Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health
nursing
1. 1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a
newly admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as
having a positive impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance: Ans:
B Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping
or stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance
of separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and
therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of
mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have
a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on
an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance
is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. 2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select
all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
,C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive depen-
dency on or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively
with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction
with relationships and self.: Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental ill-
ness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate
to mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with
daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction
with relationships and self.
3. 3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental
illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unac-
ceptable in other cultures.
, B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and
social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective
behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.: Ans:
C Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society
may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psy-
chological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons
who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish
reality from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. 4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming
mentally ill because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing
so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your hus-
band's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future
brings.": Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
nursing
1. 1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a
newly admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as
having a positive impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance: Ans:
B Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping
or stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance
of separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and
therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of
mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have
a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on
an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance
is not possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. 2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select
all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
,C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive depen-
dency on or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively
with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction
with relationships and self.: Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental ill-
ness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate
to mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with
daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction
with relationships and self.
3. 3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental
illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unac-
ceptable in other cultures.
, B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and
social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective
behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.: Ans:
C Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society
may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psy-
chological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons
who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish
reality from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. 4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming
mentally ill because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing
so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your hus-
band's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future
brings.": Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
