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RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH FINAL EXAM 2025/2026 LATEST REAL
EXAM ALL 160 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS|A+GRADE
Verbal communication - ......ANSWER........Words we speak, clear, honest, convey interest
and understanding
Non-verbal communication - ......ANSWER........The tone and pitch of a person's voice and
the way a person paces speech
Body language
Physical appearance
Facial expressions
Body posture
Amount of eye contact
Eye cast (emotion expressed in the eyes)
Hand gestures
Sighs
Fidgeting
Yawning
Use of silence - ......ANSWER........When used properly, the use of silence can be an
effective tool in encouraging individuals to open.
Silence is not the absence of communication; it is a specific channel for transmitting and
receiving messages.
If the nurse waits to speak and allows the patient to break the silence, the patient may
share thoughts and feelings that would otherwise have been withheld.
Active listening - ......ANSWER........• Observing the patient's nonverbal behaviors
• Listening to and understanding the patient's verbal message
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• Listening to and understanding the person in the context of the social setting of his or her
life
• Listening for "false notes" (i.e., inconsistencies or things the patient says that need more
clarification)
• Providing the patient with feedback about himself or herself of which the patient might be
unaware
Restating - ......ANSWER........Repeats the main idea expressed. Gives the patient an idea
of what has been communicated. If the message has been misunderstood, the patient can
clarify it.
Patient: "I can't sleep. I stay awake all night." Nurse: "You have difficulty sleeping?" Patient:
"I don't know ... he always has some excuse for not coming over or keeping our
appointments." Nurse: "You think he no longer wants to see you?"
Reflecting - ......ANSWER........Directs questions, feelings, and ideas back to the patient.
Encourages the patient to accept his or her own ideas and feelings. Acknowledges the
patient's right to have opinions and make decisions and encourages the patient to think of
self as a capable person.
Patient: "What should I do about my husband's affair?" Nurse: "What do you think you
should do?" Patient: "My brother spends all of my money and then has the nerve to ask for
more." Nurse: "You feel angry when this happens?"
Exploring - ......ANSWER........Examines certain ideas, experiences, or relationships more
fully. If the patient chooses not to elaborate by answering no, the nurse does not probe or
pry. In such a case, the nurse respects the patient's wishes.
"Tell me more about that." "Would you describe it more fully?" "Could you talk about how it
was that you learned your mom was dying of cancer?"
Summarizing - ......ANSWER........Combines the important points of the discussion to
enhance understanding. Also allows the opportunity to clarify communications so that
both nurse and patient leave the interview with the same ideas in mind.
"Have I got this straight?" "You said that..." "During the past hour, you and I have
discussed..."
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Giving premature advice - ......ANSWER........Assumes the nurse knows best and the
patient cannot think for self. Inhibits problem solving and fosters dependency.
"Get out of this situation immediately."
Minimizing feelings - ......ANSWER........Indicates that the nurse is unable to understand or
empathize with the patient. The patient's feelings or experiences are being belittled, which
can cause the patient to feel small or insignificant.
Patient: "I wish I were dead." Nurse: "Everyone gets down in the dumps." "I know what you
mean." "You should feel happy you're getting better." "Things get worse before they get
better."
Making value judgments - ......ANSWER........Prevents problem solving. Can make the
patient feel guilty, angry, misunderstood, not supported, or anxious to leave.
"How come you still smoke when your wife has lung cancer?"
Asking "why" questions - ......ANSWER........Implies criticism; often has the effect of
making the patient feel defensive.
"Why did you stop taking your medication?"
Boundaries - ......ANSWER........A well-defined therapeutic relationship allows for the
establishment of clear patient boundaries that provide a safe space through which the
patient can explore feelings and treatment issues.
