NUR – Chapter 1: Foundations of Psychiatric-
Mental Health Nursing Exam 2026/2027 –
Questions & Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly
admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a
positive impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance - correct answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in
life, emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and
coping or stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and
a balance of separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental
health, and therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A
family history of mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an
individual, which may have a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as
well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural
factors of health. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural
factor is access to adequate resources.
,2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that
apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) 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.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively
with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self. - correct answer-Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
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?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always
unacceptable in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) 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.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - correct answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
, 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,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so
much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future
brings." - correct answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
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.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
Mental Health Nursing Exam 2026/2027 –
Questions & Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly
admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a
positive impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance - correct answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in
life, emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and
coping or stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and
a balance of separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental
health, and therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A
family history of mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an
individual, which may have a negative impact on an individual's mental health, as
well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and social-cultural
factors of health. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive social/cultural
factor is access to adequate resources.
,2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that
apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) 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.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively
with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self. - correct answer-Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
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?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always
unacceptable in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) 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.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - correct answer-Ans: C
Feedback:
, 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,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so
much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future
brings." - correct answer-Ans: B
Feedback:
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.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
