Testtrackers
1
FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS 2025-2026
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ||ALREADY GRADED
A+||NEWEST VERSION
A nurse overhears a hospitalized client with mania telling another client, "I'm actually a journalist
writing an article for a magazine — I'm just posing as a person with mental illness." How should the
nurse respond? ANS: Presenting the client with the actual situation
Rationale: When dealing with a delusional client, it is important for the nurse to state clearly that the
nurse does not share the client's perceptions. All three of the other options — ignoring the
delusion, taking the client to a quiet room, and supporting the client's denial of illness — do not
focus on reality, and they ignore the issue. Presenting the client with the actual situation helps orient
the client to reality.
A client who is hallucinating fearfully says to the nurse, "Please tell that demon to get out." How
should the nurse respond to the client? ANS: "I know you must be very upset by this, but I
don't see a demon."
Rationale: If the client hallucinates, it is best to provide reality-based perceptions and not negate the
client's experience, because this may lead to a regressive struggle with the client. Giving advice or
false reassurance is incorrect because such techniques indicate that demons actually are present,
which feeds into the client's hallucination and reinforces the client's behavior.
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2
The mother of a 3-year-old says, "My child hit his teddy bear after being scolded for picking the
neighbors' flowers." Which defense mechanism was the child using? ANS: Displacement
Rationale: The defense mechanism of displacement involves the discharge of intense feelings for one
person onto a less threatening substitute person or object to satisfy an impulse. Projection involves
attributing an attitude, behavior, or impulse to someone else, such as that which occurs in blaming
or scapegoating. Sublimation is rechanneling an impulse into a more socially acceptable object.
Identification involves modeling behavior after someone else's.
A client says to the nurse, "Even though my husband and I keep telling them we don't want to have
children, our parents are pressuring us to 'start a family.' What should we say to them?" Which of
the following responses by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "This must be very difficult for both
of you."
Rationale: Childless families may elect not to have children or to postpone having them until they
have established themselves occupationally or financially. Telling the client to tell the parents that the
couple can't have children is incorrect because the client is being encouraged to lie about life
decisions rather than helping the parents understand the couple's choices. Asking how they usually
cope with such interference is incorrect because it indicates that the nurse is judgmental and has
decided that the parents are interfering with the client and spouse. Saying, "Tell them to have more
children if they want them so badly," is incorrect because it is sarcastic and ridicules the situation
over which the client has expressed concerns.
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[+254707240657]
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3
A young adult client says, "I just can't seem to stop snapping at my parents. I know they work hard
to support me, but what do I do when they're so overbearing?" Which responses by the nurse is
therapeutic? ANS: "Have you talked to your parents about your frustrations?"
Rationale: The correct response is focused on the client's concerns and encourages the therapeutic
technique of formulating a plan of action. "It's important not to be rude to your parents" and "You
need to be more patient with your parents" are both nontherapeutic, judgmental responses that do
not encourage the client to further explore her feelings and problem-solve. "Snapping at your
parents is childish. How could you?" is incorrect because it is sarcastic and condescending, which is
nontherapeutic.
A client says, "I have so much trouble caring for my husband's child from his first marriage. I resent
the money we have to pay for child support because we have to deprive my own child of things.
How can I stop feeling this way?" Which response by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "Have
you shared your feelings with your husband?"
Rationale: Remarried individuals often encounter problems as a result of the stressors they bring
into a marriage without prior discussion with the new partner. Bonding sometimes does always
occur when a child is not one's biological offspring. The correct answer is focused on the client's
feelings. "Your child benefits from having a sibling" is not facilitative. "I wonder why you married him,
knowing that he wouldn't desert his biological child" is incorrect because it prejudges the client.
"You need to take a second job to give your child what you think she deserves" is not open ended,
does not facilitate feelings, and gives advice.
o
o
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© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
, Testtrackers
4
A client says to the nurse, "My wife retired last year from a lucrative law practice, and I'm really
discouraged. I'll be working until I die, even though I helped pay for her education." Which response
by the nurse is supportive? ANS: "You sound very troubled by this."
Rationale: Saying that the situation is unfair is judgmental and does not encourage the client to
express his feelings; nor does "That's such a tough break for you." Suggesting that the husband
approach the spouse for help is incorrect because it prematurely gives advice, a nontherapeutic
communication technique. The correct option is focused on the client's feelings.
A gay man is brought to the emergency department by the police. The client tells the nurse, "I was
beaten up. I guess I just have to expect this kind of treatment for the rest of my life." Which
statement by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "You feel that being beaten up goes along with
being gay?"
Rationale: Many lesbians and gays encounter harassment or violence in the course of their lives. "I
think you should take some self-defense classes" is incorrect because it advises the client, and giving
advice is not therapeutic. "Maybe you should be more discreet when you're in public" also gives
advice and presumes that the client has been indiscreet. "Why not try counseling to change your
sexual orientation?" is incorrect because it assumes that sexual orientation can or should be
changed. The correct option indicates reflection and is focused on the client's feelings.
o
o
Thank You for Choosing Us!
© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
1
FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH EXAM QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS 2025-2026
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) ||ALREADY GRADED
A+||NEWEST VERSION
A nurse overhears a hospitalized client with mania telling another client, "I'm actually a journalist
writing an article for a magazine — I'm just posing as a person with mental illness." How should the
nurse respond? ANS: Presenting the client with the actual situation
Rationale: When dealing with a delusional client, it is important for the nurse to state clearly that the
nurse does not share the client's perceptions. All three of the other options — ignoring the
delusion, taking the client to a quiet room, and supporting the client's denial of illness — do not
focus on reality, and they ignore the issue. Presenting the client with the actual situation helps orient
the client to reality.
A client who is hallucinating fearfully says to the nurse, "Please tell that demon to get out." How
should the nurse respond to the client? ANS: "I know you must be very upset by this, but I
don't see a demon."
Rationale: If the client hallucinates, it is best to provide reality-based perceptions and not negate the
client's experience, because this may lead to a regressive struggle with the client. Giving advice or
false reassurance is incorrect because such techniques indicate that demons actually are present,
which feeds into the client's hallucination and reinforces the client's behavior.
o
o
Thank You for Choosing Us!
© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
, Testtrackers
2
The mother of a 3-year-old says, "My child hit his teddy bear after being scolded for picking the
neighbors' flowers." Which defense mechanism was the child using? ANS: Displacement
Rationale: The defense mechanism of displacement involves the discharge of intense feelings for one
person onto a less threatening substitute person or object to satisfy an impulse. Projection involves
attributing an attitude, behavior, or impulse to someone else, such as that which occurs in blaming
or scapegoating. Sublimation is rechanneling an impulse into a more socially acceptable object.
Identification involves modeling behavior after someone else's.
A client says to the nurse, "Even though my husband and I keep telling them we don't want to have
children, our parents are pressuring us to 'start a family.' What should we say to them?" Which of
the following responses by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "This must be very difficult for both
of you."
Rationale: Childless families may elect not to have children or to postpone having them until they
have established themselves occupationally or financially. Telling the client to tell the parents that the
couple can't have children is incorrect because the client is being encouraged to lie about life
decisions rather than helping the parents understand the couple's choices. Asking how they usually
cope with such interference is incorrect because it indicates that the nurse is judgmental and has
decided that the parents are interfering with the client and spouse. Saying, "Tell them to have more
children if they want them so badly," is incorrect because it is sarcastic and ridicules the situation
over which the client has expressed concerns.
o
o
Thank You for Choosing Us!
© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [ Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
, Testtrackers
3
A young adult client says, "I just can't seem to stop snapping at my parents. I know they work hard
to support me, but what do I do when they're so overbearing?" Which responses by the nurse is
therapeutic? ANS: "Have you talked to your parents about your frustrations?"
Rationale: The correct response is focused on the client's concerns and encourages the therapeutic
technique of formulating a plan of action. "It's important not to be rude to your parents" and "You
need to be more patient with your parents" are both nontherapeutic, judgmental responses that do
not encourage the client to further explore her feelings and problem-solve. "Snapping at your
parents is childish. How could you?" is incorrect because it is sarcastic and condescending, which is
nontherapeutic.
A client says, "I have so much trouble caring for my husband's child from his first marriage. I resent
the money we have to pay for child support because we have to deprive my own child of things.
How can I stop feeling this way?" Which response by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "Have
you shared your feelings with your husband?"
Rationale: Remarried individuals often encounter problems as a result of the stressors they bring
into a marriage without prior discussion with the new partner. Bonding sometimes does always
occur when a child is not one's biological offspring. The correct answer is focused on the client's
feelings. "Your child benefits from having a sibling" is not facilitative. "I wonder why you married him,
knowing that he wouldn't desert his biological child" is incorrect because it prejudges the client.
"You need to take a second job to give your child what you think she deserves" is not open ended,
does not facilitate feelings, and gives advice.
o
o
Thank You for Choosing Us!
© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
, Testtrackers
4
A client says to the nurse, "My wife retired last year from a lucrative law practice, and I'm really
discouraged. I'll be working until I die, even though I helped pay for her education." Which response
by the nurse is supportive? ANS: "You sound very troubled by this."
Rationale: Saying that the situation is unfair is judgmental and does not encourage the client to
express his feelings; nor does "That's such a tough break for you." Suggesting that the husband
approach the spouse for help is incorrect because it prematurely gives advice, a nontherapeutic
communication technique. The correct option is focused on the client's feelings.
A gay man is brought to the emergency department by the police. The client tells the nurse, "I was
beaten up. I guess I just have to expect this kind of treatment for the rest of my life." Which
statement by the nurse is therapeutic? ANS: "You feel that being beaten up goes along with
being gay?"
Rationale: Many lesbians and gays encounter harassment or violence in the course of their lives. "I
think you should take some self-defense classes" is incorrect because it advises the client, and giving
advice is not therapeutic. "Maybe you should be more discreet when you're in public" also gives
advice and presumes that the client has been indiscreet. "Why not try counseling to change your
sexual orientation?" is incorrect because it assumes that sexual orientation can or should be
changed. The correct option indicates reflection and is focused on the client's feelings.
o
o
Thank You for Choosing Us!
© 2024 TestTrackers o Resources & Updates: [Testtrackers - Stuvia US]
o Customer Support: o Your Success is Our Mission!
[+254707240657]
