• Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Test Bank 4 for Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing A Clinical,
9th Edition by Halter, 9780323697071,
Covering Chapters 1-36 | Includes Rationales
During a one-on-one interaction with the nurse, a patient frequently looks nervously at the door. Select the best
comment by the nurse regarding this nonverbal communication.
a. "I notice you keep looking toward the door."
b. "This is our time together. No one is going to interrupt us."
c. "It looks as if you are eager to end our discussion for today."
d. "If you are uncomfortable in this room, we can move someplace else." –
Correct Answer :ANS: A
P 1
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Making observations and encouraging the patient to describe perceptions are useful therapeutic
communication techniques for this situation. The other responses are assumptions made by the nurse.
A black patient says to a white nurse, "There's no sense talking. You wouldn't understand because you live in a
white world." The nurse's best action would be to:
a. explain, "Yes, I do understand. Everyone goes through the same experiences."
b. say, "Please give an example of something you think I wouldn't understand."
c. reassure the patient that nurses interact with people from all cultures.
d. change the subject to one that is less emotionally disturbing.
- Correct Answer :ANS: B
Having the patient speak in specifics rather than globally will help the nurse understand the patient's
perspective. This approach will help the nurse engage the patient. Reassurance and changing the subject are not
therapeutic techniques.
A Filipino American patient had a nursing diagnosis of situational low self-esteem related to poor social skills as
evidenced by lack of eye contact. Interventions were used to raise the patient's self-esteem, but after 3 weeks,
the patient's eye contact did not improve. What is the most accurate analysis of this scenario?
a. The patient's eye contact should have been directly addressed by role-playing to increase comfort with eye
contact.
b. The nurse should not have independently embarked on assessment, diagnosis, and planning for this patient.
c. The patient's poor eye contact is indicative of anger and hostility that were unaddressed.
d. The nurse should have assessed the patient's culture before making this diagnosis and plan. –
Correct Answer :ANS: D
The amount of eye contact a person engages in is often culturally determined. In some cultures, eye contact is
considered insolent, whereas in others eye contact is expected. Asian Americans, including persons from the
Philippines, often prefer not to engage in direct eye contact.
P 2
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
When a female Mexican American patient and a female nurse sit together, the patient often holds the nurse's
hand. The patient also links arms with the nurse when they walk. The nurse is uncomfortable with this behavior.
Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is accustomed to touch during conversation, as are members of many Hispanic subcultures.
b. The patient understands that touch makes the nurse uncomfortable and controls the relationship based on
that factor.
c. The patient is afraid of being alone. When touching the nurse, the patient is reassured and comforted.
d. The patient is trying to manipulate the nurse using nonverbal techniques. –
Correct Answer :ANS: A
The most likely answer is that the patient's behavior is culturally influenced. Hispanic women frequently touch
women they consider to be their friends. Although the other options are possible, they are less likely.
A Puerto Rican American patient uses dramatic body language when describing emotional discomfort. Which
analysis most likely explains the patient's behavior? The patient:
a. has a histrionic personality disorder.
b. believes dramatic body language is sexually appealing.
c. wishes to impress staff with the degree of emotional pain.
d. belongs to a culture in which dramatic body language is the norm. - Correct Answer :ANS: D
Members of Hispanic American subcultures tend to use high affect and dramatic body language as they
communicate. The other options are more remote possibilities.
During an interview, a patient attempts to shift the focus from self to the nurse by asking personal questions.
The nurse should respond by saying:
a. "Why do you keep asking about me?"
b. "Nurses direct the interviews with patients."
c. "Do not ask questions about my personal life."
d. "The time we spend together is to discuss your concerns." - Correct Answer :ANS: D
When a patient tries to focus on the nurse, the nurse should refocus the discussion back onto the patient. Telling
the patient that interview time should be used to discuss patient concerns refocuses discussion in a neutral way.
P 3
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Telling patients not to ask about the nurse's personal life shows indignation. Saying that nurses prefer to direct
the interview reflects superiority. "Why" questions are probing and non-therapeutic.
Which principle should guide the nurse in determining the extent of silence to use during patient interview
sessions?
a. A nurse is responsible for breaking silences.
b. Patients withdraw if silences are prolonged.
c. Silence can provide meaningful moments for reflection.
d. Silence helps patients know that what they said was understood. - Correct Answer :ANS: C
Silence can be helpful to both participants by giving each an opportunity to contemplate what has transpired,
weigh alternatives, and formulate ideas. A nurse breaking silences is not a principle related to silences. It is
inaccurate to say that patients withdraw during long silences or that silence helps patients know that they are
understood. Feedback helps patients know they have been understood.
A patient is having difficulty making a decision. The nurse has mixed feelings about whether to provide advice.
Which principle usually applies? Giving advice:
a. is rarely helpful.
b. fosters independence.
c. lifts the burden of personal decision making.
d. helps the patient develop feelings of personal adequacy. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Giving advice fosters dependence on the nurse and interferes with the patient's right to make personal
decisions. It robs patients of the opportunity to weigh alternatives and develop problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, it contributes to patient feelings of personal inadequacy. It also keeps the nurse in control and
feeling powerful.
A school age child tells the school nurse, "Other kids call me mean names and will not sit with me at lunch.
