EXAM #7 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2024
1. One characteristics of mental health that allows people to adapt to tragedies, trauma,
and loss is:
A. Dependence
B. Resilience
C. Pessimism
D. Altruism - correct answer B. Resilience
2. You and Jack are two of the nurses working on the psychiatric unit. Jack mentions to
you that the biological model for mental illness is the one he embraces, and states "it's
the only one I really believe." Which of the following statements is true regarding
believing in only the biological model?
A. The biological model is the oldest and most reliable model for explaining mental
illness.
B. The biological model does not explain every symptom of mental illness.
C. The biological model is the most popular theory among leading psychiatrists and
therefore the one that should be fully embraced.
D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental health including
cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken into account. -
correct answer D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental
health including cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken
into account.
3. Vanessa's provider writes orders including medication to treat her depression. Based
on current understanding of brain physiology, which of the following neurotransmitters
would you expect to see targeted c the medication ordered?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin/Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine - correct answer C. Serotonin/Norepinephrine
4. Which of the following structural safety precautions is most important to prevent the
most common type of inpatient suicides?
A. Break-away closet bars to prevent hanging
B. Bedroom and dining areas with locked windows to prevent jumping
C. Double-locked doors to prevent escaping from the unit
D. Platform beds to prevent crush injuries - correct answer A. Break-away closet bars to
prevent hanging
5. Josefina Juarez, aged 36 years, comes to the mental health clinic where you work
after being referred by her primary care provider. Josefina came to live in the US from
Brazil 5 years ago. She is now a single mother to 6 children, ages 2 to 15, following the
death of her husband last year. During the initial intake assessment, Josefina tells you
her problem is that she has headaches and backaches "almost every day" and "can't
sleep at night." She shakes her head no and looks away when asked about anxiety or
, depression and states she does not know why she was referred to the mental health
clinic. You recognize that Josefina may be exhibiting:
A. Regression.
B. Somatization.
C. Enculturation.
D. Assimilation. - correct answer B. Somatization
6. You are working on an inpatient psychiatric unit and caring for Elizabeth, who is
becoming agitated. You speak with Elizabeth one to one in a private setting, finding out
the reason for the agitation, and then assist Elizabeth with ways to calm down, possibly
including prn medication to prevent further escalation of Elizabeth's agitation, which
could lead to seclusion and/or restraints. You are making care decisions based on:
A. Writ of habeas corpus
B. Least restrictive alternative doctrine
C. Veracity
D. Bioethics - correct answer B. Least restrictive alternative doctrine
7. Joel is a 43-year-old patient being seen in the mental health clinical c depression.
Joel states "I have always been a practicing Jew, but in the past few mos. I am
questioning everything. I just don't know if I believe in it anymore. Which of the following
nursing diagnoses best describes Joel's comment?
A. Ineffective coping
B. Spiritual distress
C. Risk for self-harm
D. Hopelessness - correct answer B. Spiritual distress
8. Your patient, Emma, is crying in your one-to-one session while telling you of her
father's recent death from a car accident. Which of the following responses illustrates
empathy?
A. "Emma, I'm so sorry. My father died 2 years ago, so I know how you are feeling."
B. "Emma, you need to focus on yourself right now. You deserve to take time just for
you."
C. "Emma, that must have been such a hard situation to deal with."
D. "Emma, I know that you will get over this. It just takes time." - correct answer C.
"Emma, that must have been such a hard situation to deal with."
9. You enter the room of Andrea, a patient on the psychiatric unit. Andrea is sitting with
her arms crossed over her chest and her left leg rapidly moving up and down, and she
has an angry expression on her face. When you approach her, she states harshly, "I'm
fine! Everything's great." Which of the following is true regarding verbal and nonverbal
communication?
A. Verbal communication is always more accurate than nonverbal communication.
B. Verbal communication is more straightforward, whereas nonverbal communication
does not portray what a person is thinking.
C. Nonverbal and verbal communication may be different; nurses must pay attention to
the nonverbal communication being presented to get an accurate message.
