Real Life RN Mental Health 3.0
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in mental health nursing?
✔✔The primary goal is to build trust, encourage self-expression, and promote emotional healing
by actively listening and responding empathetically.
How should a nurse respond if a patient says, "I don’t deserve to live"?
✔✔The nurse should validate the patient’s feelings while expressing concern: "That sounds
really painful. You’re important, and I’m here to help you."
What is the most critical intervention for a patient experiencing a panic attack?
✔✔Stay calm, provide a quiet space, and guide slow, deep breathing to reduce hyperventilation
and anxiety.
Why is establishing boundaries important in nurse-patient relationships?
✔✔Boundaries maintain professionalism, prevent dependency, and protect both the nurse and
patient from emotional harm.
1
,What is the first sign of lithium toxicity?
✔✔Fine tremors, nausea, or mild confusion often appear before severe symptoms like seizures
or coma.
How can a nurse help a patient with depression improve self-esteem?
✔✔Encourage small, achievable goals and provide positive reinforcement for accomplishments,
no matter how minor.
What is the nurse’s priority when a patient with bipolar disorder starts talking rapidly and
pacing?
✔✔Assess for safety risks (e.g., impulsivity, exhaustion) and reduce environmental stimuli to
prevent escalation.
What is a key symptom of serotonin syndrome?
✔✔Agitation, hyperthermia, clonus (muscle spasms), and autonomic instability (e.g., rapid heart
rate).
How should a nurse approach a patient with paranoid delusions?
2
,✔✔Avoid challenging beliefs directly; instead, focus on the emotions behind them (e.g., "That
sounds scary. How can I help you feel safe?").
What is the purpose of a mental status exam (MSE)?
✔✔To assess cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning systematically (e.g., appearance,
speech, mood, thought content).
Why is PRN medication used cautiously in mental health settings?
✔✔To avoid over-sedation or masking underlying symptoms that need therapeutic intervention.
What is the most common trigger for relapse in substance use disorders?
✔✔Stress or exposure to environments/people associated with past substance use.
How does trauma-informed care influence nursing interventions?
✔✔It prioritizes safety, empowerment, and sensitivity to avoid retraumatizing patients.
What is the nurse’s role in suicide prevention?
3
, ✔✔Monitor risk factors, create a safety plan, and ensure continuous observation for high-risk
patients.
What behavior suggests improvement in a patient with anorexia nervosa?
✔✔Consistently eating meals without coercion and discussing body image more realistically.
Why is group therapy effective for addiction recovery?
✔✔It reduces isolation, builds peer support, and encourages accountability through shared
experiences.
What is the biggest barrier to treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder?
✔✔Fear of abandonment leading to resistance or hostility toward caregivers.
How does exercise benefit patients with anxiety disorders?
✔✔It reduces cortisol levels and increases endorphins, improving mood and stress tolerance.
What is the safest response to a patient’s auditory hallucinations?
4
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in mental health nursing?
✔✔The primary goal is to build trust, encourage self-expression, and promote emotional healing
by actively listening and responding empathetically.
How should a nurse respond if a patient says, "I don’t deserve to live"?
✔✔The nurse should validate the patient’s feelings while expressing concern: "That sounds
really painful. You’re important, and I’m here to help you."
What is the most critical intervention for a patient experiencing a panic attack?
✔✔Stay calm, provide a quiet space, and guide slow, deep breathing to reduce hyperventilation
and anxiety.
Why is establishing boundaries important in nurse-patient relationships?
✔✔Boundaries maintain professionalism, prevent dependency, and protect both the nurse and
patient from emotional harm.
1
,What is the first sign of lithium toxicity?
✔✔Fine tremors, nausea, or mild confusion often appear before severe symptoms like seizures
or coma.
How can a nurse help a patient with depression improve self-esteem?
✔✔Encourage small, achievable goals and provide positive reinforcement for accomplishments,
no matter how minor.
What is the nurse’s priority when a patient with bipolar disorder starts talking rapidly and
pacing?
✔✔Assess for safety risks (e.g., impulsivity, exhaustion) and reduce environmental stimuli to
prevent escalation.
What is a key symptom of serotonin syndrome?
✔✔Agitation, hyperthermia, clonus (muscle spasms), and autonomic instability (e.g., rapid heart
rate).
How should a nurse approach a patient with paranoid delusions?
2
,✔✔Avoid challenging beliefs directly; instead, focus on the emotions behind them (e.g., "That
sounds scary. How can I help you feel safe?").
What is the purpose of a mental status exam (MSE)?
✔✔To assess cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning systematically (e.g., appearance,
speech, mood, thought content).
Why is PRN medication used cautiously in mental health settings?
✔✔To avoid over-sedation or masking underlying symptoms that need therapeutic intervention.
What is the most common trigger for relapse in substance use disorders?
✔✔Stress or exposure to environments/people associated with past substance use.
How does trauma-informed care influence nursing interventions?
✔✔It prioritizes safety, empowerment, and sensitivity to avoid retraumatizing patients.
What is the nurse’s role in suicide prevention?
3
, ✔✔Monitor risk factors, create a safety plan, and ensure continuous observation for high-risk
patients.
What behavior suggests improvement in a patient with anorexia nervosa?
✔✔Consistently eating meals without coercion and discussing body image more realistically.
Why is group therapy effective for addiction recovery?
✔✔It reduces isolation, builds peer support, and encourages accountability through shared
experiences.
What is the biggest barrier to treatment for patients with borderline personality disorder?
✔✔Fear of abandonment leading to resistance or hostility toward caregivers.
How does exercise benefit patients with anxiety disorders?
✔✔It reduces cortisol levels and increases endorphins, improving mood and stress tolerance.
What is the safest response to a patient’s auditory hallucinations?
4