Nobody likes me." Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Just ignore them and they will leave you alone."
b. "You should make friends with other children."
c. "Call them names if they do that to you."
d. "Tell me more about how you feel." - Correct Answer :ANS: D
P 4
Health
Test Bank 4 for Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing A Clinical,
9th Edition by Halter, 9780323697071,
Covering Chapters 1-36 | Includes Rationales
During a one-on-one interaction with the nurse, a patient frequently looks nervously at the door. Select the best
comment by the nurse regarding this nonverbal communication.
a. "I notice you keep looking toward the door."
b. "This is our time together. No one is going to interrupt us."
c. "It looks as if you are eager to end our discussion for today."
d. "If you are uncomfortable in this room, we can move someplace else." –
Correct Answer :ANS: A
P 1
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Making observations and encouraging the patient to describe perceptions are useful therapeutic
communication techniques for this situation. The other responses are assumptions made by the nurse.
A black patient says to a white nurse, "There's no sense talking. You wouldn't understand because you live in a
white world." The nurse's best action would be to:
a. explain, "Yes, I do understand. Everyone goes through the same experiences."
b. say, "Please give an example of something you think I wouldn't understand."
c. reassure the patient that nurses interact with people from all cultures.
d. change the subject to one that is less emotionally disturbing.
- Correct Answer :ANS: B
Having the patient speak in specifics rather than globally will help the nurse understand the patient's
perspective. This approach will help the nurse engage the patient. Reassurance and changing the subject are not
therapeutic techniques.
A Filipino American patient had a nursing diagnosis of situational low self-esteem related to poor social skills as
evidenced by lack of eye contact. Interventions were used to raise the patient's self-esteem, but after 3 weeks,
the patient's eye contact did not improve. What is the most accurate analysis of this scenario?
a. The patient's eye contact should have been directly addressed by role-playing to increase comfort with eye
contact.
b. The nurse should not have independently embarked on assessment, diagnosis, and planning for this patient.
c. The patient's poor eye contact is indicative of anger and hostility that were unaddressed.
d. The nurse should have assessed the patient's culture before making this diagnosis and plan. –
Correct Answer :ANS: D
The amount of eye contact a person engages in is often culturally determined. In some cultures, eye contact is
considered insolent, whereas in others eye contact is expected. Asian Americans, including persons from the
Philippines, often prefer not to engage in direct eye contact.
P 2
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
When a female Mexican American patient and a female nurse sit together, the patient often holds the nurse's
hand. The patient also links arms with the nurse when they walk. The nurse is uncomfortable with this behavior.
Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is accustomed to touch during conversation, as are members of many Hispanic subcultures.
b. The patient understands that touch makes the nurse uncomfortable and controls the relationship based on
that factor.
c. The patient is afraid of being alone. When touching the nurse, the patient is reassured and comforted.
d. The patient is trying to manipulate the nurse using nonverbal techniques. –
Correct Answer :ANS: A
The most likely answer is that the patient's behavior is culturally influenced. Hispanic women frequently touch
women they consider to be their friends. Although the other options are possible, they are less likely.
A Puerto Rican American patient uses dramatic body language when describing emotional discomfort. Which
analysis most likely explains the patient's behavior? The patient:
a. has a histrionic personality disorder.
b. believes dramatic body language is sexually appealing.
c. wishes to impress staff with the degree of emotional pain.
d. belongs to a culture in which dramatic body language is the norm. - Correct Answer :ANS: D
Members of Hispanic American subcultures tend to use high affect and dramatic body language as they
communicate. The other options are more remote possibilities.
During an interview, a patient attempts to shift the focus from self to the nurse by asking personal questions.
The nurse should respond by saying:
a. "Why do you keep asking about me?"
b. "Nurses direct the interviews with patients."
c. "Do not ask questions about my personal life."
d. "The time we spend together is to discuss your concerns." - Correct Answer :ANS: D
When a patient tries to focus on the nurse, the nurse should refocus the discussion back onto the patient. Telling
the patient that interview time should be used to discuss patient concerns refocuses discussion in a neutral way.
P 3
, • Psychiatric Mental 09/07/2026
Health
Telling patients not to ask about the nurse's personal life shows indignation. Saying that nurses prefer to direct
the interview reflects superiority. "Why" questions are probing and non-therapeutic.
Which principle should guide the nurse in determining the extent of silence to use during patient interview
sessions?
a. A nurse is responsible for breaking silences.
b. Patients withdraw if silences are prolonged.
c. Silence can provide meaningful moments for reflection.
d. Silence helps patients know that what they said was understood. - Correct Answer :ANS: C
Silence can be helpful to both participants by giving each an opportunity to contemplate what has transpired,
weigh alternatives, and formulate ideas. A nurse breaking silences is not a principle related to silences. It is
inaccurate to say that patients withdraw during long silences or that silence helps patients know that they are
understood. Feedback helps patients know they have been understood.
A patient is having difficulty making a decision. The nurse has mixed feelings about whether to provide advice.
Which principle usually applies? Giving advice:
a. is rarely helpful.
b. fosters independence.
c. lifts the burden of personal decision making.
d. helps the patient develop feelings of personal adequacy. - Correct Answer :ANS: A
Giving advice fosters dependence on the nurse and interferes with the patient's right to make personal
decisions. It robs patients of the opportunity to weigh alternatives and develop problem-solving skills.
Furthermore, it contributes to patient feelings of personal inadequacy. It also keeps the nurse in control and
feeling powerful.
A school age child tells the school nurse, "Other kids call me mean names and will not sit with me at lunch.
Nobody likes me." Select the nurse's most therapeutic response.
a. "Just ignore them and they will leave you alone."
b. "You should make friends with other children."
c. "Call them names if they do that to you."
d. "Tell me more about how you feel." - Correct Answer :ANS: D
P 4
