Exam 1 - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing Practice Questions
2025/202COMPLETE ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW
VERSION!!
1. A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt
emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should
the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?": ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking
for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's
content is parroting, a non-therapeutic technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
2. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring
us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which
response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness.": ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's
trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the patient's message
conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic.
Asking to talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited
from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch with reality is
truthful, but uncompassionate.
3. The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree."
,The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient
twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's
communication is:
a. clear.
,b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate.: ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal
message that all was well in the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not
present to support the choice of the verbal message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
4. A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's com-
ment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you
about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your
life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit oper-
ates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to
me.": ANS: D
"Ottering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with
the patient, an example of "ottering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two
incorrect responses are inettective and non-therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example
of "ottering hope."
5. Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is inter-
ested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying.": ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been communicated. Restating is an
active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions
such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply
states that he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the understanding.
, 6. A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse
wants to seek clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning.": ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the nurse and patient share
mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about common elements encourages comparison rather than
clarification. The remaining responses are implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
7. A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the
nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes.": ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting by putting into words what
the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit, issues are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining
options are non-therapeutic techniques. Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone
feels that way at times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always result in success is falsely
reassuring.
8. Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interac-
tion, patient fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands,
and looked under chair while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which
analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication
techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.: ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing and incongruent. Some
2025/202COMPLETE ALL QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+||BRAND NEW
VERSION!!
1. A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt
emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should
the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?": ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking
for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's
content is parroting, a non-therapeutic technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
2. A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring
us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which
response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness.": ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's
trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the patient's message
conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic.
Asking to talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited
from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch with reality is
truthful, but uncompassionate.
3. The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree."
,The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient
twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's
communication is:
a. clear.
,b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate.: ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal
message that all was well in the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not
present to support the choice of the verbal message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
4. A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's com-
ment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you
about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your
life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit oper-
ates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to
me.": ANS: D
"Ottering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with
the patient, an example of "ottering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two
incorrect responses are inettective and non-therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example
of "ottering hope."
5. Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is inter-
ested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying.": ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been communicated. Restating is an
active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions
such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply
states that he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the understanding.
, 6. A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse
wants to seek clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning.": ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the nurse and patient share
mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about common elements encourages comparison rather than
clarification. The remaining responses are implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
7. A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the
nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes.": ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting by putting into words what
the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit, issues are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining
options are non-therapeutic techniques. Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone
feels that way at times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always result in success is falsely
reassuring.
8. Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interac-
tion, patient fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands,
and looked under chair while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which
analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication
techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.: ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing and incongruent. Some
