Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health nursing
Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental
health nursing 2026 Latest Updated Questions
With Answers Success Guide.
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the
well-being of a newly admitted client. Which of the
following would the nurse identify as having a positive
impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance -
Correct Answer -Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include
biologic makeup, autonomy, independence, self-esteem,
capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging,
reality orientation, and coping or stress management
abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a
balance of separateness and connectedness are both
needed for good mental health, and therefore a healthy
person would need others for companionship. A family
history of mental illness could relate to the biologic
makeup of an individual, which may have a negative
impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a
negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and
social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not
possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to
adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness
are true? Select all that apply.
1
,Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health nursing
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired
functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness
include excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually
able to cope effectively with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self. -
Correct Answer -Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired
functioning, or both. Mental illness may be related to
individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors.
Excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental
illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel
overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from
mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health
and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one
culture is always unacceptable in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or
mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional,
psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying
interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping,
positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. -
Correct Answer -Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate
behavior, another society may see that as maladaptive,
2
, Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health nursing
and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is
a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and
emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may
be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality
from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to
mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if
she is becoming mentally ill because she is so sad. The
nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you
are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to
the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship
before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know
what the future brings." -
Correct Answer -Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self,
ineffective relationships, ineffective coping, and lack of
personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected
and therefore not considered mental illness. False
reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address
the client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following
purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the
client's medical record
3
Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental
health nursing 2026 Latest Updated Questions
With Answers Success Guide.
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the
well-being of a newly admitted client. Which of the
following would the nurse identify as having a positive
impact on the individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance -
Correct Answer -Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include
biologic makeup, autonomy, independence, self-esteem,
capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging,
reality orientation, and coping or stress management
abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a
balance of separateness and connectedness are both
needed for good mental health, and therefore a healthy
person would need others for companionship. A family
history of mental illness could relate to the biologic
makeup of an individual, which may have a negative
impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a
negative impact on an individual's interpersonal and
social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not
possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to
adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness
are true? Select all that apply.
1
,Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health nursing
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired
functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness
include excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually
able to cope effectively with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may
experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self. -
Correct Answer -Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired
functioning, or both. Mental illness may be related to
individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors.
Excessive dependency on or withdrawal from
relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental
illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel
overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals suffering from
mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health
and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one
culture is always unacceptable in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or
mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional,
psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying
interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping,
positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. -
Correct Answer -Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate
behavior, another society may see that as maladaptive,
2
, Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric- mental health nursing
and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is
a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and
emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may
be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality
from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to
mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if
she is becoming mentally ill because she is so sad. The
nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you
are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to
the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship
before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know
what the future brings." -
Correct Answer -Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self,
ineffective relationships, ineffective coping, and lack of
personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected
and therefore not considered mental illness. False
reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address
the client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following
purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the
client's medical record
3
