Test Bank for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5®) questions and answers with
rationales
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their
clinical nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice 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." - B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical-surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric
nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as mental health
problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-
patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like
other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just
documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect
an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans. - B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse
practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide
individualized care planning.
,When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons
diagnosed with mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected
representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses
fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice - C
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy
include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. 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 persons with mental illness, the
letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs.
A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members.
Which family member's comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change." - C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition
of the importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking,
communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem.
Recalling joy from earlier in life may be healthy, but the correct response shows
a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect responses show blaming and
avoidance.
Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be
experiencing a mental illness? The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
,b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs. - B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness.
The distracters describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual
scope of human experience.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved for an adult patient? The patient
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life. - A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters
describe maladaptive behaviors.
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. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of
Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
d. A behavioral health reference manual - C
The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the
official guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not
contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
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. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of
Practice
d. ICD-10 - B
The DSM-V details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. It is
the official guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references
are good resources but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who
a. is able to repress stressors.
b. becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c. lives in a shelter for 2 years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d. takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent
job. - D
Resilience is closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people
facing tragedies, loss, trauma, and severe stress. It is the ability and capacity
for people to secure the resources they need to support their well-being.
Repression and depression are unhealthy. Living in a shelter for 2 years shows a
failure to move forward after a tragedy. See related audience response
question.
Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a. patient outcomes.
b. nursing actions.
c. diagnosis.
d. symptoms. - B
Analogies show parallel relationships. NANDA, the North American Nursing
Diagnosis Association, identifies diagnostic statements regarding human
responses to actual or potential health problems. These statements represent
clinical judgments. NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) identifies actions
provided by nurses that enhance patient outcomes. Nursing care activities may
be direct or indirect.
Disorders (DSM-5®) questions and answers with
rationales
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their
clinical nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice 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." - B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical-surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric
nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as mental health
problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-
patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like
other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just
documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect
an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans. - B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse
practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide
individualized care planning.
,When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons
diagnosed with mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected
representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses
fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice - C
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy
include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. 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 persons with mental illness, the
letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs.
A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members.
Which family member's comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change." - C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition
of the importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking,
communication skills, learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem.
Recalling joy from earlier in life may be healthy, but the correct response shows
a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect responses show blaming and
avoidance.
Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be
experiencing a mental illness? The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
,b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs. - B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness.
The distracters describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual
scope of human experience.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved for an adult patient? The patient
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life. - A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters
describe maladaptive behaviors.
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. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of
Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
d. A behavioral health reference manual - C
The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the
official guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not
contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
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. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of
Practice
d. ICD-10 - B
The DSM-V details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. It is
the official guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references
are good resources but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who
a. is able to repress stressors.
b. becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c. lives in a shelter for 2 years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d. takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent
job. - D
Resilience is closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people
facing tragedies, loss, trauma, and severe stress. It is the ability and capacity
for people to secure the resources they need to support their well-being.
Repression and depression are unhealthy. Living in a shelter for 2 years shows a
failure to move forward after a tragedy. See related audience response
question.
Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a. patient outcomes.
b. nursing actions.
c. diagnosis.
d. symptoms. - B
Analogies show parallel relationships. NANDA, the North American Nursing
Diagnosis Association, identifies diagnostic statements regarding human
responses to actual or potential health problems. These statements represent
clinical judgments. NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) identifies actions
provided by nurses that enhance patient outcomes. Nursing care activities may
be direct or indirect.
