PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 28-year-old woman with no prior psychiatric history presents
to the clinic reporting persistent sadness for 6 months, difficulty
concentrating at work, and social withdrawal. She says, “I feel
tired and worthless,” but insists she will not harm herself. As the
,psychiatric nurse, what is the most appropriate next action to
prioritize during the initial assessment?
A. Schedule weekly psychotherapy visits and provide
educational handouts on depression.
B. Conduct a focused suicide risk assessment including intent,
plan, access to means, and protective factors.
C. Start an antidepressant immediately and arrange follow-up in
two weeks.
D. Recommend increased social activities and sleep hygiene
changes before further evaluation.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): A focused suicide risk assessment is the priority
because depressed mood and withdrawal increase risk; safety
assessment identifies imminent danger, guides immediate
interventions, and meets ethical/legal responsibilities. Videbeck
emphasizes assessment of risk factors and protective factors
before treatment planning.
A: Scheduling psychotherapy and providing education is
appropriate long-term care but prematurely assumes safety and
delays urgent risk evaluation.
C: Initiating medication without assessing suicide risk and ruling
out immediate danger is unsafe and bypasses collaborative
decision-making.
D: Lifestyle recommendations are helpful adjuncts but
,inadequate as the first step when a depressive disorder is
suspected; they do not address immediate safety.
Teaching point
Always assess suicide risk first in depressed patients before
treatment decisions.
Citation
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Stem
A nurse on an inpatient psychiatric unit is writing a progress
note for a client newly diagnosed with generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD). The nurse wants to document findings that
justify the diagnosis. Which documentation best aligns with
DSM diagnostic criteria and nursing responsibility?
A. “Client appears anxious; sleeps poorly; diagnosis: GAD—
treatment planned.”
B. “Client reports excessive worry most days for >6 months with
difficulty controlling worry and associated restlessness and
concentration problems.”
C. “Client states problems are due to stress at work;
, recommend reassessment if symptoms worsen.”
D. “Client anxious; behaviors observed—diagnosis confirmed by
nurse; start as-needed benzodiazepine.”
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): This documents specific duration (>6 months),
symptom pattern (excessive worry, difficulty controlling worry),
and associated symptoms consistent with DSM criteria—
appropriate for supporting diagnosis and nursing assessment.
Nurses should document observable and reported criteria
precisely.
A: Vague phrases (“appears anxious”) lack temporal and
symptom-specific detail required by DSM-based
documentation.
C: Assuming symptoms are solely situational without
documenting diagnostic criteria may miss chronic pattern and
delay treatment.
D: Nurses should not unilaterally confirm diagnoses or initiate
controlled medications without provider orders and clear
documentation of criteria.
Teaching point
Document DSM-consistent symptom duration and criteria
clearly to support diagnosis and care planning.
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 28-year-old woman with no prior psychiatric history presents
to the clinic reporting persistent sadness for 6 months, difficulty
concentrating at work, and social withdrawal. She says, “I feel
tired and worthless,” but insists she will not harm herself. As the
,psychiatric nurse, what is the most appropriate next action to
prioritize during the initial assessment?
A. Schedule weekly psychotherapy visits and provide
educational handouts on depression.
B. Conduct a focused suicide risk assessment including intent,
plan, access to means, and protective factors.
C. Start an antidepressant immediately and arrange follow-up in
two weeks.
D. Recommend increased social activities and sleep hygiene
changes before further evaluation.
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): A focused suicide risk assessment is the priority
because depressed mood and withdrawal increase risk; safety
assessment identifies imminent danger, guides immediate
interventions, and meets ethical/legal responsibilities. Videbeck
emphasizes assessment of risk factors and protective factors
before treatment planning.
A: Scheduling psychotherapy and providing education is
appropriate long-term care but prematurely assumes safety and
delays urgent risk evaluation.
C: Initiating medication without assessing suicide risk and ruling
out immediate danger is unsafe and bypasses collaborative
decision-making.
D: Lifestyle recommendations are helpful adjuncts but
,inadequate as the first step when a depressive disorder is
suspected; they do not address immediate safety.
Teaching point
Always assess suicide risk first in depressed patients before
treatment decisions.
Citation
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Stem
A nurse on an inpatient psychiatric unit is writing a progress
note for a client newly diagnosed with generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD). The nurse wants to document findings that
justify the diagnosis. Which documentation best aligns with
DSM diagnostic criteria and nursing responsibility?
A. “Client appears anxious; sleeps poorly; diagnosis: GAD—
treatment planned.”
B. “Client reports excessive worry most days for >6 months with
difficulty controlling worry and associated restlessness and
concentration problems.”
C. “Client states problems are due to stress at work;
, recommend reassessment if symptoms worsen.”
D. “Client anxious; behaviors observed—diagnosis confirmed by
nurse; start as-needed benzodiazepine.”
Correct answer
B
Rationales
Correct (B): This documents specific duration (>6 months),
symptom pattern (excessive worry, difficulty controlling worry),
and associated symptoms consistent with DSM criteria—
appropriate for supporting diagnosis and nursing assessment.
Nurses should document observable and reported criteria
precisely.
A: Vague phrases (“appears anxious”) lack temporal and
symptom-specific detail required by DSM-based
documentation.
C: Assuming symptoms are solely situational without
documenting diagnostic criteria may miss chronic pattern and
delay treatment.
D: Nurses should not unilaterally confirm diagnoses or initiate
controlled medications without provider orders and clear
documentation of criteria.
Teaching point
Document DSM-consistent symptom duration and criteria
clearly to support diagnosis and care planning.
