Varcarolis Chapters 1–24 Questions and Answers 2026 | Psychiatric-
Mental Health Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Whichxoutcome,xfocusedxonxrecovery,xwouldxbexexpectedxinxthexplanxofxcarexforxaxpatientxlivingxinxthex
communityxwithxseriousxandxpersistentxmentalxillness?xWithinx3xmonths,xthexpatientxwill:
a.xdenyxsuicidalxideation.
b.xreportxaxsensexofxwell-being.
c.xtakexmedicationsxasxprescribed.
d.xattendxclinicxappointmentsxonxtime.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axpatientxisxhospitalizedxforxdepressionxandxsuicidalxideationxafterxtheirxspousexasksxforxaxdivorce.xSelec
txthexnurse'sxmostxcaringxcomment.
a.x"Let'sxdiscussxsomexmeansxofxcopingxotherxthanxsuicidexwhenxyouxhavexthesexfeelings."
b.x"Ixunderstandxwhyxyou'rexsoxdepressed.xWhenxIxgotxdivorced,xIxwasxdevastatedxtoo."
c.x"Youxshouldxforgetxaboutxyourxmarriagexandxmovexonxwithxyourxlife."
d.x"Howxdidxyouxgetxsoxdepressedxthatxhospitalizationxwasxnecessary?"x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Inxthexshift-changexreport,xanxoff-
goingxnursexcriticizesxaxpatientxwhoxwearsxheavyxmakeup.xWhichxcommentxbyxthexnursexwhoxreceivesxt
hexreportxbestxdemonstratesxadvocacy?
a.x"Thisxisxaxpsychiatricxhospital.xCrazinessxisxwhatxwexarexallxabout."
b.x"Let'sxallxshowxacceptancexofxthisxpatientxbyxwearingxlotsxofxmakeupxtoo."
c.x"Yourxcommentsxarexinconsideratexandxinappropriate.xKeepxthexreportxobjective."
d.x"Ourxpatientsxneedxourxhelpxtoxlearnxbehaviorsxthatxwillxhelpxthemxgetxalongxinxsociety."x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
Axnursexassessesxaxnewlyxadmittedxpatientxwithxdepression.xWhichxstatementxisxanxexamplexofx"attendi
ng"?
,a.x"Wexallxhavexstressxinxlife.xBeingxinxaxpsychiatricxhospitalxisn'txthexendxofxthexworld."
b.x"Tellxmexwhyxyouxfeltxyouxhadxtoxbexhospitalizedxtoxreceivextreatmentxforxyourxdepression."
c.x"Youxwillxfeelxbetterxafterxwexgetxsomexantidepressantxmedicationxstartedxforxyou."
d.x"I'dxlikextoxsitxwithxyouxaxwhilexsoxyouxmayxfeelxmorexcomfortablextalkingxwithxme."x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
AxpatientxshowsxthexnursexanxarticlexfromxthexInternetxaboutxaxhealthxproblem.xWhichxcharacteristicxof
xthexwebxsite'sxaddressxmostxalertsxthexnursexthatxthexsitexmayxhavexbiasedxandxprejudicedxinformation
?
a.xAddressxendsxinx".org."
b.xAddressxendsxinx".com."
c.xAddressxendsxinx".gov."
d.xAddressxendsxinx".net."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axnursexsays,x"WhenxIxwasxinxschoolxIxlearnedxtoxcallxupsetxpatientsxbyxnamextoxgetxtheirxattention,xbut
xIxreadxaxdescriptivexresearchxstudyxthatxsaysxthatxthisxapproachxdoesn'txwork.xI'mxgoingxstopxcallingxpa
tientsxbyxname."xWhichxstatementxisxthexbestxappraisalxofxthisxnurse'sxcomment?
a.xOnexdescriptivexresearchxstudyxrarelyxprovidesxenoughxevidencextoxchangexpractice.
b.xStaffxnursesxapplyxnewxresearchxfindingsxonlyxwithxthexhelpxfromxclinicalxnursexspecialists.
c.xNewxresearchxfindingsxshouldxbexincorporatedxintoxclinicalxalgorithmsxbeforexusingxthemxinxpractice.
d.xThexnursexmisinterpretedxthexresultsxofxthexstudy.xClassicxtenetsxofxpracticexdoxnotxchange.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Twoxnursingxstudentsxdiscussxcareerxplansxafterxgraduation.xOnexstudentxwantsxtoxenterxpsychiatricxnur
sing.xThexotherxstudentxasks,x"Whyxwouldxyouxwantxtoxbexaxpsychiatricxnurse?xAllxtheyxdoxisxtalk.xYou'llx
losexyourxskills."xSelectxthexbestxresponsexbyxthexstudentxinterestedxinxpsychiatricxnursing.
a.x"Psychiatricxnursesxpracticexinxsaferxenvironmentsxthanxotherxspecialties.xNurse-to-
patientxratiosxmustxbexbetterxbecausexofxthexnaturexofxpatients'xproblems."
