NSG 3450 EXAM 2 CLASS REVIEW QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | NSG 3450 MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
The nurse is interviewing a client admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of depressive
disorder. Which is the primary goal in the assessment phase of the nursing process for this client?
A. To build trust and rapport.
B. To identify goals and outcomes.
C. To collect and organize information.
D. To identify and validate the medical diagnosis. - correct answer ✔✔A. To build trust and rapport.
Which nursing intervention would establish trust with a client who is experiencing concrete thinking?
A. Being consistent in adhering to unit guidelines.
B. Calling the client by name.
C. Sharing what the client is feeling.
D. Teaching the meaning of any idioms used. - correct answer ✔✔A. Being consistent in adhering to unit
guidelines.
Which is a nursing intervention that would promote the development of trust in the nurse-client
relationship?
A. Simply and clearly providing reasons for policies and procedures.
B. Calling the client by name and title such as "Mr. Hawkins."
C. Striving to understand the motivations behind the client's behavior.
D. Taking the client's ideas into consideration when planning care. - correct answer ✔✔A. Simply and
clearly providing reasons for policies and procedures.
In a psychiatric inpatient setting, the nurse observes an adolescent client's peers calling the client names.
In this context, which statement by the nurse exemplifies the concept of empathy?
A. "I can see that you are upset. Tell me how you feel."
B. "Your peers are being insensitive. I would be upset also."
C. "I used to be called names as a child. I know it can hurt feelings."
D. "I get angry when people are treated cruelly." - correct answer ✔✔A. "I can see that you are upset.
Tell me how you feel."
Which is the goal for the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Explore self-perceptions.
B. Establish trust.
C. Promote change.
D. Evaluate goal attainment. - correct answer ✔✔B. Establish trust.
On an inpatient psychiatric unit, a client states, "I want to learn better ways to handle my anger." This
interaction is most likely to occur in which phase of the nurse-client relationship?
, A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase.. - correct answer ✔✔B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
The nurse helps a client practice various techniques of assertive communication by giving positive
feedback for improvement of passive-aggressive interactions. This intervention would occur in which
phase of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase. - correct answer ✔✔C. Working phase
On an inpatient psychiatric unit, the goals of therapy have been met, but the client cries and states, "I
have to keep coming back to therapy to handle my anger better." This interaction occurs in which phase
of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase. - correct answer ✔✔D. Termination phase
The nurse reviews a client's record in preparation for client care. This action is one of the tasks that occur
in a phase of the nurse-client relationship. What is the purpose of this phase?
A. Getting to know each other and establishing trust.
B. Implementing nursing interventions to achieve outcomes.
C. Achievement of independence and maintenance of health without nursing care.
D. Understanding the client's diagnosis and evaluating the nurse's attitudes - correct answer ✔✔D.
Understanding the client's diagnosis and evaluating the nurse's attitudes
A depressed client discussing marital problems with the nurse says, "What will I do if my husband asks
me for a divorce?" Which response by the nurse would be an example of therapeutic communication?
• 1. "Why do you think that your husband will ask you for a divorce?"
• 2. "You seem to be worrying over nothing. I'm sure everything will be fine."
• 3. "What has happened to make you think that your husband will ask for a divorce?"
• 4. "Talking about this will only make you more anxious and increase your depression." - correct answer
✔✔3. "What has happened to make you think that your husband will ask for a divorce
The nurse states to a client on an inpatient unit, "Tell me what's been on your mind." Which describes
the purpose of this therapeutic communication technique?
A. To have the client choose the topic of the conversation.
B. To present new ideas for consideration.
C. To convey interest in what the client is saying.
HEALTH NURSING STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE TEST 2026/2027
The nurse is interviewing a client admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit with a diagnosis of depressive
disorder. Which is the primary goal in the assessment phase of the nursing process for this client?
A. To build trust and rapport.
B. To identify goals and outcomes.
C. To collect and organize information.
D. To identify and validate the medical diagnosis. - correct answer ✔✔A. To build trust and rapport.
Which nursing intervention would establish trust with a client who is experiencing concrete thinking?
A. Being consistent in adhering to unit guidelines.
B. Calling the client by name.
C. Sharing what the client is feeling.
D. Teaching the meaning of any idioms used. - correct answer ✔✔A. Being consistent in adhering to unit
guidelines.
Which is a nursing intervention that would promote the development of trust in the nurse-client
relationship?
A. Simply and clearly providing reasons for policies and procedures.
B. Calling the client by name and title such as "Mr. Hawkins."
C. Striving to understand the motivations behind the client's behavior.
D. Taking the client's ideas into consideration when planning care. - correct answer ✔✔A. Simply and
clearly providing reasons for policies and procedures.
In a psychiatric inpatient setting, the nurse observes an adolescent client's peers calling the client names.
In this context, which statement by the nurse exemplifies the concept of empathy?
A. "I can see that you are upset. Tell me how you feel."
B. "Your peers are being insensitive. I would be upset also."
C. "I used to be called names as a child. I know it can hurt feelings."
D. "I get angry when people are treated cruelly." - correct answer ✔✔A. "I can see that you are upset.
Tell me how you feel."
Which is the goal for the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Explore self-perceptions.
B. Establish trust.
C. Promote change.
D. Evaluate goal attainment. - correct answer ✔✔B. Establish trust.
On an inpatient psychiatric unit, a client states, "I want to learn better ways to handle my anger." This
interaction is most likely to occur in which phase of the nurse-client relationship?
, A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase.. - correct answer ✔✔B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
The nurse helps a client practice various techniques of assertive communication by giving positive
feedback for improvement of passive-aggressive interactions. This intervention would occur in which
phase of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase. - correct answer ✔✔C. Working phase
On an inpatient psychiatric unit, the goals of therapy have been met, but the client cries and states, "I
have to keep coming back to therapy to handle my anger better." This interaction occurs in which phase
of the nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase.
B. Orientation (introductory) phase.
C. Working phase.
D. Termination phase. - correct answer ✔✔D. Termination phase
The nurse reviews a client's record in preparation for client care. This action is one of the tasks that occur
in a phase of the nurse-client relationship. What is the purpose of this phase?
A. Getting to know each other and establishing trust.
B. Implementing nursing interventions to achieve outcomes.
C. Achievement of independence and maintenance of health without nursing care.
D. Understanding the client's diagnosis and evaluating the nurse's attitudes - correct answer ✔✔D.
Understanding the client's diagnosis and evaluating the nurse's attitudes
A depressed client discussing marital problems with the nurse says, "What will I do if my husband asks
me for a divorce?" Which response by the nurse would be an example of therapeutic communication?
• 1. "Why do you think that your husband will ask you for a divorce?"
• 2. "You seem to be worrying over nothing. I'm sure everything will be fine."
• 3. "What has happened to make you think that your husband will ask for a divorce?"
• 4. "Talking about this will only make you more anxious and increase your depression." - correct answer
✔✔3. "What has happened to make you think that your husband will ask for a divorce
The nurse states to a client on an inpatient unit, "Tell me what's been on your mind." Which describes
the purpose of this therapeutic communication technique?
A. To have the client choose the topic of the conversation.
B. To present new ideas for consideration.
C. To convey interest in what the client is saying.
