Exam 1: NUR253/ NUR 253 (NEW 2026/
2027 Update) Concepts of Mental Health
Nursing Guide| Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Accurate
Solutions)
SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1–20)
1. The nurse is explaining the concept of mental health to a group of students.
Which statement best defines mental health?
A) The absence of any emotional distress
B) A state of well-being where an individual copes with normal stress and
contributes to their community
C) A condition requiring ongoing psychiatric medication
D) The ability to avoid all life stressors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which a person
realizes their own potential, can cope with normal life stresses, works
productively, and contributes to their community. It is not simply the absence of
illness, nor does it mean avoiding all stress.
2. Which factor is considered a protective factor for mental health?
A) Chronic poverty
B) Strong social support system
C) Childhood trauma
D) Substance abuse
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Protective factors buffer the impact of stress and reduce the risk of
mental illness. Strong social support, resilience, and healthy coping skills are key
protective factors. Chronic poverty, trauma, and substance abuse are risk factors
that increase vulnerability to mental disorders.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient who appears withdrawn and avoids eye
contact. Which factor should the nurse assess first?
A) Environmental factors
B) Social and economic factors
C) Personal attributes and behaviors
D) Cultural beliefs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Personal attributes include how individuals manage thoughts and
feelings, their behaviors, and how they navigate everyday pressures. Withdrawal
and avoiding eye contact may reflect internal emotional states that should be
assessed before exploring external factors.
4. Which statement about resilience is accurate?
A) Resilience means being unaffected by stressors
B) Resilience is the ability to secure resources needed to support well-being
C) Resilience is an inherited trait that cannot be developed
D) Resilience focuses only on avoiding negative outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Resilience is the ability and capacity for people to secure the resources
they need to support their well-being. It promotes well-being by regulating
emotions, maintaining positivity, and overcoming crises. It does NOT mean being
unaffected by stressors—rather, it involves effective emotion regulation.
5. Which of the following is an example of a risk factor for mental illness?
A) Positive family support
,B) Access to resources
C) Stigma
D) Resilience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Risk factors are characteristics associated with a higher likelihood of
negative outcomes. Stigma, negative family or cultural support, and lack of access
to resources are risk factors. Positive family support and resilience are protective
factors.
6. What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5?
A) To provide billing codes for psychiatric services
B) To describe criteria for mental disorders based on specific symptoms
C) To replace the need for nursing assessment
D) To determine medication dosages for psychiatric conditions
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
5th Edition) identifies disorders based on specific criteria and serves as a tool for
collecting epidemiological statistics about psychiatric diagnoses. Screening is not a
diagnosis—the DSM-5 is the only tool that can diagnose mental disorders.*
7. A patient tells the nurse, "I know my family is trying to poison me." The nurse
recognizes this statement as:
A) A hallucination
B) An illusion
C) A delusion
D) A phobia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A delusion is a fixed, false belief not based in reality. The patient
believes family is trying to poison them despite no evidence. Hallucinations are
false sensory perceptions; illusions are misinterpretations of real stimuli; a phobia
is an irrational fear.
, 8. The patient says, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is the nurse's
priority action?
A) Document the statement and continue with the assessment
B) Ask the patient if they plan to act on the voices
C) Tell the patient the voices are not real
D) Administer a PRN antipsychotic medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. The nurse must assess for suicidal intent
by asking directly about plans to act on command hallucinations. This information
determines the level of supervision and intervention needed.
9. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia due to its excess?
A) Serotonin
B) Norepinephrine
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis suggests that excess dopamine activity in
certain brain pathways contributes to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
(hallucinations, delusions). Serotonin and norepinephrine are more involved in
mood disorders; acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
10. A decrease in which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression?
A) Dopamine
B) GABA
C) Serotonin
D) Glutamate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased serotonin levels are strongly associated with depression.
2027 Update) Concepts of Mental Health
Nursing Guide| Questions & Answers|
Grade A| 100% Correct (Accurate
Solutions)
SECTION I: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1–20)
1. The nurse is explaining the concept of mental health to a group of students.
Which statement best defines mental health?
