Mental Health: Exam 2 Study
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
What is the purpose of the Mental Status Examination (MSE)? - Answer✔✔-To
evaluate the current cognitive processes and collect/organize objective data
about the patient
What does the nurse observe during the MSE? - Answer✔✔-Physical behavior,
verbal and nonverbal communications, appearance, speech, thought content,
cognitive ability, presenting problem(s), current lifestyle, and strength of
resources (family, friends, education, work)
What are the 8 components assessed in the Mental Status Examination? -
Answer✔✔-Personal information, Appearance, Behavior, Speech, Affect and
mood, Thought, Perceptual disturbances, Cognition
What is the primary purpose of the MSE in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-It
is fundamental to overall patient assessment — aids in collecting and
organizing objective data
,What are the 7 components included in Gathering Data during a psychiatric
assessment? - Answer✔✔-Review of systems, Laboratory data, MSE,
Psychosocial assessment, Spiritual/religious assessment, Cultural and social
assessment, Self-awareness assessment, Validating assessment
What are the goals of a Psychiatric Nursing Assessment? - Answer✔✔-Establish
rapport, understand current problem/chief complaint, review physical status
and baseline vital signs, assess for risk factors (suicide/homicide), perform MSE,
assess psychosocial status, identify mutual goals, formulate plan of care,
document data
What does the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Standards of Practice
provide? - Answer✔✔-Criteria for certification, legal definition of nursing, basis
for NCLEX-RN, the Six Standards of Practice, and defines the nursing process
What are the Six Standards of Practice in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-
Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcomes Identification, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
What is the ANA standard definition of Assessment in psychiatric nursing? -
Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric mental health registered nurse collects and
synthesizes comprehensive health data pertinent to the health care consumer's
health and/or situation"
What are the Assessment considerations in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-
Age (developmental level) and language barriers
Who is the primary source of data in psychiatric assessment? - Answer✔✔-The
patient; secondary sources are others (family, friends, other providers)
,What is the nursing process in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-A six-step,
problem-solving care approach that facilitates care that is appropriate, safe,
culturally competent, developmentally relevant, and high-quality
What are the three types of nursing diagnoses? - Answer✔✔-Standard nursing
diagnosis (problem, etiology, supporting data), Risk diagnoses (high probability
of future negative event), Health promotion diagnoses (willingness to enhance
health behaviors)
What are the three parts of a standard nursing diagnosis? - Answer✔✔-The
problem (unmet need), the etiology (probable cause), the supporting data
(signs and symptoms)
What is the ANA standard for Outcomes Identification? - Answer✔✔-"The
psychiatric mental health registered nurse identifies expected outcomes and
the health care consumer's goals were planned individualized to the health
care consumer or to the situation"
What are the criteria for Outcome goals? - Answer✔✔-Reflect maximal patient
health realistically achieved through evidence-based interventions, provide
direction for continuity of care, patient-centered and culturally appropriate;
outcomes always relate to the problem
What are the four principles a plan of care should follow? - Answer✔✔-(1)
Safe, (2) Evidence-based whenever possible, (3) Realistic, (4) Compatible with
other therapies
, What are NIC and NOC? - Answer✔✔-NIC = Nursing Interventions Classification
(standardized interventions); NOC = Nursing Outcomes Classification
(standardized outcomes)
What is the ANA standard for Implementation? - Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric-
mental health registered nurse implements the identified plan"
What are the Basic Level (PMH-RN) implementation standards? - Answer✔✔-
Standard 5A: Coordination of Care, 5B: Health Teaching and Health Promotion,
5E: Pharmacological, Biological, and Integrative Therapies, 5F: Milieu therapy,
5G: Therapeutic relationship and counseling
What are the Advanced Practice (PMH-APRN) implementation roles? -
Answer✔✔-Prescriptive Authority and Treatment, Psychotherapy, Consultation
What is the ANA standard for Evaluation? - Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric-mental
health registered nurse enhances progress toward attainment of expected
outcomes" — systematic, ongoing, criterion-based
What is Documentation considered in the nursing process? - Answer✔✔-The
7th step; patient records are legal documents
What are the contents required in psychiatric nursing documentation? -
Answer✔✔-Evaluation of stated outcomes, all changes in patient condition,
record of informed consents, medication reactions, symptoms/concerns,
