PRN 1562 / PRN1562 Final Exam | Principles of
Mental Health Nursing Exam Verified Answers |
Updated 2025/2026 | Rasmussen
A client with dementia is unable to recognize ordinary objects, such as a
pen or notebook. Which would this be a symptom of?
A) Agnosia
B) Amnesia
C) Apraxia
D) Aphasia
- Correct Answer -A
Feedback:
Agnosia is the inability to recognize familiar objects.
Amnesia is failure to remember past events.
Apraxia is impairment in the ability to execute motor functions despite
intact motor abilities.
Aphasia is a deterioration of language function.
Which distinguishes delirium from dementia?
A) Delirium has an acute onset and is progressive in course.
B) Delirium has a gradual onset and can be resolved.
C) Dementia has a gradual onset and is progressive in course.
D) Dementia has an acute onset and can be resolved.
- Correct Answer -C
Feedback:
Delirium has a sudden onset, and the underlying cause is treatable; by
contrast,
Dementia has a gradual onset and is progressive rather than treatable.
,During the change of shift report in the intensive care unit, the nurse
learns that a client has developed signs of delirium over the past 8
hours. Which behavior documented in the nursing notes would be
consistent with delirium?
A) Unable to identify a water pitcher
B) Unable to transfer to sitting position
C) Difficulty with verbal expression
D) Disoriented to person
- Correct Answer -D
Feedback:
Delirium usually develops over a short period, sometimes a matter of
hours, and fluctuates, or changes, throughout the course of the day.
Clients with delirium have difficulty paying attention, are easily distracted
and disoriented, and may have sensory disturbances such as illusions,
misinterpretations, or hallucinations.
Dementia symptoms include
Aphasia (deterioration of language function), apraxia (impaired ability to
execute motor functions despite intact motor abilities),
and agnosia (inability to recognize or name objects despite intact
sensory abilities).
Four new patients were admitted to the behavioral health unit in the past
12 hours. The nurse directs a psychiatric technician to monitor these
patients for safety. Which patient will need the most watchful
supervision? A patient diagnosed with
A. Bipolar I disorder.
B. Bipolar II disorder.
C. Dysthymic disorder.
D. Cyclothymic disorder.
- Correct Answer -A
,Bipolar I is a mood disorder characterized by excessive activity and
energy. Psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, and dramatically disturbed
thoughts) may occur during manic episodes. A patient with bipolar I
disorder is more unstable than a patient diagnosed with bipolar II,
cyclothymic disorder, or dysthymic disorder.
Hypomania is a period of abnormally and persistently elevated,
expansive, or irritable mood and some other milder symptoms of
mania (mini manias). The difference is that hypomanic episodes do not
impair the person’s ability to function (in fact, he or she may be quite
productive), and there are no psychotic features (delusions and
hallucinations)
Persistent depressive/Dysthymic disorder: symptoms such as insomnia,
loss of appetite, decreased energy, low self-esteem, difficulty
concentrating, and feelings of sadness and hopelessness that are milder
than those of depression. (mini depression)
Cyclothymic disorder: characterized by mild mood swings between
hypomania and depression without loss of social or occupational
functioning
A middle-aged client goes to the physician falsely complaining of hip
pain. The client's intention is to fake chronic hip pain to apply for
disability benefits from the government. Which best reflects the client's
potential diagnosis?
A) Malingering
B) Hypochondriasis
C) Factitious disorder
D) Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
- Correct Answer -A
Feedback:
, Malingering is the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated
physical or psychological symptoms; it is motivated by external
incentives such as avoiding work, evading criminal prosecution,
obtaining financial compensation, or obtaining drugs.
Hypochondriasis (Illness anxiety disorder) is preoccupation with the fear
that one has a serious disease (disease conviction) or will get a serious
disease (disease phobia).
Factitious disorder occurs when a person intentionally produces or
feigns physical or psychological symptoms solely to gain attention.
Munchausen's syndrome by proxy occurs when a person inflicts illness
or injury on someone else to gain the attention of emergency medical
personnel or to be a "hero" for saving the victim.
Which of the following accurately describes how somatic symptoms are
distinguished from factitious disorders and malingering?
A) Munchausen's syndrome cannot be controlled by persons who have
it.
B) Persons who experience somatic disorders intentionally produce
symptoms for some external purpose or gain.
C) In malingering or factitious disorders, people willfully control the
symptoms, and in somatic symptom illnesses, clients do not voluntarily
control their physical symptoms.
D) People who experience somatic symptom illnesses can stop the
physical symptoms as soon as they have gained what they wanted.
- Correct Answer -C
Feedback:
In malingering or factitious disorders, people willfully control the
symptoms, and in somatic symptom illnesses, clients do not
voluntarily control their physical symptoms.
Munchausen's disorder is the common term for factitious disorder,
imposed on self and occurs when a person intentionally produces or
feigns physical or psychological symptoms solely to gain attention.
