Mental Health Chapter Review Questions
In what scenario is it most urgent for the nurse to act as a patient advocate?
a) an adult cries and experiences anxiety after a near-miss automobile accident on the way to work
b) a homeless adult diagnosed with schizophrenia lives in a community expecting a category 5 hurricane
c) a 14-year-old girl's grades decline because she consistently focuses on her appearance and social
networking
d) the parents allow the prescription to lapse for 1 day for their 8-year-old child's medication for
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - correct answer Answer: b.
Although all of the scenarios present opportunities for a nurse to intervene, the correct response
presents an imminent danger to the patient's safety and well-being.
The nurse interacts with a veteran of World War II. The veteran says, "Veterans of modern wars whine
and complain all the time. Back when I was in service, you kept your feelings to yourself." Select the
nurse's best response.
a) "American society in the 1940s expected World War II soldiers to be strong."
b) "World War II was fought in a traditional way, but the enemy is more difficult to identify in today's
wars."
c) "We now have a better understanding of how trauma affects people and the importance of research-
based, compassionate care."
,d) "Intermittent explosive devices (IEDs), which were not in use during World War II, produce traumatic
brain injuries that must be treated." - correct answer Answer: c.
Trauma occurs in many forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; war; natural disasters;
and other harmful experiences. Trauma-informed care provides guidelines for integrating an
understanding of how trauma affects patients into clinical programming.
A patient reports sleeplessness, fatigue, and sadness to the primary care provider. In our current health
care climate, what is the most likely treatment approach that will be offered to the patient?
a) Group therapy
b) Individual psychotherapy
c) Complementary therapy
d) Psychopharmacological treatment - correct answer Answer: d.
The patient's report suggests that depression is occurring. With the increased understanding of the
biology of psychiatric illnesses, treatment approaches have evolved rapidly into more scientifically
grounded methods, particularly psychopharmacology.
The nurse prepares outcomes to the plan of care for an adult diagnosed with mental illness. Which
strategy recognizes the current focus of treatment services for this population?
a) The patient's diagnoses are confirmed using advanced neuroimaging techniques.
b) The nurse confers with the treatment team to verify the patient's most significant disability.
c) The nurse prioritizes the patient's problems in accordance with Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
,d) The patient and family participate actively in establishing priorities and selecting interventions. -
correct answer Answer: d.
The correct response recognizes the recovery model, which has the following tenets: Mental health care
is consumer and family driven, with patients being partners in all aspects of care; care must focus on
increasing the consumer's success in coping with life's challenges and building resilience; and an
individualized care plan is at the core of consumer-centered recovery.
Which scenario best demonstrates empathic caring?
a) A nurse provides comfort to a colleague after an error of medication administration.
b) A nurse works a fourth extra shift in 1 week to maintain adequate unit staffing.
c) A nurse identifies a violation of confidentiality and makes a report to an agency's privacy officer.
d) A nurse conscientiously reads current literature to stay aware of new evidence-based practices. -
correct answer Answer: a.
Caring is evidenced by empathic understanding, actions, and patience on another's behalf; actions,
words, and presence that lead to happiness and touch the heart; and giving of self while preserving the
importance of self. Comforting is a part of caring, which includes social, emotional, physical, and spiritual
support.
A mentally ill gunman opens fire in a crowded movie theater, killing six people and injuring others.
Which comment about this event by a member of the community most clearly shows the stigma of
mental illness?
a) "Gun control laws are inadequate in our country."
b) "It's frightening to feel that it is not safe to go to a movie theater."
, c) "All these people with mental illness are violent and should be locked up."
d) "These events happen because American families no longer go to church together." - correct answer
Answer: c.
Stigma refers to the array of negative attitudes and beliefs regarding mental illness. Bias, prejudice, fear,
and misinformation contribute to stigma.
The nurse presents a class about mental health and mental illness to a group of fourth graders. One
student asks, "Why do people get mentally ill?" Select the nurse's best response.
a) "There are many reasons why mental illness occurs."
b) "The cause of mental illness is complicated and very hard to understand."
c) "Sometimes a person's brain does not work correctly because something bad happens or he or she
inherits a brain problem."
d) "Most mental illnesses result from genetically transmitted abnormalities in cerebral structure;
however, some are a consequence of traumatic life experiences." - correct answer
Answer: c.
In the correct response, the nurse answers rather than evades the question, provides accurate
information, and uses terminology a 9- or 10-year-old child can understand. Many of the most prevalent
and disabling mental disorders have been found to have strong biological influences, including genetic
transmission.
An adult experienced a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia 3 years ago and now lives
permanently in a skilled care facility. Which comment by this person best demonstrates resiliency?
a) "I often pray for a miracle that will heal my paralysis so I will be whole again."
