Mental Health Midterm Study Guide
1. A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
d. level of anxiety.
Rationale: The SAD PERSONS tool evaluates 10 major risk factors in suicide potential: sex, age, depression,
previous attempt, ethanol use, rational think- ing loss, social supports lacking, organized plan, no spouse, and
sickness.
The tool does not have categories to provide information on the other options listed.: C
2. A male patient calls to tell the nurse that his monthly lithium level is 17 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention will the nurse implement initially?
a. Reinforce that the level is considered therapeutic.
b. Instruct the patient to hold the next dose of medication and contact the prescriber.
c. Have the patient go to the hospital emergency room immediately.
d. Alert the patient to the possibility of seizures and appropriate precautions.-
:B
3. Nurses have the opportunity to develop a therapeutic relationship with a patient, when the focus of the
,interactions are based on
which concepts? (select all that apply)
A. Patient's support system
B. Patient concerns
C. Patient's psychiatric diagnosis
D. Patient experiences
E. Patient feelings
Rationale: The basis of the therapeutic relationship is when the nurse's inter- action address the patients needs,
concerns, experiences and feelings.: B, D, E
4. Which factors are essential for development of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship? (Select All That
Apply)
A. Sympathy
B. Genuineness
C. Empathy
D. Values clarification
E. Positive regard
Rationale: Vital components for establishing a therapeutic relationship is genuineness, empathy and positive
regard.: B, C, E
5. Culturally competent care means that nurses adjust their practices to meet their patient's cultural beliefs,
,practices, needs and preferences. Cultural com- petence consists of five constructs: cultural awareness, cultural
knowledge, cultural encounters, cultural skill, and cultural desire. To provide culturally competent care, the
nurse should
a. accurately interpret the thinking of individual patients.
b. predict how a patient may perceive treatment interventions.
c. formulate interventions to reduce the patient's ethnocentrism.
d. identify strategies that fit within the cultural context of the patient.
Rationale: The correct answer is the most global response. Cultural compe- tence requires ongoing effort. Culture
dynamic, diversified, and changing. The nurse must be prepared to gain cultural knowledge and determine nursing
care measures that patients find acceptable and helpful.: D
6. When considering culturally competent care for a Muslim patient diagnosed with cardiac problems, which
intervention is particularly important to imple- ment initially when a low fat diet is prescribed?
a. Requesting a dietary consult
b. Identifying dietary considerations
c. Explaining the importance of a low fat diet
d. Including the family in conversation about food preparation
Rationale: Interpreting the thinking of individual patients does not ensure culturally: B
7. Which nursing actions demonstrate cultural competence? Select all that apply.
a. Planning mealtime around the patient's prayer schedule
, b. Helping a patient to visit with the hospital chaplain
c. Researching foods that a lacto-ovo-vegetarian patient will eat
d. Providing time for a patient's spiritual healer to visit
e. Ordering standard meal trays to be delivered three times daily: A, B, C, D
8. Which intervention best demonstrates that a nurse correctly understands the cultural needs of a hospitalized
Asian American patient diagnosed with a mental illness?
a. Encouraging the family to attend community support groups
b. Involving the patient's family to assist with activities of daily living
c. Providing educational pamphlets to explain the patient's mental illness
d. Restricting homemade herbal remedies the family brings to the hospital
Rationale: The Asian community values the family in caring for each other. The Asian community uses traditional
medicines and healers, including herbs for mental symptoms. The Asian community describes illness in somatic
terms. The Asian community attaches a stigma to mental illness, so interfacing with the community would not be
appealing.: B
9. When the nurse views the lab results, of an Asian patient's blood lithium level, it is noted the lithium level is
not within therapeutic
range. How can the results of the lab work be explained?
A. Patients of different cultural groups may metabolize medications at differ- ent rates.
B. The physician ordered the wrong dose.
1. A nurse uses the SAD PERSONS scale to interview a patient. This tool provides data relevant to
a. current stress level.
b. mood disturbance.
c. suicide potential.
d. level of anxiety.
