NSG 3450
Mental Health Nursing — Exam 1 Study Guide
120 Straight Questions & Answers
Instructions: Each item below is a direct question with its correct answer shown immediately after, in bold and
highlighted in yellow.
Note: This guide covers core Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing content typically assessed on Exam 1 — therapeutic
communication, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance use
disorders, eating disorders, crisis intervention/suicide risk, psychopharmacology, and legal/ethical issues. Please cross-reference
with your instructor's specific module list, as emphasis can vary by section.
, Foundational Concepts & Therapeutic Communication (Q1–15)
1. What is the primary goal of the nurse-client therapeutic relationship in psychiatric nursing?
Answer: To promote the client's growth, insight, and adaptive coping (client-centered, goal-directed
helping relationship).
2. What are the three phases of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship, per Peplau?
Answer: Orientation, working, and termination phases.
3. What occurs during the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship?
Answer: Establishing trust, setting the therapeutic contract/boundaries, and beginning assessment.
4. What is the main focus of the working phase of the nurse-client relationship?
Answer: Addressing problems, promoting insight, and developing coping strategies toward treatment
goals.
5. Why is the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship important?
Answer: It provides closure, reviews progress/goals achieved, and addresses feelings about ending the
relationship.
6. What is 'therapeutic use of self'?
Answer: The nurse's conscious use of their own personality, insight, and communication skills to help the
client.
7. What communication technique involves restating the client's message in the nurse's own words?
Answer: Paraphrasing (restating).
8. What communication technique encourages the client to continue speaking with minimal interruption?
Answer: Using broad openings and general leads (e.g., 'Go on,' 'Tell me more').
9. What is 'reflecting' as a therapeutic communication technique?
Answer: Directing the client's feelings, questions, or ideas back to them to encourage further exploration.
10. Why should a nurse avoid asking 'why' questions with psychiatric clients?
Answer: 'Why' questions can sound accusatory/judgmental and put the client on the defensive, blocking
communication.
11. What is a nontherapeutic communication technique that involves offering reassurance like 'Everything will be
fine'?
Answer: False reassurance — it minimizes the client's feelings and can block honest expression.
12. What is 'countertransference'?
Answer: The nurse's unconscious emotional response to a client, often based on the nurse's own past
relationships/experiences.
13. What is 'transference'?
Answer: The client's unconscious displacement of feelings about significant others onto the nurse.
14. What ethical principle involves respecting a client's right to make their own treatment decisions?
Answer: Autonomy.
15. What is the least restrictive environment principle in mental health care?
Answer: Clients should be treated in the setting that restricts their freedom the least while still meeting
their treatment needs.
Mental Health Nursing — Exam 1 Study Guide
120 Straight Questions & Answers
Instructions: Each item below is a direct question with its correct answer shown immediately after, in bold and
highlighted in yellow.
Note: This guide covers core Mental Health/Psychiatric Nursing content typically assessed on Exam 1 — therapeutic
communication, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia/psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance use
disorders, eating disorders, crisis intervention/suicide risk, psychopharmacology, and legal/ethical issues. Please cross-reference
with your instructor's specific module list, as emphasis can vary by section.
, Foundational Concepts & Therapeutic Communication (Q1–15)
1. What is the primary goal of the nurse-client therapeutic relationship in psychiatric nursing?
Answer: To promote the client's growth, insight, and adaptive coping (client-centered, goal-directed
helping relationship).
2. What are the three phases of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship, per Peplau?
Answer: Orientation, working, and termination phases.
3. What occurs during the orientation phase of the nurse-client relationship?
Answer: Establishing trust, setting the therapeutic contract/boundaries, and beginning assessment.
4. What is the main focus of the working phase of the nurse-client relationship?
Answer: Addressing problems, promoting insight, and developing coping strategies toward treatment
goals.
5. Why is the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship important?
Answer: It provides closure, reviews progress/goals achieved, and addresses feelings about ending the
relationship.
6. What is 'therapeutic use of self'?
Answer: The nurse's conscious use of their own personality, insight, and communication skills to help the
client.
7. What communication technique involves restating the client's message in the nurse's own words?
Answer: Paraphrasing (restating).
8. What communication technique encourages the client to continue speaking with minimal interruption?
Answer: Using broad openings and general leads (e.g., 'Go on,' 'Tell me more').
9. What is 'reflecting' as a therapeutic communication technique?
Answer: Directing the client's feelings, questions, or ideas back to them to encourage further exploration.
10. Why should a nurse avoid asking 'why' questions with psychiatric clients?
Answer: 'Why' questions can sound accusatory/judgmental and put the client on the defensive, blocking
communication.
11. What is a nontherapeutic communication technique that involves offering reassurance like 'Everything will be
fine'?
Answer: False reassurance — it minimizes the client's feelings and can block honest expression.
12. What is 'countertransference'?
Answer: The nurse's unconscious emotional response to a client, often based on the nurse's own past
relationships/experiences.
13. What is 'transference'?
Answer: The client's unconscious displacement of feelings about significant others onto the nurse.
14. What ethical principle involves respecting a client's right to make their own treatment decisions?
Answer: Autonomy.
15. What is the least restrictive environment principle in mental health care?
Answer: Clients should be treated in the setting that restricts their freedom the least while still meeting
their treatment needs.