In what scenario is it most urgent for the nurse to act as a patient advocate?
a) an adult cries and experiences anxiety after a near-miss automobile accident on the way to work
b) a homeless adult diagnosed with schizophrenia lives in a community expecting a category 5 hurricane
c) a 14-year-old girl's grades decline because she consistently focuses on her appearance and social
networking
d) the parents allow the prescription to lapse for 1 day for their 8-year-old child's medication for
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder - correct answer Answer: b.
Although all of the scenarios present opportunities for a nurse to intervene, the correct response
presents an imminent danger to the patient's safety and well-being.
The nurse interacts with a veteran of World War II. The veteran says, "Veterans of modern wars whine
and complain all the time. Back when I was in service, you kept your feelings to yourself." Select the
nurse's best response.
a) "American society in the 1940s expected World War II soldiers to be strong."
b) "World War II was fought in a traditional way, but the enemy is more difficult to identify in today's
wars."
c) "We now have a better understanding of how trauma affects people and the importance of research-
based, compassionate care."
,d) "Intermittent explosive devices (IEDs), which were not in use during World War II, produce traumatic
brain injuries that must be treated." - correct answer Answer: c.
Trauma occurs in many forms, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; war; natural disasters;
and other harmful experiences. Trauma-informed care provides guidelines for integrating an
understanding of how trauma affects patients into clinical programming.
A patient reports sleeplessness, fatigue, and sadness to the primary care provider. In our current health
care climate, what is the most likely treatment approach that will be offered to the patient?
a) Group therapy
b) Individual psychotherapy
c) Complementary therapy
d) Psychopharmacological treatment - correct answer Answer: d.
The patient's report suggests that depression is occurring. With the increased understanding of the
biology of psychiatric illnesses, treatment approaches have evolved rapidly into more scientifically
grounded methods, particularly psychopharmacology.
The nurse prepares outcomes to the plan of care for an adult diagnosed with mental illness. Which
strategy recognizes the current focus of treatment services for this population?
a) The patient's diagnoses are confirmed using advanced neuroimaging techniques.
b) The nurse confers with the treatment team to verify the patient's most significant disability.
c) The nurse prioritizes the patient's problems in accordance with Maslow's hierarchy of needs.
,d) The patient and family participate actively in establishing priorities and selecting interventions. -
correct answer Answer: d.
The correct response recognizes the recovery model, which has the following tenets: Mental health care
is consumer and family driven, with patients being partners in all aspects of care; care must focus on
increasing the consumer's success in coping with life's challenges and building resilience; and an
individualized care plan is at the core of consumer-centered recovery.
Which scenario best demonstrates empathic caring?
a) A nurse provides comfort to a colleague after an error of medication administration.
b) A nurse works a fourth extra shift in 1 week to maintain adequate unit staffing.
c) A nurse identifies a violation of confidentiality and makes a report to an agency's privacy officer.
d) A nurse conscientiously reads current literature to stay aware of new evidence-based practices. -
correct answer Answer: a.
Caring is evidenced by empathic understanding, actions, and patience on another's behalf; actions,
words, and presence that lead to happiness and touch the heart; and giving of self while preserving the
importance of self. Comforting is a part of caring, which includes social, emotional, physical, and spiritual
support.
A mentally ill gunman opens fire in a crowded movie theater, killing six people and injuring others.
Which comment about this event by a member of the community most clearly shows the stigma of
mental illness?
a) "Gun control laws are inadequate in our country."
b) "It's frightening to feel that it is not safe to go to a movie theater."
, c) "All these people with mental illness are violent and should be locked up."
d) "These events happen because American families no longer go to church together." - correct answer
Answer: c.
Stigma refers to the array of negative attitudes and beliefs regarding mental illness. Bias, prejudice, fear,
and misinformation contribute to stigma.
The nurse presents a class about mental health and mental illness to a group of fourth graders. One
student asks, "Why do people get mentally ill?" Select the nurse's best response.
a) "There are many reasons why mental illness occurs."
b) "The cause of mental illness is complicated and very hard to understand."
c) "Sometimes a person's brain does not work correctly because something bad happens or he or she
inherits a brain problem."
d) "Most mental illnesses result from genetically transmitted abnormalities in cerebral structure;
however, some are a consequence of traumatic life experiences." - correct answer
Answer: c.
In the correct response, the nurse answers rather than evades the question, provides accurate
information, and uses terminology a 9- or 10-year-old child can understand. Many of the most prevalent
and disabling mental disorders have been found to have strong biological influences, including genetic
transmission.
An adult experienced a spinal cord injury resulting in quadriplegia 3 years ago and now lives
permanently in a skilled care facility. Which comment by this person best demonstrates resiliency?
a) "I often pray for a miracle that will heal my paralysis so I will be whole again."
