,NUR 208 Exam 3 | Mental Health Nursing (2026)
Actual Q&A PDF | Fortis College
1. A client states, "I feel like I'm a burden to everyone." Which response by the nurse is
most therapeutic?
A) "You are not a burden to anyone."
B) "Tell me more about what makes you feel that way."
C) "Why would you think something like that?"
D) "Let's talk about something more pleasant."
Correct Answer: "Tell me more about what makes you feel that way."
Rationale: An open-ended, non-judgmental prompt encourages the client to explore
feelings and promotes therapeutic communication. Offering reassurance, asking "why,"
or changing the subject dismisses the client's concerns and can shut down
communication.
2. A nurse is assessing a client with bipolar I disorder. Which finding is the greatest
immediate safety concern?
A) Sleeping only 4 hours per night
B) Rapid, pressured speech
C) Expressing a specific plan to die
D) Reporting increased energy
Correct Answer: Expressing a specific plan to die
,Rationale: A specific suicidal plan indicates an immediate safety risk. The nurse must
assess suicidal intent, access to means, lethality, and immediacy and implement
appropriate safety precautions. The other findings are symptoms of mania but are not
immediately life-threatening.
3. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of anhedonia?
A) Excessive fear of social situations
B) Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
C) Persistent physical complaints without symptoms
D) Recurrent periods of elevated energy
Correct Answer: Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
Rationale: Anhedonia is a diminished ability to experience pleasure or interest in
activities that were previously enjoyable. It is a common symptom of major depressive
episodes. The other options describe social anxiety, somatic symptom disorder, and
mania.
4. A client admitted after an intentional overdose is being assessed. Which nursing
diagnosis has the highest priority?
A) Social isolation
B) Disturbed sleep pattern
C) Risk for suicide
D) Impaired verbal communication
Correct Answer: Risk for suicide
, Rationale: An intentional overdose represents potentially suicidal behavior.
Protection from further self-harm takes priority over less immediate psychosocial
concerns. The nurse must initiate safety precautions and continuous monitoring.
5. A client with schizophrenia states, "The government is controlling my thoughts
through the radio." The nurse should document this as:
A) A hallucination
B) A delusion of persecution
C) A delusion of grandeur
D) An illusion
Correct Answer: A delusion of persecution
Rationale: A delusion of persecution is a fixed false belief that one is being targeted,
harassed, or controlled by others. Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without
external stimuli, delusions of grandeur involve inflated self-importance, and illusions
are misperceptions of real stimuli.
6. During a mental status examination, the nurse notes that the client's speech is rapid
and jumps from topic to topic without logical connections. The nurse should document
this as:
A) Mood: euphoric
B) Thought content: delusions
C) Thought process: flight of ideas
D) Perception: hallucinations
Correct Answer: Thought process: flight of ideas
Actual Q&A PDF | Fortis College
1. A client states, "I feel like I'm a burden to everyone." Which response by the nurse is
most therapeutic?
A) "You are not a burden to anyone."
B) "Tell me more about what makes you feel that way."
C) "Why would you think something like that?"
D) "Let's talk about something more pleasant."
Correct Answer: "Tell me more about what makes you feel that way."
Rationale: An open-ended, non-judgmental prompt encourages the client to explore
feelings and promotes therapeutic communication. Offering reassurance, asking "why,"
or changing the subject dismisses the client's concerns and can shut down
communication.
2. A nurse is assessing a client with bipolar I disorder. Which finding is the greatest
immediate safety concern?
A) Sleeping only 4 hours per night
B) Rapid, pressured speech
C) Expressing a specific plan to die
D) Reporting increased energy
Correct Answer: Expressing a specific plan to die
,Rationale: A specific suicidal plan indicates an immediate safety risk. The nurse must
assess suicidal intent, access to means, lethality, and immediacy and implement
appropriate safety precautions. The other findings are symptoms of mania but are not
immediately life-threatening.
3. Which assessment finding is most characteristic of anhedonia?
A) Excessive fear of social situations
B) Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
C) Persistent physical complaints without symptoms
D) Recurrent periods of elevated energy
Correct Answer: Loss of interest or pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
Rationale: Anhedonia is a diminished ability to experience pleasure or interest in
activities that were previously enjoyable. It is a common symptom of major depressive
episodes. The other options describe social anxiety, somatic symptom disorder, and
mania.
4. A client admitted after an intentional overdose is being assessed. Which nursing
diagnosis has the highest priority?
A) Social isolation
B) Disturbed sleep pattern
C) Risk for suicide
D) Impaired verbal communication
Correct Answer: Risk for suicide
, Rationale: An intentional overdose represents potentially suicidal behavior.
Protection from further self-harm takes priority over less immediate psychosocial
concerns. The nurse must initiate safety precautions and continuous monitoring.
5. A client with schizophrenia states, "The government is controlling my thoughts
through the radio." The nurse should document this as:
A) A hallucination
B) A delusion of persecution
C) A delusion of grandeur
D) An illusion
Correct Answer: A delusion of persecution
Rationale: A delusion of persecution is a fixed false belief that one is being targeted,
harassed, or controlled by others. Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without
external stimuli, delusions of grandeur involve inflated self-importance, and illusions
are misperceptions of real stimuli.
6. During a mental status examination, the nurse notes that the client's speech is rapid
and jumps from topic to topic without logical connections. The nurse should document
this as:
A) Mood: euphoric
B) Thought content: delusions
C) Thought process: flight of ideas
D) Perception: hallucinations
Correct Answer: Thought process: flight of ideas
