Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 8th Edition Test Bank Updated Latest Comprehensive Exam Practice Questions with Verified Answers for Nursing Students Covers Mental Health Concepts, Psychiatric Disorders, and Clinical Care 2026

Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced practice T T T T T T T



nurse to perform which additional intervention?
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a. Conduct mental health assessments. T T T c. Establish therapeutic relationships. T T




b. Prescribe psychotropic medication. T T d. Individualize nursing care plans. T T T




ANS: B T




In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who have taken
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special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform
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mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
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REF: 15 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
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MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses lose all their nursing skills,
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thebest response by the mental health nurse is:
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a. Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios
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must be better because of the nature of the patients problems.
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b. Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
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solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.
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c. Thats a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring equipment
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andmanage complex intravenous therapies.
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d. Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical nurses
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do. That appeals to me.
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ANS: B T




The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
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there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as mental health
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problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in
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psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice,
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not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: 10 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
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MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care
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Environment

3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with mental illness, a group of
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,nurses writes letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses
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fulfilled?


a. Recovery c. Advocacy


b. Attending d. Evidence-based practice T T




ANS: C T




An advocate defends or asserts anothers cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to do
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that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or make
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decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and publication in
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the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming
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for persons with mental illness, the letter- writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of
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patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
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REF: 16 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
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MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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4. Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was caring? My nurse:
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a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication.
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b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better.
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c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not alone.
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d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged sooner.
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ANS: C T




Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering into a
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shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give
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examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: 7 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
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MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental illness? The
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patient:

a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
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b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
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c. is able to describe the difference between as if and for real.
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,d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
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ANS: B T




The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters describe
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behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: 2 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
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MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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6. Which finding best indicates that the goal Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior was achieved? A patient:
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a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
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b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
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c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
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d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
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ANS: A T




The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive behaviors.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: 2 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
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MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patients admission form. Which
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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 (ICD-10)
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b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
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c. A behavioral health reference manual
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d. Wikipedia T




ANS: B T




The DSM-5 gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. The distracters may not contain diagnostic
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criteria for a psychiatric illness.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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, REF: 3 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
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MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which resource would
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have the most complete information?
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a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
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b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
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c. The ANAs Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
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d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
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ANS: B T




The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. The other references are good
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resources but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
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REF: 10 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
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MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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9. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who:
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a. is able to repress stressors.
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b. becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
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c. lives in a shelter for two years after the home is destroyed by fire.
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d. takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent job.
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ANS: D T




Resilience is closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people facing tragedies, loss,
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trauma, and severe stress. It is the ability and capacity for people to secure the resources they need to support
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their well-being. Repression and depression are unhealthy. Living in a shelter for two years shows a failure
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to move forward after a tragedy. See related audience response question.
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PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
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REF: 3 TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment
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MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
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10. Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC:
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a. patient outcomes T c. diagnosis


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