Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Compr… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Comprehensive
Assessment UPDATE
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Compr… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after threatening to harm their spouse. Which
legal principle allows the hospital to hold the client against their will?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Habeas Corpus
D. Police Power and Parens Patriae
Answer: D
Rationale: Police power allows the state to protect the public, and parens patriae allows the state to
protect individuals who cannot care for themselves, forming the basis for involuntary commitment. This
knowledge supports safe care and helps the nurse teach the client and family clearly and simply. Clear
teaching improves cooperation and reduces anxiety. Clear understanding of this concept improves
both test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short case scenarios to
lock the idea in place.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices saying ‘you
are worthless.’ Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. ‘The voices are just a symptom of your illness.’
B. ‘I don’t hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.’
C. ‘What are the voices telling you to do exactly?’
D. ‘Try to ignore them and come play cards with us.’
Answer: B
Rationale: This response validates the client’s experience without agreeing with the hallucination,
which helps establish trust while maintaining reality. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities
and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. In
practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and
clear communication are frequent priorities.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Compr… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. A client taking Lithium Carbonate for Bipolar I disorder reports blurred vision and a coarse
hand tremor. The nurse notes a serum lithium level of 1.8 mEq/L. What is the priority action?
A. Administer the next scheduled dose.
B. Encourage increased fluid intake to 3L/day.
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider.
D. Administer an oral dose of Sodium Chloride.
Answer: C
Rationale: A level of 1.8 mEq/L indicates moderate lithium toxicity. The nurse must hold the drug to
prevent further toxicity and notify the physician. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and
protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. This
knowledge supports safe care and helps the nurse teach the client and family clearly and simply. Clear
teaching improves cooperation and reduces anxiety.
4. Which assessment finding should the nurse prioritize in a client experiencing a panic
attack?
A. Feelings of depersonalization
B. Increased heart rate and palpitations
C. Report of a ‘fear of dying’
D. Client’s inability to follow complex instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: While all are symptoms of panic, physiological stability and ruling out medical emergencies
(like MI) are always the priority in acute distress. Remembering this point will help you decide the best
nursing action when similar questions appear on the exam. Link the answer to the client’s current
condition and risk level. This is important because the nurse must choose the action that keeps the
client safest while still meeting their basic needs. Always think about safety first when answering these
questions.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
✓ VERIFIED • 2026/2027 UPDATE • 100% ACCURATE
Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Comprehensive
Assessment UPDATE
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED ANSWERS
with Clear, Detailed Rationales
Document Type: Exam (Elaborations) / Study Guide
Academic Year:
Total Questions: 50 Multiple Choice
Includes: Correct Answers + Rationales
Grade: A+ Assured
ASSURED GRADE A+
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 1
,Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Compr… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
Questions & Verified Answers
1. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after threatening to harm their spouse. Which
legal principle allows the hospital to hold the client against their will?
A. Autonomy
B. Beneficence
C. Habeas Corpus
D. Police Power and Parens Patriae
Answer: D
Rationale: Police power allows the state to protect the public, and parens patriae allows the state to
protect individuals who cannot care for themselves, forming the basis for involuntary commitment. This
knowledge supports safe care and helps the nurse teach the client and family clearly and simply. Clear
teaching improves cooperation and reduces anxiety. Clear understanding of this concept improves
both test performance and everyday clinical judgment. Practice applying it to short case scenarios to
lock the idea in place.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who reports hearing voices saying ‘you
are worthless.’ Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. ‘The voices are just a symptom of your illness.’
B. ‘I don’t hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.’
C. ‘What are the voices telling you to do exactly?’
D. ‘Try to ignore them and come play cards with us.’
Answer: B
Rationale: This response validates the client’s experience without agreeing with the hallucination,
which helps establish trust while maintaining reality. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities
and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. In
practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and
clear communication are frequent priorities.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 2
, Galen NUR 253 Exam 2 – Mental Health (2026) Compr… 2026/2027 • Verified • Assured Grade A+
3. A client taking Lithium Carbonate for Bipolar I disorder reports blurred vision and a coarse
hand tremor. The nurse notes a serum lithium level of 1.8 mEq/L. What is the priority action?
A. Administer the next scheduled dose.
B. Encourage increased fluid intake to 3L/day.
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider.
D. Administer an oral dose of Sodium Chloride.
Answer: C
Rationale: A level of 1.8 mEq/L indicates moderate lithium toxicity. The nurse must hold the drug to
prevent further toxicity and notify the physician. In practice, this guides the nurse to set priorities and
protect the client from harm. Safety, nutrition, and clear communication are frequent priorities. This
knowledge supports safe care and helps the nurse teach the client and family clearly and simply. Clear
teaching improves cooperation and reduces anxiety.
4. Which assessment finding should the nurse prioritize in a client experiencing a panic
attack?
A. Feelings of depersonalization
B. Increased heart rate and palpitations
C. Report of a ‘fear of dying’
D. Client’s inability to follow complex instructions
Answer: B
Rationale: While all are symptoms of panic, physiological stability and ruling out medical emergencies
(like MI) are always the priority in acute distress. Remembering this point will help you decide the best
nursing action when similar questions appear on the exam. Link the answer to the client’s current
condition and risk level. This is important because the nurse must choose the action that keeps the
client safest while still meeting their basic needs. Always think about safety first when answering these
questions.
Exam (Elaborations) • Detailed Rationales Page 3
