Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Exam Test Bank
Townsend 10th Edition Style – Verified Practice Questions and Rationales (2025–2026)
Complete Study Guide – Questions 1-60
1. A client with major depressive disorder is prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac). Which statement by the
client indicates understanding of the medication?
A) "I should feel better within 2-3 days of starting this medication."
B) "I will avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication."
C) "I can stop taking this medication once I feel better."
D) "This medication will make me feel drowsy all the time."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol should be avoided with SSRIs as it can increase CNS depression and worsen
depression. Antidepressants typically take 2-4 weeks to show therapeutic effects. Medications should not
be stopped abruptly due to risk of discontinuation syndrome. Drowsiness is not a universal side effect of
fluoxetine.
2. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a manic episode. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A) Encourage participation in group activities
B) Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
C) Allow the client to make all decisions independently
D) Engage in lengthy discussions about the client's feelings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients in manic episodes are easily overstimulated. A calm, quiet environment with minimal
stimulation helps reduce agitation. Group activities may be too stimulating. The nurse should set limits and
provide structure while avoiding power struggles.
3. Which assessment finding is most indicative of schizophrenia?
A) Mood swings between depression and elation
B) Auditory hallucinations and delusions
C) Excessive worry about multiple life events
D) Fear of social situations
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) and delusions (false beliefs) are positive symptoms
characteristic of schizophrenia. Mood swings suggest bipolar disorder. Excessive worry indicates
generalized anxiety disorder. Social fear suggests social anxiety disorder.
4. A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine (Clozaril). Which laboratory test requires
regular monitoring?
A) Liver function tests
B) Complete blood count with absolute neutrophil count
C) Thyroid function tests
D) Serum electrolytes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a life-threatening decrease in white blood cells. Weekly to
monthly CBC with ANC monitoring is required. The medication is dispensed only if ANC is within safe
limits. This risk requires enrollment in a registry program.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is the priority for a client with severe depression who expresses
suicidal ideation?
A) Social isolation
B) Risk for suicide
C) Imbalanced nutrition
D) Disturbed sleep pattern
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the priority. Risk for suicide takes precedence over other nursing diagnoses
when suicidal ideation is present. The nurse should implement suicide precautions, maintain close
observation, and remove potentially harmful objects.
6. A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A) Teach deep breathing exercises
B) Stay with the client and speak in a calm voice
C) Administer prescribed anti-anxiety medication
D) Ask the client to identify the trigger
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During a panic attack, the client cannot process complex information. The priority is to provide a
calm, reassuring presence. Teaching and exploration of triggers should occur after the attack subsides.
Medication may be given but presence is the immediate intervention.
, 7. Which medication is commonly used to treat acute alcohol withdrawal?
A) Disulfiram (Antabuse)
B) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
C) Naltrexone (ReVia)
D) Acamprosate (Campral)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines like chlordiazepoxide are the treatment of choice for alcohol withdrawal to
prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Disulfiram causes adverse reactions if alcohol is consumed.
Naltrexone and acamprosate are used for relapse prevention, not acute withdrawal.
8. A client with borderline personality disorder exhibits splitting behavior. Which example
demonstrates this defense mechanism?
A) The client idealizes one staff member and devalues another
B) The client denies having any mental health problems
C) The client projects anger onto the nurse
D) The client rationalizes inappropriate behavior
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Splitting involves viewing people as all good or all bad, with no middle ground. This is
characteristic of borderline personality disorder. The client may idolize one caregiver while completely
devaluing another based on perceived slights.
9. Which statement by a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder indicates the presence of an
obsession?
A) "I wash my hands 20 times a day."
B) "I have intrusive thoughts about germs contaminating my family."
C) "I check the door lock five times before leaving."
D) "I arrange my books in a specific order."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety. Hand
washing, checking, and arranging are compulsions (behaviors performed to reduce anxiety from
obsessions). The thought about germs is the obsession driving the compulsive behavior.
10. A nurse is administering haloperidol (Haldol) to a client with schizophrenia. Which adverse
effect requires immediate intervention?
