NU 160 Mental Health Exam 1 | 2026/2027 Edition
Official Academic Board of Nursing | Verified Q&A |
Undergraduate Nursing Students
Comprehensive 200-Question Examination with Detailed Rationales
Based on the 2026/2027 NU 160 Mental Health curriculum and current evidence-based
psychiatric nursing practice standards
Question 1: During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which
nursing action is most appropriate?
• A) Exploring unresolved termination feelings from the entire treatment episode
• B) Establishing roles, expectations, and the purpose of meetings ✓✓
• C) Challenging the client's deepest defense mechanisms immediately
• D) Sharing personal stories to build instant closeness
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing roles, expectations, and the purpose
of the nurse-client relationship. The nurse and client identify problems, set goals, and
develop a contract for the therapeutic relationship.
Question 2: A client tells the nurse, "I don't think you can help me. You're too young
to understand what I've been through." What is the nurse's MOST therapeutic
response?
• A) "I may be young, but I have a lot of experience with clients like you."
• B) "It sounds like you're concerned about my ability to help you. Let's talk
about that." ✓✓
• C) "Age doesn't matter; I'm here to help you."
• D) "I understand completely what you're going through."
,Rationale: The therapeutic response acknowledges the client's feelings and invites
exploration of the concern. It uses the therapeutic technique of clarifying and exploring,
which validates the client's experience without becoming defensive.
Question 3: A client states, "I'm so depressed. Nothing matters anymore." What is the
nurse's MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "You shouldn't feel that way. There are many things to live for."
• B) "Tell me more about what you're experiencing." ✓✓
• C) "I know exactly how you feel. I've been depressed before."
• D) "Just try to think positively and focus on the good things."
Rationale: The therapeutic response uses exploration to encourage the client to elaborate
on their feelings. This validates the client's experience and promotes further communication,
rather than offering false reassurance or advice.
Question 4: Which statement by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic
communication technique of "restating"?
• A) "Tell me more about that."
• B) "You're saying that you feel like no one cares about you?" ✓✓
• C) "I understand what you're going through."
• D) "Why do you think you feel that way?"
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the client's message in the nurse's own words to
confirm understanding. It encourages the client to elaborate or correct the nurse's
understanding.
Question 5: A client is crying and states, "I can't do this anymore. I'm a complete
failure." Which response by the nurse is MOST therapeutic?
• A) "Don't cry. Everything will be okay."
, • B) "You're feeling overwhelmed and hopeless right now." ✓✓
• C) "You should be grateful for what you have."
• D) "Why do you think you're a failure?"
Rationale: The therapeutic response uses reflection to identify and validate the client's
feelings. It demonstrates empathy and understanding without offering false reassurance or
advice.
Question 6: A client tells the nurse, "The voices are telling me to harm myself." What
is the nurse's PRIORITY action?
• A) Tell the client to ignore the voices
• B) Assess the client's safety, including a detailed plan for self-harm ✓✓
• C) Document the statement and continue the conversation
• D) Leave the client alone to process the thoughts
Rationale: The priority is to assess for immediate safety risk. The nurse must conduct a
thorough suicide risk assessment, including intent, plan, and means, and implement
appropriate safety measures.
Question 7: A client repeatedly asks the nurse, "Do you like me?" What is the nurse's
MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "It sounds like you're seeking reassurance about my feelings toward you.
Let's explore that." ✓✓
• B) "Yes, I like you. You're a great person."
• C) "I can't answer that question."
• D) "You should worry about your treatment, not my feelings."
Rationale: The therapeutic response validates the client's need while maintaining
professional boundaries. It invites exploration of the meaning behind the question rather
than providing personal reassurance, which would be non-therapeutic.
, Question 8: A client states, "Everyone is against me. The staff is plotting to keep me
here forever." What is the nurse's MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "That's not true. No one is plotting against you."
• B) "It must be frightening to feel that way. Tell me more about what makes you
think that." ✓✓
• C) "You need to stop thinking that way."
• D) "I know for a fact that no one is plotting against you."
Rationale: The therapeutic response validates the client's feelings without agreeing with the
delusional content. It shows empathy and encourages the client to share more, while
avoiding arguing with the delusion.
Question 9: Which action is characteristic of the working phase of the nurse-client
relationship?
• A) Establishing trust and setting goals
• B) Exploring problems and working toward goal achievement ✓✓
• C) Terminating the relationship and evaluating outcomes
• D) Establishing the contract and roles
Rationale: The working phase is where the nurse and client actively work on identified
problems and progress toward established goals. It involves exploring feelings, practicing
new coping skills, and implementing the treatment plan.
Question 10: The nurse recognizes that a client is using the defense mechanism of
projection. Which statement by the client is MOST consistent with projection?
• A) "I'm not angry; I'm just disappointed."
