Page 1 of 53
“ PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING FINAL
REVIEW “ NEWEST UPDATED EXAM 2025 – 2026
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100%
GRADED A+ (LATEST VERSION)
Psych/Mental Health Nursing Final Exam Review
The nurse is conducting an admission interview with a client who was raped 2
weeks ago. When asked about the rape, the client becomes very anxious and
upset and begins to sob. What should be the nurse's response to the client's
reaction?
A. Push gently for more information about the rape because the information
needs to be documented.
B. Acknowledge that the topic of the rape is upsetting and reassure the client
that it can be discussed at another time when she feels more comfortable.
C. Use silence as a therapeutic tool and wait until the client is done sobbing to
continue discussing the rape.
D. Reassure the client that anything she says to you will remain confidential.
B. Acknowledge that the topic of the rape is upsetting and reassure the client that it
can be discussed at another time when she feels more comfortable.
The best atmosphere for conducting an assessment is one with minimal anxiety on
the client's part. If a topic causes distress, it is best to abandon the topic at that time.
It is important not to pry or push for information that is difficult for the client to
discuss. The use of silence continues to expect the client to discuss the topic now.
, Page 2 of 53
Reassurance of confidentiality continues to expect the client to discuss the topic
now.
A 43-year-old client being seen in the mental health clinic states, "I have
always been a practicing Jew, but in the past few months I am questioning
everything. I just don't know if I believe in it anymore." Which of the following
nursing diagnoses best describes the client's comment?
A. Ineffective coping
B. Spiritual distress
C. Risk for self-harm
D. Hopelessness
B. Spiritual distress
The client is expressing distress regarding his religion and spiritual well-being. The
client could be experiencing ineffective coping, but this does not directly relate to his
comment. There is nothing in the client's comment that would lead to the conclusion
that the client is having thoughts of harming himself or experiencing hopelessness.
A 26-year-old client is brought to the emergency room by a friend. The client is
unable to give any coherent history. Which response should the nurse provide
when the client's friend offers to provide information regarding the client?
A. "I'm sorry, but I cannot take any information from you as it would violate
confidentiality laws."
B. "There is no need for that as I will call his primary care provider to obtain
the information we need."
C. "Yes, I will be happy to get any information and history that you can
provide."
D. "Yes, however, we will have to get a release signed from the client for you to
be able to talk with me."
C. "Yes, I will be happy to get any information and history that you can provide."
The friend is a secondary source of information that will be helpful since the client is
not able to give any history or information at this time. Confidentiality laws do not
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prohibit obtaining information from a secondary source. The friend can provide
information and/or history immediately and may be able to relate events that
happened just before coming to the hospital. A release would not be necessary to
take information about the client from a secondary source, and a psychotic client
would not be competent to sign a release.
A nurse on the psychiatric unit has a past history of alcoholism and has
regular meetings with a mentor. Which statement made to the nurse's mentor
would indicate the presence of countertransference?
A. "My patient is being discharged tomorrow. I provided discharge teaching
and stressed the importance of calling the help line number should she
become suicidal again."
B. "My patient has been abusing alcohol. I told her that the only way to recover
was to go 'cold turkey' and to get away from her dysfunctional family and to do
it now!"
C. "My patient started drinking after 14 years of sobriety. We are focusing on
his treatment plan of attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings five
times a week after discharge."
D. "My patient, is an elderly woman with depression. She calls me by her
daughter's name because she says I remind her of her daughter."
B. "My patient has been abusing alcohol. I told her that the only way to recover was
to go 'cold turkey' and to get away from her dysfunctional family and to do it now!"
This statement indicates countertransference; the nurse may be overidentifying with
the patient because of a past history of alcoholism. Providing adamant advice to the
patient that, besides being nontherapeutic, may be more relevant to personal past
experiences than to the patient's. The discharge teaching for a patient being
discharged and focusing on the treatment plan for the alcoholic patient are
appropriate and show no signs of countertransference. The patient calling the nurse
by her daughter's name is transference rather than countertransference.
A patient who recently loss a parent begins crying during a one-to-one session
with the nurse. Which response by the nurse illustrates empathy?
, Page 4 of 53
A. "I'm so sorry. My father died 2 years ago, so I know how you are feeling."
B. "You need to focus on yourself right now. You deserve to take time just for
you."
C. "That must have been such a hard situation for you to deal with."
D. "I know that you will get over this. It just takes time."
C. "That must have been such a hard situation for you to deal with."
This response reflects understanding of the patient's feelings, which is empathy.
Feeling sorry for the client represents sympathy, whereas not addressing the
patient's concern belittles the patient's feelings of grief she is expressing by changing
the subject. Telling the patient, she will get over it does not reflect empathy and is
closed-ended.
Which statements are true regarding the differences between social &
therapeutic relationships? (SATA)
A. In a social relationship, both parties' needs are met; in a therapeutic
relationship, only the patient's needs are to be considered.
B. A soc. relationship is instituted for the main purpose of exploring one
member's feelings & issues; a ther. relationship is instituted for the purpose of
friendship.
C. Giving advice is done in social relationships; in therapeutic relationships
giving advice is not usually therapeutic.
D. In a social relationship, both parties come up with solutions to problems &
solutions may be implemented by both; in a therapeutic relationship, solutions
are discussed but are only implemented by the patient.
E. In a soc. relationship, communication is usually deep & evaluated; in a
therap. relationship, communication remains on a more superficial level,
allowing patients to feel comfortable.
A. In a social relationship, both parties' needs are met; in a therapeutic relationship,
only the patient's needs are to be considered.
C. Giving advice is done in social relationships; in therapeutic relationships giving
advice is not usually therapeutic.