,b.x"Psychiatricxnursesxusexcomplexxcommunicationxskills,xasxwellxasxcriticalxthinking,xtoxsolvexmultidime
nsionalxproblems.xI'mxchallengedxbyxthosexsituations."
c.x"IxthinkxI'llxbexgoodxinxthexmentalxhealthxfield.xIxdoxnotxlikexclinicalxrotationsxinxschool,xsoxIxdon'txwan
txtoxcontinuexthemxafterxIxgraduate."
d.x"Psychiatricxnursesxdon'txhavextoxdealxwithxasxmuchxpainxandxsufferingxasxmedicalxsurgicalxnurses.xTh
atxappealsxtoxme."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Whichxresearchxevidencexwouldxmostxinfluencexaxgroupxofxnursesxtoxchangextheirxpractice?
a.xExpertxcommitteexreportxofxrecommendationsxforxpractice
b.xSystematicxreviewxofxrandomizedxcontrolledxtrials
c.xNonexperimentalxdescriptivexstudy
d.xCriticalxpathwayx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
AxbillxintroducedxinxCongressxwouldxreducexfundingxforxthexcarexofxpeoplexwithxmentalxillnesses.xAxgrou
pxofxnursesxwritexlettersxtoxtheirxelectedxrepresentativesxinxoppositionxtoxthexlegislation.xWhichxrolexha
vexthexnursesxfulfilled?
a.xAdvocacy
b.xAttending
c.xRecovery
d.xEvidence-basedxpracticex-xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Anxinformalxgroupxofxpatientsxdiscussxtheirxperceptionsxofxnursingxcare.xWhichxcommentxbestxindicates
xaxpatient'sxperceptionxthatxhisxorxherxnursexisxcaring?
a.x"MyxnursexalwaysxasksxmexwhichxtypexofxjuicexIxwantxtoxhelpxmexswallowxmyxmedication."
b.x"Myxnursexexplainedxmyxtreatmentxplanxtoxmexandxaskedxforxmyxideasxaboutxhowxtoxmakexitxbetter.
"
c.x"MyxnursextoldxmexthatxifxIxtakexallxthexmedicinesxthexdoctorxprescribesxIxwillxgetxdischargedxsoon."
, d.x"Myxnursexspendsxtimexlisteningxtoxmextalkxaboutxmyxproblems.xThatxhelpsxmexfeelxlikexI'mxnotxalon
e."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
AxpatientxwhoximmigratedxtoxthexUnitedxStatesxfromxHondurasxwasxdiagnosedxwithxschizophrenia.xThex
patientxtookxanxantipsychoticxmedicationxforx3xweeksxbutxshowedxnoximprovement.xWhichxresourcexsh
ouldxthextreatmentxteamxconsultxforxinformationxonxmorexeffectivexmedicationsxforxthisxpatient?
a.xClinicalxalgorithm
b.xClinicalxpathway
c.xClinicalxpracticexguideline
d.xInternationalxStatisticalxClassificationxofxDiseasesxandxRelatedxHealthxProblemsx(ICD)x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Whichxhistoricalxnursingxleaderxhelpedxfocusxpracticextoxrecognizextheximportancexofxsciencexinxpsychia
tricxnursing?
a.xAbrahamxMaslow
b.xHildegardxPeplau
c.xKrisxMartinsen
d.xHarrietxBaileyx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axnursexconsistentlyxstrivesxtoxdemonstratexcaringxbehaviorsxduringxinteractionsxwithxpatients.xWhichxr
eactionxbyxaxpatientxindicatesxthisxnursexisxeffective?xAxpatientxreportsxfeeling:
a.xdistrustfulxlxofxothers.
b.xconnectedxwithxothers.
c.xuneasyxaboutxthexfuture.