Rationale: The SAD PERSONS tool evaluates 10 major risk factors in suicide potential: sex, age, depression,
previous attempt, ethanol use, rational think- ing loss, social supports lacking, organized plan, no spouse, and
sickness.
The tool does not have categories to provide information on the other options listed.: C
2. A male patient calls to tell the nurse that his monthly lithium level is 17 mEq/L. Which nursing
intervention will the nurse implement initially?
a. Reinforce that the level is considered therapeutic.
b. Instruct the patient to hold the next dose of medication and contact the prescriber.
c. Have the patient go to the hospital emergency room immediately.
d. Alert the patient to the possibility of seizures and appropriate precautions.-
:B
3. Nurses have the opportunity to develop a therapeutic relationship with a patient, when the focus of the
,interactions are based on
which concepts? (select all that apply)
A. Patient's support system
B. Patient concerns
C. Patient's psychiatric diagnosis
D. Patient experiences
E. Patient feelings
Rationale: The basis of the therapeutic relationship is when the nurse's inter- action address the patients needs,
concerns, experiences and feelings.: B, D, E
4. Which factors are essential for development of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship? (Select All That
Apply)
A. Sympathy
B. Genuineness
C. Empathy
D. Values clarification
E. Positive regard
Rationale: Vital components for establishing a therapeutic relationship is genuineness, empathy and positive
regard.: B, C, E
5. Culturally competent care means that nurses adjust their practices to meet their patient's cultural beliefs,
,practices, needs and preferences. Cultural com- petence consists of five constructs: cultural awareness, cultural
knowledge, cultural encounters, cultural skill, and cultural desire. To provide culturally competent care, the
nurse should
a. accurately interpret the thinking of individual patients.
b. predict how a patient may perceive treatment interventions.
c. formulate interventions to reduce the patient's ethnocentrism.
d. identify strategies that fit within the cultural context of the patient.
Rationale: The correct answer is the most global response. Cultural compe- tence requires ongoing effort. Culture
dynamic, diversified, and changing. The nurse must be prepared to gain cultural knowledge and determine nursing
care measures that patients find acceptable and helpful.: D
6. When considering culturally competent care for a Muslim patient diagnosed with cardiac problems, which
intervention is particularly important to imple- ment initially when a low fat diet is prescribed?
a. Requesting a dietary consult
b. Identifying dietary considerations
c. Explaining the importance of a low fat diet
d. Including the family in conversation about food preparation
Rationale: Interpreting the thinking of individual patients does not ensure culturally: B
7. Which nursing actions demonstrate cultural competence? Select all that apply.
a. Planning mealtime around the patient's prayer schedule
, b. Helping a patient to visit with the hospital chaplain
c. Researching foods that a lacto-ovo-vegetarian patient will eat
d. Providing time for a patient's spiritual healer to visit
e. Ordering standard meal trays to be delivered three times daily: A, B, C, D
8. Which intervention best demonstrates that a nurse correctly understands the cultural needs of a hospitalized
Asian American patient diagnosed with a mental illness?
a. Encouraging the family to attend community support groups
b. Involving the patient's family to assist with activities of daily living
c. Providing educational pamphlets to explain the patient's mental illness
d. Restricting homemade herbal remedies the family brings to the hospital
Rationale: The Asian community values the family in caring for each other. The Asian community uses traditional
medicines and healers, including herbs for mental symptoms. The Asian community describes illness in somatic
terms. The Asian community attaches a stigma to mental illness, so interfacing with the community would not be
appealing.: B
9. When the nurse views the lab results, of an Asian patient's blood lithium level, it is noted the lithium level is
not within therapeutic
range. How can the results of the lab work be explained?
A. Patients of different cultural groups may metabolize medications at differ- ent rates.
B. The physician ordered the wrong dose.
