NSG 3450 MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1 PRACTICE QUESTIONS | LATEST UPDATED 2026/2027 (GRADED A+)
When providing respectful, appropriate nursing care, how should the nurse identify the patient and his or her observable characteristics?
Chapter 1 ✔️The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Recognizing the frequency of depression among the American population, the nurse should advocate for which mental health promotion
intervention? Chapter 1 ✔️Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and teenage students
Which statement made by a patient demonstrates a healthy degree of resilience? Select all that apply. Chapter 1 ✔️a. "I try to remember not to
take other people's bad moods personally."
b. "I've learned to calm down before trying to defend my opinions."
c. "I know that discussing issues with my boss would help me get my point across."
Which statement demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the effect of environmental factors on a patient's mental health? Chapter 1 ✔️"I'm
not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
When considering stigmatization, which statement made by the nurse demonstrates a need for immediate intervention by the nurse manager?
Chapter 1 ✔️"My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with alcohol use."
A nursing student new to psychiatric-mental health nursing asks a peer what resources he can use to figure out which symptoms are present in
a specific psychiatric disorder. The best answer would be? Chapter 1 ✔️DSM
Epidemiological studies contribute to improvements in care for individuals with mental disorders by? Chapter 1 ✔️a. Identifying risk factors that
contribute to the development of a disorder.
b. Identifying which individuals will respond favorably to a specific treatment.
Which of the following activities would be considered nursing care and appropriate to be performed by a basic level nurse for a patient
suffering from mental illness? Chapter 1 ✔️Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
Which statement about mental illness is true? Chapter 1 ✔️Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the groups
defining it.
The World Health Organization describes health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity." Which statement is true in regard to overall health? Select all that apply. Chapter 1 ✔️a. Poor physical health can lead to
mental distress and disorders.
a. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
A male patient reports to the nurse, "I'm told I have memories of childhood abuse stored in my unconscious mind. I want to work on this."
Based on this statement, what information should the nurse provide the patient? Chapter 2 ✔️To seek the help of a trained therapist to help
uncover and deal with the trauma associated with those memories.
Which question should the nurse ask when assessing what Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory identifies as the most painful human condition?
Chapter 2 ✔️"Do you think of yourself as being lonely?"
When discussing therapy options, the nurse should provide information about interpersonal therapy to which patient? Select all that apply.
Chapter 2 ✔️a. The teenager who is the focus of bullying at school
b. The older woman who has just lost her life partner to cancer
c. The middle-aged adult who recently discovered her partner has been unfaithful
When considering the suggestions of Hildegard Peplau, which activity should the nurse regularly engage in to ensure that the patient stays the
focus of all therapeutic conversations? Chapter 2 ✔️Reflecting on personal behaviors and personal needs
Which action reflects therapeutic practices associated with operant conditioning? Chapter 2 ✔️Acknowledging a patient who is often verbally
aggressive for complimenting a picture another patient drew
A nurse is assessing a patient who graduated at the top of his class but now obsesses about being incompetent in his new job. The nurse
recognizes that this patient may benefit from which of the following type of psychotherapy? Chapter 2 ✔️Cognitive behavioral
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the most basic needs category for nurses to address is? Chapter 2 ✔️Physiological
, In an outpatient psychiatric clinic, a nurse notices that a newly admitted young male patient smiles when he sees her. One day the young man
tells the nurse, "You are pretty like my mother." The nurse recognizes that the male is exhibiting? Chapter 2 ✔️Transference
Linda is terrified of spiders and cannot explain why. Because she lives in a wooded area, she would like to overcome this overwhelming fear.
Her nurse practitioner suggests which therapy? Chapter 2 ✔️Exposure and response prevention therapy
A patient is telling a tearful story. The nurse listens empathically and responds therapeutically with: Chapter 2 ✔️"Let's devise a plan on how you
will react next time in a similar situation."
Which neurotransmitter is potentiated by benzodiazepines? Chapter 3 ✔️Acetylcholine
Which antidepressant is contraindicated in a patient diagnosed with a seizure disorder? Chapter 3 ✔️Bupropion
Antagonism of which receptor contributes to orthostatic hypotension observed with trazodone therapy? Chapter 3 ✔️Alpha-1
Which antidepressant requires special dietary restrictions to prevent the possible development of hypertensive crisis? Chapter 3 ✔️Phenelzine
Which part of the brain regulates voluntary motor movements? Chapter 3 ✔️Cerebellum
Which antidepressant is FDA approved for the treatment of postpartum depression? Chapter 3 ✔️Brexanolone
Which mood stabilizer most commonly causes hypothyroidism with long-term use? Chapter 3 ✔️Lithium
Which medication increases blood levels of lamotrigine, increasing Stevens-Johnson syndrome risk? Chapter 3 ✔️Valproate
Which pathway is involved in the development of extrapyramidal symptoms secondary to antipsychotic-induced dopamine receptor blockade?