Townsend 10th Edition Style – Verified Practice Questions and Rationales (2025–2026)
Complete Study Guide – Questions 1-60
1. A client with major depressive disorder is prescribed fluoxetine (Prozac). Which statement by the
client indicates understanding of the medication?
A) "I should feel better within 2-3 days of starting this medication."
B) "I will avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication."
C) "I can stop taking this medication once I feel better."
D) "This medication will make me feel drowsy all the time."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Alcohol should be avoided with SSRIs as it can increase CNS depression and worsen
depression. Antidepressants typically take 2-4 weeks to show therapeutic effects. Medications should not
be stopped abruptly due to risk of discontinuation syndrome. Drowsiness is not a universal side effect of
fluoxetine.
2. A nurse is caring for a client experiencing a manic episode. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A) Encourage participation in group activities
B) Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
C) Allow the client to make all decisions independently
D) Engage in lengthy discussions about the client's feelings
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients in manic episodes are easily overstimulated. A calm, quiet environment with minimal
stimulation helps reduce agitation. Group activities may be too stimulating. The nurse should set limits and
provide structure while avoiding power struggles.
3. Which assessment finding is most indicative of schizophrenia?
A) Mood swings between depression and elation
B) Auditory hallucinations and delusions
C) Excessive worry about multiple life events
D) Fear of social situations
Correct Answer: B
,Rationale: Auditory hallucinations (hearing voices) and delusions (false beliefs) are positive symptoms
characteristic of schizophrenia. Mood swings suggest bipolar disorder. Excessive worry indicates
generalized anxiety disorder. Social fear suggests social anxiety disorder.
4. A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine (Clozaril). Which laboratory test requires
regular monitoring?
A) Liver function tests
B) Complete blood count with absolute neutrophil count
C) Thyroid function tests
D) Serum electrolytes
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a life-threatening decrease in white blood cells. Weekly to
monthly CBC with ANC monitoring is required. The medication is dispensed only if ANC is within safe
limits. This risk requires enrollment in a registry program.
5. Which nursing diagnosis is the priority for a client with severe depression who expresses
suicidal ideation?
A) Social isolation
B) Risk for suicide
C) Imbalanced nutrition
D) Disturbed sleep pattern
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Safety is always the priority. Risk for suicide takes precedence over other nursing diagnoses
when suicidal ideation is present. The nurse should implement suicide precautions, maintain close
observation, and remove potentially harmful objects.
6. A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which intervention should the nurse implement first?
A) Teach deep breathing exercises
B) Stay with the client and speak in a calm voice
C) Administer prescribed anti-anxiety medication
D) Ask the client to identify the trigger
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: During a panic attack, the client cannot process complex information. The priority is to provide a
calm, reassuring presence. Teaching and exploration of triggers should occur after the attack subsides.
Medication may be given but presence is the immediate intervention.
, 7. Which medication is commonly used to treat acute alcohol withdrawal?
A) Disulfiram (Antabuse)
B) Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
C) Naltrexone (ReVia)
D) Acamprosate (Campral)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Benzodiazepines like chlordiazepoxide are the treatment of choice for alcohol withdrawal to
prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Disulfiram causes adverse reactions if alcohol is consumed.
Naltrexone and acamprosate are used for relapse prevention, not acute withdrawal.
8. A client with borderline personality disorder exhibits splitting behavior. Which example
demonstrates this defense mechanism?
A) The client idealizes one staff member and devalues another
B) The client denies having any mental health problems
C) The client projects anger onto the nurse
D) The client rationalizes inappropriate behavior
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Splitting involves viewing people as all good or all bad, with no middle ground. This is
characteristic of borderline personality disorder. The client may idolize one caregiver while completely
devaluing another based on perceived slights.
9. Which statement by a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder indicates the presence of an
obsession?
A) "I wash my hands 20 times a day."
B) "I have intrusive thoughts about germs contaminating my family."
C) "I check the door lock five times before leaving."
D) "I arrange my books in a specific order."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Obsessions are intrusive, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause anxiety. Hand
washing, checking, and arranging are compulsions (behaviors performed to reduce anxiety from
obsessions). The thought about germs is the obsession driving the compulsive behavior.
10. A nurse is administering haloperidol (Haldol) to a client with schizophrenia. Which adverse
effect requires immediate intervention?
