NUR 252 Mental Health Nursing Exam 1 2026 |Galen College
1. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm to the
patient?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Beneficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: A
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical requirement to avoid causing harm to the patient.
2. A patient is shouting at the nurse because their phone privileges were
revoked. This is an example of which defense mechanism?
A. Sublimation
B. Projection
C. Displacement
D. Regression
Answer: C
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotions from the actual source (the
revoked privileges) to a less threatening target (the nurse).
3. During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship are the boundaries and
the contract established?
A. Pre-interaction phase
B. Termination phase
C. Working phase
D. Orientation phase
Answer: D
,Rationale: The orientation phase is where the nurse and patient meet, establish rapport,
and define the terms of the relationship.
4. The nurse is assessing a patient’s spiritual needs. Which question is most
appropriate to ask?
A. What provides you with strength and hope?
B. Do you believe in God?
C. Why don’t you go to church?
D. Are you religious or spiritual?
Answer: A
Rationale: Asking what provides strength and hope is an open-ended, non-judgmental way
to assess spirituality.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’
response?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Norepinephrine regulates the sympathetic nervous system’s response to stress.
6. A nurse tells a patient, ‘Everything will be fine, don’t worry.’ This is an
example of:
A. Offering hope
B. Validation
C. False reassurance
D. Restating
Answer: C
, Rationale: False reassurance is a non-therapeutic technique that dismisses the patient’s
feelings and provides unrealistic hope.
7. Which legal concept requires a mental health professional to notify a third
party if a patient threatens them?
A. Duty to Warn
B. Habeas Corpus
C. Right to Privacy
D. Informed Consent
Answer: A
Rationale: The Duty to Warn (Tarasoff ruling) requires clinicians to breach confidentiality
if a patient poses a specific threat to a third party.
8. A patient states, ‘I feel like I’m a failure at everything.’ The nurse responds,
‘You feel like you are failing?’ This is:
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Reflecting
D. Summarizing
Answer: A
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea expressed by the patient to show
understanding.
9. Which developmental stage, according to Erikson, focuses on an adolescent’s
search for self?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion
D. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Answer: C
1. Which ethical principle refers to the nurse’s obligation to do no harm to the
patient?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Beneficence
C. Autonomy
D. Justice
Answer: A
Rationale: Nonmaleficence is the ethical requirement to avoid causing harm to the patient.
2. A patient is shouting at the nurse because their phone privileges were
revoked. This is an example of which defense mechanism?
A. Sublimation
B. Projection
C. Displacement
D. Regression
Answer: C
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotions from the actual source (the
revoked privileges) to a less threatening target (the nurse).
3. During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship are the boundaries and
the contract established?
A. Pre-interaction phase
B. Termination phase
C. Working phase
D. Orientation phase
Answer: D
,Rationale: The orientation phase is where the nurse and patient meet, establish rapport,
and define the terms of the relationship.
4. The nurse is assessing a patient’s spiritual needs. Which question is most
appropriate to ask?
A. What provides you with strength and hope?
B. Do you believe in God?
C. Why don’t you go to church?
D. Are you religious or spiritual?
Answer: A
Rationale: Asking what provides strength and hope is an open-ended, non-judgmental way
to assess spirituality.
5. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’
response?
A. Serotonin
B. GABA
C. Norepinephrine
D. Acetylcholine
Answer: C
Rationale: Norepinephrine regulates the sympathetic nervous system’s response to stress.
6. A nurse tells a patient, ‘Everything will be fine, don’t worry.’ This is an
example of:
A. Offering hope
B. Validation
C. False reassurance
D. Restating
Answer: C
, Rationale: False reassurance is a non-therapeutic technique that dismisses the patient’s
feelings and provides unrealistic hope.
7. Which legal concept requires a mental health professional to notify a third
party if a patient threatens them?
A. Duty to Warn
B. Habeas Corpus
C. Right to Privacy
D. Informed Consent
Answer: A
Rationale: The Duty to Warn (Tarasoff ruling) requires clinicians to breach confidentiality
if a patient poses a specific threat to a third party.
8. A patient states, ‘I feel like I’m a failure at everything.’ The nurse responds,
‘You feel like you are failing?’ This is:
A. Restating
B. Clarifying
C. Reflecting
D. Summarizing
Answer: A
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea expressed by the patient to show
understanding.
9. Which developmental stage, according to Erikson, focuses on an adolescent’s
search for self?
A. Trust vs. Mistrust
B. Industry vs. Inferiority
C. Identity vs. Role Confusion
D. Intimacy vs. Isolation
Answer: C
