PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉A female client who is severely incapacitated by obsessive-
compulsive behavior has been admitted to the mental health
hospital. The client's compulsive ritual involves changing her
clothing 8 to 12 times a day. She continually asks the nurse for
advice regarding her problems but then ignores it. This is an
example of the conflict of: Answer: Dependence versus
independence
◉A client with a long history of alcohol dependence spends 28 days
in an alcohol-rehabilitation unit. What type of referral does the
nurse anticipate will be included in the discharge plan? Answer:
Community-based self-help group
◉A nurse is evaluating a child with suspected autism. At what age
does the nurse determine that the signs of autism initially may be
evident? Answer: 2 years
,◉One evening a nurse finds a client who has been experiencing
persecutory delusions trying to get out the door. The client begs,
"Please let me go. I trust you. The Mafia is going to kill me tonight."
Which response is most therapeutic? Answer: "You're frightened.
Come with me to your room, and we can talk about it."
◉It is determined that a staff nurse has a drug abuse problem. As an
initial intervention the staff nurse should be: Answer: Referred to
the employee assistance program
◉Which activity is most appropriate for a nurse to introduce to a
depressed client during the early part of hospitalization? Answer:
Project involving drawing
◉A client with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, manic episode, is
admitted to the mental health unit. Because the environment is
important, what should the nurse do? Answer: Place the client in a
private room to provide a quiet atmosphere
◉At times a client's anxiety level is so high that it blocks attempts at
communication and the nurse is unsure of what is being said. To
clarify understanding, the nurse says, "Let's see whether we mean
the same thing." What communication technique is being used by
the nurse? Answer: Seeking consensual validation
,◉A nurse understands that autism is a form of a pervasive
developmental disorder (PDD). Which factor unique to autism
differentiates it from other forms of PDD? Answer: Early onset,
before 36 months of age
◉A nurse is planning activities for a withdrawn client who is
hallucinating. Which activity will be most therapeutic for the client?
Answer: Going for a walk with the nurse
◉A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder performs a specific
ritual. Why should the nurse give the client time to perform the
ritual? Answer: Denying this activity may precipitate an increased
level of anxiety.
◉What is the primary reason that the nurse encourages the family
of an alcoholic to become involved in the treatment program?
Answer: Alcoholism involves the entire family.
◉One morning a client with the diagnosis of acute depression says
to the nurse, "God is punishing me for my past sins." What is the best
response by the nurse? Answer: "You really seem to be upset about
this."
◉A nurse is working in a clinic that provides services to clients who
abuse drugs. What effect of cocaine should the nurse consider as the
reason that it easily causes dependence? Answer: Blurs reality
, ◉What should a nurse identify as the most important factor in
rehabilitation of a client addicted to alcohol? Answer: Motivational
readiness
◉What is an appropriate way for a nurse to help a client ease
anxiety? Answer: Help the client acquire skills with which to face
stressful events
◉A 6-year-old child who has autism exhibits frequent spinning and
hand-flapping behaviors. What should the nurse teach the parents to
do to limit these actions? Answer: Use another activity to distract
the child
◉A client with the diagnosis of schizophrenia refuses to eat meals.
Which nursing action is most beneficial for this client? Answer:
Having a staff member sit with the client in a quiet area during
mealtimes
◉What should a nurse consider when planning care for a client who
is using ritualistic behavior? Answer: Clients do not want to repeat
their rituals but feel compelled to do so.
◉How can a nurse minimize agitation in a disturbed client?
Answer: By limiting unnecessary interactions with the client
COMPREHENSIVE PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS
AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉A female client who is severely incapacitated by obsessive-
compulsive behavior has been admitted to the mental health
hospital. The client's compulsive ritual involves changing her
clothing 8 to 12 times a day. She continually asks the nurse for
advice regarding her problems but then ignores it. This is an
example of the conflict of: Answer: Dependence versus
independence
◉A client with a long history of alcohol dependence spends 28 days
in an alcohol-rehabilitation unit. What type of referral does the
nurse anticipate will be included in the discharge plan? Answer:
Community-based self-help group
◉A nurse is evaluating a child with suspected autism. At what age
does the nurse determine that the signs of autism initially may be
evident? Answer: 2 years
,◉One evening a nurse finds a client who has been experiencing
persecutory delusions trying to get out the door. The client begs,
"Please let me go. I trust you. The Mafia is going to kill me tonight."
Which response is most therapeutic? Answer: "You're frightened.
Come with me to your room, and we can talk about it."
◉It is determined that a staff nurse has a drug abuse problem. As an
initial intervention the staff nurse should be: Answer: Referred to
the employee assistance program
◉Which activity is most appropriate for a nurse to introduce to a
depressed client during the early part of hospitalization? Answer:
Project involving drawing
◉A client with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, manic episode, is
admitted to the mental health unit. Because the environment is
important, what should the nurse do? Answer: Place the client in a
private room to provide a quiet atmosphere
◉At times a client's anxiety level is so high that it blocks attempts at
communication and the nurse is unsure of what is being said. To
clarify understanding, the nurse says, "Let's see whether we mean
the same thing." What communication technique is being used by
the nurse? Answer: Seeking consensual validation
,◉A nurse understands that autism is a form of a pervasive
developmental disorder (PDD). Which factor unique to autism
differentiates it from other forms of PDD? Answer: Early onset,
before 36 months of age
◉A nurse is planning activities for a withdrawn client who is
hallucinating. Which activity will be most therapeutic for the client?
Answer: Going for a walk with the nurse
◉A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder performs a specific
ritual. Why should the nurse give the client time to perform the
ritual? Answer: Denying this activity may precipitate an increased
level of anxiety.
◉What is the primary reason that the nurse encourages the family
of an alcoholic to become involved in the treatment program?
Answer: Alcoholism involves the entire family.
◉One morning a client with the diagnosis of acute depression says
to the nurse, "God is punishing me for my past sins." What is the best
response by the nurse? Answer: "You really seem to be upset about
this."
◉A nurse is working in a clinic that provides services to clients who
abuse drugs. What effect of cocaine should the nurse consider as the
reason that it easily causes dependence? Answer: Blurs reality
, ◉What should a nurse identify as the most important factor in
rehabilitation of a client addicted to alcohol? Answer: Motivational
readiness
◉What is an appropriate way for a nurse to help a client ease
anxiety? Answer: Help the client acquire skills with which to face
stressful events
◉A 6-year-old child who has autism exhibits frequent spinning and
hand-flapping behaviors. What should the nurse teach the parents to
do to limit these actions? Answer: Use another activity to distract
the child
◉A client with the diagnosis of schizophrenia refuses to eat meals.
Which nursing action is most beneficial for this client? Answer:
Having a staff member sit with the client in a quiet area during
mealtimes
◉What should a nurse consider when planning care for a client who
is using ritualistic behavior? Answer: Clients do not want to repeat
their rituals but feel compelled to do so.
◉How can a nurse minimize agitation in a disturbed client?
Answer: By limiting unnecessary interactions with the client