D. In a social relationship, both parties come up with solutions to problems &
“ PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING FINAL
REVIEW “ NEWEST UPDATED EXAM 2025 – 2026
SOLVED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS VERIFIED 100%
GRADED A+ (LATEST VERSION)
Psych/Mental Health Nursing Final Exam Review
The nurse is conducting an admission interview with a client who was raped 2
weeks ago. When asked about the rape, the client becomes very anxious and
upset and begins to sob. What should be the nurse's response to the client's
reaction?
A. Push gently for more information about the rape because the information
needs to be documented.
B. Acknowledge that the topic of the rape is upsetting and reassure the client
that it can be discussed at another time when she feels more comfortable.
C. Use silence as a therapeutic tool and wait until the client is done sobbing to
continue discussing the rape.
D. Reassure the client that anything she says to you will remain confidential.
B. Acknowledge that the topic of the rape is upsetting and reassure the client that it
can be discussed at another time when she feels more comfortable.
The best atmosphere for conducting an assessment is one with minimal anxiety on
the client's part. If a topic causes distress, it is best to abandon the topic at that time.
It is important not to pry or push for information that is difficult for the client to
discuss. The use of silence continues to expect the client to discuss the topic now.
, Page 2 of 53
Reassurance of confidentiality continues to expect the client to discuss the topic
now.
A 43-year-old client being seen in the mental health clinic states, "I have
always been a practicing Jew, but in the past few months I am questioning
everything. I just don't know if I believe in it anymore." Which of the following
nursing diagnoses best describes the client's comment?
A. Ineffective coping
B. Spiritual distress
C. Risk for self-harm
D. Hopelessness
B. Spiritual distress
The client is expressing distress regarding his religion and spiritual well-being. The
client could be experiencing ineffective coping, but this does not directly relate to his
comment. There is nothing in the client's comment that would lead to the conclusion
that the client is having thoughts of harming himself or experiencing hopelessness.
A 26-year-old client is brought to the emergency room by a friend. The client is
unable to give any coherent history. Which response should the nurse provide
when the client's friend offers to provide information regarding the client?
A. "I'm sorry, but I cannot take any information from you as it would violate
confidentiality laws."
B. "There is no need for that as I will call his primary care provider to obtain
the information we need."
C. "Yes, I will be happy to get any information and history that you can
provide."
D. "Yes, however, we will have to get a release signed from the client for you to
be able to talk with me."
C. "Yes, I will be happy to get any information and history that you can provide."
The friend is a secondary source of information that will be helpful since the client is
not able to give any history or information at this time. Confidentiality laws do not
, Page 3 of 53
prohibit obtaining information from a secondary source. The friend can provide
information and/or history immediately and may be able to relate events that
happened just before coming to the hospital. A release would not be necessary to
take information about the client from a secondary source, and a psychotic client
would not be competent to sign a release.
A nurse on the psychiatric unit has a past history of alcoholism and has
regular meetings with a mentor. Which statement made to the nurse's mentor
would indicate the presence of countertransference?
A. "My patient is being discharged tomorrow. I provided discharge teaching
and stressed the importance of calling the help line number should she
become suicidal again."
B. "My patient has been abusing alcohol. I told her that the only way to recover
was to go 'cold turkey' and to get away from her dysfunctional family and to do
it now!"
C. "My patient started drinking after 14 years of sobriety. We are focusing on
his treatment plan of attending AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings five
times a week after discharge."
D. "My patient, is an elderly woman with depression. She calls me by her
daughter's name because she says I remind her of her daughter."
B. "My patient has been abusing alcohol. I told her that the only way to recover was
to go 'cold turkey' and to get away from her dysfunctional family and to do it now!"
This statement indicates countertransference; the nurse may be overidentifying with
the patient because of a past history of alcoholism. Providing adamant advice to the
patient that, besides being nontherapeutic, may be more relevant to personal past
experiences than to the patient's. The discharge teaching for a patient being
discharged and focusing on the treatment plan for the alcoholic patient are
appropriate and show no signs of countertransference. The patient calling the nurse
by her daughter's name is transference rather than countertransference.
A patient who recently loss a parent begins crying during a one-to-one session
with the nurse. Which response by the nurse illustrates empathy?
, Page 4 of 53
A. "I'm so sorry. My father died 2 years ago, so I know how you are feeling."
B. "You need to focus on yourself right now. You deserve to take time just for
you."
C. "That must have been such a hard situation for you to deal with."
D. "I know that you will get over this. It just takes time."
C. "That must have been such a hard situation for you to deal with."
This response reflects understanding of the patient's feelings, which is empathy.
Feeling sorry for the client represents sympathy, whereas not addressing the
patient's concern belittles the patient's feelings of grief she is expressing by changing
the subject. Telling the patient, she will get over it does not reflect empathy and is
closed-ended.
Which statements are true regarding the differences between social &
therapeutic relationships? (SATA)
A. In a social relationship, both parties' needs are met; in a therapeutic
relationship, only the patient's needs are to be considered.
B. A soc. relationship is instituted for the main purpose of exploring one
member's feelings & issues; a ther. relationship is instituted for the purpose of
friendship.
C. Giving advice is done in social relationships; in therapeutic relationships
giving advice is not usually therapeutic.
D. In a social relationship, both parties come up with solutions to problems &
solutions may be implemented by both; in a therapeutic relationship, solutions
are discussed but are only implemented by the patient.
E. In a soc. relationship, communication is usually deep & evaluated; in a
therap. relationship, communication remains on a more superficial level,
allowing patients to feel comfortable.
A. In a social relationship, both parties' needs are met; in a therapeutic relationship,
only the patient's needs are to be considered.
C. Giving advice is done in social relationships; in therapeutic relationships giving
advice is not usually therapeutic.
D. In a social relationship, both parties come up with solutions to problems &
