NSG 3450 Mental Health Exam 1 Questions and
Correct Answers with Rationales | New 2026-2027
Update | Galen College of Nursing
Chapter 1: Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Question 1. When providing respectful, appropriate nursing care, how should
the nurse identify the patient and his or her observable characteristics?
a. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
b. The patient in room 234 is a 45-year-old male with bipolar disorder
c. The patient in room 234 is a manic-depressive patient
d. The patient in room 234 is displaying psychotic behavior
Correct Answer: a. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Rationale: Identifying patients by their observable behavior rather than by their
diagnosis or judgmental labels is respectful and person-centered. It avoids
stigmatization and focuses on the patient's current presentation.
Question 2. Recognizing the frequency of depression among the American
population, the nurse should advocate for which mental health promotion
intervention?
a. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and teenage students
b. Increasing the number of inpatient psychiatric beds
c. Developing new antidepressant medications
d. Restricting access to social media for adolescents
Correct Answer: a. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and
teenage students
Rationale: Depression is common among adolescents. Early identification
through screening allows for timely intervention and prevention of worsening
symptoms.
,Question 3. Which statement made by a patient demonstrates a healthy degree
of resilience? Select all that apply.
a. "I try to remember not to take other people's bad moods personally."
b. "I've learned to calm down before trying to defend my opinions."
c. "I know that discussing issues with my boss would help me get my point
across."
d. "I avoid all stressful situations to prevent anxiety."
e. "I blame others when things go wrong in my life."
Correct Answer: a, b, c
Rationale: Resilience involves adaptive coping, emotional regulation, and
effective communication. Avoiding all stress and blaming others are maladaptive
responses.
Question 4. Which statement demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the
effect of environmental factors on a patient's mental health?
a. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
b. "The patient's genes determine their mental health."
c. "Mental illness is purely a chemical imbalance."
d. "Environment has no impact on mental health."
Correct Answer: a. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
Rationale: Recognizing the need to understand the patient's cultural background
demonstrates awareness that environmental and cultural factors influence mental
health and expression of distress.
Question 5. When considering stigmatization, which statement made by the
nurse demonstrates a need for immediate intervention by the nurse manager?
a. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with alcohol use."
b. "I need to learn more about this patient's cultural beliefs."
,c. "Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of background."
d. "I should avoid making assumptions about patients."
Correct Answer: a. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with
alcohol use."
Rationale: This statement reflects a harmful cultural stereotype that contributes
to stigmatization. It requires immediate intervention and education.
Question 6. A nursing student new to psychiatric-mental health nursing asks a
peer what resources he can use to figure out which symptoms are present in a
specific psychiatric disorder. The best answer would be?
a. DSM
b. ICD
c. Nursing diagnosis handbook
d. Medical-surgical textbook
Correct Answer: a. DSM
Rationale: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the
authoritative guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders and identifying their
symptoms.
Question 7. Epidemiological studies contribute to improvements in care for
individuals with mental disorders by: Select all that apply.
a. Identifying risk factors that contribute to the development of a disorder
b. Identifying which individuals will respond favorably to a specific treatment
c. Determining the prevalence of mental disorders in a population
d. Establishing cause-and-effect relationships
Correct Answer: a, b
Rationale: Epidemiological studies identify risk factors and predict treatment
response. They also describe prevalence but do not establish cause-and-effect.
, Question 8. Which of the following activities would be considered nursing care
and appropriate to be performed by a basic level nurse for a patient suffering
from mental illness?
a. Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
b. Conducting psychotherapy sessions
c. Prescribing psychotropic medications
d. Performing electroconvulsive therapy
Correct Answer: a. Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
Rationale: Basic-level nurses can teach coping skills. Psychotherapy, prescribing,
and ECT are advanced practice interventions.
Question 9. Which statement about mental illness is true?
a. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the
groups defining it.
b. Mental illness is a static condition that does not change over time.
c. Mental illness is universally defined the same way across all cultures.
d. Mental illness is solely determined by biological factors.
Correct Answer: a. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political
systems, and the groups defining it.
Rationale: Definitions of mental illness are socially constructed and vary across
cultures, historical periods, and political contexts.
Question 10. The World Health Organization describes health as "a state of
complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity." Which statement is true in regard to overall health? Select
all that apply.
a. Poor physical health can lead to mental distress and disorders.
b. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
c. Mental health is independent of physical health.
d. Social well-being has no impact on health.
