Mental Health Saunders 8th Ed Exam Questions With
Verified Correct Answers
QUESTION>A depressed client on an inpatient unit says to the nurse, "My family would be better off
without me." What is the nurse's best response?1. "Have you talked to your family about this?"2.
"Everyone feels this way when they are depressed."3. "You will feel better once your medication begins
to work."4. "You sound very upset. Are you thinking of hurting yourself?" - CORRECT ANSWER~4
QUESTION>Which behavior observed by the nurse indicates a suspicion that a depressed adolescent
client may be suicidal?1. The adolescent gives away a DVD and a cherished autographed picture of a
performer.2. The adolescent runs out of the therapy group, swearing at the group leader, and runs to her
room.3. The adolescent becomes angry while speaking on the telephone and slams down the receiver.4.
The adolescent gets angry with her roommate when the roommate borrows the client's clothes without
asking. - CORRECT ANSWER~1
QUESTION>The police arrive at the emergency department with a client who has lacerated both wrists.
What is the initial nursing action?1. Administer an antianxiety agent.2. Examine and treat the wound
sites.3. Secure and record a detailed history.4. Encourage and assist the client to ventilate feelings. -
CORRECT ANSWER~2
QUESTION>A moderately depressed client who was hospitalized 2 days ago suddenly begins smiling and
reporting that the crisis is over. The client says to the nurse, "I'm finally cured." How should the nurse
interpret this behavior as a cue to modify the treatment plan?1. Suggesting a reduction of medication2.
Allowing increased "in-room" activities3. Increasing the level of suicide precautions4. Allowing the client
off-unit privileges as needed - CORRECT ANSWER~3
QUESTION>The nurse is planning care for a client being admitted to the nursing unit who attempted
suicide. Which priority nursing intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?1. One-to-one
suicide precautions2. Suicide precautions with 30-minute checks3. Checking the whereabouts of the
client every 15 minutes4. Asking the client to report suicidal thoughts immediately - CORRECT
ANSWER~1
QUESTION >787. A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response by the
nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
,1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - CORRECT ANSWER~4. "You've been feeling like a
failure for a while?"
Responding to feelings expressed by a client is an effective therapeutic communication technique. The
correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block communication
because they minimize the client's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's expressed
feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is no therapeutic because clients frequently interpret why
questions as accusations. Why questions can cause resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
QUESTION>788. The nurse visits a client at home. The client states, "I haven't slept at all the last couple
of nights." Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "I see"
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too." - CORRECT ANSWER~3. You're having difficulty sleeping?
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although restatement
is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the client's major theme, which assists
the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The remaining options are
not therapeutic responses because none of them encourages the client to expand on the problem.
Offering personal experience moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse
QUESTION>789. A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence.
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
, 4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER~1. Using open-ended
questions and silence
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage clients to discuss their problems.
Sharing personal food preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not
helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should not
offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
QUESTION>791. A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish
my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one
who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. Have you shared your feelings with your family?
2. I think we should talk more about your anger with your family.
3. You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?
4. You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis. - CORRECT
ANSWER~3. You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the client says to
show understanding and to review what was said. Although it is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to
assess the client's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not help the client
discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's direct attempt to expect the client to talk more about
the anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the client's
feeling; this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
QUESTION>795. When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the diagnosis of
anorexia nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as part of the treatment plan. The nurse plans
care based on which purpose of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intro psychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs - CORRECT ANSWER~4. Helping the
client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
Verified Correct Answers
QUESTION>A depressed client on an inpatient unit says to the nurse, "My family would be better off
without me." What is the nurse's best response?1. "Have you talked to your family about this?"2.
"Everyone feels this way when they are depressed."3. "You will feel better once your medication begins
to work."4. "You sound very upset. Are you thinking of hurting yourself?" - CORRECT ANSWER~4
QUESTION>Which behavior observed by the nurse indicates a suspicion that a depressed adolescent
client may be suicidal?1. The adolescent gives away a DVD and a cherished autographed picture of a
performer.2. The adolescent runs out of the therapy group, swearing at the group leader, and runs to her
room.3. The adolescent becomes angry while speaking on the telephone and slams down the receiver.4.
The adolescent gets angry with her roommate when the roommate borrows the client's clothes without
asking. - CORRECT ANSWER~1
QUESTION>The police arrive at the emergency department with a client who has lacerated both wrists.
What is the initial nursing action?1. Administer an antianxiety agent.2. Examine and treat the wound
sites.3. Secure and record a detailed history.4. Encourage and assist the client to ventilate feelings. -
CORRECT ANSWER~2
QUESTION>A moderately depressed client who was hospitalized 2 days ago suddenly begins smiling and
reporting that the crisis is over. The client says to the nurse, "I'm finally cured." How should the nurse
interpret this behavior as a cue to modify the treatment plan?1. Suggesting a reduction of medication2.
Allowing increased "in-room" activities3. Increasing the level of suicide precautions4. Allowing the client
off-unit privileges as needed - CORRECT ANSWER~3
QUESTION>The nurse is planning care for a client being admitted to the nursing unit who attempted
suicide. Which priority nursing intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?1. One-to-one
suicide precautions2. Suicide precautions with 30-minute checks3. Checking the whereabouts of the
client every 15 minutes4. Asking the client to report suicidal thoughts immediately - CORRECT
ANSWER~1
QUESTION >787. A client with a diagnosis of depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response by the
nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
,1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - CORRECT ANSWER~4. "You've been feeling like a
failure for a while?"
Responding to feelings expressed by a client is an effective therapeutic communication technique. The
correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block communication
because they minimize the client's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's expressed
feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is no therapeutic because clients frequently interpret why
questions as accusations. Why questions can cause resentment, insecurity and mistrust.
QUESTION>788. The nurse visits a client at home. The client states, "I haven't slept at all the last couple
of nights." Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "I see"
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes I have trouble sleeping too." - CORRECT ANSWER~3. You're having difficulty sleeping?
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although restatement
is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the client's major theme, which assists
the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The remaining options are
not therapeutic responses because none of them encourages the client to expand on the problem.
Offering personal experience moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse
QUESTION>789. A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being
poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence.
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
, 4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - CORRECT ANSWER~1. Using open-ended
questions and silence
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage clients to discuss their problems.
Sharing personal food preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not
helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should not
offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
QUESTION>791. A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish
my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one
who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. Have you shared your feelings with your family?
2. I think we should talk more about your anger with your family.
3. You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?
4. You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis. - CORRECT
ANSWER~3. You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the client says to
show understanding and to review what was said. Although it is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to
assess the client's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not help the client
discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's direct attempt to expect the client to talk more about
the anger is premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the client's
feeling; this is non-therapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
QUESTION>795. When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the diagnosis of
anorexia nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as part of the treatment plan. The nurse plans
care based on which purpose of this approach?
1. Providing a supportive environment
2. Examining intro psychic conflicts and past issues
3. Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
4. Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs - CORRECT ANSWER~4. Helping the
client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs
