Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Pollard: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 3rd
Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is considered an Advanced Practice
Intervention?
a. Conducting mental health assessments (MSA)
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication
c. Establishing therapeutic relationships
d. Individualizing nursing care plans
ANS: B
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses can further their
education at a baccalaureate levelor at the graduate level (master’s
doctorate) and become qualified to practise psychiatric mental health
nursing at two levels – basic and advanced – developing on their
education preparation. Prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-
prepared Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as they have taken additional advanced courses on prescribing
medication. Appropriate use of diagnostic tests must be completed aswell as having hospital admitting
privileges. Establishing therapeutic relationship, conducting mental health assessments (MSAs), and
individualizing nursing care plans are foundational psychiatric nursing skills. Therefore, they are
considered Basic-Level Interventions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. Which has been identified as a priority for national plans and strategies in psychiatric mental health
nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
In early phases of strategic development, the Mental Health Commission of Canada identified cultural
diversity as a priority for national plans and strategies. Increasing cultural diversity within Canada
warrants deeper attention to culturally safe care and concern for the mental health consequences of
colonization and racism. An aging population and shortage of physicians are important to future
trends. The role of the advanced practice nurse is continuing to evolve in psychiatric mental health
nursing in Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
3. Which serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders?
a. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
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,Varcarolis's Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 3rd Edition By Sonya Jakubec, Cheryl Pollard Test Bank
d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by the
American Psychiatric Association in 1952. Its purpose was to provide clinicians, educators, and
researchers with a common framework to understand and communicate about mental disorders. With a
common understanding about mental disorders, researchers and clinicians could work together in their
attempts to improve care for people with mental illness. The current DSM-5 serves as the official guide
for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) sets the global
health information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics. Clinicians and researchers use this
classification system to define diseases, study disease patterns, monitor outcomes, and subsequently
allocate resources based on the prevalence of disease. The Canadian Institute for Health Information
developed an enhanced version of the previous version, ICD-10 referred to as the ICD 10-CA period
that version extends beyond defining and classifying diseases to describe conditions and situations that
are not diseases, including for example, risk factors to health and psychosocial circumstances. A
behavioral health reference manual and NurseOne online are not used as official guides for diagnosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. When locating the description and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders, which resource would have
the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the official guide for
diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do not define the
diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. An individual repressing their stressors who is having a difficult time coping with
activities of daily living (ADLs)
b. An individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse
c. An individual who lives in a shelter for 2 years after their home is destroyed by a
fire
d. An individual who navigates and negotiates resources to support their well-being
ANS: D
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, Varcarolis's Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing 3rd Edition By Sonya Jakubec, Cheryl Pollard Test Bank
A characteristic of mental health increasingly being promoted as essential to the recovery process is
resilience. Resilience is a process and outcome of complex, cultural systems, rather than as an
individual capacity to overcome adversity. In this way, when exposed to adversity, one’s resilience
depends on the navigation and negotiation of resources that can support well-being. Resilience is
closely associated with the process of adapting and helps people facing tragedies, loss, trauma, and
severe stress. An individual who is repressing their stressors may need support for developing coping
strategies. It is important for the individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse to
navigate and negotiate resources that can support their well-being (e.g., grief support or counselling).
An individual living in a shelter needs immediate support and assistance when entering the shelter to
navigate services and supports. Shelters are short-term resources.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. A multidisciplinary team is working with two groups of patients diagnosed with depression. One group
of patients receives supportive interventions and psychotropic medication (e.g., antidepressants). The
other group receives only psychotropic medication. Outcomes are measured for each group. Which is
being studied?
a. Incidence
b. Prevalence
c. Comorbidity
d. Clinical epidemiology
ANS: D
Clinical epidemiology is a broad field that addresses studies of the natural history (or what happens if
there is no treatment and the problem is left to run its course) of an illness, studies of diagnostic
screening tests, and observational and experimental studies of interventions used to treat people with
the illness or symptoms. Prevalence refers to numbers of new cases. Comorbidity refers to having
more than one mental disorder at a time. Incidence refers to the number of new cases of mental
disorders in a healthy population within a given period.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
7. A category 5 tornado occurred in a community of 400 people, resulting in destruction of many homes
and businesses. In the 2 years after this disaster, 140 individuals were diagnosed with post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Which term best applies to these newly diagnosed individuals?
a. Prevalence
b. Comorbidity
c. Incidence
d. Clinical epidemiology
ANS: C
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