Saunders NCLEX-RN Mental Health
Questions
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 this failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed"
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - verified answer 4. "It sounds as if
you've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
When the community 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. "Really?"
2. Why haven't you been able to sleep.
3. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too"
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights" - verified answer 4. "Tell me more about
your sleep over the past few nights"
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. - verified answer 1. Using open ended
questions and silence
The nurse would plan which goals for the termination stage of group development? SATA. - verified
answer 1. The group evaluates the experience
, 6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending separation.
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. "It sounds as if you are 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." - verified
answer 3. "It sounds as if you are feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be
cured?"
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. - verified answer 4. A
willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A client admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released from the
hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse take immediately?
1. Contact the client's HCP
2. Call the client's family to arrange for transportation.
3. Attempt to persuade the client to stay for "only a few more days."
4. Tell the client that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - verified answer 1.
Contact the client's HCP
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?
Questions
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 this failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed"
4. "It sounds as if you've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - verified answer 4. "It sounds as if
you've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
When the community 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. "Really?"
2. Why haven't you been able to sleep.
3. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too"
4. "Tell me more about your sleep over the past few nights" - verified answer 4. "Tell me more about
your sleep over the past few nights"
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. - verified answer 1. Using open ended
questions and silence
The nurse would plan which goals for the termination stage of group development? SATA. - verified
answer 1. The group evaluates the experience
, 6. The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending separation.
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. "It sounds as if you are 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." - verified
answer 3. "It sounds as if you are feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be
cured?"
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. - verified answer 4. A
willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A client admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released from the
hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse take immediately?
1. Contact the client's HCP
2. Call the client's family to arrange for transportation.
3. Attempt to persuade the client to stay for "only a few more days."
4. Tell the client that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - verified answer 1.
Contact the client's HCP
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?
