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. - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
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." - CORRECT ANSWER-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 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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." -
CORRECT ANSWER-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.
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. - CORRECT ANSWER-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.
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." - CORRECT ANSWER-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 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 - CORRECT ANSWER-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." -
CORRECT ANSWER-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.
