Test Bank for Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 9th Edition (Margaret Jordan Halter) | Verified Questions and Answers (2026)

Test Bank – Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing, 9th Edition (All Chapters 1–36 Complete, 2026 Verified
AndUpdated) [NCLEX | Nursing | Mental Health Exam Prep]


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,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
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Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
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Approach, 9th Edition
x x x




MULTIPLE CHOICE x




1. The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?
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a. Conducting a mental health assessment. x x x x


b. Prescribing psychotropic medication. x x


c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship. x x x


d. Individualizing a nursing care plan. x x x x




ANS: B x


In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared nurse practitioners and
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clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse
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prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
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relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses ―lose all their clinical nursing
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xskills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
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a. ―Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
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client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients‘ problems.‖
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b. ―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking x x x x x x x x x x


to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
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c. ―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
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monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.‖
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d. ―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as x x x x x x x x x x x x x


medical–surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
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ANS: B x


The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
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nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help clients
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with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses
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must have. Nurse–client ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like
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other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
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Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
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xmental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
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xthe legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
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a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice x

, ANS: C x


An advocate defends or asserts another‘s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
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ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping clients understand
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their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,
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public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since
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funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter-
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writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of clients who are unable to articulate
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their own needs.
x x x




PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
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xmember‘s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
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a. ―I‘ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.‖
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b. ―I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.‖
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c. ―I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.‖
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d. ―It‘s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.‖
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ANS: C x


The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
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importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
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learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may
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be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
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responses show blaming and avoidance.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
x x x x x x




5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
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xillness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety. x x x x


b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
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c. being able to describe the difference between ―as if‖ and ―for real.‖
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d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs. x x x x x x x x x




ANS: B x


The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
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describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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6. Which finding best indicates that the goal ―Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior‖ was
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achieved for an adult client?
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a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
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b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
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c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others. x x x x x x x x x


d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
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life. x

, ANS: A x


Mental health is a state of well-being in which individuals reach their own potential, cope
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with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to the community. Mental
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health provides people with the capacity for rational thinking, communication skills, learning,
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emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. The correct response describes an adaptive,
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healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive behaviors.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new client‘s admission form.
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xWhich resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
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a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
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x (ICD-10)
b. The ANA‟s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
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c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)x x x x x x x


d. A behavioral health reference manual
x x x x




ANS: C x


The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the official guideline
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for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a
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psychiatric illness.
x x




PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
x x x x x x x x




8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which resource
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xwould have the most complete information?
x x x x x


a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) x x x


b. DSM-V
c. The ANA‟s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
x x x x x x x x x


d. ICD-10
ANS: B x


The DSM-V details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. It is the official
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guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do
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not define the diagnostic criteria.
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PTS: x x 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) x x x


TOP: x Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
x x x x x x x x




9. Which individual behavior demonstrates resilience?
x x x x


a. Repress stressors associated with a divorce. x x x x x


b. Continuing to grieve the death of a spouse for 5 years. x x x x x x x x x x


c. Continuing to live in a shelter for 2 years after the home is destroyed by fire.
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d. Taking a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent
x x x x x x x x x x x x


x job.
ANS: D x