PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH
NURSING EXAM 2025
1.
A patient in the mental health clinic has a phobia about closed spaces. Which desensitization
method should the caregiver expect to be used successfully with this patient?
A. Modeling
B. Flooding
C. Imagery
D. Systematic desensitization
✅ Correct Answer: C. Imagery
2.
What treatment should a caregiver anticipate will be prescribed for a patient with severe,
persistent, intractable depression and suicidal ideation?
A. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B. Group psychotherapy
C. Electroconvulsive therapy
D. Antidepressant medication only
✅ Correct Answer: C. Electroconvulsive therapy
3.
An older adult, accompanied by family members, is admitted to a long-term care facility with
symptoms of dementia. During the admission procedure, the initial statement by the caregiver
most helpful to this patient is:
A. “You’ll soon get used to being here.”
B. “Don’t be afraid. I’m your caregiver, and everyone here in the hospital is here to help you.”
C. “You’ll see your family every day.”
D. “Try to remember the names of the staff.”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “Don’t be afraid. I’m your caregiver, and everyone here in the hospital
is here to help you.”
1
,4.
An older depressed person constantly complains about her health problems to anyone who will
listen, yet says, “I’m not going to any more activities. All these old crabby people do is talk
about their problems.” What defense mechanism is the patient using?
A. Denial
B. Regression
C. Projection
D. Displacement
✅ Correct Answer: C. Projection
5.
A patient with an alcohol dependence problem asks whether the caregiver can see the bugs
crawling on the bed. What is the caregiver's initial reply?
A. “Don’t worry; they’ll go away soon.”
B. “No, I don’t see any bugs.”
C. “Try to rest; you’re imagining things.”
D. “You must be seeing things from the alcohol.”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “No, I don’t see any bugs.”
6.
A patient responds within an hour of receiving naloxone for heroin overdose. Why should the
caregiver continue close monitoring?
A. Naloxone causes long-term hypertension.
B. Symptoms of heroin overdose may return after the naloxone is metabolized.
C. The patient may experience permanent confusion.
D. The patient may become violent.
✅ Correct Answer: B. Symptoms of heroin overdose may return after the naloxone is
metabolized.
7.
A patient tells the caregiver, “The voices say I’ll be safe only if I stay in this room and avoid
stepping on cracks.” What is the best initial response?
A. “You need to stop believing those voices.”
B. “I understand that these voices are real to you, but I want you to know that I don’t hear them.”
C. “Don’t listen to those voices.”
2
,D. “Why do you think you hear voices?”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “I understand that these voices are real to you, but I want you to know
that I don’t hear them.”
8.
A parent leaves a gift for her hospitalized 17-year-old daughter but says she’s too busy to visit.
The daughter becomes upset and tearful. The caregiver concludes this is an example of:
A. Displacement
B. Projection
C. Double-bind message
D. Reaction formation
✅ Correct Answer: C. Double-bind message
9.
A patient with schizophrenia is unkempt and has not washed for several days. What should the
caregiver say to help the patient shower?
A. “Would you like to take a shower today?”
B. “I’ll help you take your shower now.”
C. “You need to shower before breakfast.”
D. “Why haven’t you showered yet?”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “I’ll help you take your shower now.”
10.
When a patient is sobbing in the fetal position due to severe anxiety, the caregiver’s priority is to:
A. Discuss coping mechanisms
B. Ensure a safe therapeutic milieu
C. Administer anti-anxiety medication
D. Encourage verbal expression
✅ Correct Answer: B. Ensure a safe therapeutic milieu
11.
The primary reason for alcohol ingestion by patients with a history of alcohol abuse is that they:
A. Seek peer approval
3
, B. Are dependent on it
C. Enjoy social drinking
D. Use it for relaxation
✅ Correct Answer: B. Are dependent on it
12.
A patient in alcohol withdrawal delirium should receive which nursing intervention?
A. Explain that symptoms are part of the withdrawal syndrome
B. Reorient frequently to time and place
C. Restrict fluid intake
D. Provide minimal supervision
✅ Correct Answer: A. Explain that symptoms are part of the withdrawal syndrome
13.
A 30-year-old woman reports severe back and leg pain, yet medical tests show minimal physical
issues. Her husband has terminal cancer, and she feels overwhelmed. What disorder should the
caregiver suspect?
A. Somatization disorder
B. Conversion disorder
C. Hypochondriasis
D. Dissociative amnesia
✅ Correct Answer: B. Conversion disorder
14.
A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder says, “I know there’s no reason to do these things,
but I can’t help myself.” This statement indicates the patient:
A. Lacks insight
B. Recognizes the behavior as irrational
C. Is delusional
D. Seeks attention
✅ Correct Answer: B. Recognizes the behavior as irrational
15.
