Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric
unit. This nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse
to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication - correct answer D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared
nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic
level is permitted to perform mental health assessments,
establish relationships, and provide individualized care
planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after
graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll
lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than
other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better
because of the nature of the patients' problems."
,Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills
as well as critical thinking to solve multidimensional
problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did
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 do. That
appeals to me." - correct answer B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set
of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though there is
substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to
help patients with medical as well as mental health
problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses
must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in
psychiatric settings have increased, just like other
specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice,
not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is
as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding
for care of persons with mental illness. Groups of nurses
write letters to their elected representatives in opposition
to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
,Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice - correct answer A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause,
particularly when the other person lacks the ability to do
that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include
helping patients understand their rights or make
decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the
interest of improving the human condition. Since funding
is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons
with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates
for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to
articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions
of nursing care. Which comment best indicates a patient
perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me
swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my
ideas about how to make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor
prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
, Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems.
That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - correct answer
D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as
competency. It helps change pain and suffering into a
shared experience, creating a human connection that
alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give
examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or
giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental
illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and
hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own
abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and
the "for real." - correct answer B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which
further reflects mental illness. The distracters describe
mentally healthy behaviors.
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric
unit. This nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse
to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication - correct answer D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared
nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic
level is permitted to perform mental health assessments,
establish relationships, and provide individualized care
planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans after
graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll
lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than
other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better
because of the nature of the patients' problems."
,Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills
as well as critical thinking to solve multidimensional
problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did
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 do. That
appeals to me." - correct answer B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set
of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though there is
substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to
help patients with medical as well as mental health
problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses
must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in
psychiatric settings have increased, just like other
specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice,
not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is
as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding
for care of persons with mental illness. Groups of nurses
write letters to their elected representatives in opposition
to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
,Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice - correct answer A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause,
particularly when the other person lacks the ability to do
that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include
helping patients understand their rights or make
decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the
interest of improving the human condition. Since funding
is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons
with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates
for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to
articulate their own needs.
An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions
of nursing care. Which comment best indicates a patient
perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me
swallow my medication."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my
ideas about how to make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor
prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
, Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health &
Mental Illness Question and
Answer reviewed on 2024
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems.
That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - correct answer
D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as
competency. It helps change pain and suffering into a
shared experience, creating a human connection that
alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give
examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or
giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental
illness? The patient:
a.responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and
hopeless.
c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own
abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and
the "for real." - correct answer B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which
further reflects mental illness. The distracters describe
mentally healthy behaviors.
