NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
CORRECT – GALEN
Considering the many criteria for good mental health, the nursing student has been instructed
to list four of these criteria. The student’s list consists of the following: (1) an appropriate
perception of reality, (2) the ability to accept oneself, (3) the ability to establish relationships,
and (4) the ability to request privacy as needed. How would the nurse evaluate the nursing
student’s list?
1. All the student’s criteria are correct.
2. Three of the four criteria are correct.
3. Two of the four criteria are correct.
4. All four of the criteria are incorrect.
An 84 y/o F is being seen by a therapist after the death of her spouse of 50 years. Which
statement below illustrates resilience?
1. “It’s been a year, and I still just can’t bear the thought of leaving the house without
him.”
2. “I enjoy a weekly lunch and bridge game at the senior center. I couldn’t do that while I
was taking care of my husband.”
3. “I still feel so much anger towards him for leaving me here alone.”
4. “We used to walk the dog every evening together. Now I just sit in my chair.”
Which statement about mental illness is true?
1. Mental illness is a matter of individual nonconformity with societal norms.
2. Mental illness is present when irrational and illogical behavior occurs.
3. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the groups
defining it.
4. Mental illness is evaluated solely by considering individual control over behavior and
appraisal of reality.
The World Health Organization describes health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Which statement is true
regarding overall health? Select all that apply.
1. There is no relationship between physical and mental health.
2. Poor physical health can lead to mental distress and disorders.
3. Poor mental health does not lead to physical illness.
4. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
5. Mental health needs take precedence over physical health needs.
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
,Which of the following actions reflect the nurse’s role of advocate in an inpatient psychiatric
setting? Select all that apply.
1. The nurse speaks on behalf of a mentally ill client to ensure adequate access to needed
mental health services.
2. The nurse focuses on improving the mentally ill client’s and family members’ self-care
knowledge and skills.
3. The nurse explains unit rules and ensures that new clients fit comfortably into the
therapeutic environment.
4. The nurse continually monitors the client in the milieu for side effects of a new
psychotropic medication.
5. The nurse talks with the treatment team to support a shy client’s request for less-
sedating medications.
A new RN is caring for a population of clients with severe, persistent mental illness. He
notices that most of his clients are also heavy smokers. He engages in a literature review to
learn more about this common comorbidity and best-practice interventions. Based on
research findings he begins offering referrals for smoking cessation med consults to
interested clients. Which QSEN principle did the RN apply to this situation?
1. Teamwork
2. Safety
3. Evidence-based practice
4. Quality improvement
A 32 y/o F is brought into a behavioral health crisis unit by her sister for worsening auditory
hallucinations telling her to “kill the devil” in their mother. The client is voluntarily admitted
to the unit and her sister leaves. The next day the client’s sister calls the unit reporting that
the client is refusing to talk to her when she calls. She asks for an update regarding the
client’s status and verification that the client is still at the facility. The best response is:
1. Verify the client is still at the facility and update the client’s sister regarding her status.
2. Verify the client is still at the facility and require a release of information from the client
before providing a status update to her sister.
3. Require a release of information before offering any information about the client.
4. Advise the client’s sister that no information can be shared in any circumstance.
Which ethical principle would apply to the above case?
1. Autonomy
2. Beneficence
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
, 3. Veracity
4. Fidelity
Exceptions to basic patient rights could be made in which of the following scenarios? (select
all that apply)
1. Prior to a patient’s discharge from an inpatient setting, his uncle is notified of the
release due to the patient’s repeated statements of a desire to kill his uncle.
2. A patient is placed in physical restraints after two hours of shouting, pacing around the
unit, and attempting to enter the rooms of other patients despite repeated requests for
him to stop.
3. A patient is involuntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after presenting to the
ER with a self-inflicted stab wound to his thigh and report of suicidal ideation.
4. A patient is placed on 1:1 observation after a suicide attempt while on a medical unit of
a hospital.
5. A patient is denied a request for the inpatient hospital staff to “make me a copy of my
medical record right now! I’m leaving and those records belong to me!”
On an inpatient locked psychiatric unit, a newly admitted client requests to leave against
medical advice (AMA). What should be the initial nursing action for this client?
1. Tell the client that, because he or she is on a locked unit, he or she cannot leave AMA.
2. Check the client’s admission status and discuss the client’s reasons for wanting to leave.
3. In a matter-of-fact way, initiate room restrictions.
4. Place the client on one-on-one observation.
When a client makes a written application to be admitted to a psychiatric facility, which
statement about this client applies?
1. The client may retain none, some, or all civil rights depending on state law.
2. The client cannot make discharge decisions. These are initiated by the hospital or court
or both.
3. The client has been determined to be a danger to self or others.
4. The client makes decisions about discharge, unless he or she is determined to be a
danger to self or others.
Which nursing intervention demonstrates false imprisonment?
1. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation runs out of the psychiatric
unit. The nurse rushes after the patient and convinces the patient to return to the
unit.
2. A patient has been irritating and attention seeking much of the day. A nurse escorts
the patient down the hall saying, “Stay in your room, or you’ll be put in seclusion.”
3. A confused and combative patient says, “I’m getting out of here, and no one can
stop me.” The nurse restrains this patient without a health care provider’s order
and then promptly obtains an order.
