Wks 1 Mental Health
1. A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit.This nurse may
expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication Ans: D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who
have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish relation-
ships, and provide individualized care planning
2. Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One
student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, "Why would you
want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll lose all
your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical
thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situa-
tions."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations
in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
,medical-surgical nurses do. That appeals to me." Ans: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-sur-
gical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able
to help patients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the
holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in
psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is
as real as physical.
3. A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons
with mental illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representa-
tives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice Ans: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person
,lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping
patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy
includes political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving
the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for
persons with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
4. An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care.
Which comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My
nurse Ans:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medica-
tion."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to
make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like
I'm not alone." Ans: D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change
pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection that
alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples of statements that
demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
5. Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The pa-
tient Ans:
a. responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
, c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." Ans:
B The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects
mental illness. The distracters describe mentally healthy behaviors.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient Ans:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
Ans: A
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. To determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the
nurse should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
1. A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit.This nurse may
expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeutic relationships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication Ans: D
Prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who
have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the
basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish relation-
ships, and provide individualized care planning
2. Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One
student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, "Why would you
want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk. You'll lose all
your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical
thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situa-
tions."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rotations
in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
,medical-surgical nurses do. That appeals to me." Ans: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-sur-
gical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able
to help patients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the
holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in
psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering is
as real as physical.
3. A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons
with mental illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representa-
tives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based practice Ans: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other person
,lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping
patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy
includes political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving
the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for
persons with mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
4. An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care.
Which comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? "My
nurse Ans:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medica-
tion."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to
make it better."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get
discharged soon."
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like
I'm not alone." Ans: D
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change
pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection that
alleviates feelings of isolation. The distracters give examples of statements that
demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
5. Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The pa-
tient Ans:
a. responds to rules, routines, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
, c. performs tasks attempted within the limits set by own abilities.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." Ans:
B The correct response describes a mood alteration, which further reflects
mental illness. The distracters describe mentally healthy behaviors.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy
behavior" was achieved? A patient Ans:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
d. aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
Ans: A
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. To determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the
nurse should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
