Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Actual Questions and Answers
(PDF
The questions are divided into key content areas typical of this exam, including:
Therapeutic Communication & Relationships
Anxiety & Crisis Intervention
Bipolar & Mania
Depressive Disorders & Suicide
Schizophrenia & Psychosis
Group Therapy & Defense Mechanisms
Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders
Note on Source: This Q-bank was constructed using verified rationales and exam
blueprints from the provided search results . For the official PDF document with
,Section 1: Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Qs 1-25)
1. A patient with major depression tells the nurse, "I feel so worthless. No one
cares about me." Which response is most therapeutic?
a) "Of course people care about you. You have a wonderful family."
b) "I care about you, and we will work together to help you feel better."
c) "Why do you feel that way? You have so much to live for."
d) "You shouldn't feel that way. You are a valuable person."
Answer: b) "I care about you, and we will work together to help you feel better."
Rationale: This response acknowledges the patient's feelings without judging,
conveys caring (Offering Self), and focuses on the therapeutic relationship. Option
A is false reassurance; C is a "why" question that is confrontational; D tells the
patient how to feel (nontherapeutic) .
2. A nurse is sitting with a patient who is crying. The patient states, "I don't know
how I'm going to get through this." Which response demonstrates reflection?
a) "You feel like you won't be able to get through this."
b) "Everything will be okay. You are strong."
c) "Why do you feel that way?"
,d) "Let me tell you about resources that can help."
Answer: a) "You feel like you won't be able to get through this."
Rationale: Reflection involves "parroting" or rephrasing the patient's statement to
show understanding and encourage exploration of feelings. Option B is false
reassurance; C is asking "why"; D is giving premature advice .
3. A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The voices are telling me to hurt
myself." Which response is most therapeutic?
a) "I don't hear any voices. You are safe here."
b) "That must be very frightening. I am here with you."
c) "Ignore the voices. They aren't real."
d) "What are the voices telling you to do?"
Answer: b) "That must be very frightening. I am here with you."
Rationale: This response validates the patient's emotional experience (fear) and
offers presence. It does not argue with the hallucination (which increases anxiety)
or focus on the content in a way that might reinforce command hallucinations
without safety assessment .
, 4. A client with borderline personality disorder states, "You are the only nurse
who actually listens. The other nurses don't care about anyone." The nurse
recognizes this behavior as:
a) Transference
b) Countertransference
c) Splitting
d) Projection
Answer: c) Splitting
Rationale: Splitting is the inability to integrate positive and negative aspects of
self and others, leading to idealizing one person while devaluing others. This is a
classic defense mechanism in borderline personality disorder .
5. A client gives the nurse an expensive gift as a token of appreciation for their
care. Which response is most appropriate?
a) Accept the gift to avoid hurting the client's feelings.
b) Politely decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts violates professional
boundaries.
c) Accept the gift only if other clients are not present.
d) Take the gift and display it in the nurses' station.
The questions are divided into key content areas typical of this exam, including:
Therapeutic Communication & Relationships
Anxiety & Crisis Intervention
Bipolar & Mania
Depressive Disorders & Suicide
Schizophrenia & Psychosis
Group Therapy & Defense Mechanisms
Obsessive-Compulsive & Related Disorders
Note on Source: This Q-bank was constructed using verified rationales and exam
blueprints from the provided search results . For the official PDF document with
,Section 1: Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Qs 1-25)
1. A patient with major depression tells the nurse, "I feel so worthless. No one
cares about me." Which response is most therapeutic?
a) "Of course people care about you. You have a wonderful family."
b) "I care about you, and we will work together to help you feel better."
c) "Why do you feel that way? You have so much to live for."
d) "You shouldn't feel that way. You are a valuable person."
Answer: b) "I care about you, and we will work together to help you feel better."
Rationale: This response acknowledges the patient's feelings without judging,
conveys caring (Offering Self), and focuses on the therapeutic relationship. Option
A is false reassurance; C is a "why" question that is confrontational; D tells the
patient how to feel (nontherapeutic) .
2. A nurse is sitting with a patient who is crying. The patient states, "I don't know
how I'm going to get through this." Which response demonstrates reflection?
a) "You feel like you won't be able to get through this."
b) "Everything will be okay. You are strong."
c) "Why do you feel that way?"
,d) "Let me tell you about resources that can help."
Answer: a) "You feel like you won't be able to get through this."
Rationale: Reflection involves "parroting" or rephrasing the patient's statement to
show understanding and encourage exploration of feelings. Option B is false
reassurance; C is asking "why"; D is giving premature advice .
3. A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The voices are telling me to hurt
myself." Which response is most therapeutic?
a) "I don't hear any voices. You are safe here."
b) "That must be very frightening. I am here with you."
c) "Ignore the voices. They aren't real."
d) "What are the voices telling you to do?"
Answer: b) "That must be very frightening. I am here with you."
Rationale: This response validates the patient's emotional experience (fear) and
offers presence. It does not argue with the hallucination (which increases anxiety)
or focus on the content in a way that might reinforce command hallucinations
without safety assessment .
, 4. A client with borderline personality disorder states, "You are the only nurse
who actually listens. The other nurses don't care about anyone." The nurse
recognizes this behavior as:
a) Transference
b) Countertransference
c) Splitting
d) Projection
Answer: c) Splitting
Rationale: Splitting is the inability to integrate positive and negative aspects of
self and others, leading to idealizing one person while devaluing others. This is a
classic defense mechanism in borderline personality disorder .
5. A client gives the nurse an expensive gift as a token of appreciation for their
care. Which response is most appropriate?
a) Accept the gift to avoid hurting the client's feelings.
b) Politely decline the gift and explain that accepting gifts violates professional
boundaries.
c) Accept the gift only if other clients are not present.
d) Take the gift and display it in the nurses' station.