A) The absence of any emotional distress
B) A state of well-being where an individual copes with normal stress and
contributes to their community
C) A condition requiring ongoing psychiatric medication
D) The ability to avoid all life stressors
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which a person
realizes their own potential, can cope with normal life stresses, works
productively, and contributes to their community. It is not simply the absence of
illness, nor does it mean avoiding all stress.
2. Which factor is considered a protective factor for mental health?
A) Chronic poverty
B) Strong social support system
C) Childhood trauma
D) Substance abuse
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Protective factors buffer the impact of stress and reduce the risk of
mental illness. Strong social support, resilience, and healthy coping skills are key
protective factors. Chronic poverty, trauma, and substance abuse are risk factors
that increase vulnerability to mental disorders.
3. The nurse is assessing a patient who appears withdrawn and avoids eye
contact. Which factor should the nurse assess first?
A) Environmental factors
B) Social and economic factors
C) Personal attributes and behaviors
D) Cultural beliefs
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Personal attributes include how individuals manage thoughts and
feelings, their behaviors, and how they navigate everyday pressures. Withdrawal
and avoiding eye contact may reflect internal emotional states that should be
assessed before exploring external factors.
4. Which statement about resilience is accurate?
A) Resilience means being unaffected by stressors
B) Resilience is the ability to secure resources needed to support well-being
C) Resilience is an inherited trait that cannot be developed
D) Resilience focuses only on avoiding negative outcomes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Resilience is the ability and capacity for people to secure the resources
they need to support their well-being. It promotes well-being by regulating
emotions, maintaining positivity, and overcoming crises. It does NOT mean being
unaffected by stressors—rather, it involves effective emotion regulation.
5. Which of the following is an example of a risk factor for mental illness?
A) Positive family support
,B) Access to resources
C) Stigma
D) Resilience
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Risk factors are characteristics associated with a higher likelihood of
negative outcomes. Stigma, negative family or cultural support, and lack of access
to resources are risk factors. Positive family support and resilience are protective
factors.
6. What is the primary purpose of the DSM-5?
A) To provide billing codes for psychiatric services
B) To describe criteria for mental disorders based on specific symptoms
C) To replace the need for nursing assessment
D) To determine medication dosages for psychiatric conditions
Correct Answer: B
*Rationale: The DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,
5th Edition) identifies disorders based on specific criteria and serves as a tool for
collecting epidemiological statistics about psychiatric diagnoses. Screening is not a
diagnosis—the DSM-5 is the only tool that can diagnose mental disorders.*
7. A patient tells the nurse, "I know my family is trying to poison me." The nurse
recognizes this statement as:
A) A hallucination
B) An illusion
C) A delusion
D) A phobia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A delusion is a fixed, false belief not based in reality. The patient
believes family is trying to poison them despite no evidence. Hallucinations are
false sensory perceptions; illusions are misinterpretations of real stimuli; a phobia
is an irrational fear.
, 8. The patient says, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is the nurse's
priority action?
A) Document the statement and continue with the assessment
B) Ask the patient if they plan to act on the voices
C) Tell the patient the voices are not real
D) Administer a PRN antipsychotic medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Patient safety is the priority. The nurse must assess for suicidal intent
by asking directly about plans to act on command hallucinations. This information
determines the level of supervision and intervention needed.
9. Which neurotransmitter is primarily implicated in the pathophysiology of
schizophrenia due to its excess?
A) Serotonin
B) Norepinephrine
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The dopamine hypothesis suggests that excess dopamine activity in
certain brain pathways contributes to the positive symptoms of schizophrenia
(hallucinations, delusions). Serotonin and norepinephrine are more involved in
mood disorders; acetylcholine is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
10. A decrease in which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression?
A) Dopamine
B) GABA
C) Serotonin
D) Glutamate
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Decreased serotonin levels are strongly associated with depression.
