NUR 256 Exam 1 Mental Health Nursing
() PDF Actual Questions & Answers
Galen College of Nursing
1. Which statement best describes mental health?
A. The absence of all emotional problems
B. A state of well-being that supports coping and functioning
C. The ability to avoid stressful situations
D. Complete independence from others
Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health involves emotional, psychological, and social well-being and the ability
to cope with normal life stresses.
2. Which nursing action best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Giving advice immediately
B. Changing the subject when the patient becomes emotional
C. Encouraging the patient to describe feelings
D. Telling the patient how the nurse would handle the problem
Answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging expression of feelings allows the patient to explore concerns without
judgment.
3. A patient says, “Nobody understands what I'm going through.” Which response is most
therapeutic?
A. “You shouldn't feel that way.”
B. “Other people have worse problems.”
C. “Tell me more about what you're experiencing.”
D. “I'm sure everything will work out.”
Answer: C
Rationale: “Tell me more” is an open-ended response that encourages further discussion.
,4. Which communication technique should the psychiatric nurse avoid?
A. Silence
B. Reflection
C. Giving false reassurance
D. Clarification
Answer: C
Rationale: False reassurance can minimize the patient's concerns and interfere with trust.
5. A patient begins crying during an interview. What should the nurse do first?
A. Leave the room
B. Offer immediate advice
C. Allow the patient time to express emotions
D. Tell the patient to stop crying
Answer: C
Rationale: Allowing appropriate emotional expression is therapeutic and communicates
acceptance.
6. Which statement is an example of reflection?
A. “Why are you angry?”
B. “You seem to be feeling angry.”
C. “You should talk to your family.”
D. “Everything will be okay.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Reflection directs the patient's feelings or ideas back to them for further exploration.
7. The nurse asks, “What do you mean when you say you feel unsafe?” This is an example of:
A. Clarification
B. Advice-giving
C. Confrontation
D. Reassurance
Answer: A
Rationale: Clarification helps the nurse understand an unclear or ambiguous statement.
,8. Which action is most important when beginning a therapeutic relationship?
A. Establishing trust
B. Giving the patient advice
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Promising confidentiality under all circumstances
Answer: A
Rationale: Trust provides the foundation for effective therapeutic relationships.
9. Which phase of the therapeutic relationship involves establishing trust and identifying
problems?
A. Working
B. Termination
C. Orientation
D. Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: During orientation, the nurse and patient establish rapport, identify concerns, and
develop goals.
10. During which phase does the nurse and patient work toward identified goals?
A. Orientation
B. Working
C. Termination
D. Preinteraction
Answer: B
Rationale: The working phase focuses on addressing problems and achieving therapeutic goals.
11. The termination phase is characterized by:
A. Establishing the nurse-patient contract
B. Beginning assessment
C. Reviewing progress and preparing for separation
D. Identifying the patient's diagnosis
, Answer: C
Rationale: Termination involves reviewing progress, discussing feelings about ending the
relationship, and preparing for separation.
12. Which behavior represents a boundary violation?
A. Maintaining appropriate eye contact
B. Accepting an expensive gift from a patient
C. Maintaining confidentiality
D. Using therapeutic silence
Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting expensive gifts can create conflicts of interest and blur professional
boundaries.
13. The nurse should maintain professional boundaries primarily to:
A. Control the patient's behavior
B. Protect the therapeutic relationship
C. Prevent patients from asking questions
D. Reduce documentation
Answer: B
Rationale: Professional boundaries protect both patient and nurse and preserve the therapeutic
nature of the relationship.
14. Which statement demonstrates empathy?
A. “I know exactly how you feel.”
B. “You need to stop worrying.”
C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
D. “My experience was much worse.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and acknowledging another person's experience
without claiming to have the exact same experience.
