Page 1 of 95
VARCAROLIS' ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING: A
COMMUNICATION APPROACH TO EVIDENCE-BASED CARE, 5TH EDITION
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
EDITION 2026
Varcarolis' Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to
Evidence-Based Care, 5th Edition —Questions
10-Point Exam Coverage Summary
1. Foundations of Psychiatric Nursing (Ch. 1-5) — Science and art of psychiatric nursing,
mental health and illness, theories and therapies, treatment settings, cultural
implications.
2. Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Ch. 6-9) — Communication skills,
therapeutic relationships, clinical interview, patient education.
3. Trauma, Stress & Anxiety Disorders (Ch. 10-11) — Trauma and stress-related disorders
(PTSD), anxiety disorders, OCD.
4. Somatic & Dissociative Disorders (Ch. 12) — Somatic symptom disorders, dissociative
disorders.
5. Mood Disorders (Ch. 14-16) — Depression, bipolar spectrum disorders.
6. Schizophrenia Spectrum & Psychotic Disorders (Ch. 17) — Schizophrenia, other
psychotic disorders.
7. Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders (Ch. 18-19) — Substance use disorders,
addictive disorders.
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8. Personality Disorders & Eating Disorders (Ch. 24, 14) — Personality disorders, eating
disorders.
9. Crisis, Grief & End-of-Life Care (Ch. 20, 25) — Crisis intervention, mass disaster, care for
the dying and those who grieve.
10. Psychopharmacology & Somatic Therapies (Ch. 21-23) — Psychotropic medications,
somatic therapies, neurobiology.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1–40)
Chapter 01: Science and the Therapeutic Use of Self in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient
living in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3
months, the patient will demonstrate what behavior?
A) Denying suicidal ideation
B) Reporting a sense of well-being
C) Taking medications as prescribed
D) Attending clinic appointments on time
Answer: B
Rationale: Recovery emphasizes managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and
improving role performance. The goal of recovery is to empower the individual with mental
illness to achieve a sense of meaning and satisfaction in life and to function at the highest
possible level of wellness. The incorrect options focus on the classic medical model rather than
recovery.
2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a
divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
A) "Let's discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings."
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B) "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too."
C) "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
D) "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work with
the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help. Probing and advice are
not helpful for therapeutic interventions.
3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears extremely
heavy makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates
advocacy?
A) "This is a psychiatric hospital, so we expect our patients to behave bizarrely."
B) "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
C) "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
D) "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Answer: D
Rationale: Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will
contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of advocacy. The
on-coming nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the
patient.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Which statement is an example of "attending"?
A) "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital is not the end of the world."
B) "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression."
C) "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you."
D) "I'd like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Answer: D
Rationale: Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for the patient and
demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances are nontherapeutic.
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5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which
characteristic of the website's address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased
and prejudiced information?
A) Address ends in ".org."
B) Address ends in ".com."
C) Address ends in ".gov."
D) Address ends in ".net."
Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial websites ending in ".com" may have biased or prejudiced information
because their primary goal is often profit. Government (.gov) and non-profit (.org) sites are
generally more reliable for health information.
6. A nurse says, "When you've practiced as long as I have, you will instantly know how to take
care of psychotic patients." What is the new graduate's best analysis of this comment? (Select
all that apply.)
A) The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients' individuality, which may compromise
the integrity of practice.
B) New research findings must be continually integrated into a nurse's practice to provide the
most effective care.
C) Experience provides mental health nurses with the tools and skills needed for effective
professional practice.
D) Experienced psychiatric nurses have learned the best ways to care for psychotic patients
through trial and error.
E) Effective psychiatric nurses should be continually guided by an intuitive sense of patients'
needs.
Answer: A, B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice involves using research findings to provide the most
effective nursing care. Evidence is continually emerging; therefore, nurses cannot rely solely on
experience. The effective nurse also maintains respect for each patient as an individual.
