately without explanation
D) Tell the client they will be restrained if they continue
4|Page
