MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL
ILLNESS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS
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. -- ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared
nurse practitioners 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 nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses
"lose all their nursing skills," the best response by the mental health nurse is:
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." -- ANS: 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.
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons
with mental illness, a group of nurses writes 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 -- ANS: 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.
Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was
caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my
medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to
make it better."
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel
like I am not alone."
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged sooner." -- ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps
change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human
connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples
of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
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."
ILLNESS PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS
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. -- ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared
nurse practitioners 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 nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses
"lose all their nursing skills," the best response by the mental health nurse is:
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." -- ANS: 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.
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons
with mental illness, a group of nurses writes 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 -- ANS: 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.
Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was
caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my
medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to
make it better."
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel
like I am not alone."
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged sooner." -- ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps
change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human
connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples
of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
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."
