NR 326 EXAM 2 -MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|BRAND NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nursing diagnosis that would be most appropriate for a 22-year old client who uses
ritualistic behavior would be:
A. Ineffective coping
B. Impaired adjustment
C. Personal identity disturbance
D. Sensory/perceptual alterations
CORRECT ANSWER
A (Ineffective coping is the impairment of a person's adaptive behaviors and problem-
solving abilities in meeting life's demands; ritualistic behavior fits under this category as
a defining characteristic.)
Question 2
A 20-year old college student has been brought to the psychiatric hospital by her parents.
Her admitting diagnosis is borderline personality disorder. When talking with the parents,
which information would the nurse expect to be included in the client's history? Select all
that apply.
a. Impulsiveness
b. Lability of mood
c. Ritualistic behavior
d. psychomotor retardation
e. Self-destructive behavior
1
,CORRECT ANSWER
ABE
Question 3
A hospitalized client, diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, consistently breaks
the unit's rules. This behavior should be confronted because it will help the client:
A. Control anger
B. Reduce anxiety
C. Set realistic goals
D. Become more self-aware
CORRECT ANSWER
D (Client's must first become aware of their behavior before they can change it. Option C
occurs after the client is aware of the behavior and has a desire to change the behavior.)
Question 4
When working with the nurse during the orientation phase of the relationship, a client
with a borderline personality disorder would probably have the most difficulty in:
A. Controlling anxiety
B. Terminating the session on time
C. Accepting the psychiatric diagnosis
D. Setting mutual goals for the relationship
CORRECT ANSWER
D (Clients with borderline personality disorders frequently demonstrate a pattern of
unstable interpersonal relationships, impulsiveness, affective instability, and frantic
2
, efforts to avoid abandonment; these behaviors usually create great difficulty in
establishing mutual goals.)
Question 5
A client with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder has negative feelings toward
the other clients on the unit and considers them all to be "bad." The nurse understands
this defense is known as:
A. Splitting
B. Ambivalence
C. Passive aggression
D. Reaction formation
CORRECT ANSWER
A (Splitting is the compartmentalization of opposite-affect states and failure to integrate
the positive and negative aspects of self or others.)
Question 6
A person with antisocial personality disorder has difficulty relating to others because of
never having learned to:
A. Count on others
B. Empathize with others
C. Be dependent on others
D. Communicate with others socially
CORRECT ANSWER
B
3
, Question 7
When caring for a client with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder, the nurse
should:
A. Set limits on manipulative behavior
B. Encourage participation in group therapy
C. Respect the client's needs for social isolation
D. Understand that seductive behavior is expected.
CORRECT ANSWER
C (These clients are withdrawn, aloof, and socially distant; allowing distance and
providing support may encourage the eventual development of a therapeutic alliance.
Group therapy would increase this client's anxiety; cognitive or behavioral therapy would
be more appropriate.)
Question 8
A client with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder has been given a day pass from
the psychiatric hospital. The client is due to return at 6pm. At 5pm the client telephones
the nurse in charge of the unit and says "6 o'clock is too early. I feel like coming back at
7:30." The nurse would be most therapeutic by telling the client to:
A. Return immediately, to demonstrate control
B. Return on time or restrictions will be imposed
C. Come back at 6:45, as a compromise to set limits
D. Come back as soon as possible or the police will be sent
CORRECT ANSWER
B (This sets limits, points out reality, and places responsibility for behavior on the client.)
4
|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS
|BRAND NEW 2026-2027 UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
The nursing diagnosis that would be most appropriate for a 22-year old client who uses
ritualistic behavior would be:
A. Ineffective coping
B. Impaired adjustment
C. Personal identity disturbance
D. Sensory/perceptual alterations
CORRECT ANSWER
A (Ineffective coping is the impairment of a person's adaptive behaviors and problem-
solving abilities in meeting life's demands; ritualistic behavior fits under this category as
a defining characteristic.)
Question 2
A 20-year old college student has been brought to the psychiatric hospital by her parents.
Her admitting diagnosis is borderline personality disorder. When talking with the parents,
which information would the nurse expect to be included in the client's history? Select all
that apply.
a. Impulsiveness
b. Lability of mood
c. Ritualistic behavior
d. psychomotor retardation
e. Self-destructive behavior
1
,CORRECT ANSWER
ABE
Question 3
A hospitalized client, diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder, consistently breaks
the unit's rules. This behavior should be confronted because it will help the client:
A. Control anger
B. Reduce anxiety
C. Set realistic goals
D. Become more self-aware
CORRECT ANSWER
D (Client's must first become aware of their behavior before they can change it. Option C
occurs after the client is aware of the behavior and has a desire to change the behavior.)
Question 4
When working with the nurse during the orientation phase of the relationship, a client
with a borderline personality disorder would probably have the most difficulty in:
A. Controlling anxiety
B. Terminating the session on time
C. Accepting the psychiatric diagnosis
D. Setting mutual goals for the relationship
CORRECT ANSWER
D (Clients with borderline personality disorders frequently demonstrate a pattern of
unstable interpersonal relationships, impulsiveness, affective instability, and frantic
2
, efforts to avoid abandonment; these behaviors usually create great difficulty in
establishing mutual goals.)
Question 5
A client with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder has negative feelings toward
the other clients on the unit and considers them all to be "bad." The nurse understands
this defense is known as:
A. Splitting
B. Ambivalence
C. Passive aggression
D. Reaction formation
CORRECT ANSWER
A (Splitting is the compartmentalization of opposite-affect states and failure to integrate
the positive and negative aspects of self or others.)
Question 6
A person with antisocial personality disorder has difficulty relating to others because of
never having learned to:
A. Count on others
B. Empathize with others
C. Be dependent on others
D. Communicate with others socially
CORRECT ANSWER
B
3
, Question 7
When caring for a client with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality disorder, the nurse
should:
A. Set limits on manipulative behavior
B. Encourage participation in group therapy
C. Respect the client's needs for social isolation
D. Understand that seductive behavior is expected.
CORRECT ANSWER
C (These clients are withdrawn, aloof, and socially distant; allowing distance and
providing support may encourage the eventual development of a therapeutic alliance.
Group therapy would increase this client's anxiety; cognitive or behavioral therapy would
be more appropriate.)
Question 8
A client with a diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder has been given a day pass from
the psychiatric hospital. The client is due to return at 6pm. At 5pm the client telephones
the nurse in charge of the unit and says "6 o'clock is too early. I feel like coming back at
7:30." The nurse would be most therapeutic by telling the client to:
A. Return immediately, to demonstrate control
B. Return on time or restrictions will be imposed
C. Come back at 6:45, as a compromise to set limits
D. Come back as soon as possible or the police will be sent
CORRECT ANSWER
B (This sets limits, points out reality, and places responsibility for behavior on the client.)
4
