, Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The scope of practiced for an advanced registered nurse practitioner would include which
intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅
B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared registered nurse
practitioners and clinical registered nurse specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The registered nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care
planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health registered nurse s “lose all their
clinical nursing skills.” Select the best response by the mental health registered nurse .
a. “Psychiatric registered nurse s practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Registered nurse -to- client ratios must be better because of the nature
of the clients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric registered nurse s use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those
situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric registered nurse s frequently use high
technology monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous
therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric registered nurse s do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical–surgical registered nurse s do. That appeals to me.”
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅
B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric registered nurse s must be able to help
clients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
registered nurse s must have. Registered nurse –client ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical
practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of registered nurse s write letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the registered nurse s fulfilled?
,a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
, CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ C
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 clients 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 clients who are unable to articulate
their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member’s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a.“I’ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.”
b.“I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.”
c.“I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.”
d.“It’s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.”
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may
be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The scope of practiced for an advanced registered nurse practitioner would include which
intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅
B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared registered nurse
practitioners and clinical registered nurse specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The registered nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care
planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health registered nurse s “lose all their
clinical nursing skills.” Select the best response by the mental health registered nurse .
a. “Psychiatric registered nurse s practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Registered nurse -to- client ratios must be better because of the nature
of the clients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric registered nurse s use complex communication skills as well as
critical thinking to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those
situations.”
c. “That’s a misconception. Psychiatric registered nurse s frequently use high
technology monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous
therapies.”
d. “Psychiatric registered nurse s do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical–surgical registered nurse s do. That appeals to me.”
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅
B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric registered nurse s must be able to help
clients with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
registered nurse s must have. Registered nurse –client ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical
practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of registered nurse s write letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the registered nurse s fulfilled?
,a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
, CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ C
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 clients 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 clients who are unable to articulate
their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member’s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a.“I’ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.”
b.“I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.”
c.“I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.”
d.“It’s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.”
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may
be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
CORRECT ANSWER ✅✅ B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life.
