NUR 253 Exam 2 Study Guide –2025-2026 Mental Health
Nursing Overview with Questions and Answers Latest
Version||NURS 253 Exam 2 Already Graded A+
What is social anxiety disorder? - Answer-Severe anxiety or fear
provoked by exposure to a social or performance situation that could
be negatively evaluated by others.
How is social anxiety perceived in Japanese or Korean cultures? -
Answer-Beliefs that blushing, eye contact, or body Odor is offensive.
What are key features of panic disorder? - Answer-Panic attacks with
sudden onset of extreme apprehension or fear, often with feelings of
impending doom.
What feelings do patients with panic attacks often experience? -
Answer-They often feel like they are losing their minds and fear the
fear.
What should we avoid telling patients experiencing panic attacks? -
Answer-We never want to tell them to calm down.
What are common sensations experienced during panic attacks in
Latin Americans and Northern Europeans? - Answer-Sensations of
choking, smothering, numbness or tingling, and fear of dying.
What characterizes Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - Answer-Patients
worry excessively, leading to a lot of preparation and often putting
things off, with sleep disturbances being common.
What is a key guideline when interacting with patients who have
Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - Answer-We NEVER ask these
patients why.
Define obsession in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). - Answer-Intrusive and recurrent thoughts.
Define compulsion in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). - Answer-Ritualistic behaviour that reduces anxiety related to
the obsession.
pg. 1
,Can obsessions and compulsions occur independently? - Answer-Yes,
they can occur independently but are often seen together.
What is Trichotillomania? - Answer-A disorder characterized by
pulling hair, which is linked to OCD as pulling out hair reduces
anxiety.
What is trichophagia? - Answer-The act of secretly swallowing hair.
What is excoriation? - Answer-Skin picking that relieves or decreases
anxiety.
What is the importance of understanding a patient's support system in
relation to stress? - Answer-It helps recognize how stress affects the
patient and aids in managing their stress.
What are the physiological responses to severe stress? - Answer-
Severe stress weakens biological resistance to psychiatric disorders.
What are the key interventions a nurse can take to reduce a patient's
stress? - Answer-Promote a healthy environment, facilitate successful
coping, and develop future coping mechanisms.
What is the General Adaptation Syndrome? - Answer-A three-stage
response to stress: Alarm stage (initial response), Resistance stage
(sustained resistance), and Exhaustion stage (depleted resources).
What occurs during the Alarm stage of the General Adaptation
Syndrome? - Answer-An initial, brief, adaptive response (fight or
flight) to the stressor.
What happens in the Resistance stage of the General Adaptation
Syndrome? - Answer-Sustained and optimal resistance to the stressor
occurs if the threat continues.
What are the consequences of reaching the Exhaustion stage in the
General Adaptation Syndrome? - Answer-Resources are depleted,
leading to chronic stress and potential illnesses like anxiety,
depression, and heart disease.
pg. 2
, What is eustress and how does it differ from distress? - Answer-
Eustress is positive stress that motivates and creates feelings of
happiness, while distress is negative stress that drains energy and
causes anxiety.
Give examples of eustress. - Answer-Vacation, birth of a baby,
marriage, Favorite sport.
Give examples of distress. - Answer-Death, divorce, financial
overload.
What are physiological stressors? - Answer-Environmental conditions
like trauma, heat/cold, infection, haemorrhage, pain, and hunger.
What are psychological stressors? - Answer-Stressors that can be
positive or negative, such as marriage, divorce, unemployment, and
terrorist attacks.
How does perception affect the stress response? - Answer-The way
we perceive stress influences our emotional and psychological
behaviours.
What factors can affect a person's perception of stress? - Answer-Age,
gender, history, culture, temperament, social support, spirituality
/Religion.
What is biofeedback? - Answer-A technique that uses visual or
auditory feedback to gain control over involuntary bodily functions.
What is the purpose of deep breathing exercises? - Answer-To relax
by inhaling through the nose, holding for 2 seconds, and slowly
exhaling through the mouth.
What is guided imagery? - Answer-A relaxation technique where
individuals focus on pleasant images to replace negative feelings.
