Chapter 2: Contributions of the Psychosocial Sciences
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which understanding is the basis for the nursing actions focused on minimizing mental health
promotion of families with chronically mentally ill members?
a. Family members are at an increased risk for mental illness.
b. The mental health care system is not prepared to deal with family crises.
c. Family members are seldom prepared to cope with a chronically ill individual.
d. The chronically mentally ill receive care best when delivered in a formal setting.
ANS: A
When families live with a dominant member who has a persistent and severe mental disorder the
outcomes are often expressed as family members who are at increased risk for physical and
mental illnesses. The remaining options are not necessarily true.
2. Which nursing activity shows the nurse actively engaged in the primary prevention of mental
disorders?
, a. Providing a patient, whose depression is well managed, with medication on time
b. Making regular follow-up visits to a new mother at risk for post-partum
depression
c. Providing the family of a patient, diagnosed with depression, information on
suicide prevention
d. Assisting a patient who has obsessive compulsive tendencies prepare and
practice for a job interview
ANS: B
Primary prevention helps to reduce the occurrence of mental disorders by staying involved with a
patient. Providing medication and information on existing illnesses are examples of secondary
prevention which helps to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders. Assisting a mentally ill
patient with preparation for a job interview is tertiary prevention since it involves rehabilitation.
3. Which intervention reflects attention being focused on the patients intentions regarding his
diagnosis of severe depression?
a. Being placed on suicide precautions
b. Encouraging visits by his family members
c. Receiving a combination of medications to address his emotional needs
d. Being asked to decide where he will attend his prescribed therapy sessions
ANS: D
A primary factor in patient treatment includes consideration of the patients intentions regarding
his or her own care. Patients are central to the process that determines their care as their abilities
allow. Under the guidance of PMH nurses and other mental health personnel, patients are
encouraged to make decisions and to actively engage in their own treatment plans to meet their
needs. The remaining options are focused on specifics of the determined plan of care.
4. When a patients family asks why their chronically mentally ill adult child is being discharged
to a community-based living facility, the nurse responds:
, a. It is a way to meet the need for social support.
b. It is too expensive to keep stabilized patients in acute care settings.
c. This type of facility will provide the specialized care that is needed.
d. Being out in the community will help provide hope and purpose for living.
ANS: D
Hospitalization may be necessary for acute care, but, when patients are stabilized, they move into
community-based, patient-centered settings or are discharged home with continued outpatient
treatment in the community. Concentrated efforts are made to reduce the patients sick role by
providing opportunities for the development of a purposeful life and instilling hope for each
patients future. Although social support is important, such a living arrangement is not the only
way to achieve it. Although acute care is expensive, it is not the major concern when determining
long-term care options. Community-based facilities are not the only option for specialized care.
5. What is the best explanation to offer when the mother of a chronically ill teenage patient asks,
Under what circumstances would he be considered incompetent?
a. When you can provide the court with enough evidence to show that he is not
able to care for himself safely.
b. It is not likely that someone his age would be determined to be incompetent
regardless of his mental condition.
c. He would have to engage in behavior that would result in harm to himself or to
someone else; like you or his siblings.
d. If the illness becomes so severe that his judgment is impaired to the point where
the decisions he makes are harmful to himself or to others.
ANS: D
When a person is unable to cognitively process information or to make decisions about his or her
own welfare, the person may be determined to be mentally incompetent. Providing self-care is
not the only criteria considered. Age is not a factor considered. The decision is often based on
the potential for such behavior.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which understanding is the basis for the nursing actions focused on minimizing mental health
promotion of families with chronically mentally ill members?
a. Family members are at an increased risk for mental illness.
b. The mental health care system is not prepared to deal with family crises.
c. Family members are seldom prepared to cope with a chronically ill individual.
d. The chronically mentally ill receive care best when delivered in a formal setting.
ANS: A
When families live with a dominant member who has a persistent and severe mental disorder the
outcomes are often expressed as family members who are at increased risk for physical and
mental illnesses. The remaining options are not necessarily true.
2. Which nursing activity shows the nurse actively engaged in the primary prevention of mental
disorders?
, a. Providing a patient, whose depression is well managed, with medication on time
b. Making regular follow-up visits to a new mother at risk for post-partum
depression
c. Providing the family of a patient, diagnosed with depression, information on
suicide prevention
d. Assisting a patient who has obsessive compulsive tendencies prepare and
practice for a job interview
ANS: B
Primary prevention helps to reduce the occurrence of mental disorders by staying involved with a
patient. Providing medication and information on existing illnesses are examples of secondary
prevention which helps to reduce the prevalence of mental disorders. Assisting a mentally ill
patient with preparation for a job interview is tertiary prevention since it involves rehabilitation.
3. Which intervention reflects attention being focused on the patients intentions regarding his
diagnosis of severe depression?
a. Being placed on suicide precautions
b. Encouraging visits by his family members
c. Receiving a combination of medications to address his emotional needs
d. Being asked to decide where he will attend his prescribed therapy sessions
ANS: D
A primary factor in patient treatment includes consideration of the patients intentions regarding
his or her own care. Patients are central to the process that determines their care as their abilities
allow. Under the guidance of PMH nurses and other mental health personnel, patients are
encouraged to make decisions and to actively engage in their own treatment plans to meet their
needs. The remaining options are focused on specifics of the determined plan of care.
4. When a patients family asks why their chronically mentally ill adult child is being discharged
to a community-based living facility, the nurse responds:
, a. It is a way to meet the need for social support.
b. It is too expensive to keep stabilized patients in acute care settings.
c. This type of facility will provide the specialized care that is needed.
d. Being out in the community will help provide hope and purpose for living.
ANS: D
Hospitalization may be necessary for acute care, but, when patients are stabilized, they move into
community-based, patient-centered settings or are discharged home with continued outpatient
treatment in the community. Concentrated efforts are made to reduce the patients sick role by
providing opportunities for the development of a purposeful life and instilling hope for each
patients future. Although social support is important, such a living arrangement is not the only
way to achieve it. Although acute care is expensive, it is not the major concern when determining
long-term care options. Community-based facilities are not the only option for specialized care.
5. What is the best explanation to offer when the mother of a chronically ill teenage patient asks,
Under what circumstances would he be considered incompetent?
a. When you can provide the court with enough evidence to show that he is not
able to care for himself safely.
b. It is not likely that someone his age would be determined to be incompetent
regardless of his mental condition.
c. He would have to engage in behavior that would result in harm to himself or to
someone else; like you or his siblings.
d. If the illness becomes so severe that his judgment is impaired to the point where
the decisions he makes are harmful to himself or to others.
ANS: D
When a person is unable to cognitively process information or to make decisions about his or her
own welfare, the person may be determined to be mentally incompetent. Providing self-care is
not the only criteria considered. Age is not a factor considered. The decision is often based on
the potential for such behavior.