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NURSING EXAM 2025
1.
A patient in the mental health clinic has a phobia about closed spaces. Which desensitization
method should the caregiver expect to be used successfully with this patient?
A. Modeling
B. Flooding
C. Imagery
D. Systematic desensitization
✅ Correct Answer: C. Imagery
2.
What treatment should a caregiver anticipate will be prescribed for a patient with severe,
persistent, intractable depression and suicidal ideation?
A. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
B. Group psychotherapy
C. Electroconvulsive therapy
D. Antidepressant medication only
✅ Correct Answer: C. Electroconvulsive therapy
3.
An older adult, accompanied by family members, is admitted to a long-term care facility with
symptoms of dementia. During the admission procedure, the initial statement by the caregiver
most helpful to this patient is:
A. “You’ll soon get used to being here.”
B. “Don’t be afraid. I’m your caregiver, and everyone here in the hospital is here to help you.”
C. “You’ll see your family every day.”
D. “Try to remember the names of the staff.”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “Don’t be afraid. I’m your caregiver, and everyone here in the hospital
is here to help you.”
1
,4.
An older depressed person constantly complains about her health problems to anyone who will
listen, yet says, “I’m not going to any more activities. All these old crabby people do is talk
about their problems.” What defense mechanism is the patient using?
A. Denial
B. Regression
C. Projection
D. Displacement
✅ Correct Answer: C. Projection
5.
A patient with an alcohol dependence problem asks whether the caregiver can see the bugs
crawling on the bed. What is the caregiver's initial reply?
A. “Don’t worry; they’ll go away soon.”
B. “No, I don’t see any bugs.”
C. “Try to rest; you’re imagining things.”
D. “You must be seeing things from the alcohol.”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “No, I don’t see any bugs.”
6.
A patient responds within an hour of receiving naloxone for heroin overdose. Why should the
caregiver continue close monitoring?
A. Naloxone causes long-term hypertension.
B. Symptoms of heroin overdose may return after the naloxone is metabolized.
C. The patient may experience permanent confusion.
D. The patient may become violent.
✅ Correct Answer: B. Symptoms of heroin overdose may return after the naloxone is
metabolized.
7.
A patient tells the caregiver, “The voices say I’ll be safe only if I stay in this room and avoid
stepping on cracks.” What is the best initial response?
A. “You need to stop believing those voices.”
B. “I understand that these voices are real to you, but I want you to know that I don’t hear them.”
C. “Don’t listen to those voices.”
2
,D. “Why do you think you hear voices?”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “I understand that these voices are real to you, but I want you to know
that I don’t hear them.”
8.
A parent leaves a gift for her hospitalized 17-year-old daughter but says she’s too busy to visit.
The daughter becomes upset and tearful. The caregiver concludes this is an example of:
A. Displacement
B. Projection
C. Double-bind message
D. Reaction formation
✅ Correct Answer: C. Double-bind message
9.
A patient with schizophrenia is unkempt and has not washed for several days. What should the
caregiver say to help the patient shower?
A. “Would you like to take a shower today?”
B. “I’ll help you take your shower now.”
C. “You need to shower before breakfast.”
D. “Why haven’t you showered yet?”
✅ Correct Answer: B. “I’ll help you take your shower now.”
10.
When a patient is sobbing in the fetal position due to severe anxiety, the caregiver’s priority is to:
A. Discuss coping mechanisms
B. Ensure a safe therapeutic milieu
C. Administer anti-anxiety medication
D. Encourage verbal expression
✅ Correct Answer: B. Ensure a safe therapeutic milieu
11.
The primary reason for alcohol ingestion by patients with a history of alcohol abuse is that they:
A. Seek peer approval
3
, B. Are dependent on it
C. Enjoy social drinking
D. Use it for relaxation
✅ Correct Answer: B. Are dependent on it
12.
A patient in alcohol withdrawal delirium should receive which nursing intervention?
A. Explain that symptoms are part of the withdrawal syndrome
B. Reorient frequently to time and place
C. Restrict fluid intake
D. Provide minimal supervision
✅ Correct Answer: A. Explain that symptoms are part of the withdrawal syndrome
13.
A 30-year-old woman reports severe back and leg pain, yet medical tests show minimal physical
issues. Her husband has terminal cancer, and she feels overwhelmed. What disorder should the
caregiver suspect?
A. Somatization disorder
B. Conversion disorder
C. Hypochondriasis
D. Dissociative amnesia
✅ Correct Answer: B. Conversion disorder
14.
A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder says, “I know there’s no reason to do these things,
but I can’t help myself.” This statement indicates the patient:
A. Lacks insight
B. Recognizes the behavior as irrational
C. Is delusional
D. Seeks attention
✅ Correct Answer: B. Recognizes the behavior as irrational
15.
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