NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1
REVIEW 2025 to 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS and
DETAILED RATIONALES
A client was hospitalized for 24 hours after a reaction to a psychotropic
medication. While planning discharge, the case manager learned that the
client received a notice of eviction immediately prior to admission. What is
the case manager's most appropriate action?
a. Postpone the client's discharge from the hospital.
b. Contact the landlord who evicted the client to further discuss the
situation.
c. Arrange a temporary place for the client to stay until new housing can be
arranged.
d. Determine whether the adverse medication reaction was genuine because
the client had
nowhere to live. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. Arrange a temporary place for
the client to stay until new housing can be arranged.
What action is an example of tertiary prevention?
a. Helping a person diagnosed with a serious mental illness learn to manage
money
b. Restraining an agitated client who has become aggressive and assaultive
c. Teaching school-age children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol
d. Genetic counseling with a young couple expecting their first child -
CORRECT ANSWER-a. Helping a person diagnosed with a serious
mental illness learn to manage money
,A client diagnosed with schizophrenia had an exacerbation related to
medication
nonadherence and was hospitalized for 5 days. The client's thoughts are
now more
organized, and discharge is planned. The client's family says, "It's too soon
for discharge. We will just go through all this again." What action should
the nurse take?
a. ask the case manager to arrange a transfer to a long-term care facility.
b. notify hospital security to handle the disturbance and escort the family
off the unit.
c. explain that the client will continue to improve if the medication is taken
regularly.
d. contact the health care provider to meet with the family and explain the
discharge
rationale. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. explain that the client will continue to
improve if the medication is taken regularly.
A nurse inspects an inpatient psychiatric unit and finds that exits are free of
obstructions, no one is smoking, and the janitor's closet is locked. What do
these observations relate to?
a.coordinating care of clients.
b. management of milieu safety.
c. management of the interpersonal climate.
d. use of therapeutic intervention strategies. -CORRECT ANSWER-b.
management of milieu safety.
,The psychiatric unit has one bed available. Which client should be admitted
from the
emergency department? The client
a. The client feeling anxiety and a sad mood after separation from a spouse
of 10 years.
b. The client who self-inflicted a superficial cut on the forearm after a
family argument.
c. The client experiencing dry mouth and tremor related to taking
antipsychotic medication.
d. The client who is a new parent and hears voices saying, "Smother your
baby." -CORRECT ANSWER-d. The client who is a new parent and hears
voices saying, "Smother your baby."
A suspicious, socially isolated client lives alone, eats one meal a day at a
local shelter, and spends the remaining daily food allowance on cigarettes.
What is the community psychiatric nurse's best initial action?
a. Exploring ways to help the client stop smoking.
b. Reporting the situation to the manager of the shelter.
c. Assessing the client's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten.
d. Arranging hospitalization for the client in order to formulate a new
treatment plan. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. Assessing the client's weight;
determine foods and amounts eaten.
A nurse surveying medical records would find evidence suggesting which
client's rights have been violated?
a. A client was not allowed to have visitors.
b. A client's belongings were searched at admission.
c. A client with suicidal ideation was placed on continuous observation.
, d. Physical restraint was used after a client was assaultive toward a staff
member. -CORRECT ANSWER-a. A client was not allowed to have
visitors.
Which principle has the highest priority when addressing a behavioral
crisis in an inpatient setting?
a. Resolve the crisis with the least restrictive intervention possible.
b. Swift intervention is justified to maintain the integrity of a therapeutic
milieu.
c. Rights of an individual client are superseded by the rights of the majority
of clients.
d. Clients should have opportunities to regain control without intervention
if the safety of others is not compromised. -CORRECT ANSWER-a.
Resolve the crisis with the least restrictive intervention possible.
Clinical pathways are used in managed care settings to accomplish what?
a. stabilization of aggressive clients.
b. identifying obstacles to effective care.
c. relieving nurses of planning responsibilities.
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs. -CORRECT ANSWER-d.
streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
A nurse receives these three phone calls regarding a newly admitted client.
· The psychiatrist wants to complete an initial assessment.
. An internist wants to perform a physical examination.
· The client's attorney wants an appointment with the client.
