Halter: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 7e
Score: 100%
1. According to the DSM5, there is evidence that symptoms and causes of mental illness are
influenced by:
A. cultural and ethnic factors.
B. occupation and status.
C. birth order.
D. sexual preference.
Rationale
The DSM5 states there is evidence to suggest that mental illness is influenced by
cultural and ethnic factors. The DSM5 does not state that there is evidence that
occupation, birth order, or sexual preference affect mental illness.
Reference: pp. 1012
2. One characteristic of mental health that allows people to adapt to tragedies, trauma, and
loss is:
A. dependence.
B. resilience.
C. pessimism.
D. altruism.
Rationale
Resilience is a characteristic that helps individuals cope with loss and trauma that may
occur in life. Dependence is described as being dependent on others for decision
making and care. Pessimism is a life philosophy that things are more likely to go wrong
than right. Altruism is described as putting others before yourself.
Reference: p. 3
3. You are caring for Kiley, a 29yearold female patient who is being admitted following a
suicide attempt. Which of the following illustrates the concept of patient advocacy?
A. "Dr. Raye, I notice you ordered Prozac for Kiley. She has stated to me that she
does not want to take Prozac because she had adverse effects when it was
, previously prescribed."
B. "Dr. Raye, during her admissions interview Kiley stated that she has had three
other suicide attempts in the past."
C. "Kiley, can you tell me more about your depression and your suicide attempt?"
D. "Kiley, I will take you on a tour of the unit and orient you to the rules."
Rationale
By letting the provider know that the patient does not want the treatment the provider is
prescribing, you have advocated for the patient and her right to make decisions
regarding her treatment. The other selections do not describe patient advocacy.
Reference: p. 16
4. You have graduated with your BSN degree and have taken your first job on a psychiatric
unit after becoming a licensed Registered Nurse. You are providing teaching to Mason, a
newly admitted patient on the psychiatric unit, regarding his daily schedule. Which of the
following would not be an appropriate teaching statement?
A. "You will participate in unit activities and groups daily."
B. "You will be given a schedule daily of the groups we would like you to attend."
C. "You will attend a psychotherapy group that I lead."
D. "You will see your provider daily in a onetoone session."
Rationale
Basic level RNs cannot perform psychotherapy. The other options are all appropriate
expectations of a patient's schedule on a psychiatric unit.
Reference: pp. 1415
5. A nurse who is active in local consumer mental health groups and in local and state mental
health associations and who keeps aware of state and national legislation affecting mental
illness treatment may positively affect the climate for treatment by:
A. becoming active in politics leading to a potential political career.
B. reducing the stigma of mental illness and advocating for equality in treatment.
C. encouraging laws that would make the involuntary longterm commitment
process easier and faster for caregivers of mentally ill persons.
, D. advocating for reduced mental health insurance benefits to discourage abuse of
the system by inappropriate psychiatric admissions.
Rationale
Nurses who are aware of legislative concerns and who are active in organizations that
promote mental health awareness and appropriate and equal treatment for mental illness
help achieve the goal of parity, or equality of treatment for mentally ill individuals.
Becoming active in politics may be a personal goal but does not directly or necessarily
reduce stigma or encourage treatment equality. The other options are undesirable
outcomes.
Reference: p. 16
6. You are caring for Alyssa, a 28yearold patient with bipolar disorder who was admitted in a
manic state. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, which of the following
symptoms needs to be the first priority in caring for this patient?
A. Rapid, pressured speech
B. Grandiose thoughts
C. Lack of sleep
D. Hyperactive behavior
Rationale
Based on Maslow's theory, physiological needs such as food, water, air, sleep, etc., are
the priority and must be taken care of first. The other options are symptoms of mania but
not as critical as lack of sleep.
Reference: pp. 3132
7. Lucas states, "I will always be alone because nobody could love me." This is most likely an
example of:
A. emotional consequence.
B. schema.
C. actualization.
D. aversion.
Rationale
Schemas are unique assumptions about ourselves, according to Beck's theory. This
, statement is an example of a negative schema. Emotional consequence is the end result
of negative thinking process, as described by Ellis. Actualization is a level of Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs. Aversion is a therapy characterized by punishment.
Reference: p. 29
8. You and Jack are two of the nurses working on the psychiatric unit. Jack mentions to you
that the biological model for mental illness is the one he embraces, and states "it's the only
one I really believe." Which of the following statements is true regarding believing in only
the biological model?
A. The biological model is the oldest and most reliable model for explaining mental
illness.
B. The biological model does not explain every symptom of mental illness.
C. The biological model is the most popular theory among leading psychiatrists and
therefore the one that should be fully embraced.
D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental health
including cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken
into account.
Rationale
In believing only in the biological model to the exclusion of other theories and
perspectives, influences such as educational, social, spiritual, cultural, environmental,
and economic are not considered, and these have also been proven to play a part in
mental health and mental illness. The other options are untrue.
Reference: p. 33
9. Sullivan's term security operations and Freud's term of defense mechanisms both reflect
actions that serve to:
A. increase selfesteem.
B. reduce anxiety.
C. increase selfawareness.
D. reduce cognitive distortions.
Rationale
Both Sullivan and Freud coined terms to mean actions that individuals do that are an
attempt to reduce anxiety. The terms to do not refer to activities that increase self
esteem. Security operations and defense mechanisms are not conscious and therefore
do not increase selfawareness. These terms do not refer to reducing cognitive
distortions.
