NUR 208 Mental Health Nursing — Exam 2 actual questions with
verified answers and rationales 2026/2027 version
1. A client tells the nurse, “I feel like nobody understands what I am going through.”
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “Everyone feels that way sometimes.”
B. “You should talk to your family about it.”
C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
D. “You need to focus on positive things.”
Answer: C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
Rationale: An open-ended response encourages the client to express feelings and provides the
nurse with additional information.
2. Which statement by the nurse is an example of empathy?
A. “I know exactly how you feel.”
B. “You shouldn't be upset about this.”
C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
Answer: C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
Rationale: Empathy involves recognizing and communicating an understanding of another
person's feelings without claiming to have the exact same experience.
3. A client begins crying while discussing the death of a spouse. What is the nurse's best
initial response?
A. Change the subject
B. Tell the client to stop crying
C. Sit quietly and allow the client time to express emotions
D. Leave the room immediately
Answer: C. Sit quietly and allow the client time to express emotions
Rationale: Therapeutic silence allows the client to experience and express emotions without
feeling rushed.
,4. Which nurse statement is nontherapeutic?
A. “What concerns you most right now?”
B. “How have you been coping?”
C. “Why did you do that?”
D. “Tell me more about that experience.”
Answer: C. “Why did you do that?”
Rationale: “Why” questions may sound judgmental and can cause the client to become
defensive.
5. A client says, “I don't think I can handle this anymore.” What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client to remain positive
B. Assess for suicidal thoughts and intent
C. Change the subject
D. Call the client's family immediately
Answer: B. Assess for suicidal thoughts and intent
Rationale: Statements suggesting hopelessness require immediate assessment for suicide risk.
6. Which finding is most concerning for suicide risk?
A. Client reports sleeping 8 hours
B. Client has developed a specific suicide plan
C. Client enjoys visiting friends
D. Client reports increased appetite
Answer: B. Client has developed a specific suicide plan
Rationale: A specific plan, especially when combined with intent and access to means,
substantially increases suicide risk.
7. A client says, “I have pills at home, and tonight I am going to take all of them.” What is
the priority nursing action?
,A. Leave the client alone to calm down
B. Place the client in a safe environment and initiate suicide precautions
C. Tell the client that suicide is wrong
D. Ask the client to promise not to self-harm
Answer: B. Place the client in a safe environment and initiate suicide precautions
Rationale: An expressed plan and available means require immediate safety interventions and
close observation.
8. Which question is most appropriate when assessing suicidal ideation?
A. “You aren't thinking about suicide, are you?”
B. “Do you have thoughts of killing yourself?”
C. “Why would you want to die?”
D. “Your family would be devastated, wouldn't they?”
Answer: B. “Do you have thoughts of killing yourself?”
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questions are appropriate when assessing suicide risk and do
not cause suicidal behavior.
9. A client experiencing acute anxiety is pacing and unable to concentrate. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide lengthy explanations
B. Encourage group activities
C. Use short, simple statements and reduce environmental stimuli
D. Ask the client to make major decisions
Answer: C. Use short, simple statements and reduce environmental stimuli
Rationale: Moderate-to-severe anxiety reduces attention and information-processing ability.
Simple communication and reduced stimuli are helpful.
10. Which behavior is characteristic of mild anxiety?
A. Increased alertness and ability to learn
B. Complete inability to focus
, C. Disorganized behavior
D. Loss of reality testing
Answer: A. Increased alertness and ability to learn
Rationale: Mild anxiety can increase alertness, motivation, and perceptual field.
11. A client experiencing panic-level anxiety is most likely to demonstrate:
A. Improved concentration
B. Narrowed perceptual field and inability to process information effectively
C. Increased ability to solve problems
D. Calm and organized behavior
Answer: B. Narrowed perceptual field and inability to process information effectively
Rationale: Panic causes extreme anxiety, severely narrowing perception and impairing rational
thought.
12. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a panic attack?
A. Leave the client alone
B. Encourage rapid breathing
C. Stay with the client and use calm, simple communication
D. Ask the client to analyze the cause immediately
Answer: C. Stay with the client and use calm, simple communication
Rationale: The nurse provides safety, presence, reassurance, and simple directions until the
acute panic subsides.
13. Which neurotransmitter is strongly associated with mood regulation and is targeted by
many antidepressants?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine only
C. Insulin
D. Melatonin only
Answer: A. Serotonin
verified answers and rationales 2026/2027 version
1. A client tells the nurse, “I feel like nobody understands what I am going through.”
Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “Everyone feels that way sometimes.”
