• Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
Test Bank Foundations of Mental Health Care 8th
Edition Morrison Valfre | 9780323810296 | All
Chapters with Answers and Rationals
A nurse is interacting with a depressed, suicidal client. What themes in the client's conversation are of most
concern to the nurse? Select all that apply.
1
Power
2
Betrayal
3
Loneliness
4
Hopelessness
5
Indecisiveness - Correct Answer :34
P 1
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
Loneliness and a sense of isolation may play a role in the intent to commit suicide. A real or perceived lack of
support increases the risk for suicide because there is no "lifeline of caring." The main factor leading to acting-
out on suicidal impulses is the feeling of hopelessness; there are no longer reasons to live. The struggle for
power and dominance is more commonly encountered in the verbalizations of clients with paranoid
schizophrenia. Betrayal is a feeling more often verbalized by clients with a diagnosis of a borderline personality
disorder. An indecisive individual usually will not make the decision to commit suicide.
What assessment of a group member does the nurse use to identify the emotional-informal leader of the group?
1
Reflects the feeling tone of the group
2
Designates the roles within the group
3
Has an authoritarian role within the group
4
Selects those who are to be members of the group - Correct Answer :1
By sensing, supporting, and verbalizing the emotional feelings of others, an individual emerges as the leader. The
group members designate roles themselves. An authoritarian role is filled by many group leaders, but it does not
permit focus on emotions or feelings. Selection of group members may be done by many people in various ways.
A client with an antisocial personality disorder is being admitted to a mental health unit. What information
should the nurse include in this initial interview?
1
The unit's usual routines and rules
2
The language that is acceptable on the unit
3
A detailed explanation of the client's role on the unit
4
A list of the unit's staff members and their responsibilities - Correct Answer :1
Providing the routines and rules will foster a feeling of security because the client will know what to expect and
that the environment will be safe. Telling the client what language is inappropriate and may increase the client's
anxiety and serve little purpose; necessary limits should be individually set when needed. A detailed explanation
P 2
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
of the client's expected role is inappropriate and may increase the client's anxiety; there is no one prototype of a
client's role. Providing a list of staff members and their responsibilities is inappropriate and may be somewhat
overwhelming; the client should be introduced to the staff at the beginning of their interactions.
An extremely anxious client enters a crisis center and asks a nurse for help. Which initial response best reflects
the nurse's role in crisis intervention?
1
"Tell me what you've done to help yourself."
2
"I'll be here for you to help you figure things out."
3
"I understand that in the past you've had problems."
4
"Tell me about the things that are bothering you the most." - Correct Answer :2
Clients in crisis need assistance with coping; the nurse must be involved with problem solving. Clients in crisis
initially need to trust the nurse. Telling the client that the they are there to help develops trust. Although asking
what the client has done to help himself, telling the client a positive interview statement, this does not focus on
the nurse's involvement with problem solving.
A client tells a mental health nurse about hearing a man speaking from the corner of the room. The client asks
whether the nurse hears him, too. What is the nurse's best response?
1
"What is he saying to you? Does it make any sense?"
2
"No one is in the corner of the room. Can't you see that?"
3
"Yes, I hear him, but I can't understand what he's saying."
4
"No, I don't hear him, but it probably upsets you to hear him."
- Correct Answer :4
P 3
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
The statement "No, I don't hear him, but it probably upsets you to hear him" points out reality, recognizes the
client's feelings, and prevents the nurse from becoming involved in the client's hallucination. The response
"What is he saying to you? Does it make any sense?" is nontherapeutic; it supports and focuses on the
hallucination. The response "No one is in the corner of the room. Can't you see that?" is an attempt to argue the
client out of feelings by denying they exist. The response "Yes, I hear him, but I can't understand what he is
saying" is nontherapeutic; it supports and focuses on the hallucination.
A nurse is administering hydroxyzine (Vistaril) to a client. For which common side effects of this drug should the
nurse monitor the client?
1
Ataxia and confusion
2
Drowsiness and dry mouth
3
Vertigo and impaired vision
4
Slurred speech and headache –
Correct Answer :2
This drug suppresses activity in key regions of the subcortical area of the central nervous system; it also has
antihistaminic and anticholinergic effects. Ataxia and confusion, vertigo and impaired vision, and slurred speech
and headache are not associated with hydroxyzine.
What is the most therapeutic nursing intervention to help a late-middle-aged individual cope with the emotional
aspects of aging?