d.xdiscouragedxwithxeffortsxtoximprove.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Mental Health Nursing Exam Prep & Study Guide
Whichxoutcome,xfocusedxonxrecovery,xwouldxbexexpectedxinxthexplanxofxcarexforxaxpatientxlivingxinxthex
communityxwithxseriousxandxpersistentxmentalxillness?xWithinx3xmonths,xthexpatientxwill:
a.xdenyxsuicidalxideation.
b.xreportxaxsensexofxwell-being.
c.xtakexmedicationsxasxprescribed.
d.xattendxclinicxappointmentsxonxtime.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axpatientxisxhospitalizedxforxdepressionxandxsuicidalxideationxafterxtheirxspousexasksxforxaxdivorce.xSelec
txthexnurse'sxmostxcaringxcomment.
a.x"Let'sxdiscussxsomexmeansxofxcopingxotherxthanxsuicidexwhenxyouxhavexthesexfeelings."
b.x"Ixunderstandxwhyxyou'rexsoxdepressed.xWhenxIxgotxdivorced,xIxwasxdevastatedxtoo."
c.x"Youxshouldxforgetxaboutxyourxmarriagexandxmovexonxwithxyourxlife."
d.x"Howxdidxyouxgetxsoxdepressedxthatxhospitalizationxwasxnecessary?"x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Inxthexshift-changexreport,xanxoff-
goingxnursexcriticizesxaxpatientxwhoxwearsxheavyxmakeup.xWhichxcommentxbyxthexnursexwhoxreceivesxt
hexreportxbestxdemonstratesxadvocacy?
a.x"Thisxisxaxpsychiatricxhospital.xCrazinessxisxwhatxwexarexallxabout."
b.x"Let'sxallxshowxacceptancexofxthisxpatientxbyxwearingxlotsxofxmakeupxtoo."
c.x"Yourxcommentsxarexinconsideratexandxinappropriate.xKeepxthexreportxobjective."
d.x"Ourxpatientsxneedxourxhelpxtoxlearnxbehaviorsxthatxwillxhelpxthemxgetxalongxinxsociety."x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
Axnursexassessesxaxnewlyxadmittedxpatientxwithxdepression.xWhichxstatementxisxanxexamplexofx"attendi
ng"?
,a.x"Wexallxhavexstressxinxlife.xBeingxinxaxpsychiatricxhospitalxisn'txthexendxofxthexworld."
b.x"Tellxmexwhyxyouxfeltxyouxhadxtoxbexhospitalizedxtoxreceivextreatmentxforxyourxdepression."
c.x"Youxwillxfeelxbetterxafterxwexgetxsomexantidepressantxmedicationxstartedxforxyou."
d.x"I'dxlikextoxsitxwithxyouxaxwhilexsoxyouxmayxfeelxmorexcomfortablextalkingxwithxme."x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
AxpatientxshowsxthexnursexanxarticlexfromxthexInternetxaboutxaxhealthxproblem.xWhichxcharacteristicxof
xthexwebxsite'sxaddressxmostxalertsxthexnursexthatxthexsitexmayxhavexbiasedxandxprejudicedxinformation
?
a.xAddressxendsxinx".org."
b.xAddressxendsxinx".com."
c.xAddressxendsxinx".gov."
d.xAddressxendsxinx".net."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axnursexsays,x"WhenxIxwasxinxschoolxIxlearnedxtoxcallxupsetxpatientsxbyxnamextoxgetxtheirxattention,xbut
xIxreadxaxdescriptivexresearchxstudyxthatxsaysxthatxthisxapproachxdoesn'txwork.xI'mxgoingxstopxcallingxpa
tientsxbyxname."xWhichxstatementxisxthexbestxappraisalxofxthisxnurse'sxcomment?
a.xOnexdescriptivexresearchxstudyxrarelyxprovidesxenoughxevidencextoxchangexpractice.
b.xStaffxnursesxapplyxnewxresearchxfindingsxonlyxwithxthexhelpxfromxclinicalxnursexspecialists.
c.xNewxresearchxfindingsxshouldxbexincorporatedxintoxclinicalxalgorithmsxbeforexusingxthemxinxpractice.
d.xThexnursexmisinterpretedxthexresultsxofxthexstudy.xClassicxtenetsxofxpracticexdoxnotxchange.x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Twoxnursingxstudentsxdiscussxcareerxplansxafterxgraduation.xOnexstudentxwantsxtoxenterxpsychiatricxnur
sing.xThexotherxstudentxasks,x"Whyxwouldxyouxwantxtoxbexaxpsychiatricxnurse?xAllxtheyxdoxisxtalk.xYou'llx
losexyourxskills."xSelectxthexbestxresponsexbyxthexstudentxinterestedxinxpsychiatricxnursing.
a.x"Psychiatricxnursesxpracticexinxsaferxenvironmentsxthanxotherxspecialties.xNurse-to-
patientxratiosxmustxbexbetterxbecausexofxthexnaturexofxpatients'xproblems."