• B) "My husband is the one who is angry, not me." ✓✓
Official Academic Board of Nursing | Verified Q&A |
Undergraduate Nursing Students
Comprehensive 200-Question Examination with Detailed Rationales
Based on the 2026/2027 NU 160 Mental Health curriculum and current evidence-based
psychiatric nursing practice standards
Question 1: During the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship, which
nursing action is most appropriate?
• A) Exploring unresolved termination feelings from the entire treatment episode
• B) Establishing roles, expectations, and the purpose of meetings ✓✓
• C) Challenging the client's deepest defense mechanisms immediately
• D) Sharing personal stories to build instant closeness
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing roles, expectations, and the purpose
of the nurse-client relationship. The nurse and client identify problems, set goals, and
develop a contract for the therapeutic relationship.
Question 2: A client tells the nurse, "I don't think you can help me. You're too young
to understand what I've been through." What is the nurse's MOST therapeutic
response?
• A) "I may be young, but I have a lot of experience with clients like you."
• B) "It sounds like you're concerned about my ability to help you. Let's talk
about that." ✓✓
• C) "Age doesn't matter; I'm here to help you."
• D) "I understand completely what you're going through."
,Rationale: The therapeutic response acknowledges the client's feelings and invites
exploration of the concern. It uses the therapeutic technique of clarifying and exploring,
which validates the client's experience without becoming defensive.
Question 3: A client states, "I'm so depressed. Nothing matters anymore." What is the
nurse's MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "You shouldn't feel that way. There are many things to live for."
• B) "Tell me more about what you're experiencing." ✓✓
• C) "I know exactly how you feel. I've been depressed before."
• D) "Just try to think positively and focus on the good things."
Rationale: The therapeutic response uses exploration to encourage the client to elaborate
on their feelings. This validates the client's experience and promotes further communication,
rather than offering false reassurance or advice.
Question 4: Which statement by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic
communication technique of "restating"?
• A) "Tell me more about that."
• B) "You're saying that you feel like no one cares about you?" ✓✓
• C) "I understand what you're going through."
• D) "Why do you think you feel that way?"
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the client's message in the nurse's own words to
confirm understanding. It encourages the client to elaborate or correct the nurse's
understanding.
Question 5: A client is crying and states, "I can't do this anymore. I'm a complete
failure." Which response by the nurse is MOST therapeutic?
• A) "Don't cry. Everything will be okay."
, • B) "You're feeling overwhelmed and hopeless right now." ✓✓
• C) "You should be grateful for what you have."
• D) "Why do you think you're a failure?"
Rationale: The therapeutic response uses reflection to identify and validate the client's
feelings. It demonstrates empathy and understanding without offering false reassurance or
advice.
Question 6: A client tells the nurse, "The voices are telling me to harm myself." What
is the nurse's PRIORITY action?
• A) Tell the client to ignore the voices
• B) Assess the client's safety, including a detailed plan for self-harm ✓✓
• C) Document the statement and continue the conversation
• D) Leave the client alone to process the thoughts
Rationale: The priority is to assess for immediate safety risk. The nurse must conduct a
thorough suicide risk assessment, including intent, plan, and means, and implement
appropriate safety measures.
Question 7: A client repeatedly asks the nurse, "Do you like me?" What is the nurse's
MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "It sounds like you're seeking reassurance about my feelings toward you.
Let's explore that." ✓✓
• B) "Yes, I like you. You're a great person."
• C) "I can't answer that question."
• D) "You should worry about your treatment, not my feelings."
Rationale: The therapeutic response validates the client's need while maintaining
professional boundaries. It invites exploration of the meaning behind the question rather
than providing personal reassurance, which would be non-therapeutic.
, Question 8: A client states, "Everyone is against me. The staff is plotting to keep me
here forever." What is the nurse's MOST therapeutic response?
• A) "That's not true. No one is plotting against you."
• B) "It must be frightening to feel that way. Tell me more about what makes you
think that." ✓✓
• C) "You need to stop thinking that way."
• D) "I know for a fact that no one is plotting against you."
Rationale: The therapeutic response validates the client's feelings without agreeing with the
delusional content. It shows empathy and encourages the client to share more, while
avoiding arguing with the delusion.
Question 9: Which action is characteristic of the working phase of the nurse-client
relationship?
• A) Establishing trust and setting goals
• B) Exploring problems and working toward goal achievement ✓✓
• C) Terminating the relationship and evaluating outcomes
• D) Establishing the contract and roles
Rationale: The working phase is where the nurse and client actively work on identified
problems and progress toward established goals. It involves exploring feelings, practicing
new coping skills, and implementing the treatment plan.
Question 10: The nurse recognizes that a client is using the defense mechanism of
projection. Which statement by the client is MOST consistent with projection?
• A) "I'm not angry; I'm just disappointed."
• B) "My husband is the one who is angry, not me." ✓✓
