Exam 1 - Psychiatric/Mental Health
Nursing practice questions with answers
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt emotionally
drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should the nurse use to clarify the
patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" - VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of
the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification.
Restating that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-
therapeutic technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring us through
the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which response by the nurse
would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness." - VERIFIED
ANSWERS **✔ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging
undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the
underlying feelings or thoughts the patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the
therapeutic technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to talk
about something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the
,CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that
the patient has lost touch with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree." The nurse
observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient twirls a shirt button. The
conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate. - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the
speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in the relationship was modified by
the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the
verbal message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's comment that applies
the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me." - VERIFIED
ANSWERS **✔ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-
patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of "offering self," helps to build
trust and convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are
ineffective and non-therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an
example of "offering hope."
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
,c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been
communicated. Restating is an active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended
in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for
specific information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply states that
he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the
understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse wants to seek
clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the
nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about
common elements encourages comparison rather than clarification. The remaining
responses are implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the nurse's most
therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting
by putting into words what the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit,
issues are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining options are non-therapeutic
techniques. Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone
feels that way at times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always
result in success is falsely reassuring.
, Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interaction, patient
fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands, and looked under chair
while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors. - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing
and incongruent. Some clinicians call it a "mixed message." It is inaccurate to say that the
patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques. The
concept of a cultural filter is not relevant to the situation because a cultural filter determines
what we will pay attention to and what we will ignore. Data are insufficient to draw the
conclusion that the patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
While talking with a patient diagnosed with major depression, a nurse notices the patient is
unable to maintain eye contact. The patient's chin lowers to the chest, while the patient
looks at the floor. Which aspect of communication has the nurse assessed?
a. Nonverbal communication
b. A message filter
c. A cultural barrier
d. Social skills - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: A
Eye contact and body movements are considered nonverbal communication. There are
insufficient data to determine the level of the patient's social skills or whether a cultural
barrier exists.
During the first interview with a parent whose child died in a car accident, the nurse feels
empathic and reaches out to take the patient's hand. Select the correct analysis of the nurse's
behavior.
a. It shows empathy and compassion. It will encourage the patient to continue to express
feelings.
Nursing practice questions with answers
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt emotionally
drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should the nurse use to clarify the
patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" - VERIFIED ANSWERS
**✔ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of
the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification.
Restating that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-
therapeutic technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's
comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring us through
the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which response by the nurse
would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness." - VERIFIED
ANSWERS **✔ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging
undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the
underlying feelings or thoughts the patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the
therapeutic technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to talk
about something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the
,CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that
the patient has lost touch with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree." The nurse
observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient twirls a shirt button. The
conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate. - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the
speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in the relationship was modified by
the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the
verbal message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's comment that applies
the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me." - VERIFIED
ANSWERS **✔ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-
patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of "offering self," helps to build
trust and convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are
ineffective and non-therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an
example of "offering hope."
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
,c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been
communicated. Restating is an active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended
in a nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for
specific information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply states that
he or she understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the
understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse wants to seek
clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the
nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about
common elements encourages comparison rather than clarification. The remaining
responses are implied questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the nurse's most
therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes." - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting
by putting into words what the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit,
issues are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining options are non-therapeutic
techniques. Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone
feels that way at times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always
result in success is falsely reassuring.
, Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interaction, patient
fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands, and looked under chair
while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors. - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing
and incongruent. Some clinicians call it a "mixed message." It is inaccurate to say that the
patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques. The
concept of a cultural filter is not relevant to the situation because a cultural filter determines
what we will pay attention to and what we will ignore. Data are insufficient to draw the
conclusion that the patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
While talking with a patient diagnosed with major depression, a nurse notices the patient is
unable to maintain eye contact. The patient's chin lowers to the chest, while the patient
looks at the floor. Which aspect of communication has the nurse assessed?
a. Nonverbal communication
b. A message filter
c. A cultural barrier
d. Social skills - VERIFIED ANSWERS **✔ANS: A
Eye contact and body movements are considered nonverbal communication. There are
insufficient data to determine the level of the patient's social skills or whether a cultural
barrier exists.
During the first interview with a parent whose child died in a car accident, the nurse feels
empathic and reaches out to take the patient's hand. Select the correct analysis of the nurse's
behavior.
a. It shows empathy and compassion. It will encourage the patient to continue to express
feelings.
