Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Assessment: 200+ Practice
Questions with Answers
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly
licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select
all that apply) A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client
to count backward by sevens." B. "To assess affect, I should
observe the client's facial expression." C. "To assess language
ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence." D. "To
assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects." E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask
the client to identify our most recent presidents.": A. "To assess
cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens." B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial
expression." C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the
client to write a sentence."
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse include
as a psychobiological intervention? A. Assist the client with
systematic desensitization therapy. B. Teach the client appropriate
coping mechanisms. C. Assess the client for comorbid health
conditions. D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the
medications.: D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the
medications.
,A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the interview,
which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the
priority? A. Coordinate holistic care with social services. B. Identify
the client's perception of her mental health status. C. Include the
client's family in the interview. D. Teach the client about her
current mental health disorder.: B. Identify the client's perception
of her mental health status.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is
stuporous. When assessing the client, which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? A. The client arouses briefly in
response to a sternal rub. B. The client has a glasgow coma scale
score less than 7.: A. The client arouses briefly in response to a
sternal rub.
A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I feel like my life has no
purpose anymore." Which response by the nurse is most
therapeutic? A. "You should focus on the positive things in your
life." B. "Why do you feel that way?" C. "Can you tell me more
about what makes you feel this way?" D. "Everyone feels this way
sometimes.": C. "Can you tell me more about what makes you feel
this way?"
A nurse is assessing a client who has depression. Which finding
requires immediate intervention? A. Fatigue B. Poor appetite C.
Thoughts of self-harm D. Difficulty concentrating: C. Thoughts of
self-harm
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing severe anxiety. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first? A. Teach relaxation
techniques B. Ask the client to identify triggers C. Remain with the
,client and provide a calm environment D. Encourage participation
in group therapy: C. Remain with the client and provide a calm
environment
A nurse is explaining mental health to nursing students. Which
statement best defines mental health? A) The absence of all
psychiatric symptoms B) Successful adaptation to stressors in the
internal and external environment C) Complete freedom from
anxiety and depression D) The ability to function without
medication: B) Successful adaptation to stressors in the internal
and external environment
A client tells the nurse, "I don't think you understand what I'm
going through." Which response by the nurse demonstrates
therapeutic communication? A) "I understand exactly how you
feel." B) "Tell me more about what you are experiencing." C)
"You're right, I don't understand." D) "Why do you feel that way?":
B) "Tell me more about what you are experiencing."
Which therapeutic communication technique is the nurse using
when stating, "I notice you are pacing and wringing your hands.
You seem anxious"? A) Restating B) Reflecting C) Making
observations D) Verbalizing the implied: C) Making observations
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring my thoughts through satellites." The nurse's most
therapeutic response is: A) "That sounds frightening. Tell me more
about what you are experiencing." B) "I know for a fact that isn't
true." C) "Let's talk about something else." D) "Why would the CIA
want to monitor you?": A) "That sounds frightening. Tell me more
about what you are experiencing."
, A nurse is triaging clients in the emergency department. Which
clients require immediate psychiatric evaluation? (Select all that
apply) A client who says "I have a gun at home and I'm going to
use it tonight" A client who reports "I haven't eaten or slept in 5
days and I hear God telling me to fly" A client who is postpartum
and states "I want to throw my baby out the window" A client with
a plan to overdose on insulin A client who says "I feel sad
sometimes but I'm safe": A client who says "I have a gun at home
and I'm going to use it tonight"; A client who reports "I haven't
eaten or slept in 5 days and I hear God telling me to fly"; A client
who is postpartum and states "I want to throw my baby out the
window"; A client with a plan to overdose on insulin
A nurse is assessing a client for neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS) after starting haloperidol (Haldol). Which findings support
NMS? (Select all that apply) Fever (38.5°C or higher) Lead-pipe
rigidity Elevated creatine kinase (CK) Autonomic instability (labile
BP, diaphoresis) Hyperreflexia with clonus: Fever (38.5°C or
higher); Lead-pipe rigidity; Elevated creatine kinase (CK);
Autonomic instability (labile BP, diaphoresis)
A client with borderline personality disorder is admitted after a
suicide attempt. Which interventions reduce the risk of future
attempts? (Select all that apply) Develop a crisis safety plan with
coping strategies Restrict access to lethal means (remove firearms,
excess medications) Enroll in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Schedule follow-up appointment within 48 hours of discharge
Discharge with a 90-day supply of benzodiazepines: Develop a
crisis safety plan with coping strategies; Restrict access to lethal
means (remove firearms, excess medications); Enroll in dialectical
Proctored Assessment: 200+ Practice
Questions with Answers
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly
licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select
all that apply) A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client
to count backward by sevens." B. "To assess affect, I should
observe the client's facial expression." C. "To assess language
ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence." D. "To
assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects." E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask
the client to identify our most recent presidents.": A. "To assess
cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens." B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial
expression." C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the
client to write a sentence."