,b.x"Psychiatricxnursesxusexcomplexxcommunicationxskills,xasxwellxasxcriticalxthinking,xtoxsolvexmultidime
nsionalxproblems.xI'mxchallengedxbyxthosexsituations."
c.x"IxthinkxI'llxbexgoodxinxthexmentalxhealthxfield.xIxdoxnotxlikexclinicalxrotationsxinxschool,xsoxIxdon'txwan
txtoxcontinuexthemxafterxIxgraduate."
d.x"Psychiatricxnursesxdon'txhavextoxdealxwithxasxmuchxpainxandxsufferingxasxmedicalxsurgicalxnurses.xTh
atxappealsxtoxme."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Whichxresearchxevidencexwouldxmostxinfluencexaxgroupxofxnursesxtoxchangextheirxpractice?
a.xExpertxcommitteexreportxofxrecommendationsxforxpractice
b.xSystematicxreviewxofxrandomizedxcontrolledxtrials
c.xNonexperimentalxdescriptivexstudy
d.xCriticalxpathwayx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
AxbillxintroducedxinxCongressxwouldxreducexfundingxforxthexcarexofxpeoplexwithxmentalxillnesses.xAxgrou
pxofxnursesxwritexlettersxtoxtheirxelectedxrepresentativesxinxoppositionxtoxthexlegislation.xWhichxrolexha
vexthexnursesxfulfilled?
a.xAdvocacy
b.xAttending
c.xRecovery
d.xEvidence-basedxpracticex-xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Anxinformalxgroupxofxpatientsxdiscussxtheirxperceptionsxofxnursingxcare.xWhichxcommentxbestxindicates
xaxpatient'sxperceptionxthatxhisxorxherxnursexisxcaring?
a.x"MyxnursexalwaysxasksxmexwhichxtypexofxjuicexIxwantxtoxhelpxmexswallowxmyxmedication."
b.x"Myxnursexexplainedxmyxtreatmentxplanxtoxmexandxaskedxforxmyxideasxaboutxhowxtoxmakexitxbetter.
"
c.x"MyxnursextoldxmexthatxifxIxtakexallxthexmedicinesxthexdoctorxprescribesxIxwillxgetxdischargedxsoon."
, d.x"Myxnursexspendsxtimexlisteningxtoxmextalkxaboutxmyxproblems.xThatxhelpsxmexfeelxlikexI'mxnotxalon
e."x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅D
AxpatientxwhoximmigratedxtoxthexUnitedxStatesxfromxHondurasxwasxdiagnosedxwithxschizophrenia.xThex
patientxtookxanxantipsychoticxmedicationxforx3xweeksxbutxshowedxnoximprovement.xWhichxresourcexsh
ouldxthextreatmentxteamxconsultxforxinformationxonxmorexeffectivexmedicationsxforxthisxpatient?
a.xClinicalxalgorithm
b.xClinicalxpathway
c.xClinicalxpracticexguideline
d.xInternationalxStatisticalxClassificationxofxDiseasesxandxRelatedxHealthxProblemsx(ICD)x-
xcorrectxanswerx ✅A
Whichxhistoricalxnursingxleaderxhelpedxfocusxpracticextoxrecognizextheximportancexofxsciencexinxpsychia
tricxnursing?
a.xAbrahamxMaslow
b.xHildegardxPeplau
c.xKrisxMartinsen
d.xHarrietxBaileyx-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
Axnursexconsistentlyxstrivesxtoxdemonstratexcaringxbehaviorsxduringxinteractionsxwithxpatients.xWhichxr
eactionxbyxaxpatientxindicatesxthisxnursexisxeffective?xAxpatientxreportsxfeeling:
a.xdistrustfulxlxofxothers.
b.xconnectedxwithxothers.
c.xuneasyxaboutxthexfuture.
d.xdiscouragedxwithxeffortsxtoximprove.x-xcorrectxanswerx ✅B