B. “You should talk to your family about it.”
C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
D. “You need to focus on positive things.”
Answer: C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
Rationale: An open-ended response encourages the client to express feelings and provides the
nurse with additional information.
2. Which statement by the nurse is an example of empathy?
A. “I know exactly how you feel.”
B. “You shouldn't be upset about this.”
C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
D. “Everything will be fine.”
Answer: C. “It sounds like this situation has been very difficult for you.”
Rationale: Empathy involves recognizing and communicating an understanding of another
person's feelings without claiming to have the exact same experience.
3. A client begins crying while discussing the death of a spouse. What is the nurse's best
initial response?
A. Change the subject
B. Tell the client to stop crying
C. Sit quietly and allow the client time to express emotions
D. Leave the room immediately
Answer: C. Sit quietly and allow the client time to express emotions
Rationale: Therapeutic silence allows the client to experience and express emotions without
feeling rushed.
,4. Which nurse statement is nontherapeutic?
A. “What concerns you most right now?”
B. “How have you been coping?”
C. “Why did you do that?”
D. “Tell me more about that experience.”
Answer: C. “Why did you do that?”
Rationale: “Why” questions may sound judgmental and can cause the client to become
defensive.
5. A client says, “I don't think I can handle this anymore.” What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client to remain positive
B. Assess for suicidal thoughts and intent
C. Change the subject
D. Call the client's family immediately
Answer: B. Assess for suicidal thoughts and intent
Rationale: Statements suggesting hopelessness require immediate assessment for suicide risk.
6. Which finding is most concerning for suicide risk?
A. Client reports sleeping 8 hours
B. Client has developed a specific suicide plan
C. Client enjoys visiting friends
D. Client reports increased appetite
Answer: B. Client has developed a specific suicide plan
Rationale: A specific plan, especially when combined with intent and access to means,
substantially increases suicide risk.
7. A client says, “I have pills at home, and tonight I am going to take all of them.” What is
the priority nursing action?
,A. Leave the client alone to calm down
B. Place the client in a safe environment and initiate suicide precautions
C. Tell the client that suicide is wrong
D. Ask the client to promise not to self-harm
Answer: B. Place the client in a safe environment and initiate suicide precautions
Rationale: An expressed plan and available means require immediate safety interventions and
close observation.
8. Which question is most appropriate when assessing suicidal ideation?
A. “You aren't thinking about suicide, are you?”
B. “Do you have thoughts of killing yourself?”
C. “Why would you want to die?”
D. “Your family would be devastated, wouldn't they?”
Answer: B. “Do you have thoughts of killing yourself?”
Rationale: Direct, nonjudgmental questions are appropriate when assessing suicide risk and do
not cause suicidal behavior.
9. A client experiencing acute anxiety is pacing and unable to concentrate. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide lengthy explanations
B. Encourage group activities
C. Use short, simple statements and reduce environmental stimuli
D. Ask the client to make major decisions
Answer: C. Use short, simple statements and reduce environmental stimuli
Rationale: Moderate-to-severe anxiety reduces attention and information-processing ability.
Simple communication and reduced stimuli are helpful.
10. Which behavior is characteristic of mild anxiety?
A. Increased alertness and ability to learn
B. Complete inability to focus
, C. Disorganized behavior
D. Loss of reality testing
Answer: A. Increased alertness and ability to learn
Rationale: Mild anxiety can increase alertness, motivation, and perceptual field.
11. A client experiencing panic-level anxiety is most likely to demonstrate:
A. Improved concentration
B. Narrowed perceptual field and inability to process information effectively
C. Increased ability to solve problems
D. Calm and organized behavior
Answer: B. Narrowed perceptual field and inability to process information effectively
Rationale: Panic causes extreme anxiety, severely narrowing perception and impairing rational
thought.
12. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a panic attack?
A. Leave the client alone
B. Encourage rapid breathing
C. Stay with the client and use calm, simple communication
D. Ask the client to analyze the cause immediately
Answer: C. Stay with the client and use calm, simple communication
Rationale: The nurse provides safety, presence, reassurance, and simple directions until the
acute panic subsides.
13. Which neurotransmitter is strongly associated with mood regulation and is targeted by
many antidepressants?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine only
C. Insulin
D. Melatonin only
Answer: A. Serotonin