1. One characteristics of mental health that allows people to adapt to tragedies, trauma,
and loss is:
A. Dependence
B. Resilience
C. Pessimism
D. Altruism - correct answer B. Resilience
2. You and Jack are two of the nurses working on the psychiatric unit. Jack mentions to
you that the biological model for mental illness is the one he embraces, and states "it's
the only one I really believe." Which of the following statements is true regarding
believing in only the biological model?
A. The biological model is the oldest and most reliable model for explaining mental
illness.
B. The biological model does not explain every symptom of mental illness.
C. The biological model is the most popular theory among leading psychiatrists and
therefore the one that should be fully embraced.
D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental health including
cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken into account. -
correct answer D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental
health including cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken
into account.
3. Vanessa's provider writes orders including medication to treat her depression. Based
on current understanding of brain physiology, which of the following neurotransmitters
would you expect to see targeted c the medication ordered?
A. Dopamine
B. GABA
C. Serotonin/Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine - correct answer C. Serotonin/Norepinephrine
4. Which of the following structural safety precautions is most important to prevent the
most common type of inpatient suicides?
A. Break-away closet bars to prevent hanging
B. Bedroom and dining areas with locked windows to prevent jumping
C. Double-locked doors to prevent escaping from the unit
D. Platform beds to prevent crush injuries - correct answer A. Break-away closet bars to
prevent hanging
5. Josefina Juarez, aged 36 years, comes to the mental health clinic where you work
after being referred by her primary care provider. Josefina came to live in the US from
Brazil 5 years ago. She is now a single mother to 6 children, ages 2 to 15, following the
death of her husband last year. During the initial intake assessment, Josefina tells you
her problem is that she has headaches and backaches "almost every day" and "can't
sleep at night." She shakes her head no and looks away when asked about anxiety or
, depression and states she does not know why she was referred to the mental health
clinic. You recognize that Josefina may be exhibiting:
A. Regression.
B. Somatization.
C. Enculturation.
D. Assimilation. - correct answer B. Somatization
6. You are working on an inpatient psychiatric unit and caring for Elizabeth, who is
becoming agitated. You speak with Elizabeth one to one in a private setting, finding out
the reason for the agitation, and then assist Elizabeth with ways to calm down, possibly
including prn medication to prevent further escalation of Elizabeth's agitation, which
could lead to seclusion and/or restraints. You are making care decisions based on:
A. Writ of habeas corpus
B. Least restrictive alternative doctrine
C. Veracity
D. Bioethics - correct answer B. Least restrictive alternative doctrine
7. Joel is a 43-year-old patient being seen in the mental health clinical c depression.
Joel states "I have always been a practicing Jew, but in the past few mos. I am
questioning everything. I just don't know if I believe in it anymore. Which of the following
nursing diagnoses best describes Joel's comment?
A. Ineffective coping
B. Spiritual distress
C. Risk for self-harm
D. Hopelessness - correct answer B. Spiritual distress
8. Your patient, Emma, is crying in your one-to-one session while telling you of her
father's recent death from a car accident. Which of the following responses illustrates
empathy?
A. "Emma, I'm so sorry. My father died 2 years ago, so I know how you are feeling."
B. "Emma, you need to focus on yourself right now. You deserve to take time just for
you."
C. "Emma, that must have been such a hard situation to deal with."
D. "Emma, I know that you will get over this. It just takes time." - correct answer C.
"Emma, that must have been such a hard situation to deal with."
9. You enter the room of Andrea, a patient on the psychiatric unit. Andrea is sitting with
her arms crossed over her chest and her left leg rapidly moving up and down, and she
has an angry expression on her face. When you approach her, she states harshly, "I'm
fine! Everything's great." Which of the following is true regarding verbal and nonverbal
communication?
A. Verbal communication is always more accurate than nonverbal communication.
B. Verbal communication is more straightforward, whereas nonverbal communication
does not portray what a person is thinking.
C. Nonverbal and verbal communication may be different; nurses must pay attention to
the nonverbal communication being presented to get an accurate message.