Mental Health Nursing Exam Verified Answers |
Updated 2025/2026 | Rasmussen
A client with dementia is unable to recognize ordinary objects, such as a
pen or notebook. Which would this be a symptom of?
A) Agnosia
B) Amnesia
C) Apraxia
D) Aphasia
- Correct Answer -A
Feedback:
Agnosia is the inability to recognize familiar objects.
Amnesia is failure to remember past events.
Apraxia is impairment in the ability to execute motor functions despite
intact motor abilities.
Aphasia is a deterioration of language function.
Which distinguishes delirium from dementia?
A) Delirium has an acute onset and is progressive in course.
B) Delirium has a gradual onset and can be resolved.
C) Dementia has a gradual onset and is progressive in course.
D) Dementia has an acute onset and can be resolved.
- Correct Answer -C
Feedback:
Delirium has a sudden onset, and the underlying cause is treatable; by
contrast,
Dementia has a gradual onset and is progressive rather than treatable.
,During the change of shift report in the intensive care unit, the nurse
learns that a client has developed signs of delirium over the past 8
hours. Which behavior documented in the nursing notes would be
consistent with delirium?
A) Unable to identify a water pitcher
B) Unable to transfer to sitting position
C) Difficulty with verbal expression
D) Disoriented to person
- Correct Answer -D
Feedback:
Delirium usually develops over a short period, sometimes a matter of
hours, and fluctuates, or changes, throughout the course of the day.
Clients with delirium have difficulty paying attention, are easily distracted
and disoriented, and may have sensory disturbances such as illusions,
misinterpretations, or hallucinations.
Dementia symptoms include
Aphasia (deterioration of language function), apraxia (impaired ability to
execute motor functions despite intact motor abilities),
and agnosia (inability to recognize or name objects despite intact
sensory abilities).
Four new patients were admitted to the behavioral health unit in the past
12 hours. The nurse directs a psychiatric technician to monitor these
patients for safety. Which patient will need the most watchful
supervision? A patient diagnosed with
A. Bipolar I disorder.
B. Bipolar II disorder.
C. Dysthymic disorder.
D. Cyclothymic disorder.
- Correct Answer -A
,Bipolar I is a mood disorder characterized by excessive activity and
energy. Psychosis (hallucinations, delusions, and dramatically disturbed
thoughts) may occur during manic episodes. A patient with bipolar I
disorder is more unstable than a patient diagnosed with bipolar II,
cyclothymic disorder, or dysthymic disorder.
Hypomania is a period of abnormally and persistently elevated,
expansive, or irritable mood and some other milder symptoms of
mania (mini manias). The difference is that hypomanic episodes do not
impair the person’s ability to function (in fact, he or she may be quite
productive), and there are no psychotic features (delusions and
hallucinations)
Persistent depressive/Dysthymic disorder: symptoms such as insomnia,
loss of appetite, decreased energy, low self-esteem, difficulty
concentrating, and feelings of sadness and hopelessness that are milder
than those of depression. (mini depression)
Cyclothymic disorder: characterized by mild mood swings between
hypomania and depression without loss of social or occupational
functioning
A middle-aged client goes to the physician falsely complaining of hip
pain. The client's intention is to fake chronic hip pain to apply for
disability benefits from the government. Which best reflects the client's
potential diagnosis?
A) Malingering
B) Hypochondriasis
C) Factitious disorder
D) Munchausen's syndrome by proxy
- Correct Answer -A
Feedback:
, Malingering is the intentional production of false or grossly exaggerated
physical or psychological symptoms; it is motivated by external
incentives such as avoiding work, evading criminal prosecution,
obtaining financial compensation, or obtaining drugs.
Hypochondriasis (Illness anxiety disorder) is preoccupation with the fear
that one has a serious disease (disease conviction) or will get a serious
disease (disease phobia).
Factitious disorder occurs when a person intentionally produces or
feigns physical or psychological symptoms solely to gain attention.
Munchausen's syndrome by proxy occurs when a person inflicts illness
or injury on someone else to gain the attention of emergency medical
personnel or to be a "hero" for saving the victim.
Which of the following accurately describes how somatic symptoms are
distinguished from factitious disorders and malingering?
A) Munchausen's syndrome cannot be controlled by persons who have
it.
B) Persons who experience somatic disorders intentionally produce
symptoms for some external purpose or gain.
C) In malingering or factitious disorders, people willfully control the
symptoms, and in somatic symptom illnesses, clients do not voluntarily
control their physical symptoms.
D) People who experience somatic symptom illnesses can stop the
physical symptoms as soon as they have gained what they wanted.
- Correct Answer -C
Feedback:
In malingering or factitious disorders, people willfully control the
symptoms, and in somatic symptom illnesses, clients do not
voluntarily control their physical symptoms.
Munchausen's disorder is the common term for factitious disorder,
imposed on self and occurs when a person intentionally produces or
feigns physical or psychological symptoms solely to gain attention.
