VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Varcarolis-Style Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Foundations Practice Exam Bank
1100 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
Therapeutic Relationship - Mood/Psychosis - Meds Safety - Crisis/Suicide - Legal-Ethical - Recovery
DISCLAIMER - This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource aligned with common psychiatric-mental health nursing themes found in
foundational texts such as Varcarolis. It is NOT an official Elsevier/Varcarolis product, NOT a reproduction of proprietary test banks, and NOT clinical
advice for real patients. Always follow your course syllabus, faculty guidance, facility policies, and current clinical guidelines.
Section Mapping
Sec Topic Questions N
1 Foundations - Mental Health, Relationship, Communicatio Q1-Q220 220
2 Mood and Anxiety Disorders - Depression, Bipolar, Anxie Q221-Q440 220
3 Psychosis and Personality - Schizophrenia, EPS/NMS, Per Q441-Q660 220
4 Crisis, Suicide, Violence, Substance Emergencies and Tr Q661-Q880 220
5 Therapies, Milieu, Culture, Recovery and Professional P Q881-Q1100 220
TOTAL 1100
Priority mantra: Safety - Stabilize - Therapeutic relationship - Evidence-based interventions - Recovery focus
Original Study Resource | Page 1
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Section 1: Foundations - Mental Health, Relationship, Communication, Legal/Ethical
Q1: Mental health is best described as:
A. Absence of all stress forever
B. A state of well-being in which a person realizes abilities, can cope with normal stresses,
work productively, and contribute to the community [CORRECT]
C. Only the absence of DSM diagnoses
D. Identical to intellectual ability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: WHO-style definition emphasizes functioning and coping.
Q2: The purpose of the DSM-5-TR in nursing practice is primarily to:
A. Replace the nursing process
B. Provide standardized diagnostic criteria clinicians use; nurses still plan care with nursing
diagnoses/problems [CORRECT]
C. List only nursing interventions
D. Eliminate cultural considerations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DSM informs medical diagnosis; nursing uses holistic process.
Q3: Therapeutic use of self means the nurse:
A. Shares all personal problems with patients
B. Uses personality, insights, and skills consciously to help patients [CORRECT]
C. Avoids all emotional presence
D. Only administers medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peplau-influenced concept.
Original Study Resource | Page 2
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q4: The orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship includes:
A. Only termination planning with no introductions
B. Establishing rapport, roles, goals, and confidentiality parameters [CORRECT]
C. Immediate discharge teaching only
D. Avoiding any contracts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beginnings set the frame.
Q5: A nontherapeutic communication technique is:
A. Reflecting
B. Giving advice as You should without collaboration [CORRECT]
C. Clarifying
D. Exploring
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Premature advice blocks exploration.
Q6: An example of a therapeutic response is:
A. Why did you do that in an accusing tone
B. Tell me more about what that was like for you. [CORRECT]
C. Everyone feels that way.
D. Do not worry about it.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Open, exploratory, nonjudgmental.
Q7: Transference refers to:
A. The nurse feelings toward the patient based on past relationships
B. The patient unconscious redirection of feelings from significant others onto the nurse
[CORRECT]
C. Only medication side effects
D. Group therapy attendance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient to nurse feelings from the past.
Original Study Resource | Page 3
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q8: Countertransference refers to:
A. Only patient anger at staff
B. The nurse emotional reactions to the patient based on the nurse past [CORRECT]
C. Insurance denials
D. Only positive feelings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse to patient reactions needing self-awareness.
Q9: Involuntary admission is generally based on:
A. Family preference alone without criteria
B. Danger to self/others or grave disability under applicable law [CORRECT]
C. Any eccentric behavior
D. Refusal of one outpatient appointment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Legal criteria for civil commitment.
Q10: Confidentiality may be breached when:
A. The nurse is curious
B. There is a duty to warn/protect or other mandated reporting as required by law [CORRECT]
C. Friends ask casually
D. It makes charting easier to post online
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety and legal mandates override.
