NSRG 126 Exam 1 V1 | NSRG 126 Mental
Health Nursing | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NSRG126 Exam 1) | Ivy Tech
1. A nurse is educating a student about the principle of beneficence. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates this principle?
A. Staying with a client who is highly anxious to provide support
B. Ensuring the client understands the risks of a procedure
C. Allocating nursing resources fairly across the entire unit
D. Helping a client practice new coping skills to improve their well-being
Correct Answer: D
Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the
client. By teaching new coping skills, the nurse is actively working to improve the client’s
health status and overall outcome. This principle is fundamental in mental health nursing
where the goal is often social and emotional rehabilitation.
2. A client tells the nurse, ‘I don’t think I can handle my job anymore. It’s just too much.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. Why do you feel that way about your job?
B. You should try taking a vacation to relax.
C. It sounds like you are feeling very overwhelmed by your work responsibilities.
,D. Everyone feels stressed at work sometimes.
Correct Answer: C
This response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection and validation of the client’s
feelings. It encourages the client to explore their emotions further without feeling judged or
dismissed. Avoiding ‘why’ questions and giving unsolicited advice are key components of
therapeutic communication in psychiatric nursing.
3. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’ response and is
often elevated in anxiety disorders?
A. Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: A
Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter responsible for physiological arousal and the
stress response. High levels are frequently correlated with symptoms of anxiety,
tachycardia, and hypertension. Understanding the neurobiological basis of mental health
disorders allows nurses to better monitor the effects of psychotropic medications.
4. A nurse is performing a mental status examination (MSE). Which of the following findings
describes the client’s affect?
A. The client reports feeling ‘hopeless and sad’ today.
, B. The client is oriented to person, place, and time.
C. The client displays a flat expression while discussing the death of a parent.
D. The client is able to recall three words after five minutes.
Correct Answer: C
Affect is the objective, outward expression of a client’s internal emotional state as
observed by the nurse. Mood is what the client reports, whereas affect is what the nurse
sees on the client’s face or through their body language. Documentation should clearly
distinguish between these two components to provide an accurate picture of the client’s
mental state.
5. A client is being admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following rights
does this client still retain?
A. The right to leave the hospital against medical advice
B. The right to choose their own treating physician
C. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D. The right to keep all personal belongings in their room
Correct Answer: C
Involuntary admission does not automatically mean a client loses the right to refuse
treatment, including medication. Unless there is a separate court order or an immediate
emergency where the client is a danger to others, they have the legal right to decline drugs.
Health Nursing | Actual Q&A with
Rationale (NSRG126 Exam 1) | Ivy Tech
1. A nurse is educating a student about the principle of beneficence. Which action by the
nurse best demonstrates this principle?
A. Staying with a client who is highly anxious to provide support
B. Ensuring the client understands the risks of a procedure
C. Allocating nursing resources fairly across the entire unit
D. Helping a client practice new coping skills to improve their well-being
Correct Answer: D
Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the best interest of the
client. By teaching new coping skills, the nurse is actively working to improve the client’s
health status and overall outcome. This principle is fundamental in mental health nursing
where the goal is often social and emotional rehabilitation.
2. A client tells the nurse, ‘I don’t think I can handle my job anymore. It’s just too much.’
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. Why do you feel that way about your job?
B. You should try taking a vacation to relax.
C. It sounds like you are feeling very overwhelmed by your work responsibilities.
,D. Everyone feels stressed at work sometimes.
Correct Answer: C
This response uses the therapeutic technique of reflection and validation of the client’s
feelings. It encourages the client to explore their emotions further without feeling judged or
dismissed. Avoiding ‘why’ questions and giving unsolicited advice are key components of
therapeutic communication in psychiatric nursing.
3. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with the ‘fight or flight’ response and is
often elevated in anxiety disorders?
A. Norepinephrine
B. Serotonin
C. Dopamine
D. Acetylcholine
Correct Answer: A
Norepinephrine is the neurotransmitter responsible for physiological arousal and the
stress response. High levels are frequently correlated with symptoms of anxiety,
tachycardia, and hypertension. Understanding the neurobiological basis of mental health
disorders allows nurses to better monitor the effects of psychotropic medications.
4. A nurse is performing a mental status examination (MSE). Which of the following findings
describes the client’s affect?
A. The client reports feeling ‘hopeless and sad’ today.
, B. The client is oriented to person, place, and time.
C. The client displays a flat expression while discussing the death of a parent.
D. The client is able to recall three words after five minutes.
Correct Answer: C
Affect is the objective, outward expression of a client’s internal emotional state as
observed by the nurse. Mood is what the client reports, whereas affect is what the nurse
sees on the client’s face or through their body language. Documentation should clearly
distinguish between these two components to provide an accurate picture of the client’s
mental state.
5. A client is being admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following rights
does this client still retain?
A. The right to leave the hospital against medical advice
B. The right to choose their own treating physician
C. The right to refuse psychotropic medications
D. The right to keep all personal belongings in their room
Correct Answer: C
Involuntary admission does not automatically mean a client loses the right to refuse
treatment, including medication. Unless there is a separate court order or an immediate
emergency where the client is a danger to others, they have the legal right to decline drugs.
