VARCAROLIS ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING TEST BANK, 5TH 2025/2026 || MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING REVIEW || VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS || HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE || COMPLETE TEST
BANK || GRADED A+
Report a sense of well-being - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Which outcome,
focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living
in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness?
Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time.
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work
with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help.
Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic interventions. - CORRECT
ANSWER -2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation
after their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these
feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will
contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of
advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are
not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be appropriate within the privacy
,of a shift report but not at the expense of respect for patients. Judging the off-
going nurse in a critical way will create conflict. Nurses must show compassion
for each other. - CORRECT ANSWER -3. In the shift-change report, an
off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy makeup. Which comment
by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in
society."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for
the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false
reassurances are non-therapeutic. - CORRECT ANSWER -4. A nurse
assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Which statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of the
world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your
depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for
you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking
with me."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be biased.
".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a commercial one.
".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. ".org"
indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site may or may not have reliable
,information, but it does not profit from its activities. ".net" can have multiple
meanings. - CORRECT ANSWER -5. A patient shows the nurse an article
from the Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of the web site's
address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced
information?
a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be viewed
in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is not enough.
Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence. Clinical algorithms
use flow charts to manage problems and do not specify one response to a
clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should change as research findings
provide evidence for change. - CORRECT ANSWER -6. A nurse says,
"When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their
attention; however, I read a descriptive research study that says that this
approach does not work. I plan to stop calling patients by name." Which
statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change
practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical
nurse specialists.
c. New research fin
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical
surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses
must be able to help patients with medical and mental health problems,
reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, similar to other
, specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not simply
documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much suffering as
physical pain. - CORRECT ANSWER -7. Two nursing students discuss
career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing.
The other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All
they do is talk. You will lose your skills." Select the best response by the
student interested in psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use comp
ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest
evidence for changing practice. Expert committee recommendations and
descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical
pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have been
analyzed. - CORRECT ANSWER -8. Which research evidence would most
influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for himself or herself. Examples of individual
advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. On
a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the individuals with mental illness; the
letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs. - CORRECT ANSWER -9. A bill
introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed
HEALTH NURSING TEST BANK, 5TH 2025/2026 || MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING REVIEW || VERIFIED QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS || HIGH-YIELD STUDY GUIDE || COMPLETE TEST
BANK || GRADED A+
Report a sense of well-being - CORRECT ANSWER -1. Which outcome,
focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living
in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness?
Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time.
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work
with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help.
Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic interventions. - CORRECT
ANSWER -2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation
after their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have these
feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will
contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of
advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are
not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be appropriate within the privacy
,of a shift report but not at the expense of respect for patients. Judging the off-
going nurse in a critical way will create conflict. Nurses must show compassion
for each other. - CORRECT ANSWER -3. In the shift-change report, an
off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy makeup. Which comment
by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in
society."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for
the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false
reassurances are non-therapeutic. - CORRECT ANSWER -4. A nurse
assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder.
Which statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of the
world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your
depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for
you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking
with me."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be biased.
".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a commercial one.
".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. ".org"
indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site may or may not have reliable
,information, but it does not profit from its activities. ".net" can have multiple
meanings. - CORRECT ANSWER -5. A patient shows the nurse an article
from the Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of the web site's
address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced
information?
a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be viewed
in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is not enough.
Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence. Clinical algorithms
use flow charts to manage problems and do not specify one response to a
clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should change as research findings
provide evidence for change. - CORRECT ANSWER -6. A nurse says,
"When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their
attention; however, I read a descriptive research study that says that this
approach does not work. I plan to stop calling patients by name." Which
statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change
practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical
nurse specialists.
c. New research fin
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical
surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses
must be able to help patients with medical and mental health problems,
reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, similar to other
, specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not simply
documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much suffering as
physical pain. - CORRECT ANSWER -7. Two nursing students discuss
career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing.
The other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All
they do is talk. You will lose your skills." Select the best response by the
student interested in psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use comp
ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest
evidence for changing practice. Expert committee recommendations and
descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical
pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have been
analyzed. - CORRECT ANSWER -8. Which research evidence would most
influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the other
person lacks the ability to do that for himself or herself. Examples of individual
advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or make decisions. On
a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the individuals with mental illness; the
letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are
unable to articulate their own needs. - CORRECT ANSWER -9. A bill
introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed