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse include
as a psychobiological intervention? A. Assist the client with
systematic desensitization therapy. B. Teach the client appropriate
coping mechanisms. C. Assess the client for comorbid health
conditions. D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the
medications.: D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the
medications.
,A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the interview,
which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the
priority? A. Coordinate holistic care with social services. B. Identify
the client's perception of her mental health status. C. Include the
client's family in the interview. D. Teach the client about her
current mental health disorder.: B. Identify the client's perception
of her mental health status.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is
stuporous. When assessing the client, which of the following
findings should the nurse expect? A. The client arouses briefly in
response to a sternal rub. B. The client has a glasgow coma scale
score less than 7.: A. The client arouses briefly in response to a
sternal rub.
A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I feel like my life has no
purpose anymore." Which response by the nurse is most
therapeutic? A. "You should focus on the positive things in your
life." B. "Why do you feel that way?" C. "Can you tell me more
about what makes you feel this way?" D. "Everyone feels this way
sometimes.": C. "Can you tell me more about what makes you feel
this way?"
A nurse is assessing a client who has depression. Which finding
requires immediate intervention? A. Fatigue B. Poor appetite C.
Thoughts of self-harm D. Difficulty concentrating: C. Thoughts of
self-harm
A nurse is caring for a client experiencing severe anxiety. Which
intervention should the nurse implement first? A. Teach relaxation
techniques B. Ask the client to identify triggers C. Remain with the
,client and provide a calm environment D. Encourage participation
in group therapy: C. Remain with the client and provide a calm
environment
A nurse is explaining mental health to nursing students. Which
statement best defines mental health? A) The absence of all
psychiatric symptoms B) Successful adaptation to stressors in the
internal and external environment C) Complete freedom from
anxiety and depression D) The ability to function without
medication: B) Successful adaptation to stressors in the internal
and external environment
A client tells the nurse, "I don't think you understand what I'm
going through." Which response by the nurse demonstrates
therapeutic communication? A) "I understand exactly how you
feel." B) "Tell me more about what you are experiencing." C)
"You're right, I don't understand." D) "Why do you feel that way?":
B) "Tell me more about what you are experiencing."
Which therapeutic communication technique is the nurse using
when stating, "I notice you are pacing and wringing your hands.
You seem anxious"? A) Restating B) Reflecting C) Making
observations D) Verbalizing the implied: C) Making observations
A client diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring my thoughts through satellites." The nurse's most
therapeutic response is: A) "That sounds frightening. Tell me more
about what you are experiencing." B) "I know for a fact that isn't
true." C) "Let's talk about something else." D) "Why would the CIA
want to monitor you?": A) "That sounds frightening. Tell me more
about what you are experiencing."
, A nurse is triaging clients in the emergency department. Which
clients require immediate psychiatric evaluation? (Select all that
apply) A client who says "I have a gun at home and I'm going to
use it tonight" A client who reports "I haven't eaten or slept in 5
days and I hear God telling me to fly" A client who is postpartum
and states "I want to throw my baby out the window" A client with
a plan to overdose on insulin A client who says "I feel sad
sometimes but I'm safe": A client who says "I have a gun at home
and I'm going to use it tonight"; A client who reports "I haven't
eaten or slept in 5 days and I hear God telling me to fly"; A client
who is postpartum and states "I want to throw my baby out the
window"; A client with a plan to overdose on insulin
A nurse is assessing a client for neuroleptic malignant syndrome
(NMS) after starting haloperidol (Haldol). Which findings support
NMS? (Select all that apply) Fever (38.5°C or higher) Lead-pipe
rigidity Elevated creatine kinase (CK) Autonomic instability (labile
BP, diaphoresis) Hyperreflexia with clonus: Fever (38.5°C or
higher); Lead-pipe rigidity; Elevated creatine kinase (CK);
Autonomic instability (labile BP, diaphoresis)
A client with borderline personality disorder is admitted after a
suicide attempt. Which interventions reduce the risk of future
attempts? (Select all that apply) Develop a crisis safety plan with
coping strategies Restrict access to lethal means (remove firearms,
excess medications) Enroll in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
Schedule follow-up appointment within 48 hours of discharge
Discharge with a 90-day supply of benzodiazepines: Develop a
crisis safety plan with coping strategies; Restrict access to lethal
means (remove firearms, excess medications); Enroll in dialectical
