NURS 322 Mental Health Nursing Questions With Complete
Solutions
A 14-year-old belongs to a gang that bullies and punishes other
teens, engages in sexually promiscuous behaviour, attends
school infrequently and argues with her parents, claiming they
are just old-fashioned and don't understand her. What does the
assessment data support about the patient?
a. That she is exhibiting problems related to conduct and
behaviour
b. That she cannot accurately appraise reality
c. That she is seriously and persistently mentally ill
d. That she should be considered for group home placement
Correct Answers a. That she is exhibiting problems related to
conduct and behaviour
This patient is demonstrating disturbed conduct and behaviour.
This patient demonstrates undersocialized, aggressive behaviour
such as a repetitive and persistent pattern of aggressive conduct
in which the basic rights of others are violated.
A 20-year-old man was sexually molested at age 10, but he can
no longer remember the incident. Which ego defence
mechanism is in use?
a. Projection
b. Repression
c. Displacement
d. Reaction formation Correct Answers b. Repression
,Repression is a defence mechanism that excludes unwanted or
unpleasant experiences, emotions, or ideas from conscious
awareness.
A bipolar patient tells the nurse, "I have the best voice in the
world. The three tenors who do all those TV concerts are going
to retire because they can't compete with me." The nurse would
make the assessment that the patient is displaying which of the
following?
a. Flight of ideas
b. Distractibility
c. Limit testing
d. Grandiosity Correct Answers d. Grandiosity
Exaggerated belief in one's own importance, identity, or
capabilities is seen with grandiosity.
A bipolar patient whose continuing phase treatment consists of
lithium therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy may not
adhere with the medication regime. Which factor would be of
least concern to the nurse developing a psychoeducation plan to
foster adherence?
a. The adverse effects are unpleasant.
b. The voices tell the patient to stop taking it. Correct
c. The patient prefers to feel "high" and energetic.
d. The patient feels well and denies the possibility of recurrence.
Correct Answers b. The voices tell the patient to stop taking it.
,Manic patients may hallucinate during the delirious state but
generally do not hear voices. Psychoeducation would not be
going on during the time the patient is delirious.
A depressed patient is noted to pace most of the time, pull at her
clothes, and wring her hands. These behaviours are consistent
with which of the following?
a. Senile dementia
b. Hypertensive crisis
c. Psychomotor agitation
d. Central serotonin syndrome Correct Answers c.
Psychomotor agitation
These behaviours describe the psychomotor agitation sometimes
seen in patients with the agitated type of depression.
A depressed patient tells the nurse he is in the "acute phase" of
his treatment for depression. What does the nurse recognize
about the patient's treatment?
a. He has been in treatment for more than 4 months.
b. His treatment is directed toward relapse prevention.
c. His treatment focuses on prevention of future depression.
d. His treatment focuses on reducing depressive symptoms.
Correct Answers d. His treatment focuses on reducing
depressive symptoms.
The acute phase of depression therapy (6-12 weeks) is directed
toward the reduction of symptoms and restoration of
, psychosocial and work function and may require some
hospitalization.
A depressed patient tells the nurse, "There is no sense in trying.
I am never able to do anything right!" The nurse can identify
this cognitive distortion as an example of which of the
following?
a. Self-blame
b. Catatonia
c. Learned helplessness
d. Discounting positive attributes Correct Answers c. Learned
helplessness
Learned helplessness results in depression when the patient feels
no control over the outcome of a situation.
A depressed, socially withdrawn patient tells the nurse, "There is
no sense in trying. I am never able to do anything right!" The
nurse can best begin to attack this cognitive distortion by doing
which of the following?
a. Suggesting, "Let's look at what you just said, that you can
'never do anything right.'"
b. Querying, "Tell me what things you think you are not able to
do correctly."
c. Asking, "Is this part of the reason you think no one likes
you?"
d. Saying, "That is the most unrealistic thing I have ever heard."
Correct Answers a. Suggesting, "Let's look at what you just
said, that you can 'never do anything right.'"
