,NURS 3381 Exam 3 | Psychiatric MH Nursing (2026) Q&A
| University of Texas at Arlington
1. Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in
interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect, along with marked impulsivity?
A) Antisocial personality disorder
B) Borderline personality disorder
C) Narcissistic personality disorder
D) Avoidant personality disorder
Correct Answer: Borderline personality disorder
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is defined by instability in relationships, self-
image, and affect, along with impulsive behaviors such as self-harm. Antisocial personality
disorder involves disregard for others, narcissistic personality disorder involves
grandiosity, and avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition.
2. A patient with antisocial personality disorder is admitted to the psychiatric unit. Which
behavior should the nurse expect?
A) Excessive need for admiration and entitlement
B) Social withdrawal and hypersensitivity to criticism
C) Superficial charm and manipulation of others
D) Perfectionism and rigidity in routines
Correct Answer: Superficial charm and manipulation of others
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by superficial charm,
manipulation, deceitfulness, and a lack of remorse. Excessive need for admiration suggests
,narcissistic personality disorder, social withdrawal suggests avoidant personality disorder,
and perfectionism suggests obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
3. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority for a patient with borderline
personality disorder who has self-inflicted lacerations and states, "I'll kill myself if he
doesn't come back"?
A) Explore the patient's relationship with her boyfriend
B) Set limits on attention-seeking behavior
C) Administer PRN antipsychotic medication
D) Ensure physical safety and initiate suicide precautions
Correct Answer: Ensure physical safety and initiate suicide precautions
Rationale: The priority for any patient with self-harm and suicidal statements is
immediate physical safety. The nurse must assess and treat injuries, initiate suicide
precautions, and maintain close observation. Exploring the relationship, setting limits, or
administering medication are secondary to safety.
4. Which term describes a fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or evidence, such as
the belief that the FBI has implanted a monitoring chip?
A) Hallucination
B) Delusion
C) Obsession
D) Illusion
Correct Answer: Delusion
, Rationale: A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or evidence. A
hallucination is a sensory perception without external stimulus, an obsession is an
intrusive thought, and an illusion is a misinterpretation of real sensory stimuli.
5. A patient reports hearing voices that others cannot hear, commenting on their actions.
Which finding does this represent?
A) Delusion
B) Illusion
C) Auditory hallucination
D) Idea of reference
Correct Answer: Auditory hallucination
Rationale: An auditory hallucination is a sensory perception of sound without an
external stimulus, such as hearing voices commenting on one's actions. A delusion is a fixed
false belief, an illusion is a misinterpretation of real stimuli, and an idea of reference is the
belief that external events have personal significance.
6. Which term describes the six cognitive domains assessed in neurocognitive disorders?
A) Complex attention, executive functioning, learning and memory, language, social
cognition, and perceptual-motor ability
B) Orientation, memory, attention, language, judgment, and insight
C) Mood, affect, thought process, thought content, perception, and cognition
D) Consciousness, arousal, awareness, orientation, memory, and executive function
Correct Answer: Complex attention, executive functioning, learning and memory,
language, social cognition, and perceptual-motor ability
| University of Texas at Arlington
1. Which personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in
interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affect, along with marked impulsivity?
A) Antisocial personality disorder
B) Borderline personality disorder
C) Narcissistic personality disorder
D) Avoidant personality disorder
Correct Answer: Borderline personality disorder
Rationale: Borderline personality disorder is defined by instability in relationships, self-
image, and affect, along with impulsive behaviors such as self-harm. Antisocial personality
disorder involves disregard for others, narcissistic personality disorder involves
grandiosity, and avoidant personality disorder involves social inhibition.
2. A patient with antisocial personality disorder is admitted to the psychiatric unit. Which
behavior should the nurse expect?
A) Excessive need for admiration and entitlement
B) Social withdrawal and hypersensitivity to criticism
C) Superficial charm and manipulation of others
D) Perfectionism and rigidity in routines
Correct Answer: Superficial charm and manipulation of others
Rationale: Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by superficial charm,
manipulation, deceitfulness, and a lack of remorse. Excessive need for admiration suggests
,narcissistic personality disorder, social withdrawal suggests avoidant personality disorder,
and perfectionism suggests obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
3. Which nursing intervention has the highest priority for a patient with borderline
personality disorder who has self-inflicted lacerations and states, "I'll kill myself if he
doesn't come back"?
A) Explore the patient's relationship with her boyfriend
B) Set limits on attention-seeking behavior
C) Administer PRN antipsychotic medication
D) Ensure physical safety and initiate suicide precautions
Correct Answer: Ensure physical safety and initiate suicide precautions
Rationale: The priority for any patient with self-harm and suicidal statements is
immediate physical safety. The nurse must assess and treat injuries, initiate suicide
precautions, and maintain close observation. Exploring the relationship, setting limits, or
administering medication are secondary to safety.
4. Which term describes a fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or evidence, such as
the belief that the FBI has implanted a monitoring chip?
A) Hallucination
B) Delusion
C) Obsession
D) Illusion
Correct Answer: Delusion
, Rationale: A delusion is a fixed, false belief that is resistant to reason or evidence. A
hallucination is a sensory perception without external stimulus, an obsession is an
intrusive thought, and an illusion is a misinterpretation of real sensory stimuli.
5. A patient reports hearing voices that others cannot hear, commenting on their actions.
Which finding does this represent?
A) Delusion
B) Illusion
C) Auditory hallucination
D) Idea of reference
Correct Answer: Auditory hallucination
Rationale: An auditory hallucination is a sensory perception of sound without an
external stimulus, such as hearing voices commenting on one's actions. A delusion is a fixed
false belief, an illusion is a misinterpretation of real stimuli, and an idea of reference is the
belief that external events have personal significance.
6. Which term describes the six cognitive domains assessed in neurocognitive disorders?
A) Complex attention, executive functioning, learning and memory, language, social
cognition, and perceptual-motor ability
B) Orientation, memory, attention, language, judgment, and insight
C) Mood, affect, thought process, thought content, perception, and cognition
D) Consciousness, arousal, awareness, orientation, memory, and executive function
Correct Answer: Complex attention, executive functioning, learning and memory,
language, social cognition, and perceptual-motor ability
