Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Pollard: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 3rdEdition
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. Which of the following is considered an Advanced
Practice Intervention?
a. Conducting mental health assessments (MSA)
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication
c. Establishing therapeutic relationships
d. Individualizing nursing care plans
ANS: B
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses can further their education at a baccalaureate level
or at the graduate level (master’s doctorate) and become qualified to practise psychiatric mental health
nursing at two levels – basic and advanced – developing on their education preparation. Prescriptive
privileges are granted to master’s-prepared Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as they have taken additional
advanced courses on prescribing medication. Appropriate use of diagnostic tests must be completed as
well as having hospital admitting privileges. Establishing therapeutic relationship, conducting mental
health assessments (MSAs), and individualizing nursing care plans are foundational psychiatric
nursing skills. Therefore, they are considered Basic-Level Interventions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. Which has been identified as a priority for national plans and strategies in psychiatric mental
health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
In early phases of strategic development, the Mental Health Commission of Canada identified cultural
diversity as a priority for national plans and strategies. Increasing cultural diversity within Canada
warrants deeper attention to culturally safe care and concern for the mental health consequences of
colonization and racism. An aging population and shortage of physicians are important to future
trends. The role of the advanced practice nurse is continuing to evolve in psychiatric mental health
nursing in Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand
(Comprehension) TOP: Nursing Process:
Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
3. Which serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders?
a. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
, lOMoARcPSD|8660651
c. A behavioural health reference manual
d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by the
American Psychiatric Association in 1952. Its purpose was to provide clinicians, educators, and
researchers with a common framework to understand and communicate about mental disorders. With a
common understanding about mental disorders, researchers and clinicians could work together in their
attempts to improve care for people with mental illness. The current DSM-5 serves as the official guide
for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) sets the global
health information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics. Clinicians and researchers use this
classification system to define diseases, study disease patterns, monitor outcomes, and subsequently
allocate resources based on the prevalence of disease. The Canadian Institute for Health Information
developed an enhanced version of the previous version, ICD-10 referred to as the ICD 10-CA period
that version extends beyond defining and classifying diseases to describe conditions and situations that
are not diseases, including for example, risk factors to health and psychosocial circumstances. A
behavioral health reference manual and NurseOne online are not used as official guides for diagnosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. When locating the description and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders, which resource would
have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems (ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the official guide for
diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do not define the
diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. An individual repressing their stressors who is having a difficult time coping
with activities of daily living (ADLs)
b. An individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse
c. An individual who lives in a shelter for 2 years after their home is destroyed by
a fire
d. An individual who navigates and negotiates resources to support their well-being
ANS: D
Pollard: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 3rdEdition
MULTIPLE
CHOICE
1. Which of the following is considered an Advanced
Practice Intervention?
a. Conducting mental health assessments (MSA)
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication
c. Establishing therapeutic relationships
d. Individualizing nursing care plans
ANS: B
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses can further their education at a baccalaureate level
or at the graduate level (master’s doctorate) and become qualified to practise psychiatric mental health
nursing at two levels – basic and advanced – developing on their education preparation. Prescriptive
privileges are granted to master’s-prepared Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as they have taken additional
advanced courses on prescribing medication. Appropriate use of diagnostic tests must be completed as
well as having hospital admitting privileges. Establishing therapeutic relationship, conducting mental
health assessments (MSAs), and individualizing nursing care plans are foundational psychiatric
nursing skills. Therefore, they are considered Basic-Level Interventions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. Which has been identified as a priority for national plans and strategies in psychiatric mental
health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
In early phases of strategic development, the Mental Health Commission of Canada identified cultural
diversity as a priority for national plans and strategies. Increasing cultural diversity within Canada
warrants deeper attention to culturally safe care and concern for the mental health consequences of
colonization and racism. An aging population and shortage of physicians are important to future
trends. The role of the advanced practice nurse is continuing to evolve in psychiatric mental health
nursing in Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand
(Comprehension) TOP: Nursing Process:
Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
3. Which serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders?
a. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
, lOMoARcPSD|8660651
c. A behavioural health reference manual
d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by the
American Psychiatric Association in 1952. Its purpose was to provide clinicians, educators, and
researchers with a common framework to understand and communicate about mental disorders. With a
common understanding about mental disorders, researchers and clinicians could work together in their
attempts to improve care for people with mental illness. The current DSM-5 serves as the official guide
for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) sets the global
health information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics. Clinicians and researchers use this
classification system to define diseases, study disease patterns, monitor outcomes, and subsequently
allocate resources based on the prevalence of disease. The Canadian Institute for Health Information
developed an enhanced version of the previous version, ICD-10 referred to as the ICD 10-CA period
that version extends beyond defining and classifying diseases to describe conditions and situations that
are not diseases, including for example, risk factors to health and psychosocial circumstances. A
behavioral health reference manual and NurseOne online are not used as official guides for diagnosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. When locating the description and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders, which resource would
have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems (ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the official guide for
diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do not define the
diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. An individual repressing their stressors who is having a difficult time coping
with activities of daily living (ADLs)
b. An individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse
c. An individual who lives in a shelter for 2 years after their home is destroyed by
a fire
d. An individual who navigates and negotiates resources to support their well-being
ANS: D
