NUR 252 Exam 4 | Mental Health Nursing (2026) Q&A | Galen
College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a manic episode. Which of the following
nursing interventions is the priority?
A) Encouraging the client to participate in group therapy sessions
B) Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
C) Allowing the client to lead the community meeting
D) Teaching the client about the importance of medication adherence
Correct Answer: Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
Rationale: Safety and nutrition are priorities during mania. High-calorie finger foods provide
necessary energy for a client who cannot sit down to eat. Group therapy and leadership roles
may be too stimulating.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following rights does the
client maintain?
A) The right to leave the facility against medical advice
B) The right to carry personal weapons
C) The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D) The right to share confidential information with other patients
Correct Answer: The right to refuse psychotropic medications
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to refuse treatment, including
medications, unless a court order is obtained or in an emergency situation.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for tardive dyskinesia. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A) Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
B) Severe muscle rigidity and high fever
C) Shuffling gait and tremors at rest
D) Intense inner restlessness and pacing
Correct Answer: Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset extrapyramidal symptom characterized by
involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and extremities.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting phenelzine (an MAOI). Which food should the
nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A) Cottage cheese
B) Fresh green beans
C) Cooked chicken breast
D) Smoked salami
Correct Answer: Smoked salami
Rationale: Clients taking MAOIs must avoid tyramine-rich foods like smoked meats, aged
cheeses, and fermented products to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A client who just lost their spouse says, "I cannot believe this is happening. It must be a
mistake." Which defense mechanism is being used?
A) Sublimation
B) Displacement
,C) Reaction Formation
D) Denial
Correct Answer: Denial
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to acknowledge a painful reality or truth to protect the ego
from anxiety.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is hearing voices telling them to hurt
others. This is known as:
A) A delusion
B) An idea of reference
C) Depersonalization
D) A command hallucination
Correct Answer: A command hallucination
Rationale: Command hallucinations are auditory hallucinations that instruct the client to
perform specific actions, often dangerous ones.
7. A nurse is communicating with a client who is distressed. Which technique is an example of
therapeutic communication?
A) Giving advice on how to solve the problem
B) Changing the subject to something more cheerful
C) Using silence to allow the client to reflect
D) Asking "Why" questions to understand the cause
, Correct Answer: Using silence to allow the client to reflect
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to process thoughts and feelings. Advice, changing the
subject, and "why" questions are considered non-therapeutic barriers.
8. A client tells the nurse they plan to harm their ex-partner. Which legal principle requires the
nurse to report this?
A) Beneficence
B) Fidelity
C) Justice
D) Duty to warn
Correct Answer: Duty to warn
Rationale: The duty to warn (Tarasoff principle) requires mental health professionals to breach
confidentiality if a client makes a specific threat against an identifiable victim.
9. A client is prescribed a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Which side effect should
the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) Extreme weight loss
C) Sexual dysfunction
D) Acute dystonia
Correct Answer: Sexual dysfunction
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of SSRIs. Hypertensive crises are
associated with MAOIs, and dystonia is associated with antipsychotics.
College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a manic episode. Which of the following
nursing interventions is the priority?
A) Encouraging the client to participate in group therapy sessions
B) Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
C) Allowing the client to lead the community meeting
D) Teaching the client about the importance of medication adherence
Correct Answer: Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
Rationale: Safety and nutrition are priorities during mania. High-calorie finger foods provide
necessary energy for a client who cannot sit down to eat. Group therapy and leadership roles
may be too stimulating.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following rights does the
client maintain?
A) The right to leave the facility against medical advice
B) The right to carry personal weapons
C) The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D) The right to share confidential information with other patients
Correct Answer: The right to refuse psychotropic medications
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to refuse treatment, including
medications, unless a court order is obtained or in an emergency situation.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for tardive dyskinesia. Which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A) Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
B) Severe muscle rigidity and high fever
C) Shuffling gait and tremors at rest
D) Intense inner restlessness and pacing
Correct Answer: Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset extrapyramidal symptom characterized by
involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and extremities.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting phenelzine (an MAOI). Which food should the
nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A) Cottage cheese
B) Fresh green beans
C) Cooked chicken breast
D) Smoked salami
Correct Answer: Smoked salami
Rationale: Clients taking MAOIs must avoid tyramine-rich foods like smoked meats, aged
cheeses, and fermented products to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A client who just lost their spouse says, "I cannot believe this is happening. It must be a
mistake." Which defense mechanism is being used?
A) Sublimation
B) Displacement
,C) Reaction Formation
D) Denial
Correct Answer: Denial
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to acknowledge a painful reality or truth to protect the ego
from anxiety.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is hearing voices telling them to hurt
others. This is known as:
A) A delusion
B) An idea of reference
C) Depersonalization
D) A command hallucination
Correct Answer: A command hallucination
Rationale: Command hallucinations are auditory hallucinations that instruct the client to
perform specific actions, often dangerous ones.
7. A nurse is communicating with a client who is distressed. Which technique is an example of
therapeutic communication?
A) Giving advice on how to solve the problem
B) Changing the subject to something more cheerful
C) Using silence to allow the client to reflect
D) Asking "Why" questions to understand the cause
, Correct Answer: Using silence to allow the client to reflect
Rationale: Silence allows the client time to process thoughts and feelings. Advice, changing the
subject, and "why" questions are considered non-therapeutic barriers.
8. A client tells the nurse they plan to harm their ex-partner. Which legal principle requires the
nurse to report this?
A) Beneficence
B) Fidelity
C) Justice
D) Duty to warn
Correct Answer: Duty to warn
Rationale: The duty to warn (Tarasoff principle) requires mental health professionals to breach
confidentiality if a client makes a specific threat against an identifiable victim.
9. A client is prescribed a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI). Which side effect should
the nurse include in the teaching?
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) Extreme weight loss
C) Sexual dysfunction
D) Acute dystonia
Correct Answer: Sexual dysfunction
Rationale: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of SSRIs. Hypertensive crises are
associated with MAOIs, and dystonia is associated with antipsychotics.
