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NR 326 - Mental Health Nursing Exam #3
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Latest Versions 2025 A+
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who
performs self-injury. Which of the following information
should the nurse identify as placing the client at risk for self-
harm behaviors?
A. The client has a co-occurring borderline personality
disorder.
B. The client has a parent who has dependent personality
disorder.
C. The client has a history of bulimia nervosa.
D. The client has a diagnosis of anti-social personality
disorder.
A. The client has a co-occurring borderline personality disorder.
**Rationale: ** A diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is
associated with an increased risk for self-harm.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and tells
the nurse, "They lie about me all the time and they are trying
to poison my food." Which of the following statements
should the nurse make?
A. "You are mistaken. Nobody is lying about you or trying to
poison you."
B. "You seem to be having very frightening thoughts."
C. "Why do you think you are being lied about and
poisoned?"
D. "Who is lying about you and trying to poison you?"
B. "You seem to be having very frightening thoughts."
**Rationale: ** When responding to a client who is delusional, the
nurse should avoid making statements that directly confront or
,2
affirm the client's delusional beliefs. Instead of responding literally
to the client's words, the nurse should respond to the feelings that
the client is attempting to communicate. By doing this, the nurse
is shifting the focus from the delusional beliefs, which are not real,
to the client's fear, which is real.
A nurse is conducting a group therapy session for several
clients. The group is laughing at a joke one of the clients
told, when a client who is schizophrenic jumps up and runs
out of the room yelling, "You are all making fun of me!“ The
nurse should identify this behavior as which of the following
characteristics of schizophrenia?
A. Magical thinking
B. Delusions of grandeur
C. Ideas of reference
D. Looseness of association
C. Ideas of reference
**Rationale: ** When ideas of reference are present, the client
believes all events, situations, or interactions are directly related
to him.
A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has
schizophrenia and a new prescription for fluphenazine.
Which of the following information should the nurse
provide?
A. "This medication might turn urine your orange."
B. "Sleepiness should subside within a week."
C. "Stop the medication if hypotension occurs."
D. "A low-grade fever is expected with first doses."
B. "Sleepiness should subside within a week."
**Rationale: ** The nurse should inform the client that
fluphenazine, like other first-generation antipsychotics, may cause
sedation with early treatment, but should subside within a week or
so.
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A nurse in a mental health clinic is conducting a staff
education session on schizophrenia. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse include in the teaching plan
as negative symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Anhedonia
D. Poor judgment
E. Blunt affect
C. Anhedonia
E. Blunt affect
**Rationale: ** Delusions is incorrect. Delusions are an example
of a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Hallucinations is
incorrect. Hallucinations are an example of a positive symptom of
schizophrenia. Anhedonia is correct. Anhedonia is an example of
a negative symptom of schizophrenia. Poor judgment is incorrect.
Poor judgment is an example of a cognitive symptom of
schizophrenia. Blunt affect is correct. Blunt affect is an example of
a negative symptom of schizophrenia.
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has a new
diagnosis of schizophrenia. The client’s parents are tearful
and express feelings of guilt. Which of the following
statements should the nurse make?
A. "You said that you feel guilty about your daughter’s
diagnosis. Let’s talk about what is causing you to feel this
way."
B. "You should not feel guilty about your daughter’s
diagnosis. Schizophrenia is unpreventable."
C. "I’m sure your daughter’s diagnosis is very difficult to deal
with, but everything will be all right once she receives the
proper treatment."
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D. "Your provider has explained the causes of schizophrenia.
Why do you feel guilty about your daughter's diagnosis?"
A. "You said that you feel guilty about your daughter’s diagnosis.
Let’s talk about what is causing you to feel this way."
**Rationale: ** This statement is an example of clarification and
promotes further discussion, which is a therapeutic
communication technique.
A nurse is assisting a client who has schizophrenia prepare a
relapse plan. Which of the following statements should the
nurse verbalize during the session?
A. "You should be aware that excessive sleeping is an early
sign of relapse."
B. "Relapse is an indication that you are not taking your
medications properly."
C. "You should keep your provider’s and therapist’s number
with you."
D. "Taking an additional dose of medication is appropriate as
soon as signs of relapse appear."
C. "You should keep your provider’s and therapist’s number with
you."
**Rationale: ** The client should have a written plan, including
important numbers, available at all times in case relapse occurs.
A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is sitting with a
client who has schizophrenia. The client whispers to the
nurse, “I’m being kept in this prison against my will. Please
try to get me out.” Which of the following responses should
the nurse make?
A. "Why do feel that you need to leave?"
B. "You feel that you don’t belong here."
C. "We are here to help you and give you the care that you
need right now."
