Test Bank for the Psychiatric Interview Fifth Edition by
Daniel J. Carlat
, Chapter 1-Chapter 3) The Initial Interview: A Preview Chapter 2: Logistic Preparations: What to
Do Before the Interview, Chapter 3: The Therapeutic Alliance: What It Is, Why It's Important,
and How to Establish It
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What recovery-focused goal is most appropriate in a care plan for a community-dwelling client with a serious and persistent
mental illness? Within 3 months, the client will:
a. Express no thoughts of suicide.
b. Express a feeling of wellness. ✅
c. Follow the prescribed medication schedule.
d. Arrive promptly for scheduled clinic visits.
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Recovery emphasizes symptom control, reducing functional impairments, and improving life roles. The aim is to help
individuals regain purpose, satisfaction, and achieve their highest possible wellness—not simply to eliminate symptoms.
2. A patient is admitted for depression and suicidal thoughts following a request for divorce by their spouse. Which nurse
response best conveys empathy and care?
a. Let’s talk about other ways you can cope when you feel this way. ✅
b. I know how you feel. I was crushed when my partner left me too.
c. You should stop thinking about your marriage and move forward.
d. What made you feel so bad that you needed to be admitted?
RIGHT ANS<><> A
A caring nurse response builds trust and shows a willingness to help. Personal stories, judgmental remarks, and probing are
not therapeutic.
3. During hand-off, one nurse makes a critical remark about a patient’s heavy makeup. Which reply from the oncoming nurse
best demonstrates client advocacy?
a. This is a psych unit—odd behavior is expected.
b. We should all wear lots of makeup to support her.
c. That’s not appropriate; let’s keep the report respectful and professional.
d. Our job is to help clients learn behaviors that improve social functioning. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
Advocacy includes supporting client self-expression and teaching helpful behaviors, while avoiding judgment and maintaining
respect.
,4. A newly admitted client with major depression is being assessed. Which response by the nurse demonstrates the concept of
"attending"?
a. Everyone has stress—being here isn’t the worst thing.
b. What made you decide that hospitalization was necessary?
c. Medication will help you feel better soon.
d. I’d like to sit with you for a while so you feel more at ease. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
"Attending" involves being present and showing a willingness to connect, reducing client isolation and building trust.
5. A patient presents a web article about a medical issue. Which domain in the URL most suggests the website might contain
biased content?
a. .org
b. .com ✅
c. .gov
d. .net
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Commercial (.com) sites often have financial motives that can affect content reliability.
6. A RN says, “I learned to call upset clients by name, but I read a study saying that doesn’t work. I’ll stop doing it.” What is
the best critique of the nurse’s conclusion?
a. A single descriptive study doesn’t provide enough evidence to change practice. ✅
b. Nurses need a clinical specialist’s help to apply research.
c. Research must first be included in clinical algorithms before use.
d. Basic nursing methods never change, even with research.
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Practice should evolve based on a body of evidence—not one descriptive study, which is lower in the evidence hierarchy.
7. Two nursing students discuss their future. One wants to pursue psychiatric nursing. The other says, “You’ll lose your skills.
All they do is talk.” What’s the best reply?
a. Psych nurses work in safer settings with better ratios.
b. Psych nursing uses advanced communication and critical thinking to handle complex issues. ✅
c. I’ll be good at it—I don’t enjoy clinical rotations anyway.
d. There’s less suffering in psych than med-surg, which I prefer.
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Psychiatric nursing demands unique and advanced skills, combining both medical and psychological care.
,8. A bill proposing funding cuts for mental health is introduced in Congress. A group of nurses writes to lawmakers to oppose
it. What role are they demonstrating?
a. Advocate ✅
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Advocacy involves speaking up for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves, especially in political and policy
arenas.
9. Clients discuss nursing care. Which statement shows the client feels their nurse is genuinely caring?
a. My nurse lets me choose the juice to take my meds.
b. My nurse explained the treatment plan and asked for input.
c. My nurse said taking all my meds means I’ll be discharged.
d. My nurse listens to me when I talk about my problems, and I don’t feel so alone. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
Empathy, presence, and active listening are key signs of caring behavior.
10. A patient from Honduras with schizophrenia took medication for 3 weeks with no improvement. What resource should the
team consult for more suitable treatment options?
a. Clinical algorithm ✅
b. Clinical pathway
c. Clinical practice guideline
d. ICD
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Clinical algorithms provide individualized decision-making tools using data that consider factors like ethnicity, age, and
gender.
11. Which historical figure helped establish psychiatric nursing as a science-based practice?
a. Abraham Maslow
b. Hildegard Peplau ✅
c. Kris Martinsen
d. Harriet Bailey
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Peplau emphasized the importance of using science and theory in psychiatric nursing practice.