What role does cognitive reframing play in stress management? -
Answer-It changes an individual's perception of stress by reassessing
situations and replacing irrational beliefs.
pg. 3
Nursing Overview with Questions and Answers Latest
Version||NURS 253 Exam 2 Already Graded A+
What is social anxiety disorder? - Answer-Severe anxiety or fear
provoked by exposure to a social or performance situation that could
be negatively evaluated by others.
How is social anxiety perceived in Japanese or Korean cultures? -
Answer-Beliefs that blushing, eye contact, or body Odor is offensive.
What are key features of panic disorder? - Answer-Panic attacks with
sudden onset of extreme apprehension or fear, often with feelings of
impending doom.
What feelings do patients with panic attacks often experience? -
Answer-They often feel like they are losing their minds and fear the
fear.
What should we avoid telling patients experiencing panic attacks? -
Answer-We never want to tell them to calm down.
What are common sensations experienced during panic attacks in
Latin Americans and Northern Europeans? - Answer-Sensations of
choking, smothering, numbness or tingling, and fear of dying.
What characterizes Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - Answer-Patients
worry excessively, leading to a lot of preparation and often putting
things off, with sleep disturbances being common.
What is a key guideline when interacting with patients who have
Generalized Anxiety Disorder? - Answer-We NEVER ask these
patients why.
Define obsession in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). - Answer-Intrusive and recurrent thoughts.
Define compulsion in the context of obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). - Answer-Ritualistic behaviour that reduces anxiety related to
the obsession.
pg. 1
,Can obsessions and compulsions occur independently? - Answer-Yes,
they can occur independently but are often seen together.
What is Trichotillomania? - Answer-A disorder characterized by
pulling hair, which is linked to OCD as pulling out hair reduces
anxiety.
What is trichophagia? - Answer-The act of secretly swallowing hair.
What is excoriation? - Answer-Skin picking that relieves or decreases
anxiety.
What is the importance of understanding a patient's support system in
relation to stress? - Answer-It helps recognize how stress affects the
patient and aids in managing their stress.
What are the physiological responses to severe stress? - Answer-
Severe stress weakens biological resistance to psychiatric disorders.
What are the key interventions a nurse can take to reduce a patient's
stress? - Answer-Promote a healthy environment, facilitate successful
coping, and develop future coping mechanisms.
What is the General Adaptation Syndrome? - Answer-A three-stage
response to stress: Alarm stage (initial response), Resistance stage
(sustained resistance), and Exhaustion stage (depleted resources).
What occurs during the Alarm stage of the General Adaptation
Syndrome? - Answer-An initial, brief, adaptive response (fight or
flight) to the stressor.
What happens in the Resistance stage of the General Adaptation
Syndrome? - Answer-Sustained and optimal resistance to the stressor
occurs if the threat continues.
What are the consequences of reaching the Exhaustion stage in the
General Adaptation Syndrome? - Answer-Resources are depleted,
leading to chronic stress and potential illnesses like anxiety,
depression, and heart disease.
pg. 2
, What is eustress and how does it differ from distress? - Answer-
Eustress is positive stress that motivates and creates feelings of
happiness, while distress is negative stress that drains energy and
causes anxiety.
Give examples of eustress. - Answer-Vacation, birth of a baby,
marriage, Favorite sport.
Give examples of distress. - Answer-Death, divorce, financial
overload.
What are physiological stressors? - Answer-Environmental conditions
like trauma, heat/cold, infection, haemorrhage, pain, and hunger.
What are psychological stressors? - Answer-Stressors that can be
positive or negative, such as marriage, divorce, unemployment, and
terrorist attacks.
How does perception affect the stress response? - Answer-The way
we perceive stress influences our emotional and psychological
behaviours.
What factors can affect a person's perception of stress? - Answer-Age,
gender, history, culture, temperament, social support, spirituality
/Religion.
What is biofeedback? - Answer-A technique that uses visual or
auditory feedback to gain control over involuntary bodily functions.
What is the purpose of deep breathing exercises? - Answer-To relax
by inhaling through the nose, holding for 2 seconds, and slowly
exhaling through the mouth.
What is guided imagery? - Answer-A relaxation technique where
individuals focus on pleasant images to replace negative feelings.
What role does cognitive reframing play in stress management? -
Answer-It changes an individual's perception of stress by reassessing
situations and replacing irrational beliefs.
pg. 3
