NUR 256 Exam 1 V2 | NUR 256 Concepts of Mental
Health Nursing | Q&A with Rationale (NUR256
Exam 1) | Galen College of Nursing
1. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit involuntarily after threatening to harm their
neighbor. Which legal principle allows the state to detain the individual against their will?
A. Beneficence
B. Police power of the state
C. Parens patriae power
D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Police power of the state allows for the protection of the community when an
individual poses a direct threat to others. In contrast, parens patriae is the state’s authority
to act as a guardian for those who cannot care for themselves. The nurse must recognize
that involuntary admission is a restriction of liberty justified by the safety of the public.
2. During an assessment, a patient states, ‘I just can’t take it anymore. Everything is going
wrong.’ The nurse responds, ‘You feel like everything in your life is currently overwhelming?’
Which therapeutic technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
,C. Clarifying
D. Focusing
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Reflecting involves directing back the client’s feelings, ideas, or questions to
encourage them to accept their own feelings. This technique shows the client that their
point of view is understood and respected. It differs from restating, which repeats the main
idea expressed, by adding the emotional context.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is being treated for depression. The nurse tells the client,
‘I will be back in 15 minutes to sit with you,’ and returns exactly at that time. Which ethical
principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Fidelity
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Fidelity refers to the obligation to maintain loyalty and commitment to the
patient by keeping one’s promises. Trust is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship,
and meeting promised timelines builds that trust. Veracity, while related, specifically refers
to the duty to always tell the truth.
, 4. Which of the following describes the ‘Working Phase’ of the nurse-client relationship
according to Peplau?
A. Establishing boundaries and the contract for meeting.
B. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills and self-esteem.
C. Discussing the client’s feelings about the end of the relationship.
D. Reviewing the client’s chart and gathering data before meeting.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The working phase focuses on the nurse and client working together to
identify and explore areas that are causing problems in the client’s life. During this phase,
the nurse supports the client in developing new coping skills and maintaining progress.
The orientation and termination phases handle the beginning and end of the relationship,
respectively.
5. A patient with schizophrenia starts to treat the nurse as if she were the patient’s mother,
becoming overly dependent and seeking constant approval. This is an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Boundary crossing
C. Resistance
D. Transference
Correct Answer: D
Health Nursing | Q&A with Rationale (NUR256
Exam 1) | Galen College of Nursing
1. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit involuntarily after threatening to harm their
neighbor. Which legal principle allows the state to detain the individual against their will?
A. Beneficence
B. Police power of the state
C. Parens patriae power
D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Police power of the state allows for the protection of the community when an
individual poses a direct threat to others. In contrast, parens patriae is the state’s authority
to act as a guardian for those who cannot care for themselves. The nurse must recognize
that involuntary admission is a restriction of liberty justified by the safety of the public.
2. During an assessment, a patient states, ‘I just can’t take it anymore. Everything is going
wrong.’ The nurse responds, ‘You feel like everything in your life is currently overwhelming?’
Which therapeutic technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
,C. Clarifying
D. Focusing
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Reflecting involves directing back the client’s feelings, ideas, or questions to
encourage them to accept their own feelings. This technique shows the client that their
point of view is understood and respected. It differs from restating, which repeats the main
idea expressed, by adding the emotional context.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is being treated for depression. The nurse tells the client,
‘I will be back in 15 minutes to sit with you,’ and returns exactly at that time. Which ethical
principle is the nurse demonstrating?
A. Nonmaleficence
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Fidelity
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Fidelity refers to the obligation to maintain loyalty and commitment to the
patient by keeping one’s promises. Trust is the foundation of the therapeutic relationship,
and meeting promised timelines builds that trust. Veracity, while related, specifically refers
to the duty to always tell the truth.
, 4. Which of the following describes the ‘Working Phase’ of the nurse-client relationship
according to Peplau?
A. Establishing boundaries and the contract for meeting.
B. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills and self-esteem.
C. Discussing the client’s feelings about the end of the relationship.
D. Reviewing the client’s chart and gathering data before meeting.
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The working phase focuses on the nurse and client working together to
identify and explore areas that are causing problems in the client’s life. During this phase,
the nurse supports the client in developing new coping skills and maintaining progress.
The orientation and termination phases handle the beginning and end of the relationship,
respectively.
5. A patient with schizophrenia starts to treat the nurse as if she were the patient’s mother,
becoming overly dependent and seeking constant approval. This is an example of:
A. Countertransference
B. Boundary crossing
C. Resistance
D. Transference
Correct Answer: D
