1
Mental Health NCLEX
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which
behavior by the client indicates ineffective coping?
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. Looking at old snapshots of family
3. Participating in a senior citizens' program
4. Visiting their spouse's grave once a month
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the
nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me."
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
3. When the mental health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic
communication response to this client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too."
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client
to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
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5. A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours
at the locked exit door shouting, "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't
belong here." What defense mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization
1. Denial
6. A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish
my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After
all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
7. On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was
voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
8. When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a client was admitted to
the mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should
provide which intervention for this client?
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
2. Assist in completing an application for admission.
3. Supply the client with written information about their mental illness.
4. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was
needed.
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
9. The nurse is preparing a client for the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship.
The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this
phase?
1. Planning short-term goals
2. Making appropriate referrals
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3. Developing realistic solutions
4. Identifying expected outcomes
2. Making appropriate referrals
10. The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which as being therapeutic communication
techniques? Select all that apply.
1. Restating
2. Listening
3. Asking the client, "Why?"
4. Maintaining neutral responses
5. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
6. Giving advice and approval or disapproval
o 1. Restating
o 2. Listening
o 4. Maintaining neutral responses
o 5. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
11. A client being seen in the emergency department immediately after being sexually
assaulted appears calm and controlled. The nurse analyzes this behavior as indicating
which defense mechanism?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Rationalization
4. Intellectualization
1. Denial
12. A client's unresolved feelings related to loss would be most likely observed during which
phase of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship?
1. Trusting
2. Working
3. Orientation
4. Termination
4. Termination
13. The nurse is working with a client who despite making a heroic effort was unable to
rescue a neighbor trapped in a house fire. Which client-focused action should the nurse
engage in during the working phase of the nurse-client relationship?
1. Exploring the client's ability to function
2. Exploring the client's potential for self-harm
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3. Inquiring about the client's perception or appraisal of why the rescue was unsuccessful
4. Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive
coping
4. Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive
coping
14. The nurse employed in a mental health unit of a hospital is the leader of a group
psychotherapy session. What is the nurse's role during the termination stage of group
development?
1. Acknowledging that the group has identified goals
2. Encouraging the accomplishment of the group's work
3. Acknowledging the contributions of each group member
4. Encouraging members to become acquainted with one another
3. Acknowledging the contributions of each group member
15. Which are characteristics of the termination stage of group development? Select all that
apply.
1. The group evaluates the experience.
2. The real work of the group is accomplished.
3. Group interaction involves superficial conversation.
4. Group members become acquainted with each other.
5. Some structuring of group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes place.
6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending separation.
o 1. The group evaluates the experience.
o 6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending
separation.
16. When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the diagnosis of anorexia
nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as part of the treatment plan. The nurse
understands that which is the purpose of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intrapsychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
17. The nurse understands that which best describes Gestalt therapy?
1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in the present.
2. It promotes the individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to other
relationships.
3. The therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs and thoughts contribute to
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Mental Health NCLEX
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which
behavior by the client indicates ineffective coping?
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. Looking at old snapshots of family
3. Participating in a senior citizens' program
4. Visiting their spouse's grave once a month
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the
nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me."
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
3. When the mental health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept at
all the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic
communication response to this client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too."
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client
to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
P a g e 1 | 70
,2
5. A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours
at the locked exit door shouting, "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't
belong here." What defense mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization
1. Denial
6. A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish
my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After
all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
7. On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was
voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
8. When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a client was admitted to
the mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should
provide which intervention for this client?
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
2. Assist in completing an application for admission.
3. Supply the client with written information about their mental illness.
4. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was
needed.
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
9. The nurse is preparing a client for the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship.
The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this
phase?
1. Planning short-term goals
2. Making appropriate referrals
P a g e 2 | 70
,3
3. Developing realistic solutions
4. Identifying expected outcomes
2. Making appropriate referrals
10. The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which as being therapeutic communication
techniques? Select all that apply.
1. Restating
2. Listening
3. Asking the client, "Why?"
4. Maintaining neutral responses
5. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
6. Giving advice and approval or disapproval
o 1. Restating
o 2. Listening
o 4. Maintaining neutral responses
o 5. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
11. A client being seen in the emergency department immediately after being sexually
assaulted appears calm and controlled. The nurse analyzes this behavior as indicating
which defense mechanism?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Rationalization
4. Intellectualization
1. Denial
12. A client's unresolved feelings related to loss would be most likely observed during which
phase of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship?
1. Trusting
2. Working
3. Orientation
4. Termination
4. Termination
13. The nurse is working with a client who despite making a heroic effort was unable to
rescue a neighbor trapped in a house fire. Which client-focused action should the nurse
engage in during the working phase of the nurse-client relationship?
1. Exploring the client's ability to function
2. Exploring the client's potential for self-harm
P a g e 3 | 70
, 4
3. Inquiring about the client's perception or appraisal of why the rescue was unsuccessful
4. Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive
coping
4. Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive
coping
14. The nurse employed in a mental health unit of a hospital is the leader of a group
psychotherapy session. What is the nurse's role during the termination stage of group
development?
1. Acknowledging that the group has identified goals
2. Encouraging the accomplishment of the group's work
3. Acknowledging the contributions of each group member
4. Encouraging members to become acquainted with one another
3. Acknowledging the contributions of each group member
15. Which are characteristics of the termination stage of group development? Select all that
apply.
1. The group evaluates the experience.
2. The real work of the group is accomplished.
3. Group interaction involves superficial conversation.
4. Group members become acquainted with each other.
5. Some structuring of group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes place.
6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending separation.
o 1. The group evaluates the experience.
o 6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending
separation.
16. When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the diagnosis of anorexia
nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as part of the treatment plan. The nurse
understands that which is the purpose of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intrapsychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
17. The nurse understands that which best describes Gestalt therapy?
1. It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in the present.
2. It promotes the individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to other
relationships.
3. The therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs and thoughts contribute to
P a g e 4 | 70
