Mental Health Nursing NUR 252 Final Exam Practice 2026 |Galen
College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a manic episode. Which of
the following nursing interventions is the priority?
A. Encouraging the client to participate in group therapy sessions
B. Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
C. Allowing the client to lead the community meeting
D. Teaching the client about the importance of medication adherence
Answer: B
Rationale: Safety and nutrition are priorities during mania. High-calorie finger foods
provide necessary energy for a client who cannot sit down to eat. Group therapy and
leadership roles may be too stimulating.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following
rights does the client maintain?
A. The right to leave the facility against medical advice
B. The right to carry personal weapons
C. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D. The right to share confidential information with other patients
Answer: C
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to refuse treatment, including
medications, unless a court order is obtained or in an emergency situation.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for tardive dyskinesia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
B. Severe muscle rigidity and high fever
C. Shuffling gait and tremors at rest
D. Intense inner restlessness and pacing
Answer: A
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset extrapyramidal symptom characterized by
involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and extremities.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting phenelzine (an MAOI). Which
food should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A. Cottage cheese
B. Fresh green beans
C. Cooked chicken breast
D. Smoked salami
Answer: D
Rationale: Clients taking MAOIs must avoid tyramine-rich foods like smoked meats, aged
cheeses, and fermented products to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A client who just lost their spouse says, ‘I cannot believe this is happening. It
must be a mistake.’ Which defense mechanism is being used?
A. Sublimation
B. Displacement
C. Reaction Formation
D. Denial
Answer: D
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to acknowledge a painful reality or truth to protect the
ego from anxiety.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is hearing voices telling
them to hurt others. This is known as:
A. A delusion
B. An idea of reference
C. Depersonalization
D. A command hallucination
Answer: D
Rationale: Command hallucinations are auditory hallucinations that instruct the client to
perform specific actions, often dangerous ones.
7. What is the therapeutic serum lithium level range for a client in the
maintenance phase?
A. 0.1 to 0.5 mEq/L
B. 1.5 to 2.0 mEq/L
C. 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L
D. 2.5 to 3.5 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic maintenance range for lithium is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. Levels
above 1.5 mEq/L are considered toxic.
8. Which of the following is an expected physical finding in a client with
Anorexia Nervosa?
A. Tachycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Lanugo
D. Hyperthermia
Answer: C
Rationale: Lanugo (fine, downy hair) is a compensatory mechanism for heat loss in clients
with severe malnutrition and low body fat.
College
1. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a manic episode. Which of
the following nursing interventions is the priority?
A. Encouraging the client to participate in group therapy sessions
B. Providing high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while walking
C. Allowing the client to lead the community meeting
D. Teaching the client about the importance of medication adherence
Answer: B
Rationale: Safety and nutrition are priorities during mania. High-calorie finger foods
provide necessary energy for a client who cannot sit down to eat. Group therapy and
leadership roles may be too stimulating.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following
rights does the client maintain?
A. The right to leave the facility against medical advice
B. The right to carry personal weapons
C. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D. The right to share confidential information with other patients
Answer: C
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to refuse treatment, including
medications, unless a court order is obtained or in an emergency situation.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for tardive dyskinesia. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Involuntary tongue protrusion and lip-smacking
B. Severe muscle rigidity and high fever
C. Shuffling gait and tremors at rest
D. Intense inner restlessness and pacing
Answer: A
Rationale: Tardive dyskinesia is a late-onset extrapyramidal symptom characterized by
involuntary movements of the tongue, face, and extremities.
4. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting phenelzine (an MAOI). Which
food should the nurse instruct the client to avoid?
A. Cottage cheese
B. Fresh green beans
C. Cooked chicken breast
D. Smoked salami
Answer: D
Rationale: Clients taking MAOIs must avoid tyramine-rich foods like smoked meats, aged
cheeses, and fermented products to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
5. A client who just lost their spouse says, ‘I cannot believe this is happening. It
must be a mistake.’ Which defense mechanism is being used?
A. Sublimation
B. Displacement
C. Reaction Formation
D. Denial
Answer: D
Rationale: Denial involves refusing to acknowledge a painful reality or truth to protect the
ego from anxiety.
, 6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is hearing voices telling
them to hurt others. This is known as:
A. A delusion
B. An idea of reference
C. Depersonalization
D. A command hallucination
Answer: D
Rationale: Command hallucinations are auditory hallucinations that instruct the client to
perform specific actions, often dangerous ones.
7. What is the therapeutic serum lithium level range for a client in the
maintenance phase?
A. 0.1 to 0.5 mEq/L
B. 1.5 to 2.0 mEq/L
C. 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L
D. 2.5 to 3.5 mEq/L
Answer: C
Rationale: The therapeutic maintenance range for lithium is 0.6 to 1.2 mEq/L. Levels
above 1.5 mEq/L are considered toxic.
8. Which of the following is an expected physical finding in a client with
Anorexia Nervosa?
A. Tachycardia
B. Hypertension
C. Lanugo
D. Hyperthermia
Answer: C
Rationale: Lanugo (fine, downy hair) is a compensatory mechanism for heat loss in clients
with severe malnutrition and low body fat.
