MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2 REVIEW QUESTIONS VARCAROLIS
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A.
The patient's comments indicate problems with use of leisure time. Recreational activities
improve emotional, physical, cognitive, and social well-being. A recreational
therapist is the best member of the treatment team to provide these services. - ANS✔✔ A
patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the community mental health nurse, "I
usually spend all day watching television. If there's nothing good to watch, I just sleep or think
about my problems."
a. Refer the patient for counseling with a recreational therapist.
b. Ask the patient, "What kinds of program do you like to watch?"
c. Suggest to the patient, "Are there some friends you could call instead?"
d. Advise the patient, "Watching television and thinking about problems makes depression
worse."
C.
Begins with a medical assessment to rule out or consider co-occurring/comorbid conditions. -
ANS✔✔ The nurse admits a patient experiencing hallucinations and delusional thinking to an
inpatient mental health unit. The plan of care will require which service occurs first?
a. Social history
b. Psychiatric history
c. Medical assessment
d. Psychological evaluation
D.
Safety is a key consideration in selection of activities. The correct response identifies an activity
likely to appeal to the population but without physical contact between patients or equipment,
which may be associated with injury. - ANS✔✔ A nurse working in an acute care unit for
,adolescents diagnosed with mental illness says, "Our patients have so much energy. We need
some physical activities for them." In recognition of needs for safety and exercise, which activity
could the treatment team approve?
a. Badminton tournament
b. Competitive soccer matches
c. Intramural basketball games
d. Line dancing to popular music
A.
Mental health parity refers to third-party (insurance) coverage of care for mental illness and
addictions similarly to care of physical illness. Federal and state legislation apply, but coverage
varies by state. Some states offer full parity for mental illness insurance coverage. - ANS✔✔ As
Election Day nears, a mental health nurse studies the position statements of various candidates
for federal offices. Which candidate's commentary would the nurse interpret as supportive of
services for persons diagnosed with mental illness?
a. "Full parity insurance coverage for mental illness"
b. "Coverage for biologically based mental illnesses"
c. "Reimbursement for initial treatment of addictions"
d. "Managed care oversight for mental illness services"
C.
The nurse's skills from the medical unit will be valuable, but this nurse will need to expand his
or her skill set to effectively care for a psychiatric population. Working with an experienced
psychiatric nurse will provide opportunities for learning. - ANS✔✔ An experienced nurse in a
major medical center requests a transfer from a general medical unit to an acute care
psychiatric unit. Which organizational feature would best support this nurse's successful
transition?
a. Assignment to medication administration for the first 6 months
b. Working with a seasoned mental health technician for the first month
c. Co-assignment with a knowledgeable psychiatric nurse for an extended orientation
, d. Staff development activities focused on developing therapeutic communication skills
B.
Eustress is beneficial stress that will help the couple to focus, problem solve, and successfully
plan their wedding. - ANS✔✔ A mature, professional couple plans a large wedding in a city 100
miles from their home. Which response is most likely to be associated with this experience? .
a. Distress
b. Eustress
c. Acute stress
d. Depersonalization
A.
Yoga and other physical activities can be effective ways to manage stress. These activities
deepen breathing, relieve muscle tension, and can elevate levels of the body's own endorphins,
which induces a sense of well-being. - ANS✔✔ A college student has been experiencing
significant stress associated with academic demands. Last month, the student began attending
yoga sessions three times a week. Which outcome indicates this activity has been successful?
a. The student reports improved feelings of well-being. b. The student increases use of caffeine
to enhance concentration.
c. The student reports, "Now I am sleeping about 10 hours every day."
d. The student says, "I withdrew from two courses to reduce my academic load."
D.
The scenario suggests that the spouse has experienced the effects of long-term stress. When
stress is prolonged, the body stays alert. Chemicals produced by the stress response can have
damaging effects on the body, causing physical diseases. While all of the actions may be
indicated, obtaining a health assessment from the primary care provider has the first priority. -
ANS✔✔ An adult required a heart transplant 5 years ago. Multiple medical complications
followed, resulting in persistent irritability, depression, and insomnia. The adult's spouse says,
"I've walked on eggshells for five years, never knowing when something else will go wrong."
What is the nurse's priority intervention regarding the spouse?
STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
A.
The patient's comments indicate problems with use of leisure time. Recreational activities
improve emotional, physical, cognitive, and social well-being. A recreational
therapist is the best member of the treatment team to provide these services. - ANS✔✔ A
patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder tells the community mental health nurse, "I
usually spend all day watching television. If there's nothing good to watch, I just sleep or think
about my problems."
a. Refer the patient for counseling with a recreational therapist.
b. Ask the patient, "What kinds of program do you like to watch?"
c. Suggest to the patient, "Are there some friends you could call instead?"
d. Advise the patient, "Watching television and thinking about problems makes depression
worse."
C.
Begins with a medical assessment to rule out or consider co-occurring/comorbid conditions. -
ANS✔✔ The nurse admits a patient experiencing hallucinations and delusional thinking to an
inpatient mental health unit. The plan of care will require which service occurs first?
a. Social history
b. Psychiatric history
c. Medical assessment
d. Psychological evaluation
D.
Safety is a key consideration in selection of activities. The correct response identifies an activity
likely to appeal to the population but without physical contact between patients or equipment,
which may be associated with injury. - ANS✔✔ A nurse working in an acute care unit for
,adolescents diagnosed with mental illness says, "Our patients have so much energy. We need
some physical activities for them." In recognition of needs for safety and exercise, which activity
could the treatment team approve?
a. Badminton tournament
b. Competitive soccer matches
c. Intramural basketball games
d. Line dancing to popular music
A.
Mental health parity refers to third-party (insurance) coverage of care for mental illness and
addictions similarly to care of physical illness. Federal and state legislation apply, but coverage
varies by state. Some states offer full parity for mental illness insurance coverage. - ANS✔✔ As
Election Day nears, a mental health nurse studies the position statements of various candidates
for federal offices. Which candidate's commentary would the nurse interpret as supportive of
services for persons diagnosed with mental illness?
a. "Full parity insurance coverage for mental illness"
b. "Coverage for biologically based mental illnesses"
c. "Reimbursement for initial treatment of addictions"
d. "Managed care oversight for mental illness services"
C.
The nurse's skills from the medical unit will be valuable, but this nurse will need to expand his
or her skill set to effectively care for a psychiatric population. Working with an experienced
psychiatric nurse will provide opportunities for learning. - ANS✔✔ An experienced nurse in a
major medical center requests a transfer from a general medical unit to an acute care
psychiatric unit. Which organizational feature would best support this nurse's successful
transition?
a. Assignment to medication administration for the first 6 months
b. Working with a seasoned mental health technician for the first month
c. Co-assignment with a knowledgeable psychiatric nurse for an extended orientation
, d. Staff development activities focused on developing therapeutic communication skills
B.
Eustress is beneficial stress that will help the couple to focus, problem solve, and successfully
plan their wedding. - ANS✔✔ A mature, professional couple plans a large wedding in a city 100
miles from their home. Which response is most likely to be associated with this experience? .
a. Distress
b. Eustress
c. Acute stress
d. Depersonalization
A.
Yoga and other physical activities can be effective ways to manage stress. These activities
deepen breathing, relieve muscle tension, and can elevate levels of the body's own endorphins,
which induces a sense of well-being. - ANS✔✔ A college student has been experiencing
significant stress associated with academic demands. Last month, the student began attending
yoga sessions three times a week. Which outcome indicates this activity has been successful?
a. The student reports improved feelings of well-being. b. The student increases use of caffeine
to enhance concentration.
c. The student reports, "Now I am sleeping about 10 hours every day."
d. The student says, "I withdrew from two courses to reduce my academic load."
D.
The scenario suggests that the spouse has experienced the effects of long-term stress. When
stress is prolonged, the body stays alert. Chemicals produced by the stress response can have
damaging effects on the body, causing physical diseases. While all of the actions may be
indicated, obtaining a health assessment from the primary care provider has the first priority. -
ANS✔✔ An adult required a heart transplant 5 years ago. Multiple medical complications
followed, resulting in persistent irritability, depression, and insomnia. The adult's spouse says,
"I've walked on eggshells for five years, never knowing when something else will go wrong."
What is the nurse's priority intervention regarding the spouse?
