TEST BANK Varcarolis’ Essentials of Psychiatric
Mental Health & illness Nursing: A Communication
Approach to Evidence-Based Care 5th Edition By
Chyllia D Fosbre | Complete Guide chapter 1
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special
courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental
health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk.
You'll lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must
be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations in school, so I do not
want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical nurses do.
That appeals to me." - CORRECT ANSWER-B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
,A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental illness. Groups
of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice - CORRECT ANSWER-A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver
quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that
cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which comment best indicates
a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - CORRECT
ANSWER-D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." - CORRECT ANSWER-B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe mentally healthy behaviors.
, Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was achieved? A
patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Amnursemencountersmanmunfamiliarmpsychiatricmdisordermonmamnewmpatient'smadmissionmform.mTomdeter
minemcriteriamusedmtomestablishmthismdiagnosis,mthemnursemshouldmconsultmwhichmresource?
a.mDiagnosticmandmStatisticalmManualmofmMentalmDisorders
b.mAmnursingmdiagnosismhandbook
c.mAmpsychiatricmnursingmtextbook
d.mAmbehavioralmhealthmreferencemmanualm-mCORRECTmANSWER-Am
ThemDSM-IV-
TRmgivesmthemcriteriamusedmtomdiagnosemeachmmentalmdisorder.mThemdistractersmmaymnotmcontainmdiagno
sticmcriteriamformampsychiatricmillness.
Whichmdocumentationmofmdiagnosismwouldmamnursemexpectminmampsychiatricmtreatmentmsetting?
a.mImAcutemrenalmfailure
m IIm75
m IIImBipolarmdisordermI,mmixed
m IVmLossmofmdisabilitymbenefitsm2mmonthsmago
m VmNonem
b.mImSchizophrenia,mparanoidmtype
m IImDeathmofmspousemlastmyear
m IIIm60
m IVmNone
m VmDiabetes,mtypem2
c.mImPolysubstancemdependence
m IImNarcissisticmPersonalitymDisorder
Mental Health & illness Nursing: A Communication
Approach to Evidence-Based Care 5th Edition By
Chyllia D Fosbre | Complete Guide chapter 1
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication - CORRECT ANSWER-D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special
courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental
health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk.
You'll lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must
be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations in school, so I do not
want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical nurses do.
That appeals to me." - CORRECT ANSWER-B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
,A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental illness. Groups
of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice - CORRECT ANSWER-A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver
quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that
cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which comment best indicates
a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - CORRECT
ANSWER-D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." - CORRECT ANSWER-B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe mentally healthy behaviors.
, Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was achieved? A
patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others. - CORRECT ANSWER-A
Amnursemencountersmanmunfamiliarmpsychiatricmdisordermonmamnewmpatient'smadmissionmform.mTomdeter
minemcriteriamusedmtomestablishmthismdiagnosis,mthemnursemshouldmconsultmwhichmresource?
a.mDiagnosticmandmStatisticalmManualmofmMentalmDisorders
b.mAmnursingmdiagnosismhandbook
c.mAmpsychiatricmnursingmtextbook
d.mAmbehavioralmhealthmreferencemmanualm-mCORRECTmANSWER-Am
ThemDSM-IV-
TRmgivesmthemcriteriamusedmtomdiagnosemeachmmentalmdisorder.mThemdistractersmmaymnotmcontainmdiagno
sticmcriteriamformampsychiatricmillness.
Whichmdocumentationmofmdiagnosismwouldmamnursemexpectminmampsychiatricmtreatmentmsetting?
a.mImAcutemrenalmfailure
m IIm75
m IIImBipolarmdisordermI,mmixed
m IVmLossmofmdisabilitymbenefitsm2mmonthsmago
m VmNonem
b.mImSchizophrenia,mparanoidmtype
m IImDeathmofmspousemlastmyear
m IIIm60
m IVmNone
m VmDiabetes,mtypem2
c.mImPolysubstancemdependence
m IImNarcissisticmPersonalitymDisorder