untoward incidents, patient progress, nonadherence
Guide – Practice Questions
with Verified Answers. GRADED
A+. Latest 2026/2027 Update
What is the purpose of the Mental Status Examination (MSE)? - Answer✔✔-To
evaluate the current cognitive processes and collect/organize objective data
about the patient
What does the nurse observe during the MSE? - Answer✔✔-Physical behavior,
verbal and nonverbal communications, appearance, speech, thought content,
cognitive ability, presenting problem(s), current lifestyle, and strength of
resources (family, friends, education, work)
What are the 8 components assessed in the Mental Status Examination? -
Answer✔✔-Personal information, Appearance, Behavior, Speech, Affect and
mood, Thought, Perceptual disturbances, Cognition
What is the primary purpose of the MSE in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-It
is fundamental to overall patient assessment — aids in collecting and
organizing objective data
,What are the 7 components included in Gathering Data during a psychiatric
assessment? - Answer✔✔-Review of systems, Laboratory data, MSE,
Psychosocial assessment, Spiritual/religious assessment, Cultural and social
assessment, Self-awareness assessment, Validating assessment
What are the goals of a Psychiatric Nursing Assessment? - Answer✔✔-Establish
rapport, understand current problem/chief complaint, review physical status
and baseline vital signs, assess for risk factors (suicide/homicide), perform MSE,
assess psychosocial status, identify mutual goals, formulate plan of care,
document data
What does the Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Standards of Practice
provide? - Answer✔✔-Criteria for certification, legal definition of nursing, basis
for NCLEX-RN, the Six Standards of Practice, and defines the nursing process
What are the Six Standards of Practice in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-
Assessment, Diagnosis, Outcomes Identification, Planning, Implementation,
Evaluation
What is the ANA standard definition of Assessment in psychiatric nursing? -
Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric mental health registered nurse collects and
synthesizes comprehensive health data pertinent to the health care consumer's
health and/or situation"
What are the Assessment considerations in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-
Age (developmental level) and language barriers
Who is the primary source of data in psychiatric assessment? - Answer✔✔-The
patient; secondary sources are others (family, friends, other providers)
,What is the nursing process in psychiatric nursing? - Answer✔✔-A six-step,
problem-solving care approach that facilitates care that is appropriate, safe,
culturally competent, developmentally relevant, and high-quality
What are the three types of nursing diagnoses? - Answer✔✔-Standard nursing
diagnosis (problem, etiology, supporting data), Risk diagnoses (high probability
of future negative event), Health promotion diagnoses (willingness to enhance
health behaviors)
What are the three parts of a standard nursing diagnosis? - Answer✔✔-The
problem (unmet need), the etiology (probable cause), the supporting data
(signs and symptoms)
What is the ANA standard for Outcomes Identification? - Answer✔✔-"The
psychiatric mental health registered nurse identifies expected outcomes and
the health care consumer's goals were planned individualized to the health
care consumer or to the situation"
What are the criteria for Outcome goals? - Answer✔✔-Reflect maximal patient
health realistically achieved through evidence-based interventions, provide
direction for continuity of care, patient-centered and culturally appropriate;
outcomes always relate to the problem
What are the four principles a plan of care should follow? - Answer✔✔-(1)
Safe, (2) Evidence-based whenever possible, (3) Realistic, (4) Compatible with
other therapies
, What are NIC and NOC? - Answer✔✔-NIC = Nursing Interventions Classification
(standardized interventions); NOC = Nursing Outcomes Classification
(standardized outcomes)
What is the ANA standard for Implementation? - Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric-
mental health registered nurse implements the identified plan"
What are the Basic Level (PMH-RN) implementation standards? - Answer✔✔-
Standard 5A: Coordination of Care, 5B: Health Teaching and Health Promotion,
5E: Pharmacological, Biological, and Integrative Therapies, 5F: Milieu therapy,
5G: Therapeutic relationship and counseling
What are the Advanced Practice (PMH-APRN) implementation roles? -
Answer✔✔-Prescriptive Authority and Treatment, Psychotherapy, Consultation
What is the ANA standard for Evaluation? - Answer✔✔-"The psychiatric-mental
health registered nurse enhances progress toward attainment of expected
outcomes" — systematic, ongoing, criterion-based
What is Documentation considered in the nursing process? - Answer✔✔-The
7th step; patient records are legal documents
What are the contents required in psychiatric nursing documentation? -
Answer✔✔-Evaluation of stated outcomes, all changes in patient condition,
record of informed consents, medication reactions, symptoms/concerns,
untoward incidents, patient progress, nonadherence
