PSYCH AND MENTAL HEALTH
NURSING MIDTERM 1 Exam Questions
With Detailed Answers
Which activity of the core PMH disciplines is considered to be the most important for
national mental health care?
1. The promotion and protection of mental health
2. The prevention and treatment of mental disorders
3. Recovery and rehabilitation
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-4. All of the above
Select the statement that best describes the successful treatment of mental disorders in
the United States.
1. Treatment outcomes were most successful when they focused on biologic
interventions.
2. The treatment of mental disorders has greatly improved during the 21st century, and
this is reflected in the reduction of the number of mental disorders.
3. Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the United States remain
static.
4. The combination of medications with interactive and biologic therapies has been the
most successful for reducing the prevalence of mental disorders. - CORRECT
ANSWER-3. Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the United States
remain static.
Which of the following scenarios identifies a mental disorder?
1. A 67-year-old woman says that she has not spent one day without crying several
hours a day since her husband died last month.
,2. A mother says that her 15-year-old child spends all of his spare hours in his room
with the computer and even misses meals.
3. A 19-year-old man begins to hear voices that no one else hears during lectures in his
college math course.
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-3. A 19-year-old man begins to hear voices
that no one else hears during lectures in his college math course.
4. Risk factors for the development of physical and mental disorders include which of
the following?
1. A parent who gets drunk every night after work and says that it is relaxing
2. A school in which students either ignore or bully the new students
3. A higher-than-average intelligence level and many satisfying hobbies
4. A large circle of friends who play sports together - CORRECT ANSWER-1. A parent
who gets drunk every night after work and says that it is relaxing
and
2. A school in which students either ignore or bully the new students
5. Which of the following statements about PMHN are true?
1. Nurses may be certified in their specialty at the entry level or at the advanced
practice level.
2. The art of PMHN is more important than the science of nursing.
3. Integrated care is reserved for psychiatrists and is not for nurses.
4. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Nurses may be certified in their
specialty at the entry level or at the advanced practice level.
A beginning psychiatric nurse grew up with a mother who had schizophrenia. The nurse
recalls feelings of embarrassment and anger about her mother's behavior in the
community. Select the best ways for this nurse to cope with her memories. You may
select more than one answer.
, 1. Recognize that the memories are unhealthy. The nurse should try to forget them
while working with patients.
2. Reexamine the choice of psychiatric nursing as an appropriate area of practice.
Explore other specialties.
3. Begin each new patient relationship with the statement, "My mother had mental
illness, so I know what you're going through."
4. Recognize that early experiences have the potential to positively influence the nurse's
practice.
5. Seek ways to use the information and experience gained from childhood to help
patients cope with their own illnesses. - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Recognize that early
experiences have the potential to positively influence the nurse's practice.
and
5. Seek ways to use the information and experience gained from childhood to help
patients cope with their own illnesses.
Prioritize these outcomes for a patient with mental illness.
1. The patient will consume at least 50% of every meal within 3 days.
2. The patient will identify his or her assets and strengths within 1 week.
3. The patient will describe characteristics of healthy relationships with others within 1
week.
4. The patient will have a contract with the team to report the incidence of suicidal
thoughts within 24 hours. - CORRECT ANSWER-4, 1, 2, 3
A psychiatric nurse designs an hour-by-hour plan for working with patients for the day.
Select the best analysis of this nurse's action.
1. The nurse has demonstrated goal-directed behavior.
2. The nurse is likely to feel rewarded at the end of the day.
3. The plan is likely to result in feelings of frustration for the nurse.
NURSING MIDTERM 1 Exam Questions
With Detailed Answers
Which activity of the core PMH disciplines is considered to be the most important for
national mental health care?
1. The promotion and protection of mental health
2. The prevention and treatment of mental disorders
3. Recovery and rehabilitation
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-4. All of the above
Select the statement that best describes the successful treatment of mental disorders in
the United States.
1. Treatment outcomes were most successful when they focused on biologic
interventions.
2. The treatment of mental disorders has greatly improved during the 21st century, and
this is reflected in the reduction of the number of mental disorders.
3. Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the United States remain
static.
4. The combination of medications with interactive and biologic therapies has been the
most successful for reducing the prevalence of mental disorders. - CORRECT
ANSWER-3. Statistics regarding the prevalence of mental disorders in the United States
remain static.
Which of the following scenarios identifies a mental disorder?
1. A 67-year-old woman says that she has not spent one day without crying several
hours a day since her husband died last month.
,2. A mother says that her 15-year-old child spends all of his spare hours in his room
with the computer and even misses meals.
3. A 19-year-old man begins to hear voices that no one else hears during lectures in his
college math course.
4. All of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-3. A 19-year-old man begins to hear voices
that no one else hears during lectures in his college math course.
4. Risk factors for the development of physical and mental disorders include which of
the following?
1. A parent who gets drunk every night after work and says that it is relaxing
2. A school in which students either ignore or bully the new students
3. A higher-than-average intelligence level and many satisfying hobbies
4. A large circle of friends who play sports together - CORRECT ANSWER-1. A parent
who gets drunk every night after work and says that it is relaxing
and
2. A school in which students either ignore or bully the new students
5. Which of the following statements about PMHN are true?
1. Nurses may be certified in their specialty at the entry level or at the advanced
practice level.
2. The art of PMHN is more important than the science of nursing.
3. Integrated care is reserved for psychiatrists and is not for nurses.
4. None of the above - CORRECT ANSWER-1. Nurses may be certified in their
specialty at the entry level or at the advanced practice level.
A beginning psychiatric nurse grew up with a mother who had schizophrenia. The nurse
recalls feelings of embarrassment and anger about her mother's behavior in the
community. Select the best ways for this nurse to cope with her memories. You may
select more than one answer.
, 1. Recognize that the memories are unhealthy. The nurse should try to forget them
while working with patients.
2. Reexamine the choice of psychiatric nursing as an appropriate area of practice.
Explore other specialties.
3. Begin each new patient relationship with the statement, "My mother had mental
illness, so I know what you're going through."
4. Recognize that early experiences have the potential to positively influence the nurse's
practice.
5. Seek ways to use the information and experience gained from childhood to help
patients cope with their own illnesses. - CORRECT ANSWER-4. Recognize that early
experiences have the potential to positively influence the nurse's practice.
and
5. Seek ways to use the information and experience gained from childhood to help
patients cope with their own illnesses.
Prioritize these outcomes for a patient with mental illness.
1. The patient will consume at least 50% of every meal within 3 days.
2. The patient will identify his or her assets and strengths within 1 week.
3. The patient will describe characteristics of healthy relationships with others within 1
week.
4. The patient will have a contract with the team to report the incidence of suicidal
thoughts within 24 hours. - CORRECT ANSWER-4, 1, 2, 3
A psychiatric nurse designs an hour-by-hour plan for working with patients for the day.
Select the best analysis of this nurse's action.
1. The nurse has demonstrated goal-directed behavior.
2. The nurse is likely to feel rewarded at the end of the day.
3. The plan is likely to result in feelings of frustration for the nurse.