Solutions
A 14-year-old belongs to a gang that bullies and punishes other
teens, engages in sexually promiscuous behaviour, attends
school infrequently and argues with her parents, claiming they
are just old-fashioned and don't understand her. What does the
assessment data support about the patient?
a. That she is exhibiting problems related to conduct and
behaviour
b. That she cannot accurately appraise reality
c. That she is seriously and persistently mentally ill
d. That she should be considered for group home placement
Correct Answers a. That she is exhibiting problems related to
conduct and behaviour
This patient is demonstrating disturbed conduct and behaviour.
This patient demonstrates undersocialized, aggressive behaviour
such as a repetitive and persistent pattern of aggressive conduct
in which the basic rights of others are violated.
A 20-year-old man was sexually molested at age 10, but he can
no longer remember the incident. Which ego defence
mechanism is in use?
a. Projection
b. Repression
c. Displacement
d. Reaction formation Correct Answers b. Repression
,Repression is a defence mechanism that excludes unwanted or
unpleasant experiences, emotions, or ideas from conscious
awareness.
A bipolar patient tells the nurse, "I have the best voice in the
world. The three tenors who do all those TV concerts are going
to retire because they can't compete with me." The nurse would
make the assessment that the patient is displaying which of the
following?
a. Flight of ideas
b. Distractibility
c. Limit testing
d. Grandiosity Correct Answers d. Grandiosity
Exaggerated belief in one's own importance, identity, or
capabilities is seen with grandiosity.
A bipolar patient whose continuing phase treatment consists of
lithium therapy and cognitive-behavioural therapy may not
adhere with the medication regime. Which factor would be of
least concern to the nurse developing a psychoeducation plan to
foster adherence?
a. The adverse effects are unpleasant.
b. The voices tell the patient to stop taking it. Correct
c. The patient prefers to feel "high" and energetic.
d. The patient feels well and denies the possibility of recurrence.
Correct Answers b. The voices tell the patient to stop taking it.
,Manic patients may hallucinate during the delirious state but
generally do not hear voices. Psychoeducation would not be
going on during the time the patient is delirious.
A depressed patient is noted to pace most of the time, pull at her
clothes, and wring her hands. These behaviours are consistent
with which of the following?
a. Senile dementia
b. Hypertensive crisis
c. Psychomotor agitation
d. Central serotonin syndrome Correct Answers c.
Psychomotor agitation
These behaviours describe the psychomotor agitation sometimes
seen in patients with the agitated type of depression.
A depressed patient tells the nurse he is in the "acute phase" of
his treatment for depression. What does the nurse recognize
about the patient's treatment?
a. He has been in treatment for more than 4 months.
b. His treatment is directed toward relapse prevention.
c. His treatment focuses on prevention of future depression.
d. His treatment focuses on reducing depressive symptoms.
Correct Answers d. His treatment focuses on reducing
depressive symptoms.
The acute phase of depression therapy (6-12 weeks) is directed
toward the reduction of symptoms and restoration of
, psychosocial and work function and may require some
hospitalization.
A depressed patient tells the nurse, "There is no sense in trying.
I am never able to do anything right!" The nurse can identify
this cognitive distortion as an example of which of the
following?
a. Self-blame
b. Catatonia
c. Learned helplessness
d. Discounting positive attributes Correct Answers c. Learned
helplessness
Learned helplessness results in depression when the patient feels
no control over the outcome of a situation.
A depressed, socially withdrawn patient tells the nurse, "There is
no sense in trying. I am never able to do anything right!" The
nurse can best begin to attack this cognitive distortion by doing
which of the following?
a. Suggesting, "Let's look at what you just said, that you can
'never do anything right.'"
b. Querying, "Tell me what things you think you are not able to
do correctly."
c. Asking, "Is this part of the reason you think no one likes
you?"
d. Saying, "That is the most unrealistic thing I have ever heard."
Correct Answers a. Suggesting, "Let's look at what you just
said, that you can 'never do anything right.'"