Boundaries are at risk of blurring, and a shift in the nurse-patient partnership may lead to
nontherapeutic dynamics. Examples of circumstances that can produce blurring of
boundaries include the following: • When the relationship slips into a social context •
When the nurse's needs are met at the expense of the patient's needs
Warning signals that indicate a nurse may be blurring boundaries - ......ANSWER........•
Overhelping: Doing for patients what they are able to do themselves or going beyond the
wishes or needs of patients
• Controlling: Asserting authority and assuming control of patients "for their own good"
• Narcissism: Having to find weakness, helplessness, and/or disease in patients to feel
helpful, at the expense of recognizing and supporting patients' healthier, stronger, and
more competent features
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Transference - ......ANSWER........The process whereby a person unconsciously and
inappropriately displaces (transfers) onto individuals in his or her current life those
patterns of behavior and emotional reactions that originated in relation to significant
figures in childhood. The patient may even say, "You remind me of my ______" (mother,
sister, father, brother)
Patient: "Oh, you are so high and mighty. Did anyone ever tell you that you are a cold,
unfeeling machine, just like others I know?"
Nurse: "Tell me about one person who is cold and unfeeling toward you." (In this example,
the patient is experiencing the nurse in the same way she did with significant other[s]
during her formative years. It turns out that the patient's mother was very aloof, leaving her
with feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and anger.)
Countertransference - ......ANSWER........The tendency of the nurse to displace onto the
patient feelings related to people in his or her past.
Frequently, the patient's transference to the nurse evokes countertransference feelings in
the nurse.
If the nurse feels either a strongly positive or a strongly negative reaction to a patient, the
feeling most often signals countertransference in the nurse. One common sign of
countertransference in the nurse is overidentification with the patient.
Pre-orientation phase - ......ANSWER........Prep work prior to going to clinicals
Getting the patients chart and being acclimated to their record PRIOR to meeting them.
Orientation phase - ......ANSWER........The first time you meet your patient. Interview
includes:
-Establishing rapport -Parameters of relationship -Formal/informal contract -
Confidentiality -BEGINNING of termination begins (timeframe set)
Working phase - ......ANSWER........• Maintain the relationship
• Gather further data
• Promote the patient's problem-solving skills, self-esteem, and use of language
• Facilitate behavioral change
RASMUSSEN MENTAL HEALTH FINAL EXAM 2025/2026 LATEST REAL
EXAM ALL 160 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS|A+GRADE
Verbal communication - ......ANSWER........Words we speak, clear, honest, convey interest
and understanding
Non-verbal communication - ......ANSWER........The tone and pitch of a person's voice and
the way a person paces speech
Body language
Physical appearance
Facial expressions
Body posture
Amount of eye contact
Eye cast (emotion expressed in the eyes)
Hand gestures
Sighs
Fidgeting
Yawning
Use of silence - ......ANSWER........When used properly, the use of silence can be an
effective tool in encouraging individuals to open.
Silence is not the absence of communication; it is a specific channel for transmitting and
receiving messages.
If the nurse waits to speak and allows the patient to break the silence, the patient may
share thoughts and feelings that would otherwise have been withheld.
Active listening - ......ANSWER........• Observing the patient's nonverbal behaviors
• Listening to and understanding the patient's verbal message
,2 of 37
• Listening to and understanding the person in the context of the social setting of his or her
life
• Listening for "false notes" (i.e., inconsistencies or things the patient says that need more
clarification)
• Providing the patient with feedback about himself or herself of which the patient might be
unaware
Restating - ......ANSWER........Repeats the main idea expressed. Gives the patient an idea
of what has been communicated. If the message has been misunderstood, the patient can
clarify it.
Patient: "I can't sleep. I stay awake all night." Nurse: "You have difficulty sleeping?" Patient:
"I don't know ... he always has some excuse for not coming over or keeping our
appointments." Nurse: "You think he no longer wants to see you?"
Reflecting - ......ANSWER........Directs questions, feelings, and ideas back to the patient.
Encourages the patient to accept his or her own ideas and feelings. Acknowledges the
patient's right to have opinions and make decisions and encourages the patient to think of
self as a capable person.
Patient: "What should I do about my husband's affair?" Nurse: "What do you think you
should do?" Patient: "My brother spends all of my money and then has the nerve to ask for
more." Nurse: "You feel angry when this happens?"
