Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1
Question 1:
Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living in the
community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3 months, the patient will:
- a. Deny suicidal ideation.
- b. Report a sense of well-being.
- c. Take medications as prescribed.
- d. Attend clinic appointments on time.
Answer: b. Report a sense of well-being
Feedback: Reporting a sense of well-being is a positive outcome indicative of progress in recovery-
oriented care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
---
Question 2:
A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a divorce. Select
the nurse's most caring comment.
- a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these feelings."
- b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too."
- c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
- d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
Answer: a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these feelings."
Feedback: This response is caring and focuses on providing support and coping strategies,
acknowledging the patient’s feelings without offering personal anecdotes or dismissing their concerns.
---
Question 3:
,In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy makeup. Which
comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates advocacy?
- a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
- b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
- c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
- d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Answer: d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Feedback: This statement demonstrates advocacy by promoting an accepting attitude toward the
patient and emphasizing the nurse's role in helping patients develop social skills and find self-
expression.
---
Question 4:
A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which statement
is an example of "attending"?
- a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of the world."
- b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression."
- c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you."
- d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Answer: d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Feedback: Attending involves being physically present and demonstrating a commitment to the
therapeutic relationship, which helps reduce the patient’s feelings of isolation.
---
Question 5:
A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of
the web site's address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced information?
,- a. Address ends in ".org."
- b. Address ends in ".com."
- c. Address ends in ".gov."
- d. Address ends in ".net."
Answer: b. Address ends in ".com."
Feedback: A ".com" address indicates a commercial site, which may prioritize profit over accurate
information. In contrast, ".gov" and ".org" have different implications regarding reliability and content
neutrality.
---
Question 6:
A nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their attention;
however, I read a descriptive research study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop
calling patients by name." Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
- a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
- b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical nurse specialists.
- c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms before using them in practice.
- d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of practice do not change.
Answer: a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
Feedback: This response accurately reflects the understanding that a single study, especially a
descriptive one, is insufficient for altering nursing practice guidelines. Evidence-based practice requires
the synthesis of multiple studies and data points.
---
7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You
will lose your skills." Select the best response by the student interested in psychiatric nursing.
, a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must
be better because of the nature of patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to solve
multidimensional problems. I'm challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical rotations in school, so I do not
want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical surgical nurses.
That appeals to me." ✔️ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical surgical nursing,
although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical
and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient
ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, similar to other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as
much suffering as physical pain.
8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway ✔️ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic review of randomized
controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest evidence for changing practice. Expert committee
recommendations and descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical pathway
is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have been analyzed.
9. A bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed with mental
illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation.
Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice ✔️ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for himself or herself. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their
Question 1:
Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living in the
community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3 months, the patient will:
- a. Deny suicidal ideation.
- b. Report a sense of well-being.
- c. Take medications as prescribed.
- d. Attend clinic appointments on time.
Answer: b. Report a sense of well-being
Feedback: Reporting a sense of well-being is a positive outcome indicative of progress in recovery-
oriented care for individuals with serious and persistent mental illnesses.
---
Question 2:
A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a divorce. Select
the nurse's most caring comment.
- a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these feelings."
- b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too."
- c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
- d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
Answer: a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these feelings."
Feedback: This response is caring and focuses on providing support and coping strategies,
acknowledging the patient’s feelings without offering personal anecdotes or dismissing their concerns.
---
Question 3:
,In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy makeup. Which
comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates advocacy?
- a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
- b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
- c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective."
- d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Answer: d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society."
Feedback: This statement demonstrates advocacy by promoting an accepting attitude toward the
patient and emphasizing the nurse's role in helping patients develop social skills and find self-
expression.
---
Question 4:
A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which statement
is an example of "attending"?
- a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of the world."
- b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression."
- c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you."
- d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Answer: d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking with me."
Feedback: Attending involves being physically present and demonstrating a commitment to the
therapeutic relationship, which helps reduce the patient’s feelings of isolation.
---
Question 5:
A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of
the web site's address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced information?
,- a. Address ends in ".org."
- b. Address ends in ".com."
- c. Address ends in ".gov."
- d. Address ends in ".net."
Answer: b. Address ends in ".com."
Feedback: A ".com" address indicates a commercial site, which may prioritize profit over accurate
information. In contrast, ".gov" and ".org" have different implications regarding reliability and content
neutrality.
---
Question 6:
A nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their attention;
however, I read a descriptive research study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop
calling patients by name." Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
- a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
- b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical nurse specialists.
- c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms before using them in practice.
- d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of practice do not change.
Answer: a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
Feedback: This response accurately reflects the understanding that a single study, especially a
descriptive one, is insufficient for altering nursing practice guidelines. Evidence-based practice requires
the synthesis of multiple studies and data points.
---
7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You
will lose your skills." Select the best response by the student interested in psychiatric nursing.
, a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must
be better because of the nature of patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to solve
multidimensional problems. I'm challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical rotations in school, so I do not
want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical surgical nurses.
That appeals to me." ✔️ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical surgical nursing,
although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical
and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient
ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, similar to other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as
much suffering as physical pain.
8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway ✔️ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic review of randomized
controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest evidence for changing practice. Expert committee
recommendations and descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical pathway
is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have been analyzed.
9. A bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed with mental
illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation.
Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice ✔️ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for himself or herself. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their
