MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
NCLEX PRACTICE TEST BANK
1000+ Questions with Answers and Rationales
Unit 1: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing
(Questions 1-100)
1. The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which
statement by the patient reflects a cognitive distortion commonly seen in depression?
A) "I failed one test, so I am a complete failure at everything."
B) "I feel sad today because my dog died."
C) "I am tired because I did not sleep well last night."
D) "My boss was frustrated with the project, but it wasn't directed at me."
Answer: A
Rationale: Overgeneralization (drawing a broad conclusion from a single event) is a
cognitive distortion common in depression. "I failed one test, so I am a complete failure
at everything" is an example of overgeneralization. Option B is a normal reaction to loss.
Option C is a logical connection. Option D shows rational thinking.
,Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
2. The nurse is admitting a patient with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices that
tell him he is worthless. Which term best describes this symptom?
A) Illusion
B) Delusion
C) Hallucination
D) Apathy
Answer: C
Rationale: A hallucination is a sensory perception (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory,
gustatory) that occurs without an external stimulus. Hearing voices is an auditory
hallucination. An illusion (A) is a misinterpretation of a real stimulus. A delusion (B) is a
fixed false belief. Apathy (D) is lack of emotion or interest.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with bipolar disorder who is in the manic phase. The
patient states, "I am the richest person in the world and I can fly." Which term best
describes this symptom?
,A) Hallucination
B) Illusion
C) Grandiose delusion
D) Persecutory delusion
Answer: C
Rationale: A grandiose delusion is a false belief that one has special powers, wealth,
fame, or importance. A hallucination (A) involves sensory perceptions. An illusion (B) is a
misinterpretation of a real stimulus. A persecutory delusion (D) is a belief that one is
being harmed or persecuted.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
4. The nurse is assessing a patient with paranoid schizophrenia who states, "The FBI is
following me and the CIA is poisoning my food." Which term best describes this
symptom?
A) Grandiose delusion
B) Persecutory delusion
C) Referential delusion
D) Somatic delusion
Answer: B
Rationale: A persecutory delusion is a fixed false belief that one is being harassed,
persecuted, or conspired against. A grandiose delusion (A) involves false beliefs about
one's power or importance. Referential delusions (C) involve believing that neutral
, events have personal meaning. Somatic delusions (D) involve false beliefs about body
function or appearance.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with schizophrenia who believes that a television
commercial is sending a secret message specifically to him. Which term best describes
this symptom?
A) Persecutory delusion
B) Grandiose delusion
C) Referential delusion (idea of reference)
D) Thought broadcasting
Answer: C
Rationale: An idea of reference (referential delusion) is the false belief that neutral
events, objects, or behaviors of others have special and personal meaning. Thought
broadcasting (D) is the belief that one's thoughts are being broadcast out loud.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
6. The nurse is assessing a patient with schizophrenia who states, "My thoughts are
being taken out of my head by aliens." Which term best describes this symptom?
NCLEX PRACTICE TEST BANK
1000+ Questions with Answers and Rationales
Unit 1: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing
(Questions 1-100)
1. The nurse is caring for a patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which
statement by the patient reflects a cognitive distortion commonly seen in depression?
A) "I failed one test, so I am a complete failure at everything."
B) "I feel sad today because my dog died."
C) "I am tired because I did not sleep well last night."
D) "My boss was frustrated with the project, but it wasn't directed at me."
Answer: A
Rationale: Overgeneralization (drawing a broad conclusion from a single event) is a
cognitive distortion common in depression. "I failed one test, so I am a complete failure
at everything" is an example of overgeneralization. Option B is a normal reaction to loss.
Option C is a logical connection. Option D shows rational thinking.
,Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
2. The nurse is admitting a patient with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices that
tell him he is worthless. Which term best describes this symptom?
A) Illusion
B) Delusion
C) Hallucination
D) Apathy
Answer: C
Rationale: A hallucination is a sensory perception (auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory,
gustatory) that occurs without an external stimulus. Hearing voices is an auditory
hallucination. An illusion (A) is a misinterpretation of a real stimulus. A delusion (B) is a
fixed false belief. Apathy (D) is lack of emotion or interest.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
3. The nurse is caring for a patient with bipolar disorder who is in the manic phase. The
patient states, "I am the richest person in the world and I can fly." Which term best
describes this symptom?
,A) Hallucination
B) Illusion
C) Grandiose delusion
D) Persecutory delusion
Answer: C
Rationale: A grandiose delusion is a false belief that one has special powers, wealth,
fame, or importance. A hallucination (A) involves sensory perceptions. An illusion (B) is a
misinterpretation of a real stimulus. A persecutory delusion (D) is a belief that one is
being harmed or persecuted.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
4. The nurse is assessing a patient with paranoid schizophrenia who states, "The FBI is
following me and the CIA is poisoning my food." Which term best describes this
symptom?
A) Grandiose delusion
B) Persecutory delusion
C) Referential delusion
D) Somatic delusion
Answer: B
Rationale: A persecutory delusion is a fixed false belief that one is being harassed,
persecuted, or conspired against. A grandiose delusion (A) involves false beliefs about
one's power or importance. Referential delusions (C) involve believing that neutral
, events have personal meaning. Somatic delusions (D) involve false beliefs about body
function or appearance.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
5. The nurse is caring for a patient with schizophrenia who believes that a television
commercial is sending a secret message specifically to him. Which term best describes
this symptom?
A) Persecutory delusion
B) Grandiose delusion
C) Referential delusion (idea of reference)
D) Thought broadcasting
Answer: C
Rationale: An idea of reference (referential delusion) is the false belief that neutral
events, objects, or behaviors of others have special and personal meaning. Thought
broadcasting (D) is the belief that one's thoughts are being broadcast out loud.
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Cognitive Level: Remember (Knowledge)
Integrated Process: Nursing Process: Assessment
6. The nurse is assessing a patient with schizophrenia who states, "My thoughts are
being taken out of my head by aliens." Which term best describes this symptom?
