VARCAROLIS FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCH-MENTAL NURSING CHAPTER 1
EXAM LATEST 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED 100%
SOLUTIONS (2026/2027) |A+ GRADED |GUARANTEED PASS
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
B. prescribe psychotropic medication
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning
When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses "lose all their
nursing skills," the best response by the mental health nurse is:
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me."
B. psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.
1|Page
, The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing,
though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with
medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other
specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial
pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with mental
illness, a group of nurses writes letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the
legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
C. advocacy
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand
their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public
speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is
necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-writing
campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own
needs.
Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
2|Page
EXAM LATEST 2026 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED 100%
SOLUTIONS (2026/2027) |A+ GRADED |GUARANTEED PASS
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
B. prescribe psychotropic medication
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning
When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses "lose all their
nursing skills," the best response by the mental health nurse is:
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient
ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me."
B. psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.
1|Page
, The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing,
though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with
medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other
specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial
pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with mental
illness, a group of nurses writes letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the
legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
C. advocacy
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand
their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public
speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is
necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-writing
campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own
needs.
Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
2|Page