Chapter 3 ✔️Nigrostriatal
Which second-generation antipsychotic requires routine absolute neutrophil count monitoring? Chapter 3 ✔️Clozapine
A patient needs supportive care for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. The new nurse demonstrates an understanding of the
services provided by the various members of the patient's mental healthcare team when he makes which statement? Chapter 4 ✔️"Your
counselor asked me to remind you of the group session on critical thinking at 2:00 today."
A patient has been voluntarily admitted to a mental health facility after an unsuccessful attempt to harm himself. Which statement
demonstrates a need to better educate the patient on his patient's rights? Chapter 4 ✔️"I can hurt myself if I want to. It's none of your
business."
Which intervention demonstrates an attempt by nursing staff to meet the goals identified by The Joint Commission as National Patient Safety
Goals? Select all that apply. Chapter 4 ✔️a. Identifying patients using both name and date of birth before drawing blood.
b. Administering the Beck Scale on each patient at the time of admission.
c. Performing a medication history assessment on each new patient.
d. Using appropriate hand washing techniques at all times.
The mental health team is determining treatment options for a male patient who is experiencing psychotic symptoms. Which question(s)
should the team answer to determine whether a community outpatient or inpatient setting is most appropriate? Select all that apply. Chapter 4
✔️a. "Is the patient expressing suicidal thoughts?"
b. "Does the patient have intact judgment and insight into his situation?"
c. "Does the patient require a therapeutic environment to support the management of psychotic symptoms?"
d. "Does the patient require the regular involvement of their family/significant other in planning and executing the plan of care?"
The nurse frequently includes daily sessions involving relaxation techniques. Which assessment data would most indicate a need for this
intervention to be included in the initial plan of care for a patient? Chapter 4 ✔️Family history of anxiety and symptoms of anxiety
A newly divorced 36-year-old mother of three has difficulty sleeping. When she shares this information to her gynecologist, she suggests which
of the following services as appropriate for her patient's needs? Chapter 4 ✔️Primary care provider
When providing respectful, appropriate nursing care, how should the nurse identify the patient and his or her observable characteristics?
Chapter 1 ✔️The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Recognizing the frequency of depression among the American population, the nurse should advocate for which mental health promotion
intervention? Chapter 1 ✔️Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and teenage students
Which statement made by a patient demonstrates a healthy degree of resilience? Select all that apply. Chapter 1 ✔️a. "I try to remember not to
take other people's bad moods personally."
b. "I've learned to calm down before trying to defend my opinions."
c. "I know that discussing issues with my boss would help me get my point across."
Which statement demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the effect of environmental factors on a patient's mental health? Chapter 1 ✔️"I'm
not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
When considering stigmatization, which statement made by the nurse demonstrates a need for immediate intervention by the nurse manager?
Chapter 1 ✔️"My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with alcohol use."
A nursing student new to psychiatric-mental health nursing asks a peer what resources he can use to figure out which symptoms are present in
a specific psychiatric disorder. The best answer would be? Chapter 1 ✔️DSM
Epidemiological studies contribute to improvements in care for individuals with mental disorders by? Chapter 1 ✔️a. Identifying risk factors that
contribute to the development of a disorder.
b. Identifying which individuals will respond favorably to a specific treatment.
Which of the following activities would be considered nursing care and appropriate to be performed by a basic level nurse for a patient
suffering from mental illness? Chapter 1 ✔️Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
Which statement about mental illness is true? Chapter 1 ✔️Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the groups
defining it.
The World Health Organization describes health as "a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity." Which statement is true in regard to overall health? Select all that apply. Chapter 1 ✔️a. Poor physical health can lead to
mental distress and disorders.
a. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
A male patient reports to the nurse, "I'm told I have memories of childhood abuse stored in my unconscious mind. I want to work on this."
Based on this statement, what information should the nurse provide the patient? Chapter 2 ✔️To seek the help of a trained therapist to help
uncover and deal with the trauma associated with those memories.
Which question should the nurse ask when assessing what Sullivan's Interpersonal Theory identifies as the most painful human condition?
Chapter 2 ✔️"Do you think of yourself as being lonely?"
When discussing therapy options, the nurse should provide information about interpersonal therapy to which patient? Select all that apply.