Original Study Resource | Page 4
Varcarolis-Style Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Foundations Practice Exam Bank
1100 Original Questions with Detailed Rationales
Therapeutic Relationship - Mood/Psychosis - Meds Safety - Crisis/Suicide - Legal-Ethical - Recovery
DISCLAIMER - This is an ORIGINAL educational practice resource aligned with common psychiatric-mental health nursing themes found in
foundational texts such as Varcarolis. It is NOT an official Elsevier/Varcarolis product, NOT a reproduction of proprietary test banks, and NOT clinical
advice for real patients. Always follow your course syllabus, faculty guidance, facility policies, and current clinical guidelines.
Section Mapping
Sec Topic Questions N
1 Foundations - Mental Health, Relationship, Communicatio Q1-Q220 220
2 Mood and Anxiety Disorders - Depression, Bipolar, Anxie Q221-Q440 220
3 Psychosis and Personality - Schizophrenia, EPS/NMS, Per Q441-Q660 220
4 Crisis, Suicide, Violence, Substance Emergencies and Tr Q661-Q880 220
5 Therapies, Milieu, Culture, Recovery and Professional P Q881-Q1100 220
TOTAL 1100
Priority mantra: Safety - Stabilize - Therapeutic relationship - Evidence-based interventions - Recovery focus
Original Study Resource | Page 1
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Section 1: Foundations - Mental Health, Relationship, Communication, Legal/Ethical
Q1: Mental health is best described as:
A. Absence of all stress forever
B. A state of well-being in which a person realizes abilities, can cope with normal stresses,
work productively, and contribute to the community [CORRECT]
C. Only the absence of DSM diagnoses
D. Identical to intellectual ability
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: WHO-style definition emphasizes functioning and coping.
Q2: The purpose of the DSM-5-TR in nursing practice is primarily to:
A. Replace the nursing process
B. Provide standardized diagnostic criteria clinicians use; nurses still plan care with nursing
diagnoses/problems [CORRECT]
C. List only nursing interventions
D. Eliminate cultural considerations
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: DSM informs medical diagnosis; nursing uses holistic process.
Q3: Therapeutic use of self means the nurse:
A. Shares all personal problems with patients
B. Uses personality, insights, and skills consciously to help patients [CORRECT]
C. Avoids all emotional presence
D. Only administers medications
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Peplau-influenced concept.
Original Study Resource | Page 2
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q4: The orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship includes:
A. Only termination planning with no introductions
B. Establishing rapport, roles, goals, and confidentiality parameters [CORRECT]
C. Immediate discharge teaching only
D. Avoiding any contracts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beginnings set the frame.
Q5: A nontherapeutic communication technique is:
A. Reflecting
B. Giving advice as You should without collaboration [CORRECT]
C. Clarifying
D. Exploring
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Premature advice blocks exploration.
Q6: An example of a therapeutic response is:
A. Why did you do that in an accusing tone
B. Tell me more about what that was like for you. [CORRECT]
C. Everyone feels that way.
D. Do not worry about it.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Open, exploratory, nonjudgmental.
Q7: Transference refers to:
A. The nurse feelings toward the patient based on past relationships
B. The patient unconscious redirection of feelings from significant others onto the nurse
[CORRECT]
C. Only medication side effects
D. Group therapy attendance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient to nurse feelings from the past.
Original Study Resource | Page 3
, VARCAROLIS-STYLE PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING | PRACTICE EXAM BANK
Q8: Countertransference refers to:
A. Only patient anger at staff
B. The nurse emotional reactions to the patient based on the nurse past [CORRECT]
C. Insurance denials
D. Only positive feelings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Nurse to patient reactions needing self-awareness.
Q9: Involuntary admission is generally based on:
A. Family preference alone without criteria
B. Danger to self/others or grave disability under applicable law [CORRECT]
C. Any eccentric behavior
D. Refusal of one outpatient appointment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Legal criteria for civil commitment.
Q10: Confidentiality may be breached when:
A. The nurse is curious
B. There is a duty to warn/protect or other mandated reporting as required by law [CORRECT]
C. Friends ask casually
D. It makes charting easier to post online
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety and legal mandates override.
Original Study Resource | Page 4
