PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student reads an NCLEX-style question that asks for the
best nursing action in a rapidly changing psychiatric emergency.
The student feels hurried and chooses the first safe-sounding
option. Which test-taking strategy should the student apply to
improve selection?
,A. Select the first option that seems safe.
B. Use the RACE critical-thinking model to evaluate options.
C. Eliminate options that are unfamiliar and choose between
remaining.
D. Choose the option that matches how you've seen the
instructor act.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The RACE model (Recognize, Analyze,
Choose/Consider, Evaluate) promotes systematic clinical
judgment under pressure, reducing impulsive choices. It
aligns with NGN clinical-judgment strategies.
• Incorrect (A): Choosing the first safe-sounding option is
impulsive and may miss the best priority action.
• Incorrect (C): Eliminating unfamiliar options risks
discarding the correct answer if it's worded differently;
elimination must be reasoned.
• Incorrect (D): Instructor actions may be context-specific
and not always represent the NCLEX-best answer.
Teaching Point: Use structured models (RACE) to pause
and evaluate options.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
,2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Clinical Judgment
Stem: During practice exams, a student repeatedly misses
analyzing psych questions that require prioritization. Which
reflective step will most effectively improve future
performance?
A. Ignore the mistake and focus on new questions.
B. Do retrospective reflection to identify thinking errors.
C. Rely on memorization of textbook sentences.
D. Speed up pacing to answer more questions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Retrospective reflection helps identify specific
reasoning errors, biases, and knowledge gaps—key for
clinical judgment development.
• Incorrect (A): Ignoring mistakes prevents learning and
repeat errors.
• Incorrect (C): Memorization alone doesn't build
application or prioritization skills.
• Incorrect (D): Speed without reflective correction
perpetuates errors.
Teaching Point: Reflect on errors to uncover reasoning
flaws.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
, 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model (CJMM)
Stem: A question requires a student to use CJMM: recognize
cues, analyze, prioritize hypotheses, generate actions, take
action, and evaluate outcomes. While practicing, which
approach demonstrates correct CJMM application?
A. Memorize standard protocols and apply them to every stem.
B. Identify patient cues, link to potential problems, then choose
actions.
C. Select interventions based solely on most severe disease
name.
D. Pick the option that seems most familiar from lectures.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Systematically using patient cues to form
hypotheses and decide actions reflects CJMM's six steps.
• Incorrect (A): Protocols help but cannot substitute for cue-
based reasoning in varied scenarios.
• Incorrect (C): Relying only on diagnosis without cue
analysis can misprioritize care.
• Incorrect (D): Familiarity does not guarantee correct
clinical judgment.
Teaching Point: Let patient cues drive hypotheses and
SUCCESS
NCLEX-STYLE Q&A REVIEW
5TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)CATHERINE MELFI
CURTIS; AUDRA BAKER FEGLEY
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Critical Thinking and Clinical Judgment
Related to Test Taking
Stem: A student reads an NCLEX-style question that asks for the
best nursing action in a rapidly changing psychiatric emergency.
The student feels hurried and chooses the first safe-sounding
option. Which test-taking strategy should the student apply to
improve selection?
,A. Select the first option that seems safe.
B. Use the RACE critical-thinking model to evaluate options.
C. Eliminate options that are unfamiliar and choose between
remaining.
D. Choose the option that matches how you've seen the
instructor act.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): The RACE model (Recognize, Analyze,
Choose/Consider, Evaluate) promotes systematic clinical
judgment under pressure, reducing impulsive choices. It
aligns with NGN clinical-judgment strategies.
• Incorrect (A): Choosing the first safe-sounding option is
impulsive and may miss the best priority action.
• Incorrect (C): Eliminating unfamiliar options risks
discarding the correct answer if it's worded differently;
elimination must be reasoned.
• Incorrect (D): Instructor actions may be context-specific
and not always represent the NCLEX-best answer.
Teaching Point: Use structured models (RACE) to pause
and evaluate options.
Citation: Curtis, C. M., & Fegley, A. B. (2023). Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing Success: NCLEX-Style Q&A Review
(5th ed.).
,2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Clinical Judgment
Stem: During practice exams, a student repeatedly misses
analyzing psych questions that require prioritization. Which
reflective step will most effectively improve future
performance?
A. Ignore the mistake and focus on new questions.
B. Do retrospective reflection to identify thinking errors.
C. Rely on memorization of textbook sentences.
D. Speed up pacing to answer more questions.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Retrospective reflection helps identify specific
reasoning errors, biases, and knowledge gaps—key for
clinical judgment development.
• Incorrect (A): Ignoring mistakes prevents learning and
repeat errors.
• Incorrect (C): Memorization alone doesn't build
application or prioritization skills.
• Incorrect (D): Speed without reflective correction
perpetuates errors.
Teaching Point: Reflect on errors to uncover reasoning
flaws.
Citation: Curtis & Fegley (2023).
, 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — National Council Clinical Judgment
Measurement Model (CJMM)
Stem: A question requires a student to use CJMM: recognize
cues, analyze, prioritize hypotheses, generate actions, take
action, and evaluate outcomes. While practicing, which
approach demonstrates correct CJMM application?
A. Memorize standard protocols and apply them to every stem.
B. Identify patient cues, link to potential problems, then choose
actions.
C. Select interventions based solely on most severe disease
name.
D. Pick the option that seems most familiar from lectures.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): Systematically using patient cues to form
hypotheses and decide actions reflects CJMM's six steps.
• Incorrect (A): Protocols help but cannot substitute for cue-
based reasoning in varied scenarios.
• Incorrect (C): Relying only on diagnosis without cue
analysis can misprioritize care.
• Incorrect (D): Familiarity does not guarantee correct
clinical judgment.
Teaching Point: Let patient cues drive hypotheses and
