Comprehensive Exam: Varcarolis Canadian Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Edition (Pollard, 2023) – 180
Mixed Questions with Rationales
1. A patient with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect and social withdrawal. The nurse’s
priority intervention is:
A. Encourage participation in social activities
B. Administer a PRN antipsychotic
C. Focus solely on physical care
D. Avoid interaction to respect personal space
Answer: A
Rationale: Encouraging social interaction helps reduce isolation and improves
engagement.
2. Which model integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in patient care?
A. Biomedical model
B. Biopsychosocial model
C. Psychoanalytic model
D. Cognitive-behavioral model
Answer: B
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model addresses the interplay of biological,
psychological, and social influences on health.
3. Which nursing action demonstrates therapeutic use of self?
A. Sharing personal problems with the patient
B. Maintaining professional empathy and communication
C. Giving advice based on personal beliefs
D. Avoiding patient interaction to reduce risk
,Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic use of self involves empathy and professional communication.
4. A patient in acute mania is highly distractible. The nurse should:
A. Assign multiple tasks simultaneously
B. Provide clear, simple instructions
C. Avoid setting limits
D. Allow unlimited activity
Answer: B
Rationale: Clear, simple instructions help manage distractibility in mania.
5. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with depression?
A. Dopamine deficiency
B. Serotonin and norepinephrine deficiency
C. Acetylcholine excess
D. GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Low serotonin and norepinephrine levels are linked to depressive symptoms.
6. In crisis intervention, the nurse’s first priority is:
A. Identifying long-term goals
B. Ensuring patient safety
C. Scheduling therapy sessions
D. Exploring past traumas
Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the first priority in a crisis situation.
,7. Which behavior indicates a patient may be experiencing psychosis?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Hallucinations or delusions
C. Mild anxiety
D. Occasional forgetfulness
Answer: B
Rationale: Hallucinations and delusions are hallmark symptoms of psychosis.
8. Which intervention is most effective for a patient with panic disorder?
A. Encouraging avoidance of triggers
B. Teaching slow, deep breathing techniques
C. Prescribing high-dose sedatives only
D. Ignoring symptoms to reduce reinforcement
Answer: B
Rationale: Slow, deep breathing helps reduce hyperventilation and panic symptoms.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient with borderline personality disorder. A priority is:
A. Promoting emotional regulation and consistent boundaries
B. Encouraging complete independence immediately
C. Avoiding confrontation at all costs
D. Limiting all social interaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Consistent boundaries and support for emotional regulation reduce self-harm
risk.
10. Which historical figure is associated with the development of moral treatment in
psychiatric care?
A. Dorothea Dix
, B. Philippe Pinel
C. Benjamin Rush
D. Hildegard Peplau
Answer: B
Rationale: Pinel advocated humane treatment of psychiatric patients in the 18th century.
11. Which assessment tool evaluates cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning?
A. Mental Status Examination (MSE)
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Beck Depression Inventory
D. Mini Nutritional Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The MSE assesses mental functioning comprehensively.
12. A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports flashbacks. The nurse
should:
A. Encourage discussion of trauma triggers in a safe environment
B. Avoid the topic to prevent distress
C. Focus solely on medication management
D. Advise the patient to “forget” the trauma
Answer: A
Rationale: Safe discussion of trauma promotes coping and recovery.
13. Which medication class is commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders?
A. Antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Mood stabilizers
Mental Health Nursing, 3rd Edition (Pollard, 2023) – 180
Mixed Questions with Rationales
1. A patient with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect and social withdrawal. The nurse’s
priority intervention is:
A. Encourage participation in social activities
B. Administer a PRN antipsychotic
C. Focus solely on physical care
D. Avoid interaction to respect personal space
Answer: A
Rationale: Encouraging social interaction helps reduce isolation and improves
engagement.
2. Which model integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in patient care?
A. Biomedical model
B. Biopsychosocial model
C. Psychoanalytic model
D. Cognitive-behavioral model
Answer: B
Rationale: The biopsychosocial model addresses the interplay of biological,
psychological, and social influences on health.
3. Which nursing action demonstrates therapeutic use of self?
A. Sharing personal problems with the patient
B. Maintaining professional empathy and communication
C. Giving advice based on personal beliefs
D. Avoiding patient interaction to reduce risk
,Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic use of self involves empathy and professional communication.
4. A patient in acute mania is highly distractible. The nurse should:
A. Assign multiple tasks simultaneously
B. Provide clear, simple instructions
C. Avoid setting limits
D. Allow unlimited activity
Answer: B
Rationale: Clear, simple instructions help manage distractibility in mania.
5. Which neurotransmitter imbalance is most associated with depression?
A. Dopamine deficiency
B. Serotonin and norepinephrine deficiency
C. Acetylcholine excess
D. GABA deficiency
Answer: B
Rationale: Low serotonin and norepinephrine levels are linked to depressive symptoms.
6. In crisis intervention, the nurse’s first priority is:
A. Identifying long-term goals
B. Ensuring patient safety
C. Scheduling therapy sessions
D. Exploring past traumas
Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the first priority in a crisis situation.
,7. Which behavior indicates a patient may be experiencing psychosis?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Hallucinations or delusions
C. Mild anxiety
D. Occasional forgetfulness
Answer: B
Rationale: Hallucinations and delusions are hallmark symptoms of psychosis.
8. Which intervention is most effective for a patient with panic disorder?
A. Encouraging avoidance of triggers
B. Teaching slow, deep breathing techniques
C. Prescribing high-dose sedatives only
D. Ignoring symptoms to reduce reinforcement
Answer: B
Rationale: Slow, deep breathing helps reduce hyperventilation and panic symptoms.
9. The nurse is caring for a patient with borderline personality disorder. A priority is:
A. Promoting emotional regulation and consistent boundaries
B. Encouraging complete independence immediately
C. Avoiding confrontation at all costs
D. Limiting all social interaction
Answer: A
Rationale: Consistent boundaries and support for emotional regulation reduce self-harm
risk.
10. Which historical figure is associated with the development of moral treatment in
psychiatric care?
A. Dorothea Dix
, B. Philippe Pinel
C. Benjamin Rush
D. Hildegard Peplau
Answer: B
Rationale: Pinel advocated humane treatment of psychiatric patients in the 18th century.
11. Which assessment tool evaluates cognitive, emotional, and behavioral functioning?
A. Mental Status Examination (MSE)
B. Glasgow Coma Scale
C. Beck Depression Inventory
D. Mini Nutritional Assessment
Answer: A
Rationale: The MSE assesses mental functioning comprehensively.
12. A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports flashbacks. The nurse
should:
A. Encourage discussion of trauma triggers in a safe environment
B. Avoid the topic to prevent distress
C. Focus solely on medication management
D. Advise the patient to “forget” the trauma
Answer: A
Rationale: Safe discussion of trauma promotes coping and recovery.
13. Which medication class is commonly prescribed for anxiety disorders?
A. Antipsychotics
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Mood stabilizers
