,NSG 2510 Exam 3 Mental Health Nursing Questions And Answers
2026/2027 South College
Q1. A 23-year-old client has experienced auditory hallucinations,
disorganized speech, social withdrawal, and declining occupational
functioning for eight months. The client has no history of a major
mood episode or substance-related explanation. Which disorder is
most consistent with this presentation?
A) Brief psychotic disorder
B) Schizophreniform disorder
C) Delusional disorder
D) Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: D) Schizophrenia
Rationale: Schizophrenia involves characteristic psychotic symptoms and
functional deterioration, with continuous signs of illness lasting at least six
months, including at least one month of active-phase symptoms unless
successfully treated. The diagnosis also requires evaluating mood disorders,
substances, and medical causes of psychosis.
Q2. A client reports hearing two voices discussing the client's
behavior even though no one is present. Which psychiatric symptom
is demonstrated?
A) Auditory hallucination
B) Thought insertion
C) Depersonalization
D) Illusion
Correct Answer: A) Auditory hallucination
Rationale: An auditory hallucination is a perception of sound without a
corresponding external stimulus. Voices commenting on or discussing the
client are examples. Assessment should address frequency, content,
emotional impact, insight, and potential commands involving harm.
Q3. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia remains socially
withdrawn, speaks very little, and displays limited facial expression
,even after hallucinations improve. Which symptom category best
describes these findings?
A) Positive symptoms
B) Negative symptoms
C) Dissociative symptoms
D) Obsessive symptoms
Correct Answer: B) Negative symptoms
Rationale: Negative symptoms involve reductions in normal emotional
expression, motivation, speech, pleasure, or social engagement. Common
examples include diminished emotional expression, alogia, avolition,
anhedonia, and asociality. These symptoms often contribute substantially to
functional impairment.
Q4. A client experiencing psychosis states, "The television is
reading my thoughts, and the presenters are responding directly to
what I think." Which assessment finding is most relevant?
A) Compulsive checking
B) Flight of ideas
C) Delusions involving thought broadcasting and personal reference
D) Dissociative amnesia
Correct Answer: C) Delusions involving thought broadcasting and personal
reference
Rationale: Thought broadcasting is a belief that one's thoughts are accessible
to others. Delusions of reference involve interpreting ordinary
communications as personally directed messages. The nurse should assess
distress, conviction, functioning, and safety without validating the beliefs.
Q5. A client with schizophrenia believes meals are poisoned and has
refused food and fluids for 24 hours. Which nursing action takes
priority?
A) Assess hydration and nutritional status, maintain safety, and offer
acceptable food and fluids while obtaining timely clinical evaluation.
B) Insist that the client eat the same meal without discussing concerns.
, C) Confirm that the meals have been poisoned.
D) Delay intervention until the delusion disappears.
Correct Answer: A) Assess hydration and nutritional status, maintain safety,
and offer acceptable food and fluids while obtaining timely clinical
evaluation.
Rationale: Persecutory beliefs can interfere with essential nutrition and
hydration. Nursing priorities include assessing physiological stability,
avoiding arguments about delusions, and finding practical ways to support
intake, such as offering unopened food when appropriate.
Q6. A client states, "The hospital security cameras are controlling
my movements through signals hidden in the walls." Which nursing
response is most therapeutic?
A) "I agree that the cameras are controlling you."
B) "That idea is ridiculous, and you must stop discussing it."
C) "There is no reason to be afraid because nothing can ever happen."
D) "That sounds frightening. I don't have evidence that the cameras control
you, but I want to understand how this is affecting you."
Correct Answer: D) "That sounds frightening. I don't have evidence that the
cameras control you, but I want to understand how this is affecting you."
Rationale: Therapeutic communication acknowledges emotional distress
without reinforcing delusions. Calmly presenting reality and exploring the
client's experience can maintain rapport while supporting safety and
reducing confrontation.
Q7. A client taking an antipsychotic begins experiencing repetitive
lip smacking, tongue movements, and involuntary chewing motions
after several months of treatment. Which condition should be
suspected?