Reference: p. 24
Score: 100%
1. According to the DSM5, there is evidence that symptoms and causes of mental illness are
influenced by:
A. cultural and ethnic factors.
B. occupation and status.
C. birth order.
D. sexual preference.
Rationale
The DSM5 states there is evidence to suggest that mental illness is influenced by
cultural and ethnic factors. The DSM5 does not state that there is evidence that
occupation, birth order, or sexual preference affect mental illness.
Reference: pp. 1012
2. One characteristic of mental health that allows people to adapt to tragedies, trauma, and
loss is:
A. dependence.
B. resilience.
C. pessimism.
D. altruism.
Rationale
Resilience is a characteristic that helps individuals cope with loss and trauma that may
occur in life. Dependence is described as being dependent on others for decision
making and care. Pessimism is a life philosophy that things are more likely to go wrong
than right. Altruism is described as putting others before yourself.
Reference: p. 3
3. You are caring for Kiley, a 29yearold female patient who is being admitted following a
suicide attempt. Which of the following illustrates the concept of patient advocacy?
A. "Dr. Raye, I notice you ordered Prozac for Kiley. She has stated to me that she
does not want to take Prozac because she had adverse effects when it was
, previously prescribed."
B. "Dr. Raye, during her admissions interview Kiley stated that she has had three
other suicide attempts in the past."
C. "Kiley, can you tell me more about your depression and your suicide attempt?"
D. "Kiley, I will take you on a tour of the unit and orient you to the rules."
Rationale
By letting the provider know that the patient does not want the treatment the provider is
prescribing, you have advocated for the patient and her right to make decisions
regarding her treatment. The other selections do not describe patient advocacy.
Reference: p. 16
4. You have graduated with your BSN degree and have taken your first job on a psychiatric
unit after becoming a licensed Registered Nurse. You are providing teaching to Mason, a
newly admitted patient on the psychiatric unit, regarding his daily schedule. Which of the
following would not be an appropriate teaching statement?
A. "You will participate in unit activities and groups daily."
B. "You will be given a schedule daily of the groups we would like you to attend."
C. "You will attend a psychotherapy group that I lead."
D. "You will see your provider daily in a onetoone session."
Rationale
Basic level RNs cannot perform psychotherapy. The other options are all appropriate
expectations of a patient's schedule on a psychiatric unit.
Reference: pp. 1415
5. A nurse who is active in local consumer mental health groups and in local and state mental
health associations and who keeps aware of state and national legislation affecting mental
illness treatment may positively affect the climate for treatment by:
A. becoming active in politics leading to a potential political career.
B. reducing the stigma of mental illness and advocating for equality in treatment.
C. encouraging laws that would make the involuntary longterm commitment
process easier and faster for caregivers of mentally ill persons.
, D. advocating for reduced mental health insurance benefits to discourage abuse of
the system by inappropriate psychiatric admissions.
Rationale
Nurses who are aware of legislative concerns and who are active in organizations that
promote mental health awareness and appropriate and equal treatment for mental illness
help achieve the goal of parity, or equality of treatment for mentally ill individuals.
Becoming active in politics may be a personal goal but does not directly or necessarily
reduce stigma or encourage treatment equality. The other options are undesirable
outcomes.
Reference: p. 16
6. You are caring for Alyssa, a 28yearold patient with bipolar disorder who was admitted in a
manic state. According to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs theory, which of the following
symptoms needs to be the first priority in caring for this patient?
A. Rapid, pressured speech
B. Grandiose thoughts
C. Lack of sleep
D. Hyperactive behavior
Rationale
Based on Maslow's theory, physiological needs such as food, water, air, sleep, etc., are
the priority and must be taken care of first. The other options are symptoms of mania but
not as critical as lack of sleep.
Reference: pp. 3132
7. Lucas states, "I will always be alone because nobody could love me." This is most likely an
example of:
A. emotional consequence.
B. schema.
C. actualization.
D. aversion.
Rationale
Schemas are unique assumptions about ourselves, according to Beck's theory. This
, statement is an example of a negative schema. Emotional consequence is the end result
of negative thinking process, as described by Ellis. Actualization is a level of Maslow's
Hierarchy of Needs. Aversion is a therapy characterized by punishment.
Reference: p. 29
8. You and Jack are two of the nurses working on the psychiatric unit. Jack mentions to you
that the biological model for mental illness is the one he embraces, and states "it's the only
one I really believe." Which of the following statements is true regarding believing in only
the biological model?
A. The biological model is the oldest and most reliable model for explaining mental
illness.
B. The biological model does not explain every symptom of mental illness.
C. The biological model is the most popular theory among leading psychiatrists and
therefore the one that should be fully embraced.
D. In believing only the biological model, other influences on mental health
including cultural, environmental, social, and spiritual influences are not taken
into account.
Rationale
In believing only in the biological model to the exclusion of other theories and
perspectives, influences such as educational, social, spiritual, cultural, environmental,
and economic are not considered, and these have also been proven to play a part in
mental health and mental illness. The other options are untrue.
Reference: p. 33
9. Sullivan's term security operations and Freud's term of defense mechanisms both reflect
actions that serve to:
A. increase selfesteem.
B. reduce anxiety.
C. increase selfawareness.
D. reduce cognitive distortions.
Rationale
Both Sullivan and Freud coined terms to mean actions that individuals do that are an
attempt to reduce anxiety. The terms to do not refer to activities that increase self
esteem. Security operations and defense mechanisms are not conscious and therefore
do not increase selfawareness. These terms do not refer to reducing cognitive
distortions.
Reference: p. 24
