Lesson 11: Foundations of Mental
Health Nursing questions with correct
answers
The nurse in a mental health clinic is interviewing a client who was referred to the clinic by the client's
primary health care provider. Which finding indicates to the nurse that the client needs assistance to
restore and maintain mental health?
1. The client has a positive self-concept.
2. The client identifies strengths and uses these for goal attainment.
3. The client has a distorted view of the world and communicates inappropriately.
4. The client identifies coping mechanisms used to successfully cope with threats to the self. - correct
answer (3) A client who experiences a disturbance in homeostasis as a result of a threat to the self and
experiences an alteration in reality may come to have a distorted view of the world and may
communicate inappropriately and inadequately. This psychic discomfort felt by the individual may be
manifested through various mental health problems such as adjustment disorders, psychophysiological
manifestations, psychotic disorders, and behaviors indicative of sensory deprivation. The remaining
options are all healthy mental health behaviors.
Two police officers arrive at the emergency department with a client who was been displaying violent
behavior in a local park. The police report to the nurse that they tried unsuccessfully to reason with the
client and that the client continued to direct violent behaviors at other individuals in the park. After a
thorough psychosocial assessment of the client, the health care provider determines that the client
requires emergency involuntary admission to the mental health facility. What determination does the
nurse make with regard to this type of admission?
1. It requires the client's consent.
2. It abrogates the client's right to informed consent.
3. It is normally sought by the client or the client's guardian.
4. It is necessary for a client who is a danger to self or others. - correct answer (4) Involuntary admission
is made without the client's consent. Generally involuntary admission is necessary when the client is a
danger to self or others, is in need of psychiatric treatment, or is unable to meet his or her own needs.
, Voluntary admission is usually sought by the client or by the client's guardian. Clients who are
involuntarily admitted do not lose their right to informed consent.
The nurse is assigned to work with a client who has just been admitted to the mental health unit. Which
action should the nurse plan to take in the orientation or introductory phase of the nurse-client
relationship?
1. Establish a contract with the client
2. Increase the client's independence
3. Promote the use of constructive coping mechanisms
4. Refer and transfer the client to other sources of support - correct answer (1) The tasks of the
orientation or introductory phase of the nurse-client relationship are to establish trust, acceptance,
open communication, and formulate a mutual contract with the client. The contract begins with the
introduction of the nurse and client, the exchange of names, and the explanation of roles. Promotion of
the use of constructive coping mechanisms and increasing the client's independence are tasks of the
working phase. Referring and transferring the client to other sources of support is a task of the
termination or separation phase.
The nurse is talking to a client in the mental health unit. The client says, "I'm really angry with my
boyfriend about the things he says to me. Women always get put down, as if we don't matter or have
anything important to offer." Which response is the most appropriate one for the nurse to make?
1. "Tell me how you feel as a woman."
2. "I know how you feel. I see that happening with some of my friends."
3. "Yes, it's sad that women are treated that way. I guess we need to deal with it."
4. "Many women's groups are developing ways to deal with this. I'll give you the names and contact
numbers of some of these groups before you're discharged from the hospital." - correct answer (1)
Focusing helps a client expand on a topic of importance. It also helps the client become more specific,
move from vagueness to clarity, and concentrate on reality. The nurse should focus on the client's
verbalization of concern. Agreeing with the client and avoiding the issue does not address the client's
concern. Although the client may need to be provided with referrals to self-help or support groups
before discharge, offering the names and contact numbers of women's groups is not the most
appropriate response because it does not address the client's concern at the current time.
A client with claustrophobia is seen in the mental health clinic and is told that one treatment for the
disorder is systematic desensitization. When the client asks the nurse to describe the treatment, what
information does the nurse provide?
1. It involves focus on the consequence of a behavior.
Health Nursing questions with correct
answers
The nurse in a mental health clinic is interviewing a client who was referred to the clinic by the client's
primary health care provider. Which finding indicates to the nurse that the client needs assistance to
restore and maintain mental health?
1. The client has a positive self-concept.
2. The client identifies strengths and uses these for goal attainment.
3. The client has a distorted view of the world and communicates inappropriately.
4. The client identifies coping mechanisms used to successfully cope with threats to the self. - correct
answer (3) A client who experiences a disturbance in homeostasis as a result of a threat to the self and
experiences an alteration in reality may come to have a distorted view of the world and may
communicate inappropriately and inadequately. This psychic discomfort felt by the individual may be
manifested through various mental health problems such as adjustment disorders, psychophysiological
manifestations, psychotic disorders, and behaviors indicative of sensory deprivation. The remaining
options are all healthy mental health behaviors.
Two police officers arrive at the emergency department with a client who was been displaying violent
behavior in a local park. The police report to the nurse that they tried unsuccessfully to reason with the
client and that the client continued to direct violent behaviors at other individuals in the park. After a
thorough psychosocial assessment of the client, the health care provider determines that the client
requires emergency involuntary admission to the mental health facility. What determination does the
nurse make with regard to this type of admission?
1. It requires the client's consent.
2. It abrogates the client's right to informed consent.
3. It is normally sought by the client or the client's guardian.
4. It is necessary for a client who is a danger to self or others. - correct answer (4) Involuntary admission
is made without the client's consent. Generally involuntary admission is necessary when the client is a
danger to self or others, is in need of psychiatric treatment, or is unable to meet his or her own needs.
, Voluntary admission is usually sought by the client or by the client's guardian. Clients who are
involuntarily admitted do not lose their right to informed consent.
The nurse is assigned to work with a client who has just been admitted to the mental health unit. Which
action should the nurse plan to take in the orientation or introductory phase of the nurse-client
relationship?
1. Establish a contract with the client
2. Increase the client's independence
3. Promote the use of constructive coping mechanisms
4. Refer and transfer the client to other sources of support - correct answer (1) The tasks of the
orientation or introductory phase of the nurse-client relationship are to establish trust, acceptance,
open communication, and formulate a mutual contract with the client. The contract begins with the
introduction of the nurse and client, the exchange of names, and the explanation of roles. Promotion of
the use of constructive coping mechanisms and increasing the client's independence are tasks of the
working phase. Referring and transferring the client to other sources of support is a task of the
termination or separation phase.
The nurse is talking to a client in the mental health unit. The client says, "I'm really angry with my
boyfriend about the things he says to me. Women always get put down, as if we don't matter or have
anything important to offer." Which response is the most appropriate one for the nurse to make?
1. "Tell me how you feel as a woman."
2. "I know how you feel. I see that happening with some of my friends."
3. "Yes, it's sad that women are treated that way. I guess we need to deal with it."
4. "Many women's groups are developing ways to deal with this. I'll give you the names and contact
numbers of some of these groups before you're discharged from the hospital." - correct answer (1)
Focusing helps a client expand on a topic of importance. It also helps the client become more specific,
move from vagueness to clarity, and concentrate on reality. The nurse should focus on the client's
verbalization of concern. Agreeing with the client and avoiding the issue does not address the client's
concern. Although the client may need to be provided with referrals to self-help or support groups
before discharge, offering the names and contact numbers of women's groups is not the most
appropriate response because it does not address the client's concern at the current time.
A client with claustrophobia is seen in the mental health clinic and is told that one treatment for the
disorder is systematic desensitization. When the client asks the nurse to describe the treatment, what
information does the nurse provide?
1. It involves focus on the consequence of a behavior.
