PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Introduction / Psychiatric Nursing Practice
Stem: A patient admitted to the psychiatric unit is restless and
repeatedly asks the nurse about the plan of care. The nurse
knows the patient’s verbalizations reflect anxiety about the
unknown. Which nursing action best demonstrates use of
therapeutic communication and promotes patient
engagement?
,A. Provide a detailed, minute-by-minute schedule for the entire
hospitalization.
B. Acknowledge the patient’s concerns, offer a brief outline of
the next steps, and arrange to review the plan in depth soon.
C. Redirect the patient to another activity and tell them staff
will explain later.
D. Tell the patient that frequent questions are typical and to
limit questioning to visiting hours.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B): Acknowledging concerns and offering
a concise, realistic outline uses therapeutic communication and
reduces anxiety while respecting the patient’s need for
information. It promotes trust and engagement and sets the
stage for collaborative care planning consistent with patient-
centered psychiatric nursing.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Too detailed immediately may overwhelm and is impractical;
information should be paced.
C. Redirecting without acknowledging concerns invalidates
emotions and may increase anxiety.
D. Minimizing questions or imposing limits without rationale
undermines therapeutic relationship and autonomy.
Teaching point: Validate concerns, provide concise plan
information, and schedule fuller discussion.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction — Mental Health and Mental
Illness
Stem: A 28-year-old patient expresses shame about receiving a
mental health diagnosis and worries colleagues will think less of
them. The nurse recognizes stigma’s effect on recovery. What is
the nurse’s best immediate response to address stigma and
support recovery?
A. Explain that most people recover quickly and that stigma is
not common.
B. Encourage the patient to avoid telling anyone about the
diagnosis to prevent stigma.
C. Explore the patient’s specific fears about stigma, validate
feelings, and collaborate on strategies for disclosure and
support.
D. Recommend the patient read general information online to
see that their concerns are unfounded.
Correct answer: C
Rationale — Correct (C): Exploring specific fears and validating
feelings addresses the emotional impact of stigma and supports
individualized coping and disclosure strategies—key elements
of recovery-oriented psychiatric nursing. Collaborative planning
empowers the patient and preserves autonomy.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Minimizing or generalizing recovery downplays the patient’s
, real concerns and may erode trust.
B. Advising secrecy without exploring options undermines
autonomy and may isolate the patient.
D. Suggesting generic online reading is impersonal and may not
address the patient’s immediate emotional needs.
Teaching point: Validate stigma-related concerns and
collaborate on disclosure and support strategies.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Mental Health and Mental Illness —
Assessment & Adaptive Functioning
Stem: A client with a history of major depressive disorder
reports difficulty concentrating at work. The nurse must
determine functional impact to inform the plan of care. Which
question best elicits clinically useful information about adaptive
functioning?
A. “Do you feel sad?”
B. “How has your concentration affected your ability to
complete tasks at work this week?”
C. “Have you read anything about concentration problems?”
D. “Do you sleep more than usual?”
Correct answer: B
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Introduction / Psychiatric Nursing Practice
Stem: A patient admitted to the psychiatric unit is restless and
repeatedly asks the nurse about the plan of care. The nurse
knows the patient’s verbalizations reflect anxiety about the
unknown. Which nursing action best demonstrates use of
therapeutic communication and promotes patient
engagement?
,A. Provide a detailed, minute-by-minute schedule for the entire
hospitalization.
B. Acknowledge the patient’s concerns, offer a brief outline of
the next steps, and arrange to review the plan in depth soon.
C. Redirect the patient to another activity and tell them staff
will explain later.
D. Tell the patient that frequent questions are typical and to
limit questioning to visiting hours.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B): Acknowledging concerns and offering
a concise, realistic outline uses therapeutic communication and
reduces anxiety while respecting the patient’s need for
information. It promotes trust and engagement and sets the
stage for collaborative care planning consistent with patient-
centered psychiatric nursing.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Too detailed immediately may overwhelm and is impractical;
information should be paced.
C. Redirecting without acknowledging concerns invalidates
emotions and may increase anxiety.
D. Minimizing questions or imposing limits without rationale
undermines therapeutic relationship and autonomy.
Teaching point: Validate concerns, provide concise plan
information, and schedule fuller discussion.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
,2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Introduction — Mental Health and Mental
Illness
Stem: A 28-year-old patient expresses shame about receiving a
mental health diagnosis and worries colleagues will think less of
them. The nurse recognizes stigma’s effect on recovery. What is
the nurse’s best immediate response to address stigma and
support recovery?
A. Explain that most people recover quickly and that stigma is
not common.
B. Encourage the patient to avoid telling anyone about the
diagnosis to prevent stigma.
C. Explore the patient’s specific fears about stigma, validate
feelings, and collaborate on strategies for disclosure and
support.
D. Recommend the patient read general information online to
see that their concerns are unfounded.
Correct answer: C
Rationale — Correct (C): Exploring specific fears and validating
feelings addresses the emotional impact of stigma and supports
individualized coping and disclosure strategies—key elements
of recovery-oriented psychiatric nursing. Collaborative planning
empowers the patient and preserves autonomy.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Minimizing or generalizing recovery downplays the patient’s
, real concerns and may erode trust.
B. Advising secrecy without exploring options undermines
autonomy and may isolate the patient.
D. Suggesting generic online reading is impersonal and may not
address the patient’s immediate emotional needs.
Teaching point: Validate stigma-related concerns and
collaborate on disclosure and support strategies.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Mental Health and Mental Illness —
Assessment & Adaptive Functioning
Stem: A client with a history of major depressive disorder
reports difficulty concentrating at work. The nurse must
determine functional impact to inform the plan of care. Which
question best elicits clinically useful information about adaptive
functioning?
A. “Do you feel sad?”
B. “How has your concentration affected your ability to
complete tasks at work this week?”
C. “Have you read anything about concentration problems?”
D. “Do you sleep more than usual?”
Correct answer: B
