,TEST BANK for Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing 2nd Edition Halter
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following would the
nurse expect as an advanced practice intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication
c. Establish therapeutic relationships
d. Individualize nursing care plans
ANS: B
Prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken
special courses on prescribing medication; thus it is an advanced-practice intervention. The
nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses “lose all their
nursing skills,” which of the following is the best response by the mental health nurse?
a. “Psychiatric nurses practise in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients’
problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high-technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical–surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills from medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Two domains relate specifically to psychiatric
nursing: behavioural, including communication, coping, and education; and safety, covering
crisis and risk management. Basic psychosocial nursing concepts are central to psychiatric
nursing practice and increase your competency as a practitioner in all clinical settings.
Whatever setting you choose to work in, you will have the opportunity to improve the lives of
people who are experiencing mental illness as an additional challenge to their health.
Your experience in the mental health nursing rotation can help you gain insight into yourself
and greatly increase your insight into the experiences of others. This part of nursing education
can provide guidelines for and the opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with a variety of
challenging behaviours. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
,3. When a new bill introduced in Parliament reduces funding for care of people with mental
illness, a group of people with mild mental illness write letters to their elected representatives
in opposition to the legislation for all people with mental illness. Which role does this action
portray?
a. Recovery
b. Self-care
c. Advocacy
d. Social action
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for himself or herself. On a community scale, advocacy includes political
activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition.
Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for people with mental illness, the
letter-writing campaign advocates for the cause for all people with mental illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. Which of the following has been identified as a significant trend that will affect the future of
psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced-practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
Four significant trends have bNeU
enRiS
deInN
tifG dB
ieT th.
atCwOilM
l affect the future of psychiatric mental
health nursing in Canada; these include an aging population, an increase in cultural diversity,
expanding technology, and an increased awareness of the impact of the determinants of health
on mental illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. The patient reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. The patient reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. The patient is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. The patient perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. Alterations in
cognition, mood, or behaviour that are coupled with significant distress and impaired
functioning characterize mental illness. The distracters describe behaviours that are mentally
healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
, 6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrates mentally healthy behaviour” was
achieved?
a. A patient sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. A patient behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. A patient aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. A patient seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of
own life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behaviour. The WHO defines mental
health as “a state of well-being in which each individual is able to realize his or her own
potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a
contribution to the community” (World Health Organization, 2010). The distracters describe
maladaptive behaviours.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient’s admission form.
Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The DSM-5 gives the criteriaNuU seR toIdN
dS iaG
gnToB
se.eCacOhMmental disorder. The distracters may not
contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which resource
would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the official
guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do not
define the diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
9. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. One who is able to repress stressors.
b. One who becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
Health Nursing 2nd Edition Halter
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 2nd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following would the
nurse expect as an advanced practice intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication
c. Establish therapeutic relationships
d. Individualize nursing care plans
ANS: B
Prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken
special courses on prescribing medication; thus it is an advanced-practice intervention. The
nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses “lose all their
nursing skills,” which of the following is the best response by the mental health nurse?
a. “Psychiatric nurses practise in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients’
problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high-technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical–surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills from medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Two domains relate specifically to psychiatric
nursing: behavioural, including communication, coping, and education; and safety, covering
crisis and risk management. Basic psychosocial nursing concepts are central to psychiatric
nursing practice and increase your competency as a practitioner in all clinical settings.
Whatever setting you choose to work in, you will have the opportunity to improve the lives of
people who are experiencing mental illness as an additional challenge to their health.
Your experience in the mental health nursing rotation can help you gain insight into yourself
and greatly increase your insight into the experiences of others. This part of nursing education
can provide guidelines for and the opportunity to learn new skills for dealing with a variety of
challenging behaviours. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
,3. When a new bill introduced in Parliament reduces funding for care of people with mental
illness, a group of people with mild mental illness write letters to their elected representatives
in opposition to the legislation for all people with mental illness. Which role does this action
portray?
a. Recovery
b. Self-care
c. Advocacy
d. Social action
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for himself or herself. On a community scale, advocacy includes political
activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition.
Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for people with mental illness, the
letter-writing campaign advocates for the cause for all people with mental illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. Which of the following has been identified as a significant trend that will affect the future of
psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced-practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
Four significant trends have bNeU
enRiS
deInN
tifG dB
ieT th.
atCwOilM
l affect the future of psychiatric mental
health nursing in Canada; these include an aging population, an increase in cultural diversity,
expanding technology, and an increased awareness of the impact of the determinants of health
on mental illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. The patient reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. The patient reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. The patient is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. The patient perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. Alterations in
cognition, mood, or behaviour that are coupled with significant distress and impaired
functioning characterize mental illness. The distracters describe behaviours that are mentally
healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
, 6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrates mentally healthy behaviour” was
achieved?
a. A patient sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. A patient behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. A patient aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. A patient seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of
own life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behaviour. The WHO defines mental
health as “a state of well-being in which each individual is able to realize his or her own
potential, cope with the normal stresses of life, work productively and fruitfully, and make a
contribution to the community” (World Health Organization, 2010). The distracters describe
maladaptive behaviours.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient’s admission form.
Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The DSM-5 gives the criteriaNuU seR toIdN
dS iaG
gnToB
se.eCacOhMmental disorder. The distracters may not
contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which resource
would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the official
guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do not
define the diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
9. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. One who is able to repress stressors.
b. One who becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