Correct Answers with Rationales | New 2026-2027
Update | Galen College of Nursing
Chapter 1: Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Question 1. When providing respectful, appropriate nursing care, how should
the nurse identify the patient and his or her observable characteristics?
a. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
b. The patient in room 234 is a 45-year-old male with bipolar disorder
c. The patient in room 234 is a manic-depressive patient
d. The patient in room 234 is displaying psychotic behavior
Correct Answer: a. The patient in room 234 is displaying manic behavior
Rationale: Identifying patients by their observable behavior rather than by their
diagnosis or judgmental labels is respectful and person-centered. It avoids
stigmatization and focuses on the patient's current presentation.
Question 2. Recognizing the frequency of depression among the American
population, the nurse should advocate for which mental health promotion
intervention?
a. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and teenage students
b. Increasing the number of inpatient psychiatric beds
c. Developing new antidepressant medications
d. Restricting access to social media for adolescents
Correct Answer: a. Providing regular depression screening for adolescent and
teenage students
Rationale: Depression is common among adolescents. Early identification
through screening allows for timely intervention and prevention of worsening
symptoms.
,Question 3. Which statement made by a patient demonstrates a healthy degree
of resilience? Select all that apply.
a. "I try to remember not to take other people's bad moods personally."
b. "I've learned to calm down before trying to defend my opinions."
c. "I know that discussing issues with my boss would help me get my point
across."
d. "I avoid all stressful situations to prevent anxiety."
e. "I blame others when things go wrong in my life."
Correct Answer: a, b, c
Rationale: Resilience involves adaptive coping, emotional regulation, and
effective communication. Avoiding all stress and blaming others are maladaptive
responses.
Question 4. Which statement demonstrates the nurse's understanding of the
effect of environmental factors on a patient's mental health?
a. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
b. "The patient's genes determine their mental health."
c. "Mental illness is purely a chemical imbalance."
d. "Environment has no impact on mental health."
Correct Answer: a. "I'm not familiar with the patient's cultural view on suicide."
Rationale: Recognizing the need to understand the patient's cultural background
demonstrates awareness that environmental and cultural factors influence mental
health and expression of distress.
Question 5. When considering stigmatization, which statement made by the
nurse demonstrates a need for immediate intervention by the nurse manager?
a. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with alcohol use."
b. "I need to learn more about this patient's cultural beliefs."
,c. "Mental illness can affect anyone regardless of background."
d. "I should avoid making assumptions about patients."
Correct Answer: a. "My experience has been that the Irish have a problem with
alcohol use."
Rationale: This statement reflects a harmful cultural stereotype that contributes
to stigmatization. It requires immediate intervention and education.
Question 6. A nursing student new to psychiatric-mental health nursing asks a
peer what resources he can use to figure out which symptoms are present in a
specific psychiatric disorder. The best answer would be?
a. DSM
b. ICD
c. Nursing diagnosis handbook
d. Medical-surgical textbook
Correct Answer: a. DSM
Rationale: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the
authoritative guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders and identifying their
symptoms.
Question 7. Epidemiological studies contribute to improvements in care for
individuals with mental disorders by: Select all that apply.
a. Identifying risk factors that contribute to the development of a disorder
b. Identifying which individuals will respond favorably to a specific treatment
c. Determining the prevalence of mental disorders in a population
d. Establishing cause-and-effect relationships
Correct Answer: a, b
Rationale: Epidemiological studies identify risk factors and predict treatment
response. They also describe prevalence but do not establish cause-and-effect.
, Question 8. Which of the following activities would be considered nursing care
and appropriate to be performed by a basic level nurse for a patient suffering
from mental illness?
a. Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
b. Conducting psychotherapy sessions
c. Prescribing psychotropic medications
d. Performing electroconvulsive therapy
Correct Answer: a. Teaching coping skills for a specific family dynamic
Rationale: Basic-level nurses can teach coping skills. Psychotherapy, prescribing,
and ECT are advanced practice interventions.
Question 9. Which statement about mental illness is true?
a. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political systems, and the
groups defining it.
b. Mental illness is a static condition that does not change over time.
c. Mental illness is universally defined the same way across all cultures.
d. Mental illness is solely determined by biological factors.
Correct Answer: a. Mental illness changes with culture, time in history, political
systems, and the groups defining it.
Rationale: Definitions of mental illness are socially constructed and vary across
cultures, historical periods, and political contexts.
Question 10. The World Health Organization describes health as "a state of
complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity." Which statement is true in regard to overall health? Select
all that apply.
a. Poor physical health can lead to mental distress and disorders.
b. There is a strong relationship between physical health and mental health.
c. Mental health is independent of physical health.
d. Social well-being has no impact on health.