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VARCAROLIS' ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING: A
COMMUNICATION APPROACH TO EVIDENCE-BASED CARE, 5TH EDITION
EXAM COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST
EDITION 2026
Varcarolis' Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication Approach to
Evidence-Based Care, 5th Edition —Questions
10-Point Exam Coverage Summary
1. Foundations of Psychiatric Nursing (Ch. 1-5) — Science and art of psychiatric nursing,
mental health and illness, theories and therapies, treatment settings, cultural
implications.
2. Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Ch. 6-9) — Communication skills,
therapeutic relationships, clinical interview, patient education.
3. Trauma, Stress & Anxiety Disorders (Ch. 10-11) — Trauma and stress-related disorders
(PTSD), anxiety disorders, OCD.
4. Somatic & Dissociative Disorders (Ch. 12) — Somatic symptom disorders, dissociative
disorders.
5. Mood Disorders (Ch. 14-16) — Depression, bipolar spectrum disorders.
6. Schizophrenia Spectrum & Psychotic Disorders (Ch. 17) — Schizophrenia, other
psychotic disorders.
7. Substance-Related & Addictive Disorders (Ch. 18-19) — Substance use disorders,
addictive disorders.
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8. Personality Disorders & Eating Disorders (Ch. 24, 14) — Personality disorders, eating
disorders.
9. Crisis, Grief & End-of-Life Care (Ch. 20, 25) — Crisis intervention, mass disaster, care for
the dying and those who grieve.
10. Psychopharmacology & Somatic Therapies (Ch. 21-23) — Psychotropic medications,
somatic therapies, neurobiology.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1–40)
Chapter 01: Science and the Therapeutic Use of Self in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient
living in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3
months, the patient will demonstrate what behavior?
A) Denying suicidal ideation
B) Reporting a sense of well-being
C) Taking medications as prescribed
D) Attending clinic appointments on time
Answer: B
Rationale: Recovery emphasizes managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and
improving role performance. The goal of recovery is to empower the individual with mental
illness to achieve a sense of meaning and satisfaction in life and to function at the highest
possible level of wellness. The incorrect options focus on the classic medical model rather than
recovery.
2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a
divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
A) "Let's discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings."
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,Page 3 of 95
B) "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too."
C) "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
D) "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work with
the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help. Probing and advice are
not helpful for therapeutic interventions.
3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears extremely
heavy makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates
advocacy?
A) "This is a psychiatric hospital, so we expect our patients to behave bizarrely."
B) "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
C) "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
D) "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Answer: D
Rationale: Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will
contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of advocacy. The
on-coming nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the
patient.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Which statement is an example of "attending"?
A) "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital is not the end of the world."
B) "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression."
C) "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you."
D) "I'd like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Answer: D
Rationale: Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for the patient and
demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances are nontherapeutic.
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5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which
characteristic of the website's address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased
and prejudiced information?
A) Address ends in ".org."
B) Address ends in ".com."
C) Address ends in ".gov."
D) Address ends in ".net."
Answer: B
Rationale: Commercial websites ending in ".com" may have biased or prejudiced information
because their primary goal is often profit. Government (.gov) and non-profit (.org) sites are
generally more reliable for health information.
6. A nurse says, "When you've practiced as long as I have, you will instantly know how to take
care of psychotic patients." What is the new graduate's best analysis of this comment? (Select
all that apply.)
A) The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients' individuality, which may compromise
the integrity of practice.
B) New research findings must be continually integrated into a nurse's practice to provide the
most effective care.
C) Experience provides mental health nurses with the tools and skills needed for effective
professional practice.
D) Experienced psychiatric nurses have learned the best ways to care for psychotic patients
through trial and error.
E) Effective psychiatric nurses should be continually guided by an intuitive sense of patients'
needs.
Answer: A, B
Rationale: Evidence-based practice involves using research findings to provide the most
effective nursing care. Evidence is continually emerging; therefore, nurses cannot rely solely on
experience. The effective nurse also maintains respect for each patient as an individual.
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