MENTAL HEALTH NURSING 2026 ACTUAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(MULTIPLE CHOICES) WITH RATIONALES
1. What is meant by the term "revolving door effect" in mental health care?
An overall reduction in incidence of severe mental illness
Shorter and more frequent hospital stays for persons
with severe and persistent mental illness C) Flexible treatment settings for
mentally ill
D) Most effective and least expensive treatment settings
-Correct ANS- B
Rationale
The revolving door effect refers to shorter, but more frequent, hospital stays.
Clients are quickly discharged into the community where services are not
adequate; without adequate community services, clients become acutely ill and
require rehospitalization. The revolving door effect does not refer to flexible
treatment settings for mentally ill. Even though hospitalization is more expensive
than outpatient treatment, if utilized appropriately could result in stabilization
and less need for emergency department visits and/or rehospitalization. The
revolving door effect does not relate to the incidence of severe mental illness
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that
apply.
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors. C) Social/cultural factors that
relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships.
Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with
daily life.
Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self. -Correct ANS- A, D, E
Rationale
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors.
Excessive dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal
factors that relate to mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can
, feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable
in other cultures.
It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior
and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. -Correct ANS- C
Rationale
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another
society may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and
mental illness are difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a
state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying
interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept,
and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may be mentally
healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor
that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally
ill because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
"You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain."
"You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
"Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
"Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." -
Correct ANS- B
Rationale
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must
not be culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not
considered mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately
address the client's concerns.
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(MULTIPLE CHOICES) WITH RATIONALES
1. What is meant by the term "revolving door effect" in mental health care?
An overall reduction in incidence of severe mental illness
Shorter and more frequent hospital stays for persons
with severe and persistent mental illness C) Flexible treatment settings for
mentally ill
D) Most effective and least expensive treatment settings
-Correct ANS- B
Rationale
The revolving door effect refers to shorter, but more frequent, hospital stays.
Clients are quickly discharged into the community where services are not
adequate; without adequate community services, clients become acutely ill and
require rehospitalization. The revolving door effect does not refer to flexible
treatment settings for mentally ill. Even though hospitalization is more expensive
than outpatient treatment, if utilized appropriately could result in stabilization
and less need for emergency department visits and/or rehospitalization. The
revolving door effect does not relate to the incidence of severe mental illness
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that
apply.
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors. C) Social/cultural factors that
relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships.
Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with
daily life.
Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self. -Correct ANS- A, D, E
Rationale
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors.
Excessive dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal
factors that relate to mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can
, feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable
in other cultures.
It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior
and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. -Correct ANS- C
Rationale
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another
society may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and
mental illness are difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a
state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying
interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept,
and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may be mentally
healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor
that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally
ill because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
"You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain."
"You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
"Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
"Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." -
Correct ANS- B
Rationale
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must
not be culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not
considered mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately
address the client's concerns.
