NRSG263 PRINCIPLES OF NURSING:
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT TASK 1 |
CASE STUDY TWO – KAMAL |
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION, ROLE-
PLAY & REFLECTION | 2026/2027
UPDATED
Study-use notice: This is an original practice question bank created for study and
revision. It is not an official Australian Catholic University assessment, not a
reproduction of confidential assessment questions, and does not guarantee a
particular grade or outcome.
CORE DOMAINS
Mental health assessment and clinical reasoning
Therapeutic communication
Case-study application
Role-play skills
Active listening and empathy
Mental State Examination (MSE)
1
,
Risk assessment
Cultural safety and person-centred care
Professional boundaries
Trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice
Reflection and reflective practice
Documentation and escalation
Ethical and legal considerations
QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse begins an initial conversation with Kamal during a mental health assessment.
Which opening is most therapeutic?
A. “You seem very anxious today. Why are you behaving like this?”
B. “Tell me what has been happening for you recently.”
C. “Your family says you have been difficult lately. Is that true?”
D. “You need to calm down before we can talk.”
2
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An open-ended invitation allows Kamal to describe his experience in his
own words and supports rapport, autonomy, and information gathering.
Question 2
Which communication technique best demonstrates active listening?
A. Planning the next question while Kamal speaks
B. Interrupting to clarify every statement
C. Maintaining appropriate attention and reflecting key concerns
D. Changing the subject when Kamal becomes emotional
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Active listening involves attentive presence, appropriate nonverbal
communication, clarification, reflection, and summarising.
Question 3
Kamal says, “Nobody really understands what I’m going through.” Which response is
most therapeutic?
A. “I understand exactly how you feel.”
B. “Other people have problems that are much worse.”
C. “It sounds like you feel that people haven't understood your experience.”
D. “You should try to think more positively.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reflection acknowledges Kamal's emotional experience without falsely
claiming identical personal understanding.
Question 4
Which nurse statement is an example of a closed question?
A. “What has been troubling you?”
B. “How have things been at home?”
C. “Can you describe what happened yesterday?”
D. “Have you been sleeping?”
Correct Answer: D
3
, Rationale: A closed question generally produces a brief response such as yes or no
and can be useful when specific information is required.
Question 5
During the interview, Kamal becomes silent and looks down. What should the nurse
do initially?
A. Immediately ask another question
B. Allow an appropriate period of silence
C. Leave the room without explanation
D. Tell Kamal to make eye contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic silence can provide time for a person to organise thoughts
and emotions and communicates that the nurse is willing to remain present.
Question 6
Which statement best demonstrates empathy?
A. “You shouldn't feel that way.”
B. “I know exactly what you are experiencing.”
C. “That sounds like it has been very difficult for you.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Empathy involves recognising and communicating an understanding of
another person's emotional experience without minimising it.
Question 7
A nurse wants to clarify an ambiguous statement made by Kamal. Which response is
most appropriate?
A. “What do you mean by that?”
B. “That doesn't make sense.”
C. “You're obviously confused.”
D. “Let's talk about something else.”
Correct Answer: A
4
MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT TASK 1 |
CASE STUDY TWO – KAMAL |
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION, ROLE-
PLAY & REFLECTION | 2026/2027
UPDATED
Study-use notice: This is an original practice question bank created for study and
revision. It is not an official Australian Catholic University assessment, not a
reproduction of confidential assessment questions, and does not guarantee a
particular grade or outcome.
CORE DOMAINS
Mental health assessment and clinical reasoning
Therapeutic communication
Case-study application
Role-play skills
Active listening and empathy
Mental State Examination (MSE)
1
,
Risk assessment
Cultural safety and person-centred care
Professional boundaries
Trauma-informed and recovery-oriented practice
Reflection and reflective practice
Documentation and escalation
Ethical and legal considerations
QUESTIONS 1–100
Question 1
A nurse begins an initial conversation with Kamal during a mental health assessment.
Which opening is most therapeutic?
A. “You seem very anxious today. Why are you behaving like this?”
B. “Tell me what has been happening for you recently.”
C. “Your family says you have been difficult lately. Is that true?”
D. “You need to calm down before we can talk.”
2
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: An open-ended invitation allows Kamal to describe his experience in his
own words and supports rapport, autonomy, and information gathering.
Question 2
Which communication technique best demonstrates active listening?
A. Planning the next question while Kamal speaks
B. Interrupting to clarify every statement
C. Maintaining appropriate attention and reflecting key concerns
D. Changing the subject when Kamal becomes emotional
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Active listening involves attentive presence, appropriate nonverbal
communication, clarification, reflection, and summarising.
Question 3
Kamal says, “Nobody really understands what I’m going through.” Which response is
most therapeutic?
A. “I understand exactly how you feel.”
B. “Other people have problems that are much worse.”
C. “It sounds like you feel that people haven't understood your experience.”
D. “You should try to think more positively.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Reflection acknowledges Kamal's emotional experience without falsely
claiming identical personal understanding.
Question 4
Which nurse statement is an example of a closed question?
A. “What has been troubling you?”
B. “How have things been at home?”
C. “Can you describe what happened yesterday?”
D. “Have you been sleeping?”
Correct Answer: D
3
, Rationale: A closed question generally produces a brief response such as yes or no
and can be useful when specific information is required.
Question 5
During the interview, Kamal becomes silent and looks down. What should the nurse
do initially?
A. Immediately ask another question
B. Allow an appropriate period of silence
C. Leave the room without explanation
D. Tell Kamal to make eye contact
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic silence can provide time for a person to organise thoughts
and emotions and communicates that the nurse is willing to remain present.
Question 6
Which statement best demonstrates empathy?
A. “You shouldn't feel that way.”
B. “I know exactly what you are experiencing.”
C. “That sounds like it has been very difficult for you.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Empathy involves recognising and communicating an understanding of
another person's emotional experience without minimising it.
Question 7
A nurse wants to clarify an ambiguous statement made by Kamal. Which response is
most appropriate?
A. “What do you mean by that?”
B. “That doesn't make sense.”
C. “You're obviously confused.”
D. “Let's talk about something else.”
Correct Answer: A
4