1
Focusing on the individual's past experiences
2
Having the individual attend lectures on aging
3
Encouraging the individual to focus on his or her career
4
P 4
Test Bank Foundations of Mental Health Care 8th
Edition Morrison Valfre | 9780323810296 | All
Chapters with Answers and Rationals
A nurse is interacting with a depressed, suicidal client. What themes in the client's conversation are of most
concern to the nurse? Select all that apply.
1
Power
2
Betrayal
3
Loneliness
4
Hopelessness
5
Indecisiveness - Correct Answer :34
P 1
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
Loneliness and a sense of isolation may play a role in the intent to commit suicide. A real or perceived lack of
support increases the risk for suicide because there is no "lifeline of caring." The main factor leading to acting-
out on suicidal impulses is the feeling of hopelessness; there are no longer reasons to live. The struggle for
power and dominance is more commonly encountered in the verbalizations of clients with paranoid
schizophrenia. Betrayal is a feeling more often verbalized by clients with a diagnosis of a borderline personality
disorder. An indecisive individual usually will not make the decision to commit suicide.
What assessment of a group member does the nurse use to identify the emotional-informal leader of the group?
1
Reflects the feeling tone of the group
2
Designates the roles within the group
3
Has an authoritarian role within the group
4
Selects those who are to be members of the group - Correct Answer :1
By sensing, supporting, and verbalizing the emotional feelings of others, an individual emerges as the leader. The
group members designate roles themselves. An authoritarian role is filled by many group leaders, but it does not
permit focus on emotions or feelings. Selection of group members may be done by many people in various ways.
A client with an antisocial personality disorder is being admitted to a mental health unit. What information
should the nurse include in this initial interview?
1
The unit's usual routines and rules
2
The language that is acceptable on the unit
3
A detailed explanation of the client's role on the unit
4
A list of the unit's staff members and their responsibilities - Correct Answer :1
Providing the routines and rules will foster a feeling of security because the client will know what to expect and
that the environment will be safe. Telling the client what language is inappropriate and may increase the client's
anxiety and serve little purpose; necessary limits should be individually set when needed. A detailed explanation
P 2
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
of the client's expected role is inappropriate and may increase the client's anxiety; there is no one prototype of a
client's role. Providing a list of staff members and their responsibilities is inappropriate and may be somewhat
overwhelming; the client should be introduced to the staff at the beginning of their interactions.
An extremely anxious client enters a crisis center and asks a nurse for help. Which initial response best reflects
the nurse's role in crisis intervention?
1
"Tell me what you've done to help yourself."
2
"I'll be here for you to help you figure things out."
3
"I understand that in the past you've had problems."
4
"Tell me about the things that are bothering you the most." - Correct Answer :2
Clients in crisis need assistance with coping; the nurse must be involved with problem solving. Clients in crisis
initially need to trust the nurse. Telling the client that the they are there to help develops trust. Although asking
what the client has done to help himself, telling the client a positive interview statement, this does not focus on
the nurse's involvement with problem solving.
A client tells a mental health nurse about hearing a man speaking from the corner of the room. The client asks
whether the nurse hears him, too. What is the nurse's best response?
1
"What is he saying to you? Does it make any sense?"
2
"No one is in the corner of the room. Can't you see that?"
3
"Yes, I hear him, but I can't understand what he's saying."
4
"No, I don't hear him, but it probably upsets you to hear him."
- Correct Answer :4
P 3
, • Mental Health Care 09/15/2026
The statement "No, I don't hear him, but it probably upsets you to hear him" points out reality, recognizes the
client's feelings, and prevents the nurse from becoming involved in the client's hallucination. The response
"What is he saying to you? Does it make any sense?" is nontherapeutic; it supports and focuses on the
hallucination. The response "No one is in the corner of the room. Can't you see that?" is an attempt to argue the
client out of feelings by denying they exist. The response "Yes, I hear him, but I can't understand what he is
saying" is nontherapeutic; it supports and focuses on the hallucination.
A nurse is administering hydroxyzine (Vistaril) to a client. For which common side effects of this drug should the
nurse monitor the client?
1
Ataxia and confusion
2
Drowsiness and dry mouth
3
Vertigo and impaired vision
4
Slurred speech and headache –
Correct Answer :2
This drug suppresses activity in key regions of the subcortical area of the central nervous system; it also has
antihistaminic and anticholinergic effects. Ataxia and confusion, vertigo and impaired vision, and slurred speech
and headache are not associated with hydroxyzine.
What is the most therapeutic nursing intervention to help a late-middle-aged individual cope with the emotional
aspects of aging?
1
Focusing on the individual's past experiences
2
Having the individual attend lectures on aging
3
Encouraging the individual to focus on his or her career
4
P 4
