NURSING MENTAL HEALTH (Psychiatric)
MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS CORRECTLY ANSWERED AND
FREQUENTLY TESTED.
Which comment best indicates that 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. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I
am not alone."
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged sooner."
ANS: C
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 assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be
experiencing a mental illness? The patient:
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The
distracters describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of
human experience.
,Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters
describe maladaptive behaviors.
A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria
used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems (ICD-10)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioral health reference manual
d. Wikipedia
ANS: B
The DSM-5 gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. The distracters
may not contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
A nurse wants to find a description of 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. The other
references are good resources but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
,Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who:
a. is able to repress stressors.
b. becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c. lives in a shelter for two years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d. takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent
job.
ANS: D
Resilience is closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people facing
tragedies, loss, trauma, and severe stress. It is the ability and capacity for people to
secure the resources they need to support their well-being. Repression and
depression are unhealthy. Living in a shelter for two years shows a failure to move
forward after a tragedy. See related audience response question.
Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a. patient outcomes
b. nursing actions
c. diagnosis
d. symptoms
ANS: B
Analogies show parallel relationships. NANDA, the North American Nursing
Diagnosis Association, identifies diagnostic statements regarding human responses
to actual or potential health problems. These statements represent clinical
judgments. NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) identifies actions provided by
nurses that enhance patient outcomes. Nursing care activities may be direct or
indirect.
A college student said, "Most of the time I'm happy and feel good about myself. I
have learned that what I get out of something is proportional to the effort I put into
it." Which number on this mental health continuum should the nurse select?
Mental Illness Mental Health
12345
a. 1
b. 2
, c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
ANS: E
The student is happy and has an adequate self-concept. The student is reality-
oriented, works effectively, and has control over own behavior. Mental health does
not mean that a person is always happy.
Which disorder is a culture-bound syndrome?
a. Epilepsy
b. Schizophrenia
c. Running amok
d. Major depression
ANS: C
Culture-bound syndromes occur in specific sociocultural contexts and are easily
recognized by people in those cultures. A syndrome recognized in parts of Southeast
Asia is running amok, in which a person (usually a male) runs around engaging in
furious, almost indiscriminate violent behavior.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies:
a. deviant behaviors.
b. present disability or distress.
c. people with mental disorders.
d. mental disorders people have.
ANS: D
The DSM-5 classifies disorders people have rather than people themselves. The
terminology of the tool reflects this distinction by referring to individuals with a
disorder rather than as a "schizophrenic" or "alcoholic," for example. Deviant
behavior is not generally considered a mental disorder. Present disability or distress
is only one aspect of the diagnosis.
A citizen at a community health fair asks the nurse, "What is the most prevalent
mental disorder in the United States?" Select the nurse's best response.
a. Schizophrenia
b. Bipolar disorder
MULTIPLE CHOICE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS CORRECTLY ANSWERED AND
FREQUENTLY TESTED.
Which comment best indicates that 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. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I
am not alone."
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged sooner."
ANS: C
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 assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be
experiencing a mental illness? The patient:
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The
distracters describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of
human experience.
,Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
ANS: A
The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The distracters
describe maladaptive behaviors.
A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria
used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health
Problems (ICD-10)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. A behavioral health reference manual
d. Wikipedia
ANS: B
The DSM-5 gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. The distracters
may not contain diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
A nurse wants to find a description of 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. The other
references are good resources but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
,Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who:
a. is able to repress stressors.
b. becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c. lives in a shelter for two years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d. takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent
job.
ANS: D
Resilience is closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people facing
tragedies, loss, trauma, and severe stress. It is the ability and capacity for people to
secure the resources they need to support their well-being. Repression and
depression are unhealthy. Living in a shelter for two years shows a failure to move
forward after a tragedy. See related audience response question.
Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a. patient outcomes
b. nursing actions
c. diagnosis
d. symptoms
ANS: B
Analogies show parallel relationships. NANDA, the North American Nursing
Diagnosis Association, identifies diagnostic statements regarding human responses
to actual or potential health problems. These statements represent clinical
judgments. NIC (Nursing Interventions Classification) identifies actions provided by
nurses that enhance patient outcomes. Nursing care activities may be direct or
indirect.
A college student said, "Most of the time I'm happy and feel good about myself. I
have learned that what I get out of something is proportional to the effort I put into
it." Which number on this mental health continuum should the nurse select?
Mental Illness Mental Health
12345
a. 1
b. 2
, c. 3
d. 4
e. 5
ANS: E
The student is happy and has an adequate self-concept. The student is reality-
oriented, works effectively, and has control over own behavior. Mental health does
not mean that a person is always happy.
Which disorder is a culture-bound syndrome?
a. Epilepsy
b. Schizophrenia
c. Running amok
d. Major depression
ANS: C
Culture-bound syndromes occur in specific sociocultural contexts and are easily
recognized by people in those cultures. A syndrome recognized in parts of Southeast
Asia is running amok, in which a person (usually a male) runs around engaging in
furious, almost indiscriminate violent behavior.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies:
a. deviant behaviors.
b. present disability or distress.
c. people with mental disorders.
d. mental disorders people have.
ANS: D
The DSM-5 classifies disorders people have rather than people themselves. The
terminology of the tool reflects this distinction by referring to individuals with a
disorder rather than as a "schizophrenic" or "alcoholic," for example. Deviant
behavior is not generally considered a mental disorder. Present disability or distress
is only one aspect of the diagnosis.
A citizen at a community health fair asks the nurse, "What is the most prevalent
mental disorder in the United States?" Select the nurse's best response.
a. Schizophrenia
b. Bipolar disorder
