PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A nurse is planning a community education seminar on
mental health. When developing content to help attendees
distinguish between mental health and mental illness, which of
the following concepts should the nurse emphasize as a key
characteristic of mental health, according to contemporary
understanding?
Options:
,A. The complete absence of anxiety or distress.
B. The ability to adapt successfully to life’s stressors and
function productively.
C. A consistent state of happiness and positive mood.
D. Conformity to the norms and expectations of one’s social
group.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct Rationale: Contemporary psychiatric nursing
defines mental health not as a fixed state but as a dynamic
process involving successful adaptation, resilience, and the
ability to function in roles and cope with stress. This
reflects a continuum model, as discussed by Videbeck,
where mental health and illness are not binary opposites
but vary over time.
• Incorrect A: The absence of all distress is an unrealistic and
inaccurate standard. Mental health includes experiencing
and managing a full range of human emotions.
• Incorrect C: While positive mood can be a component,
mental health is broader than sustained happiness and
includes effective functioning even during difficult times.
• Incorrect D: While social relationships are important,
mental health is not defined solely by conformity. Adaptive
behavior may sometimes involve challenging non-
productive social norms.
,Teaching Point: Mental health is defined by adaptive
functioning and resilience, not merely the absence of
symptoms.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders
Stem: A nursing student is studying the DSM-5-TR. The student
demonstrates understanding of its primary purpose by stating it
is best used by the nurse for which of the following?
Options:
A. Determining the exact biological cause of a client’s symptoms
to guide medication selection.
B. Providing a standardized framework to identify and
communicate diagnoses based on clinical criteria.
C. Outlining specific, legally mandated nursing interventions for
each mental disorder.
D. Predicting a client’s precise prognosis and length of
treatment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct Rationale: The primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR is
to provide a common language and standardized
diagnostic criteria for clinical practice. It enhances reliable
diagnosis and communication among clinicians but is
descriptive, not prescriptive for nursing care.
• Incorrect A: The DSM is descriptive and classifies
syndromes; it does not identify specific etiologies for most
disorders, which are often multifactorial.
• Incorrect C: The DSM provides diagnostic criteria, not
nursing care plans. Interventions are developed based on
nursing assessment and individualized client needs.
• Incorrect D: The DSM does not predict individual
prognosis, which depends on numerous personal, social,
and treatment factors beyond the diagnostic label.
Teaching Point: The DSM-5-TR is a diagnostic classification tool,
not a manual for etiology or treatment planning.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Historical Perspectives
Stem: During a clinical post-conference, students discuss the
history of mental health treatment. The instructor asks which
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
Question 1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem: A nurse is planning a community education seminar on
mental health. When developing content to help attendees
distinguish between mental health and mental illness, which of
the following concepts should the nurse emphasize as a key
characteristic of mental health, according to contemporary
understanding?
Options:
,A. The complete absence of anxiety or distress.
B. The ability to adapt successfully to life’s stressors and
function productively.
C. A consistent state of happiness and positive mood.
D. Conformity to the norms and expectations of one’s social
group.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct Rationale: Contemporary psychiatric nursing
defines mental health not as a fixed state but as a dynamic
process involving successful adaptation, resilience, and the
ability to function in roles and cope with stress. This
reflects a continuum model, as discussed by Videbeck,
where mental health and illness are not binary opposites
but vary over time.
• Incorrect A: The absence of all distress is an unrealistic and
inaccurate standard. Mental health includes experiencing
and managing a full range of human emotions.
• Incorrect C: While positive mood can be a component,
mental health is broader than sustained happiness and
includes effective functioning even during difficult times.
• Incorrect D: While social relationships are important,
mental health is not defined solely by conformity. Adaptive
behavior may sometimes involve challenging non-
productive social norms.
,Teaching Point: Mental health is defined by adaptive
functioning and resilience, not merely the absence of
symptoms.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders
Stem: A nursing student is studying the DSM-5-TR. The student
demonstrates understanding of its primary purpose by stating it
is best used by the nurse for which of the following?
Options:
A. Determining the exact biological cause of a client’s symptoms
to guide medication selection.
B. Providing a standardized framework to identify and
communicate diagnoses based on clinical criteria.
C. Outlining specific, legally mandated nursing interventions for
each mental disorder.
D. Predicting a client’s precise prognosis and length of
treatment.
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct Rationale: The primary purpose of the DSM-5-TR is
to provide a common language and standardized
diagnostic criteria for clinical practice. It enhances reliable
diagnosis and communication among clinicians but is
descriptive, not prescriptive for nursing care.
• Incorrect A: The DSM is descriptive and classifies
syndromes; it does not identify specific etiologies for most
disorders, which are often multifactorial.
• Incorrect C: The DSM provides diagnostic criteria, not
nursing care plans. Interventions are developed based on
nursing assessment and individualized client needs.
• Incorrect D: The DSM does not predict individual
prognosis, which depends on numerous personal, social,
and treatment factors beyond the diagnostic label.
Teaching Point: The DSM-5-TR is a diagnostic classification tool,
not a manual for etiology or treatment planning.
Citation: Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing (10th ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health
Nursing — Historical Perspectives
Stem: During a clinical post-conference, students discuss the
history of mental health treatment. The instructor asks which