15. Sympathy differs from empathy because sympathy involves:
A. Understanding another person's perspective
() PDF Actual Questions & Answers
Galen College of Nursing
1. Which statement best describes mental health?
A. The absence of all emotional problems
B. A state of well-being that supports coping and functioning
C. The ability to avoid stressful situations
D. Complete independence from others
Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health involves emotional, psychological, and social well-being and the ability
to cope with normal life stresses.
2. Which nursing action best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Giving advice immediately
B. Changing the subject when the patient becomes emotional
C. Encouraging the patient to describe feelings
D. Telling the patient how the nurse would handle the problem
Answer: C
Rationale: Encouraging expression of feelings allows the patient to explore concerns without
judgment.
3. A patient says, “Nobody understands what I'm going through.” Which response is most
therapeutic?
A. “You shouldn't feel that way.”
B. “Other people have worse problems.”
C. “Tell me more about what you're experiencing.”
D. “I'm sure everything will work out.”
Answer: C
Rationale: “Tell me more” is an open-ended response that encourages further discussion.
,4. Which communication technique should the psychiatric nurse avoid?
A. Silence
B. Reflection
C. Giving false reassurance
D. Clarification
Answer: C
Rationale: False reassurance can minimize the patient's concerns and interfere with trust.
5. A patient begins crying during an interview. What should the nurse do first?
A. Leave the room
B. Offer immediate advice
C. Allow the patient time to express emotions
D. Tell the patient to stop crying
Answer: C
Rationale: Allowing appropriate emotional expression is therapeutic and communicates
acceptance.
6. Which statement is an example of reflection?
A. “Why are you angry?”
B. “You seem to be feeling angry.”
C. “You should talk to your family.”
D. “Everything will be okay.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Reflection directs the patient's feelings or ideas back to them for further exploration.
7. The nurse asks, “What do you mean when you say you feel unsafe?” This is an example of:
A. Clarification
B. Advice-giving
C. Confrontation
D. Reassurance
Answer: A
Rationale: Clarification helps the nurse understand an unclear or ambiguous statement.
,8. Which action is most important when beginning a therapeutic relationship?
A. Establishing trust
B. Giving the patient advice
C. Sharing personal experiences
D. Promising confidentiality under all circumstances
Answer: A
Rationale: Trust provides the foundation for effective therapeutic relationships.
9. Which phase of the therapeutic relationship involves establishing trust and identifying
problems?
A. Working
B. Termination
C. Orientation
D. Evaluation
Answer: C
Rationale: During orientation, the nurse and patient establish rapport, identify concerns, and
develop goals.
10. During which phase does the nurse and patient work toward identified goals?
A. Orientation
B. Working
C. Termination
D. Preinteraction
Answer: B
Rationale: The working phase focuses on addressing problems and achieving therapeutic goals.
11. The termination phase is characterized by:
A. Establishing the nurse-patient contract
B. Beginning assessment
C. Reviewing progress and preparing for separation
D. Identifying the patient's diagnosis
, Answer: C
Rationale: Termination involves reviewing progress, discussing feelings about ending the
relationship, and preparing for separation.
12. Which behavior represents a boundary violation?
A. Maintaining appropriate eye contact
B. Accepting an expensive gift from a patient
C. Maintaining confidentiality
D. Using therapeutic silence
Answer: B
Rationale: Accepting expensive gifts can create conflicts of interest and blur professional
boundaries.
13. The nurse should maintain professional boundaries primarily to:
A. Control the patient's behavior
B. Protect the therapeutic relationship
C. Prevent patients from asking questions
D. Reduce documentation
Answer: B
Rationale: Professional boundaries protect both patient and nurse and preserve the therapeutic
nature of the relationship.
14. Which statement demonstrates empathy?
A. “I know exactly how you feel.”
B. “You need to stop worrying.”
C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
D. “My experience was much worse.”
Answer: C
Rationale: Empathy involves understanding and acknowledging another person's experience
without claiming to have the exact same experience.
15. Sympathy differs from empathy because sympathy involves:
A. Understanding another person's perspective
