NSG 3450 NURSING PRACTICE MENTAL
HEALTH EXAM 4 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉ A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose
all their clinical
nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Nurse-to client ratios must be better because of the nature of
the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by
those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high
technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me." Answer: b. "Psychiatric nurses
use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
◉ When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of
persons diagnosed with mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to
their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role
have the nurses fulfilled?
,a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice Answer: c. Advocacy
◉ A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the
members. Which family member's comment best reflects a mentally
healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never
change." Answer: c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the
good of the family."
◉ Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be
experiencing a mental illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
,d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change
jobs. Answer: b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless
mood.
◉ Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally
healthy behavior" was achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of
others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major
areas of own life. Answer: a. being willing to work towards achieving
ideals and meeting demands.
◉ A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new
client's admission form. Which resource should the nurse consult to
determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems
(ICD-10)
b. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
, d. A behavioral health reference manual Answer: c. Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
◉ A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety
disorders. Which resource would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
d. ICD-10 Answer: b. DSM-V
◉ Which individual behavior demonstrates resilience?
a. Repress stressors associated with a divorce.
b. Continuing to grieve the death of a spouse for 5 years.
c. Continuing to live in a shelter for 2 years after the home is destroyed
by fire.
d. Taking a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a
permanent job. Answer: d. Taking a temporary job to maintain financial
stability after loss of a permanent job.
HEALTH EXAM 4 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
STUDY GUIDE SOLVED QUESTION SET
◉ A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose
all their clinical
nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Nurse-to client ratios must be better because of the nature of
the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by
those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high
technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me." Answer: b. "Psychiatric nurses
use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
◉ When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of
persons diagnosed with mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to
their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role
have the nurses fulfilled?
,a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice Answer: c. Advocacy
◉ A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the
members. Which family member's comment best reflects a mentally
healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never
change." Answer: c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the
good of the family."
◉ Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be
experiencing a mental illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
,d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change
jobs. Answer: b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless
mood.
◉ Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally
healthy behavior" was achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of
others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major
areas of own life. Answer: a. being willing to work towards achieving
ideals and meeting demands.
◉ A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new
client's admission form. Which resource should the nurse consult to
determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems
(ICD-10)
b. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
, d. A behavioral health reference manual Answer: c. Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
◉ A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety
disorders. Which resource would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards
of Practice
d. ICD-10 Answer: b. DSM-V
◉ Which individual behavior demonstrates resilience?
a. Repress stressors associated with a divorce.
b. Continuing to grieve the death of a spouse for 5 years.
c. Continuing to live in a shelter for 2 years after the home is destroyed
by fire.
d. Taking a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a
permanent job. Answer: d. Taking a temporary job to maintain financial
stability after loss of a permanent job.
