lOMoARcPSD|70337540
Test Bank 1
Psychiatric Nursing )
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 10th Edition
1. Mental Health and Mental Illness
2. Theories and Therapies
3. Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology
4. Treatment Settings
5. Cultural Implications
6. Ethical and Legal Considerations
7. The Nursing Process and Standards of Care
8. Therapeutic Relationships
9. Therapeutic Communication
10. Stress Responses and Stress Management
11. Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
12. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
13. Bipolar and Related Disorders
14. Depressive Disorders
15. Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
16. Trauma, Stressor-Related, and Dissociative Disorders
17. Somatic Symptom Disorders
18. Eating and Feeding Disorders
19. Sleep-Wake Disorders
20. Sexual Dysfunction, Gender Dysphoria, and Paraphilic Disorders
21. Impulse Control Disorders
22. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
23. Neurocognitive Disorders
24. Personality Disorders
25. Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
26. Crisis and Disaster
27. Anger, Aggression, and Violence
28. Child, Older Adult, and Intimate Partner Violence
29. Sexual Assault
30. Dying, Death, and Grieving
31. Older Adults
32. Serious Mental Illness
33. Forensic Nursing
34. Therapeutic Groups
35. Family Interventions
36. Integrative Care
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced practice
nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
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-patient
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients’ 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 patients with medical as
well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have.
Nurse–patient 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
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
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 patients 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 patients 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 patient may be experiencing a mental illness?
The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. perceives 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 patient? The patient
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive
behaviors.
Test Bank 1
Psychiatric Nursing )
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 10th Edition
1. Mental Health and Mental Illness
2. Theories and Therapies
3. Psychobiology and Psychopharmacology
4. Treatment Settings
5. Cultural Implications
6. Ethical and Legal Considerations
7. The Nursing Process and Standards of Care
8. Therapeutic Relationships
9. Therapeutic Communication
10. Stress Responses and Stress Management
11. Childhood and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
12. Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
13. Bipolar and Related Disorders
14. Depressive Disorders
15. Anxiety and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
16. Trauma, Stressor-Related, and Dissociative Disorders
17. Somatic Symptom Disorders
18. Eating and Feeding Disorders
19. Sleep-Wake Disorders
20. Sexual Dysfunction, Gender Dysphoria, and Paraphilic Disorders
21. Impulse Control Disorders
22. Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders
23. Neurocognitive Disorders
24. Personality Disorders
25. Suicide and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
26. Crisis and Disaster
27. Anger, Aggression, and Violence
28. Child, Older Adult, and Intimate Partner Violence
29. Sexual Assault
30. Dying, Death, and Grieving
31. Older Adults
32. Serious Mental Illness
33. Forensic Nursing
34. Therapeutic Groups
35. Family Interventions
36. Integrative Care
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 10th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced practice
nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
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-patient
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients’ 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 patients with medical as
well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have.
Nurse–patient 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
, lOMoARcPSD|70337540
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 patients 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 patients 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 patient may be experiencing a mental illness?
The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. perceives 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 patient? The patient
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive
behaviors.