NR 326 - Mental Health Nursing Exam #3
Questions with 100% Correct Answers
Latest Versions 2025 A+
A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who
performs self-injury. Which of the following information
should the nurse identify as placing the client at risk for self-
harm behaviors?
A. The client has a co-occurring borderline personality
disorder.
B. The client has a parent who has dependent personality
disorder.
C. The client has a history of bulimia nervosa.
D. The client has a diagnosis of anti-social personality
disorder.
A. The client has a co-occurring borderline personality disorder.
**Rationale: ** A diagnosis of borderline personality disorder is
associated with an increased risk for self-harm.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and tells
the nurse, "They lie about me all the time and they are trying
to poison my food." Which of the following statements
should the nurse make?
A. "You are mistaken. Nobody is lying about you or trying to
poison you."
B. "You seem to be having very frightening thoughts."
C. "Why do you think you are being lied about and
poisoned?"
D. "Who is lying about you and trying to poison you?"
B. "You seem to be having very frightening thoughts."
**Rationale: ** When responding to a client who is delusional, the
nurse should avoid making statements that directly confront or
,2
affirm the client's delusional beliefs. Instead of responding literally
to the client's words, the nurse should respond to the feelings that
the client is attempting to communicate. By doing this, the nurse
is shifting the focus from the delusional beliefs, which are not real,
to the client's fear, which is real.
A nurse is conducting a group therapy session for several
clients. The group is laughing at a joke one of the clients
told, when a client who is schizophrenic jumps up and runs
out of the room yelling, "You are all making fun of me!“ The
nurse should identify this behavior as which of the following
characteristics of schizophrenia?
A. Magical thinking
B. Delusions of grandeur
C. Ideas of reference
D. Looseness of association
C. Ideas of reference
**Rationale: ** When ideas of reference are present, the client
believes all events, situations, or interactions are directly related
to him.
A nurse is providing teaching for a client who has
schizophrenia and a new prescription for fluphenazine.
Which of the following information should the nurse
provide?
A. "This medication might turn urine your orange."
B. "Sleepiness should subside within a week."
C. "Stop the medication if hypotension occurs."
D. "A low-grade fever is expected with first doses."
B. "Sleepiness should subside within a week."
**Rationale: ** The nurse should inform the client that
fluphenazine, like other first-generation antipsychotics, may cause
sedation with early treatment, but should subside within a week or
so.
,3
A nurse in a mental health clinic is conducting a staff
education session on schizophrenia. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse include in the teaching plan
as negative symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
A. Delusions
B. Hallucinations
C. Anhedonia
D. Poor judgment
E. Blunt affect
C. Anhedonia
E. Blunt affect
**Rationale: ** Delusions is incorrect. Delusions are an example
of a positive symptom of schizophrenia. Hallucinations is
incorrect. Hallucinations are an example of a positive symptom of
schizophrenia. Anhedonia is correct. Anhedonia is an example of
a negative symptom of schizophrenia. Poor judgment is incorrect.
Poor judgment is an example of a cognitive symptom of
schizophrenia. Blunt affect is correct. Blunt affect is an example of
a negative symptom of schizophrenia.
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has a new
diagnosis of schizophrenia. The client’s parents are tearful
and express feelings of guilt. Which of the following
statements should the nurse make?
A. "You said that you feel guilty about your daughter’s
diagnosis. Let’s talk about what is causing you to feel this
way."
B. "You should not feel guilty about your daughter’s
diagnosis. Schizophrenia is unpreventable."
C. "I’m sure your daughter’s diagnosis is very difficult to deal
with, but everything will be all right once she receives the
proper treatment."
, 4
D. "Your provider has explained the causes of schizophrenia.
Why do you feel guilty about your daughter's diagnosis?"
A. "You said that you feel guilty about your daughter’s diagnosis.
Let’s talk about what is causing you to feel this way."
**Rationale: ** This statement is an example of clarification and
promotes further discussion, which is a therapeutic
communication technique.
A nurse is assisting a client who has schizophrenia prepare a
relapse plan. Which of the following statements should the
nurse verbalize during the session?
A. "You should be aware that excessive sleeping is an early
sign of relapse."
B. "Relapse is an indication that you are not taking your
medications properly."
C. "You should keep your provider’s and therapist’s number
with you."
D. "Taking an additional dose of medication is appropriate as
soon as signs of relapse appear."
C. "You should keep your provider’s and therapist’s number with
you."
**Rationale: ** The client should have a written plan, including
important numbers, available at all times in case relapse occurs.
A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is sitting with a
client who has schizophrenia. The client whispers to the
nurse, “I’m being kept in this prison against my will. Please
try to get me out.” Which of the following responses should
the nurse make?
A. "Why do feel that you need to leave?"
B. "You feel that you don’t belong here."
C. "We are here to help you and give you the care that you
need right now."
