Advanced Chapter 1: Foundations Of
Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing
Actual Exam Updated On 2026/2027
Questions And Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly admitted
client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a positive impact on the
individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance - -correct answer---Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or
stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of
separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and therefore a
healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of mental illness
could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have a negative impact on
an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal
and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive
social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships
and self. - -correct answer---Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
, Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental illness
may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive dependency
on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental illness.
Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals
suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in other
cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive
self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - -correct answer---Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may
see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult to
define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and
social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and
coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may
be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor
that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." - -correct
answer---Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships, ineffective
coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be culturally
Psychiatric- Mental Health Nursing
Actual Exam Updated On 2026/2027
Questions And Answers
1. The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly admitted
client. Which of the following would the nurse identify as having a positive impact on the
individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance - -correct answer---Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or
stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of
separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and therefore a
healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of mental illness
could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have a negative impact on
an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on an individual's interpersonal
and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not possible, and a positive
social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on or
withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships
and self. - -correct answer---Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
, Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental illness
may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive dependency
on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to mental illness.
Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily life. Individuals
suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in other
cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social wellness
evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and coping, positive
self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - -correct answer---Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may
see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult to
define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and
social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and
coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage in fantasies may
be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy is an individual factor
that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." - -correct
answer---Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships, ineffective
coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be culturally
