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WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 310 – MENTAL
HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM 2 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES |100% PASS
|GRADED A+ 2026/27
1. The nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which
symptom is a priority for the nurse to assess?
a) Feelings of hopelessness
b) Anhedonia
c) Suicidal ideation
d) Psychomotor retardation
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Suicidal ideation is the priority assessment in major
depressive disorder because it poses an immediate risk to the client's
safety. While hopelessness, anhedonia, and psychomotor retardation are
important symptoms, suicidal ideation requires immediate intervention
and suicide precautions.
2. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring my
thoughts through the television." The nurse should document this as:
a) Hallucination
b) Delusion of persecution
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c) Delusion of grandeur
d) Illusion
Verified Answer: b
Rationale: A delusion of persecution is a fixed false belief that one is
being targeted, harassed, or monitored by others (e.g., CIA, FBI).
Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without external stimuli.
Delusions of grandeur involve exaggerated self-importance. Illusions are
misperceptions of real stimuli.
3. The nurse is caring for a client with bipolar disorder who is in the
manic phase. Which intervention is a priority?
a) Provide a quiet, structured environment
b) Encourage participation in group activities
c) Offer high-calorie, high-protein snacks
d) Allow the client to lead group therapy
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: A quiet, structured environment with minimal stimuli is
essential during the manic phase to reduce agitation and prevent
overstimulation. Group activities may increase stimulation. High-calorie
snacks are important (clients may not eat), but the environment is the
priority. Allowing the client to lead therapy is inappropriate due to poor
judgment.
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4. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed buspirone
(BuSpar). Which statement indicates the client understands the
medication?
a) "I will feel better immediately after taking this."
b) "I should take this medication with food."
c) "It may take 1-2 weeks for this medication to work."
d) "This medication is taken only when I feel anxious."
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic that takes 1-2
weeks to reach therapeutic effect. It is not a PRN medication; it is taken
daily. It does not work immediately. It can be taken with or without
food.
5. The nurse is assessing a client with post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). Which symptom is characteristic of this disorder?
a) Flashbacks and hypervigilance
b) Excessive worry about future events
c) Compulsive behaviors
d) Somatic complaints
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing symptoms
(flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, hypervigilance, and hyperarousal.
Excessive worry about future events is characteristic of generalized
anxiety disorder. Compulsive behaviors are characteristic of OCD.
Somatic complaints are characteristic of somatic symptom disorder.
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6. The nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
a) Set firm, consistent limits on manipulative behavior
b) Allow the client to break unit rules without consequences
c) Avoid discussing feelings with the client
d) Provide negative reinforcement
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Clients with borderline personality disorder often exhibit
manipulative and impulsive behaviors. Setting firm, consistent limits is
essential to maintain safety and structure. Allowing rule-breaking and
avoiding feelings are not therapeutic. Negative reinforcement is not an
appropriate nursing intervention.
7. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours
washing his hands. The nurse should understand that this behavior
serves which function?
a) Reducing anxiety temporarily
b) Gaining attention from staff
c) Punishing oneself
d) Expressing anger
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Compulsive behaviors in OCD are performed to reduce
anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts. The relief is temporary, and the
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY NURS 310 – MENTAL
HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING
COMPREHENSIVE PRACTICE EXAM 2 QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS AND RATIONALES |100% PASS
|GRADED A+ 2026/27
1. The nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which
symptom is a priority for the nurse to assess?
a) Feelings of hopelessness
b) Anhedonia
c) Suicidal ideation
d) Psychomotor retardation
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Suicidal ideation is the priority assessment in major
depressive disorder because it poses an immediate risk to the client's
safety. While hopelessness, anhedonia, and psychomotor retardation are
important symptoms, suicidal ideation requires immediate intervention
and suicide precautions.
2. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring my
thoughts through the television." The nurse should document this as:
a) Hallucination
b) Delusion of persecution
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c) Delusion of grandeur
d) Illusion
Verified Answer: b
Rationale: A delusion of persecution is a fixed false belief that one is
being targeted, harassed, or monitored by others (e.g., CIA, FBI).
Hallucinations are sensory perceptions without external stimuli.
Delusions of grandeur involve exaggerated self-importance. Illusions are
misperceptions of real stimuli.
3. The nurse is caring for a client with bipolar disorder who is in the
manic phase. Which intervention is a priority?
a) Provide a quiet, structured environment
b) Encourage participation in group activities
c) Offer high-calorie, high-protein snacks
d) Allow the client to lead group therapy
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: A quiet, structured environment with minimal stimuli is
essential during the manic phase to reduce agitation and prevent
overstimulation. Group activities may increase stimulation. High-calorie
snacks are important (clients may not eat), but the environment is the
priority. Allowing the client to lead therapy is inappropriate due to poor
judgment.
,3 | Page
4. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed buspirone
(BuSpar). Which statement indicates the client understands the
medication?
a) "I will feel better immediately after taking this."
b) "I should take this medication with food."
c) "It may take 1-2 weeks for this medication to work."
d) "This medication is taken only when I feel anxious."
Verified Answer: c
Rationale: Buspirone is a non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic that takes 1-2
weeks to reach therapeutic effect. It is not a PRN medication; it is taken
daily. It does not work immediately. It can be taken with or without
food.
5. The nurse is assessing a client with post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). Which symptom is characteristic of this disorder?
a) Flashbacks and hypervigilance
b) Excessive worry about future events
c) Compulsive behaviors
d) Somatic complaints
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing symptoms
(flashbacks, nightmares), avoidance, hypervigilance, and hyperarousal.
Excessive worry about future events is characteristic of generalized
anxiety disorder. Compulsive behaviors are characteristic of OCD.
Somatic complaints are characteristic of somatic symptom disorder.
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6. The nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder.
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
a) Set firm, consistent limits on manipulative behavior
b) Allow the client to break unit rules without consequences
c) Avoid discussing feelings with the client
d) Provide negative reinforcement
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Clients with borderline personality disorder often exhibit
manipulative and impulsive behaviors. Setting firm, consistent limits is
essential to maintain safety and structure. Allowing rule-breaking and
avoiding feelings are not therapeutic. Negative reinforcement is not an
appropriate nursing intervention.
7. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours
washing his hands. The nurse should understand that this behavior
serves which function?
a) Reducing anxiety temporarily
b) Gaining attention from staff
c) Punishing oneself
d) Expressing anger
Verified Answer: a
Rationale: Compulsive behaviors in OCD are performed to reduce
anxiety caused by obsessive thoughts. The relief is temporary, and the