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
CORRECT – GALEN
Considering the many criteria for good mental health, the nursing student has been instructed
to list four of these criteria. The student’s list consists of the following: (1) an appropriate
perception of reality, (2) the ability to accept oneself, (3) the ability to establish relationships,
and (4) the ability to request privacy as needed. How would the nurse evaluate the nursing
student’s list?
1. All the student’s criteria are correct.
2. Three of the four criteria are correct.
3. Two of the four criteria are correct.
4. All four of the criteria are incorrect.
An 84 y/o F is being seen by a therapist after the death of her spouse of 50 years. Which
statement below illustrates resilience?
1. “It’s been a year, and I still just can’t bear the thought of leaving the house without
him.”
2. “I enjoy a weekly lunch and bridge game at the senior center. I couldn’t do that while I
was taking care of my husband.”
3. “I still feel so much anger towards him for leaving me here alone.”
4. “We used to walk the dog every evening together. Now I just sit in my chair.”
Which statement about mental illness is true?
1. Mental illness is a matter of individual nonconformity with societal norms.
2. Mental illness is present when irrational and illogical behavior occurs.
3. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the groups
defining it.
4. Mental illness is evaluated solely by considering individual control over behavior and
appraisal of reality.
The World Health Organization describes health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and
social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Which statement is true
regarding overall health? Select all that apply.
1. There is no relationship between physical and mental health.
2. Poor physical health can lead to mental distress and disorders.
3. Poor mental health does not lead to physical illness.
4. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
5. Mental health needs take precedence over physical health needs.
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
,Which of the following actions reflect the nurse’s role of advocate in an inpatient psychiatric
setting? Select all that apply.
1. The nurse speaks on behalf of a mentally ill client to ensure adequate access to needed
mental health services.
2. The nurse focuses on improving the mentally ill client’s and family members’ self-care
knowledge and skills.
3. The nurse explains unit rules and ensures that new clients fit comfortably into the
therapeutic environment.
4. The nurse continually monitors the client in the milieu for side effects of a new
psychotropic medication.
5. The nurse talks with the treatment team to support a shy client’s request for less-
sedating medications.
A new RN is caring for a population of clients with severe, persistent mental illness. He
notices that most of his clients are also heavy smokers. He engages in a literature review to
learn more about this common comorbidity and best-practice interventions. Based on
research findings he begins offering referrals for smoking cessation med consults to
interested clients. Which QSEN principle did the RN apply to this situation?
1. Teamwork
2. Safety
3. Evidence-based practice
4. Quality improvement
A 32 y/o F is brought into a behavioral health crisis unit by her sister for worsening auditory
hallucinations telling her to “kill the devil” in their mother. The client is voluntarily admitted
to the unit and her sister leaves. The next day the client’s sister calls the unit reporting that
the client is refusing to talk to her when she calls. She asks for an update regarding the
client’s status and verification that the client is still at the facility. The best response is:
1. Verify the client is still at the facility and update the client’s sister regarding her status.
2. Verify the client is still at the facility and require a release of information from the client
before providing a status update to her sister.
3. Require a release of information before offering any information about the client.
4. Advise the client’s sister that no information can be shared in any circumstance.
Which ethical principle would apply to the above case?
1. Autonomy
2. Beneficence
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
, 3. Veracity
4. Fidelity
Exceptions to basic patient rights could be made in which of the following scenarios? (select
all that apply)
1. Prior to a patient’s discharge from an inpatient setting, his uncle is notified of the
release due to the patient’s repeated statements of a desire to kill his uncle.
2. A patient is placed in physical restraints after two hours of shouting, pacing around the
unit, and attempting to enter the rooms of other patients despite repeated requests for
him to stop.
3. A patient is involuntarily admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit after presenting to the
ER with a self-inflicted stab wound to his thigh and report of suicidal ideation.
4. A patient is placed on 1:1 observation after a suicide attempt while on a medical unit of
a hospital.
5. A patient is denied a request for the inpatient hospital staff to “make me a copy of my
medical record right now! I’m leaving and those records belong to me!”
On an inpatient locked psychiatric unit, a newly admitted client requests to leave against
medical advice (AMA). What should be the initial nursing action for this client?
1. Tell the client that, because he or she is on a locked unit, he or she cannot leave AMA.
2. Check the client’s admission status and discuss the client’s reasons for wanting to leave.
3. In a matter-of-fact way, initiate room restrictions.
4. Place the client on one-on-one observation.
When a client makes a written application to be admitted to a psychiatric facility, which
statement about this client applies?
1. The client may retain none, some, or all civil rights depending on state law.
2. The client cannot make discharge decisions. These are initiated by the hospital or court
or both.
3. The client has been determined to be a danger to self or others.
4. The client makes decisions about discharge, unless he or she is determined to be a
danger to self or others.
Which nursing intervention demonstrates false imprisonment?
1. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation runs out of the psychiatric
unit. The nurse rushes after the patient and convinces the patient to return to the
unit.
2. A patient has been irritating and attention seeking much of the day. A nurse escorts
the patient down the hall saying, “Stay in your room, or you’ll be put in seclusion.”
3. A confused and combative patient says, “I’m getting out of here, and no one can
stop me.” The nurse restrains this patient without a health care provider’s order
and then promptly obtains an order.
NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
