,NUR 203 Midterm Exam Psychiatric Nursing Questions And Answers
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which characteristic most accurately distinguishes child neglect
from physical abuse?
A) Neglect always produces visible physical injuries
B) Neglect involves failure to provide necessary care or protection, whereas
physical abuse involves intentional use of physical force
C) Neglect occurs only when a caregiver deliberately wants to injure a child
D) Physical abuse can occur only when an injury requires hospitalization
Correct Answer: B) Neglect involves failure to provide necessary care or
protection, whereas physical abuse involves intentional use of physical force
Rationale: Neglect involves failure to meet essential physical, emotional,
medical, educational, or supervisory needs. Physical abuse involves
intentional physical force that causes or risks injury.
Q2. A school-age child has bruises in different stages of healing and
becomes visibly frightened when a caregiver enters the room. What
is the nurse's priority response?
A) Ask the caregiver to explain each bruise before speaking with the child
B) Conclude immediately that physical abuse has occurred
C) Wait for the child to independently request protection
D) Assess the child privately for safety and document findings objectively
Correct Answer: D) Assess the child privately for safety and document
findings objectively
Rationale: Suspicious findings require careful assessment without
prematurely accusing anyone. Private assessment promotes disclosure and
safety, while objective documentation preserves clinically important
information.
Q3. Which caregiver characteristic may increase the risk for child
maltreatment?
A) Severe parenting stress combined with ineffective coping
B) Consistent social support and access to resources
C) Realistic expectations of child development
D) Stable relationships with supportive adults
Correct Answer: A) Severe parenting stress combined with ineffective coping
, Rationale: High caregiver stress and ineffective coping can increase
maltreatment risk, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities.
Risk factors increase probability but do not prove that abuse is occurring.
Q4. Which finding is most consistent with emotional abuse of a
child?
A) A single accidental abrasion after outdoor play
B) Missing one routine medical appointment
C) Persistent humiliation, threats, rejection, or intimidation by a caregiver
D) A caregiver setting developmentally appropriate behavioral limits
Correct Answer: C) Persistent humiliation, threats, rejection, or intimidation
by a caregiver
Rationale: Emotional abuse involves repeated behaviors that create fear,
distress, rejection, humiliation, or damage to the child's sense of worth and
security.
Q5. A child tells the nurse, “My mother's boyfriend hits me when he
gets angry.” Which response is most therapeutic?
A) “Why didn't you tell someone earlier?”
B) “Are you sure you didn't do something that made him angry?”
C) “I'm glad you told me. I want to understand what happened so we can
help keep you safe.”
D) “You should confront him the next time he tries that.”
Correct Answer: C) “I'm glad you told me. I want to understand what
happened so we can help keep you safe.”
Rationale: A calm, supportive, nonjudgmental response validates disclosure
without blaming or interrogating the child and keeps the focus on safety.
Q6. What is the best principle for questioning a child when
maltreatment is suspected?
A) Use developmentally appropriate, nonleading questions and allow the
child to describe events in their own words
B) Ask detailed leading questions until the desired information is obtained
C) Repeatedly question the child to test whether the story changes
D) Tell the child what the nurse believes happened and ask for agreement
Correct Answer: A) Use developmentally appropriate, nonleading questions
and allow the child to describe events in their own words
2026/2027 Jersey College
Q1. Which characteristic most accurately distinguishes child neglect
from physical abuse?
A) Neglect always produces visible physical injuries
B) Neglect involves failure to provide necessary care or protection, whereas
physical abuse involves intentional use of physical force
C) Neglect occurs only when a caregiver deliberately wants to injure a child
D) Physical abuse can occur only when an injury requires hospitalization
Correct Answer: B) Neglect involves failure to provide necessary care or
protection, whereas physical abuse involves intentional use of physical force
Rationale: Neglect involves failure to meet essential physical, emotional,
medical, educational, or supervisory needs. Physical abuse involves
intentional physical force that causes or risks injury.
Q2. A school-age child has bruises in different stages of healing and
becomes visibly frightened when a caregiver enters the room. What
is the nurse's priority response?
A) Ask the caregiver to explain each bruise before speaking with the child
B) Conclude immediately that physical abuse has occurred
C) Wait for the child to independently request protection
D) Assess the child privately for safety and document findings objectively
Correct Answer: D) Assess the child privately for safety and document
findings objectively
Rationale: Suspicious findings require careful assessment without
prematurely accusing anyone. Private assessment promotes disclosure and
safety, while objective documentation preserves clinically important
information.
Q3. Which caregiver characteristic may increase the risk for child
maltreatment?
A) Severe parenting stress combined with ineffective coping
B) Consistent social support and access to resources
C) Realistic expectations of child development
D) Stable relationships with supportive adults
Correct Answer: A) Severe parenting stress combined with ineffective coping
, Rationale: High caregiver stress and ineffective coping can increase
maltreatment risk, particularly when combined with other vulnerabilities.
Risk factors increase probability but do not prove that abuse is occurring.
Q4. Which finding is most consistent with emotional abuse of a
child?
A) A single accidental abrasion after outdoor play
B) Missing one routine medical appointment
C) Persistent humiliation, threats, rejection, or intimidation by a caregiver
D) A caregiver setting developmentally appropriate behavioral limits
Correct Answer: C) Persistent humiliation, threats, rejection, or intimidation
by a caregiver
Rationale: Emotional abuse involves repeated behaviors that create fear,
distress, rejection, humiliation, or damage to the child's sense of worth and
security.
Q5. A child tells the nurse, “My mother's boyfriend hits me when he
gets angry.” Which response is most therapeutic?
A) “Why didn't you tell someone earlier?”
B) “Are you sure you didn't do something that made him angry?”
C) “I'm glad you told me. I want to understand what happened so we can
help keep you safe.”
D) “You should confront him the next time he tries that.”
Correct Answer: C) “I'm glad you told me. I want to understand what
happened so we can help keep you safe.”
Rationale: A calm, supportive, nonjudgmental response validates disclosure
without blaming or interrogating the child and keeps the focus on safety.
Q6. What is the best principle for questioning a child when
maltreatment is suspected?
A) Use developmentally appropriate, nonleading questions and allow the
child to describe events in their own words
B) Ask detailed leading questions until the desired information is obtained
C) Repeatedly question the child to test whether the story changes
D) Tell the child what the nurse believes happened and ask for agreement
Correct Answer: A) Use developmentally appropriate, nonleading questions
and allow the child to describe events in their own words