REVIEW 2025 to 2026 COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE PRACTICE QUESTIONS and
DETAILED RATIONALES
A client was hospitalized for 24 hours after a reaction to a psychotropic
medication. While planning discharge, the case manager learned that the
client received a notice of eviction immediately prior to admission. What is
the case manager's most appropriate action?
a. Postpone the client's discharge from the hospital.
b. Contact the landlord who evicted the client to further discuss the
situation.
c. Arrange a temporary place for the client to stay until new housing can be
arranged.
d. Determine whether the adverse medication reaction was genuine because
the client had
nowhere to live. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. Arrange a temporary place for
the client to stay until new housing can be arranged.
What action is an example of tertiary prevention?
a. Helping a person diagnosed with a serious mental illness learn to manage
money
b. Restraining an agitated client who has become aggressive and assaultive
c. Teaching school-age children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol
d. Genetic counseling with a young couple expecting their first child -
CORRECT ANSWER-a. Helping a person diagnosed with a serious
mental illness learn to manage money
,A client diagnosed with schizophrenia had an exacerbation related to
medication
nonadherence and was hospitalized for 5 days. The client's thoughts are
now more
organized, and discharge is planned. The client's family says, "It's too soon
for discharge. We will just go through all this again." What action should
the nurse take?
a. ask the case manager to arrange a transfer to a long-term care facility.
b. notify hospital security to handle the disturbance and escort the family
off the unit.
c. explain that the client will continue to improve if the medication is taken
regularly.
d. contact the health care provider to meet with the family and explain the
discharge
rationale. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. explain that the client will continue to
improve if the medication is taken regularly.
A nurse inspects an inpatient psychiatric unit and finds that exits are free of
obstructions, no one is smoking, and the janitor's closet is locked. What do
these observations relate to?
a.coordinating care of clients.
b. management of milieu safety.
c. management of the interpersonal climate.
d. use of therapeutic intervention strategies. -CORRECT ANSWER-b.
management of milieu safety.
,The psychiatric unit has one bed available. Which client should be admitted
from the
emergency department? The client
a. The client feeling anxiety and a sad mood after separation from a spouse
of 10 years.
b. The client who self-inflicted a superficial cut on the forearm after a
family argument.
c. The client experiencing dry mouth and tremor related to taking
antipsychotic medication.
d. The client who is a new parent and hears voices saying, "Smother your
baby." -CORRECT ANSWER-d. The client who is a new parent and hears
voices saying, "Smother your baby."
A suspicious, socially isolated client lives alone, eats one meal a day at a
local shelter, and spends the remaining daily food allowance on cigarettes.
What is the community psychiatric nurse's best initial action?
a. Exploring ways to help the client stop smoking.
b. Reporting the situation to the manager of the shelter.
c. Assessing the client's weight; determine foods and amounts eaten.
d. Arranging hospitalization for the client in order to formulate a new
treatment plan. -CORRECT ANSWER-c. Assessing the client's weight;
determine foods and amounts eaten.
A nurse surveying medical records would find evidence suggesting which
client's rights have been violated?
a. A client was not allowed to have visitors.
b. A client's belongings were searched at admission.
c. A client with suicidal ideation was placed on continuous observation.
, d. Physical restraint was used after a client was assaultive toward a staff
member. -CORRECT ANSWER-a. A client was not allowed to have
visitors.
Which principle has the highest priority when addressing a behavioral
crisis in an inpatient setting?
a. Resolve the crisis with the least restrictive intervention possible.
b. Swift intervention is justified to maintain the integrity of a therapeutic
milieu.
c. Rights of an individual client are superseded by the rights of the majority
of clients.
d. Clients should have opportunities to regain control without intervention
if the safety of others is not compromised. -CORRECT ANSWER-a.
Resolve the crisis with the least restrictive intervention possible.
Clinical pathways are used in managed care settings to accomplish what?
a. stabilization of aggressive clients.
b. identifying obstacles to effective care.
c. relieving nurses of planning responsibilities.
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs. -CORRECT ANSWER-d.
streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
A nurse receives these three phone calls regarding a newly admitted client.
· The psychiatrist wants to complete an initial assessment.
. An internist wants to perform a physical examination.
· The client's attorney wants an appointment with the client.