Chapter 2 ✔️a. The teenager who is the focus of bullying at school
b. The older woman who has just lost her life partner to cancer
c. The middle-aged adult who recently discovered her partner has been unfaithful
When considering the suggestions of Hildegard Peplau, which activity should the nurse regularly engage in to ensure that the patient stays the
focus of all therapeutic conversations? Chapter 2 ✔️Reflecting on personal behaviors and personal needs
Which action reflects therapeutic practices associated with operant conditioning? Chapter 2 ✔️Acknowledging a patient who is often verbally
aggressive for complimenting a picture another patient drew
A nurse is assessing a patient who graduated at the top of his class but now obsesses about being incompetent in his new job. The nurse
recognizes that this patient may benefit from which of the following type of psychotherapy? Chapter 2 ✔️Cognitive behavioral
According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the most basic needs category for nurses to address is? Chapter 2 ✔️Physiological
, In an outpatient psychiatric clinic, a nurse notices that a newly admitted young male patient smiles when he sees her. One day the young man
tells the nurse, "You are pretty like my mother." The nurse recognizes that the male is exhibiting? Chapter 2 ✔️Transference
Linda is terrified of spiders and cannot explain why. Because she lives in a wooded area, she would like to overcome this overwhelming fear.
Her nurse practitioner suggests which therapy? Chapter 2 ✔️Exposure and response prevention therapy
A patient is telling a tearful story. The nurse listens empathically and responds therapeutically with: Chapter 2 ✔️"Let's devise a plan on how you
will react next time in a similar situation."
Which neurotransmitter is potentiated by benzodiazepines? Chapter 3 ✔️Acetylcholine
Which antidepressant is contraindicated in a patient diagnosed with a seizure disorder? Chapter 3 ✔️Bupropion
Antagonism of which receptor contributes to orthostatic hypotension observed with trazodone therapy? Chapter 3 ✔️Alpha-1
Which antidepressant requires special dietary restrictions to prevent the possible development of hypertensive crisis? Chapter 3 ✔️Phenelzine
Which part of the brain regulates voluntary motor movements? Chapter 3 ✔️Cerebellum
Which antidepressant is FDA approved for the treatment of postpartum depression? Chapter 3 ✔️Brexanolone
Which mood stabilizer most commonly causes hypothyroidism with long-term use? Chapter 3 ✔️Lithium
Which medication increases blood levels of lamotrigine, increasing Stevens-Johnson syndrome risk? Chapter 3 ✔️Valproate
Which pathway is involved in the development of extrapyramidal symptoms secondary to antipsychotic-induced dopamine receptor blockade?
Chapter 3 ✔️Nigrostriatal
Which second-generation antipsychotic requires routine absolute neutrophil count monitoring? Chapter 3 ✔️Clozapine
A patient needs supportive care for the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder. The new nurse demonstrates an understanding of the
services provided by the various members of the patient's mental healthcare team when he makes which statement? Chapter 4 ✔️"Your
counselor asked me to remind you of the group session on critical thinking at 2:00 today."
A patient has been voluntarily admitted to a mental health facility after an unsuccessful attempt to harm himself. Which statement
demonstrates a need to better educate the patient on his patient's rights? Chapter 4 ✔️"I can hurt myself if I want to. It's none of your
business."
Which intervention demonstrates an attempt by nursing staff to meet the goals identified by The Joint Commission as National Patient Safety
Goals? Select all that apply. Chapter 4 ✔️a. Identifying patients using both name and date of birth before drawing blood.
b. Administering the Beck Scale on each patient at the time of admission.
c. Performing a medication history assessment on each new patient.
d. Using appropriate hand washing techniques at all times.
The mental health team is determining treatment options for a male patient who is experiencing psychotic symptoms. Which question(s)
should the team answer to determine whether a community outpatient or inpatient setting is most appropriate? Select all that apply. Chapter 4
✔️a. "Is the patient expressing suicidal thoughts?"
b. "Does the patient have intact judgment and insight into his situation?"
c. "Does the patient require a therapeutic environment to support the management of psychotic symptoms?"
d. "Does the patient require the regular involvement of their family/significant other in planning and executing the plan of care?"
The nurse frequently includes daily sessions involving relaxation techniques. Which assessment data would most indicate a need for this
intervention to be included in the initial plan of care for a patient? Chapter 4 ✔️Family history of anxiety and symptoms of anxiety
A newly divorced 36-year-old mother of three has difficulty sleeping. When she shares this information to her gynecologist, she suggests which
of the following services as appropriate for her patient's needs? Chapter 4 ✔️Primary care provider
