PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Introduction / Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 28-year-old client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after
increasing social withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, and inability to
attend work for 2 weeks. The client is tearful and says, “I feel
different — I don’t know who I am anymore.” As the nurse,
,which initial action best demonstrates application of
psychiatric–mental health nursing principles?
A. Encourage the client to join the group activity scheduled in
30 minutes to reduce isolation.
B. Conduct a focused mental status examination and establish a
therapeutic, empathic rapport.
C. Provide a pamphlet that describes common mental disorders
and ask the client to read it.
D. Immediately contact the client’s employer to verify missed
work and discuss accommodations.
Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
A focused mental status exam plus establishing therapeutic
rapport is the priority to assess current symptoms and begin
building a trusting nurse–patient relationship. Videbeck
emphasizes assessment and the therapeutic relationship as
foundational to planning care. This action supports safety,
clinical judgment, and beginning individualized interventions.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Group activities can be helpful but may overwhelm a newly
admitted, distressed client before assessment and rapport.
C. Handing written material is passive and insufficient for initial
assessment or support.
D. Contacting an employer without consent violates
confidentiality and is not an initial nursing action.
,Teaching point:
Begin with assessment and rapport before implementing group
or external interventions.
Citation:
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations — Mental Health and Mental Illness /
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
Stem
A client presents with symptoms that cross diagnostic
categories and fluctuate over weeks. The interdisciplinary team
requests clarification for the treatment plan. Which statement
best reflects the nurse’s appropriate use of the DSM in planning
care?
A. Use DSM criteria as the sole basis for the nursing diagnosis
and interventions.
B. Combine DSM diagnostic formulation with a nursing
assessment that addresses functioning and safety.
C. Avoid using DSM terminology because it stigmatizes clients
and is not clinically useful.
D. Substitute DSM labels with lay descriptions to simplify
documentation.
, Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
DSM diagnostic criteria inform psychiatric diagnosis, but nursing
care requires assessment of functioning, safety, coping, and
psychosocial needs. Videbeck supports integrating diagnostic
frameworks with nursing assessment to plan holistic,
individualized care.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. DSM alone is insufficient for nursing diagnoses, which
emphasize responses to illness.
C. While stigma is a concern, DSM is clinically useful when used
thoughtfully.
D. Lay descriptions may clarify communication but cannot
replace diagnostic specificity needed for care planning.
Teaching point:
Integrate DSM diagnosis with functional, safety, and
psychosocial nursing assessments.
Citation:
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations — Historical Perspectives of Treatment of
Mental Illness
10TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)SHEILA L. VIDEBECK
TEST BANK
UNIT 1 — CURRENT THEORIES & PRACTICE
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations of Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing —
Introduction / Mental Health and Mental Illness
Stem
A 28-year-old client is admitted to the psychiatric unit after
increasing social withdrawal, difficulty sleeping, and inability to
attend work for 2 weeks. The client is tearful and says, “I feel
different — I don’t know who I am anymore.” As the nurse,
,which initial action best demonstrates application of
psychiatric–mental health nursing principles?
A. Encourage the client to join the group activity scheduled in
30 minutes to reduce isolation.
B. Conduct a focused mental status examination and establish a
therapeutic, empathic rapport.
C. Provide a pamphlet that describes common mental disorders
and ask the client to read it.
D. Immediately contact the client’s employer to verify missed
work and discuss accommodations.
Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
A focused mental status exam plus establishing therapeutic
rapport is the priority to assess current symptoms and begin
building a trusting nurse–patient relationship. Videbeck
emphasizes assessment and the therapeutic relationship as
foundational to planning care. This action supports safety,
clinical judgment, and beginning individualized interventions.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. Group activities can be helpful but may overwhelm a newly
admitted, distressed client before assessment and rapport.
C. Handing written material is passive and insufficient for initial
assessment or support.
D. Contacting an employer without consent violates
confidentiality and is not an initial nursing action.
,Teaching point:
Begin with assessment and rapport before implementing group
or external interventions.
Citation:
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations — Mental Health and Mental Illness /
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
Stem
A client presents with symptoms that cross diagnostic
categories and fluctuate over weeks. The interdisciplinary team
requests clarification for the treatment plan. Which statement
best reflects the nurse’s appropriate use of the DSM in planning
care?
A. Use DSM criteria as the sole basis for the nursing diagnosis
and interventions.
B. Combine DSM diagnostic formulation with a nursing
assessment that addresses functioning and safety.
C. Avoid using DSM terminology because it stigmatizes clients
and is not clinically useful.
D. Substitute DSM labels with lay descriptions to simplify
documentation.
, Answer: B
Rationale — Correct (B)
DSM diagnostic criteria inform psychiatric diagnosis, but nursing
care requires assessment of functioning, safety, coping, and
psychosocial needs. Videbeck supports integrating diagnostic
frameworks with nursing assessment to plan holistic,
individualized care.
Rationale — Incorrect
A. DSM alone is insufficient for nursing diagnoses, which
emphasize responses to illness.
C. While stigma is a concern, DSM is clinically useful when used
thoughtfully.
D. Lay descriptions may clarify communication but cannot
replace diagnostic specificity needed for care planning.
Teaching point:
Integrate DSM diagnosis with functional, safety, and
psychosocial nursing assessments.
Citation:
Videbeck, S. L. (2025). Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing (10th
ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference
Ch. 1 — Foundations — Historical Perspectives of Treatment of
Mental Illness