Exploring - ......ANSWER........Examines certain ideas, experiences, or relationships more
fully. If the patient chooses not to elaborate by answering no, the nurse does not probe or
pry. In such a case, the nurse respects the patient's wishes.
"Tell me more about that." "Would you describe it more fully?" "Could you talk about how it
was that you learned your mom was dying of cancer?"
Summarizing - ......ANSWER........Combines the important points of the discussion to
enhance understanding. Also allows the opportunity to clarify communications so that
both nurse and patient leave the interview with the same ideas in mind.
"Have I got this straight?" "You said that..." "During the past hour, you and I have
discussed..."
,3 of 37
Giving premature advice - ......ANSWER........Assumes the nurse knows best and the
patient cannot think for self. Inhibits problem solving and fosters dependency.
"Get out of this situation immediately."
Minimizing feelings - ......ANSWER........Indicates that the nurse is unable to understand or
empathize with the patient. The patient's feelings or experiences are being belittled, which
can cause the patient to feel small or insignificant.
Patient: "I wish I were dead." Nurse: "Everyone gets down in the dumps." "I know what you
mean." "You should feel happy you're getting better." "Things get worse before they get
better."
Making value judgments - ......ANSWER........Prevents problem solving. Can make the
patient feel guilty, angry, misunderstood, not supported, or anxious to leave.
"How come you still smoke when your wife has lung cancer?"
Asking "why" questions - ......ANSWER........Implies criticism; often has the effect of
making the patient feel defensive.
"Why did you stop taking your medication?"
Boundaries - ......ANSWER........A well-defined therapeutic relationship allows for the
establishment of clear patient boundaries that provide a safe space through which the
patient can explore feelings and treatment issues.
Boundaries are at risk of blurring, and a shift in the nurse-patient partnership may lead to
nontherapeutic dynamics. Examples of circumstances that can produce blurring of
boundaries include the following: • When the relationship slips into a social context •
When the nurse's needs are met at the expense of the patient's needs
Warning signals that indicate a nurse may be blurring boundaries - ......ANSWER........•
Overhelping: Doing for patients what they are able to do themselves or going beyond the
wishes or needs of patients
• Controlling: Asserting authority and assuming control of patients "for their own good"
• Narcissism: Having to find weakness, helplessness, and/or disease in patients to feel
helpful, at the expense of recognizing and supporting patients' healthier, stronger, and
more competent features
, 4 of 37
Transference - ......ANSWER........The process whereby a person unconsciously and
inappropriately displaces (transfers) onto individuals in his or her current life those
patterns of behavior and emotional reactions that originated in relation to significant
figures in childhood. The patient may even say, "You remind me of my ______" (mother,
sister, father, brother)
Patient: "Oh, you are so high and mighty. Did anyone ever tell you that you are a cold,
unfeeling machine, just like others I know?"
Nurse: "Tell me about one person who is cold and unfeeling toward you." (In this example,
the patient is experiencing the nurse in the same way she did with significant other[s]
during her formative years. It turns out that the patient's mother was very aloof, leaving her
with feelings of isolation, worthlessness, and anger.)
Countertransference - ......ANSWER........The tendency of the nurse to displace onto the
patient feelings related to people in his or her past.
Frequently, the patient's transference to the nurse evokes countertransference feelings in
the nurse.
If the nurse feels either a strongly positive or a strongly negative reaction to a patient, the
feeling most often signals countertransference in the nurse. One common sign of
countertransference in the nurse is overidentification with the patient.
Pre-orientation phase - ......ANSWER........Prep work prior to going to clinicals
Getting the patients chart and being acclimated to their record PRIOR to meeting them.
Orientation phase - ......ANSWER........The first time you meet your patient. Interview
includes:
-Establishing rapport -Parameters of relationship -Formal/informal contract -
Confidentiality -BEGINNING of termination begins (timeframe set)
Working phase - ......ANSWER........• Maintain the relationship
• Gather further data
• Promote the patient's problem-solving skills, self-esteem, and use of language
• Facilitate behavioral change