Daniel J. Carlat
, Chapter 1-Chapter 3) The Initial Interview: A Preview Chapter 2: Logistic Preparations: What to
Do Before the Interview, Chapter 3: The Therapeutic Alliance: What It Is, Why It's Important,
and How to Establish It
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What recovery-focused goal is most appropriate in a care plan for a community-dwelling client with a serious and persistent
mental illness? Within 3 months, the client will:
a. Express no thoughts of suicide.
b. Express a feeling of wellness. ✅
c. Follow the prescribed medication schedule.
d. Arrive promptly for scheduled clinic visits.
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Recovery emphasizes symptom control, reducing functional impairments, and improving life roles. The aim is to help
individuals regain purpose, satisfaction, and achieve their highest possible wellness—not simply to eliminate symptoms.
2. A patient is admitted for depression and suicidal thoughts following a request for divorce by their spouse. Which nurse
response best conveys empathy and care?
a. Let’s talk about other ways you can cope when you feel this way. ✅
b. I know how you feel. I was crushed when my partner left me too.
c. You should stop thinking about your marriage and move forward.
d. What made you feel so bad that you needed to be admitted?
RIGHT ANS<><> A
A caring nurse response builds trust and shows a willingness to help. Personal stories, judgmental remarks, and probing are
not therapeutic.
3. During hand-off, one nurse makes a critical remark about a patient’s heavy makeup. Which reply from the oncoming nurse
best demonstrates client advocacy?
a. This is a psych unit—odd behavior is expected.
b. We should all wear lots of makeup to support her.
c. That’s not appropriate; let’s keep the report respectful and professional.
d. Our job is to help clients learn behaviors that improve social functioning. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
Advocacy includes supporting client self-expression and teaching helpful behaviors, while avoiding judgment and maintaining
respect.
,4. A newly admitted client with major depression is being assessed. Which response by the nurse demonstrates the concept of
"attending"?
a. Everyone has stress—being here isn’t the worst thing.
b. What made you decide that hospitalization was necessary?
c. Medication will help you feel better soon.
d. I’d like to sit with you for a while so you feel more at ease. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
"Attending" involves being present and showing a willingness to connect, reducing client isolation and building trust.
5. A patient presents a web article about a medical issue. Which domain in the URL most suggests the website might contain
biased content?
a. .org
b. .com ✅
c. .gov
d. .net
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Commercial (.com) sites often have financial motives that can affect content reliability.
6. A RN says, “I learned to call upset clients by name, but I read a study saying that doesn’t work. I’ll stop doing it.” What is
the best critique of the nurse’s conclusion?
a. A single descriptive study doesn’t provide enough evidence to change practice. ✅
b. Nurses need a clinical specialist’s help to apply research.
c. Research must first be included in clinical algorithms before use.
d. Basic nursing methods never change, even with research.
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Practice should evolve based on a body of evidence—not one descriptive study, which is lower in the evidence hierarchy.
7. Two nursing students discuss their future. One wants to pursue psychiatric nursing. The other says, “You’ll lose your skills.
All they do is talk.” What’s the best reply?
a. Psych nurses work in safer settings with better ratios.
b. Psych nursing uses advanced communication and critical thinking to handle complex issues. ✅
c. I’ll be good at it—I don’t enjoy clinical rotations anyway.
d. There’s less suffering in psych than med-surg, which I prefer.
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Psychiatric nursing demands unique and advanced skills, combining both medical and psychological care.
,8. A bill proposing funding cuts for mental health is introduced in Congress. A group of nurses writes to lawmakers to oppose
it. What role are they demonstrating?
a. Advocate ✅
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Advocacy involves speaking up for those who may not be able to advocate for themselves, especially in political and policy
arenas.
9. Clients discuss nursing care. Which statement shows the client feels their nurse is genuinely caring?
a. My nurse lets me choose the juice to take my meds.
b. My nurse explained the treatment plan and asked for input.
c. My nurse said taking all my meds means I’ll be discharged.
d. My nurse listens to me when I talk about my problems, and I don’t feel so alone. ✅
RIGHT ANS<><> D
Empathy, presence, and active listening are key signs of caring behavior.
10. A patient from Honduras with schizophrenia took medication for 3 weeks with no improvement. What resource should the
team consult for more suitable treatment options?
a. Clinical algorithm ✅
b. Clinical pathway
c. Clinical practice guideline
d. ICD
RIGHT ANS<><> A
Clinical algorithms provide individualized decision-making tools using data that consider factors like ethnicity, age, and
gender.
11. Which historical figure helped establish psychiatric nursing as a science-based practice?
a. Abraham Maslow
b. Hildegard Peplau ✅
c. Kris Martinsen
d. Harriet Bailey
RIGHT ANS<><> B
Peplau emphasized the importance of using science and theory in psychiatric nursing practice.