A) Acute dystonia
B) Tardive dyskinesia
C) Serotonin syndrome
D) Absence seizure
Correct Answer: B) Tardive dyskinesia
2026/2027 South College
Q1. A 23-year-old client has experienced auditory hallucinations,
disorganized speech, social withdrawal, and declining occupational
functioning for eight months. The client has no history of a major
mood episode or substance-related explanation. Which disorder is
most consistent with this presentation?
A) Brief psychotic disorder
B) Schizophreniform disorder
C) Delusional disorder
D) Schizophrenia
Correct Answer: D) Schizophrenia
Rationale: Schizophrenia involves characteristic psychotic symptoms and
functional deterioration, with continuous signs of illness lasting at least six
months, including at least one month of active-phase symptoms unless
successfully treated. The diagnosis also requires evaluating mood disorders,
substances, and medical causes of psychosis.
Q2. A client reports hearing two voices discussing the client's
behavior even though no one is present. Which psychiatric symptom
is demonstrated?
A) Auditory hallucination
B) Thought insertion
C) Depersonalization
D) Illusion
Correct Answer: A) Auditory hallucination
Rationale: An auditory hallucination is a perception of sound without a
corresponding external stimulus. Voices commenting on or discussing the
client are examples. Assessment should address frequency, content,
emotional impact, insight, and potential commands involving harm.
Q3. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia remains socially
withdrawn, speaks very little, and displays limited facial expression
,even after hallucinations improve. Which symptom category best
describes these findings?
A) Positive symptoms
B) Negative symptoms
C) Dissociative symptoms
D) Obsessive symptoms
Correct Answer: B) Negative symptoms
Rationale: Negative symptoms involve reductions in normal emotional
expression, motivation, speech, pleasure, or social engagement. Common
examples include diminished emotional expression, alogia, avolition,
anhedonia, and asociality. These symptoms often contribute substantially to
functional impairment.
Q4. A client experiencing psychosis states, "The television is
reading my thoughts, and the presenters are responding directly to
what I think." Which assessment finding is most relevant?
A) Compulsive checking
B) Flight of ideas
C) Delusions involving thought broadcasting and personal reference
D) Dissociative amnesia
Correct Answer: C) Delusions involving thought broadcasting and personal
reference
Rationale: Thought broadcasting is a belief that one's thoughts are accessible
to others. Delusions of reference involve interpreting ordinary
communications as personally directed messages. The nurse should assess
distress, conviction, functioning, and safety without validating the beliefs.
Q5. A client with schizophrenia believes meals are poisoned and has
refused food and fluids for 24 hours. Which nursing action takes
priority?
A) Assess hydration and nutritional status, maintain safety, and offer
acceptable food and fluids while obtaining timely clinical evaluation.
B) Insist that the client eat the same meal without discussing concerns.
, C) Confirm that the meals have been poisoned.
D) Delay intervention until the delusion disappears.
Correct Answer: A) Assess hydration and nutritional status, maintain safety,
and offer acceptable food and fluids while obtaining timely clinical
evaluation.
Rationale: Persecutory beliefs can interfere with essential nutrition and
hydration. Nursing priorities include assessing physiological stability,
avoiding arguments about delusions, and finding practical ways to support
intake, such as offering unopened food when appropriate.
Q6. A client states, "The hospital security cameras are controlling
my movements through signals hidden in the walls." Which nursing
response is most therapeutic?
A) "I agree that the cameras are controlling you."
B) "That idea is ridiculous, and you must stop discussing it."
C) "There is no reason to be afraid because nothing can ever happen."
D) "That sounds frightening. I don't have evidence that the cameras control
you, but I want to understand how this is affecting you."
Correct Answer: D) "That sounds frightening. I don't have evidence that the
cameras control you, but I want to understand how this is affecting you."
Rationale: Therapeutic communication acknowledges emotional distress
without reinforcing delusions. Calmly presenting reality and exploring the
client's experience can maintain rapport while supporting safety and
reducing confrontation.
Q7. A client taking an antipsychotic begins experiencing repetitive
lip smacking, tongue movements, and involuntary chewing motions
after several months of treatment. Which condition should be
suspected?
A) Acute dystonia
B) Tardive dyskinesia
C) Serotonin syndrome
D) Absence seizure
Correct Answer: B) Tardive dyskinesia
