NUR 256 Exam
NUR 256 Exam 1 – Concepts of Mental Health
Nursing – (2026) Actual Questions & Answers
(Galen College of Nursing)
|GRADED A+| (EXAM READY)
(Solved) SCORE A
A client is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which intervention should the nurse include
when developing the care plan?
1. Setting strict limits on compulsive behavior
A+ TEST BANK 1
, NUR 256 Exam
2. Giving the client time to perform rituals
3. Increasing environmental stimulation
4. Preventing ritualistic behavior –
Correct Answer :2. Giving the client time to perform rituals
The nurse should give the client time to perform rituals because this reduces anxiety. The other
options would increase the client's anxiety.
A client is admitted to the acute psychiatric care unit after 2 weeks of increasingly erratic behavior. The
client has been sleeping poorly, has lost 8 lb (3.6 kg), is poorly groomed, exhibits hyperactivity, and
loudly denies the need for hospitalization. Which nursing intervention takes priority for this client?
1. Providing adequate hygiene
2. Administering a sedative as prescribed
3. Decreasing environmental stimulation
4. Involving the client in unit activities –
Correct Answer :3. Decreasing environmental stimulation
This client is at increased risk for injuring himself or others. Decreasing environmental stimulation is a
measure the nurse can take independently that may reduce the client's hyperactivity. If this nursing
intervention is ineffective, the nurse may administer a sedative, as prescribed. Providing adequate
hygiene is an appropriate nursing intervention but isn't the highest priority. Because the overall goal is
to reduce the client's hyperactivity, involving the client in unit activities is contraindicated.
A client periodically has acute panic attacks. These attacks are unpredictable and have no apparent
association with a specific object or situation. During an acute panic attack, the client may experience:
1. a decreased perceptual field.
2. a decreased heart rate.
A+ TEST BANK 2
, NUR 256 Exam
3. a decreased respiratory rate.
4. heightened concentration. –
Correct Answer :1. a decreased perceptual field.
Panic is the most severe level of anxiety. During a panic attack, the client experiences a decrease in
the perceptual field, becoming more focused on self, less aware of surroundings, and unable to
process information from the environment. The decreased perceptual field contributes to impaired
attention and inability to concentrate. During an acute panic attack, the client may experience an
increase, not a decrease, in the heart and respiratory rates, which results from stimulation of the
sympathetic nervous system.
A client on the behavioral health unit confides in a nurse that she was raped 5 months before. During
the nurse's assessment of her sleep patterns, the client complains of having difficulty falling and
staying asleep. She attributes her irritability to sleep deprivation. Further questioning reveals that the
client can't recall details of the rape, and feels detached when she has sex with her husband. The
nurse recognizes that this client is experiencing symptoms of what disorder?
1. Antisocial personality disorder
2. Cypridophobia
3. Anhedonia
4. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) –
Correct Answer :4. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is characterized by a pattern of symptoms resulting from exposure to a traumatic event. These
symptoms last more than a month, distinguishing this client's disorder from acute stress disorder,
which resolves within a month. Common symptoms of PTSD include intense fear, helplessness, or
horror related to the trauma; recurrent and disturbing recollections or dreams of the trauma;
avoidance of situations related to the trauma; symptoms of arousal such as difficulty falling or staying
asleep; irritability; and an exaggerated startle response. Clients with antisocial personality disorder
show little concern for others and no moral standards. Cypridophobia is an anxiety disorder in which
the client has an overwhelming fear of sexual intercourse. Anhedonia is defined as the absence of
pleasure from acts that ordinarily produce pleasure. Anhedonia is typically a symptom of depression.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, NUR 256 Exam
During the admission assessment, a client with a panic disorder begins to hyperventilate and says, "I'm
going to die if I don't get out of here right now!" What is the nurse's best response?
1. "Just calm down. You're getting overly anxious."
2. "What do you think is causing your panic attack?"
3. "You can rest alone in your room until you feel better."
4. "You're having a panic attack. I'll stay here with you." –
Correct Answer :4. "You're having a panic attack. I'll stay here with you."
During a panic attack, the nurse's best approach is to orient the client to what is happening and
provide reassurance that the client won't be left alone. The anxiety level is likely to increase and the
panic attack is likely to continue if the client is told to calm down (as in option 1), asked the reasons for
the attack (as in option 2), or left alone (as in option 3).
When teaching a group of nurses about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a nurse-educator
explains that this disorder is most common in:
1. is most common in men ages 30 to 40.
2. is most common in women ages 30 to 40.
3. is most common in men ages 20 to 30.
4. can occur in any age group. –
Correct Answer :4. can occur in any age group.
PTSD, the psychological consequence of a traumatic event outside the range of usual human
experience, can occur in persons of any age, including children.
The nurse discovers that a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is attempting to resist the
compulsion. Based on this finding, the nurse should assess the client for:
A+ TEST BANK 4
NUR 256 Exam 1 – Concepts of Mental Health
Nursing – (2026) Actual Questions & Answers
(Galen College of Nursing)
|GRADED A+| (EXAM READY)
(Solved) SCORE A
A client is diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which intervention should the nurse include
when developing the care plan?
1. Setting strict limits on compulsive behavior
A+ TEST BANK 1
, NUR 256 Exam
2. Giving the client time to perform rituals
3. Increasing environmental stimulation
4. Preventing ritualistic behavior –
Correct Answer :2. Giving the client time to perform rituals
The nurse should give the client time to perform rituals because this reduces anxiety. The other
options would increase the client's anxiety.
A client is admitted to the acute psychiatric care unit after 2 weeks of increasingly erratic behavior. The
client has been sleeping poorly, has lost 8 lb (3.6 kg), is poorly groomed, exhibits hyperactivity, and
loudly denies the need for hospitalization. Which nursing intervention takes priority for this client?
1. Providing adequate hygiene
2. Administering a sedative as prescribed
3. Decreasing environmental stimulation
4. Involving the client in unit activities –
Correct Answer :3. Decreasing environmental stimulation
This client is at increased risk for injuring himself or others. Decreasing environmental stimulation is a
measure the nurse can take independently that may reduce the client's hyperactivity. If this nursing
intervention is ineffective, the nurse may administer a sedative, as prescribed. Providing adequate
hygiene is an appropriate nursing intervention but isn't the highest priority. Because the overall goal is
to reduce the client's hyperactivity, involving the client in unit activities is contraindicated.
A client periodically has acute panic attacks. These attacks are unpredictable and have no apparent
association with a specific object or situation. During an acute panic attack, the client may experience:
1. a decreased perceptual field.
2. a decreased heart rate.
A+ TEST BANK 2
, NUR 256 Exam
3. a decreased respiratory rate.
4. heightened concentration. –
Correct Answer :1. a decreased perceptual field.
Panic is the most severe level of anxiety. During a panic attack, the client experiences a decrease in
the perceptual field, becoming more focused on self, less aware of surroundings, and unable to
process information from the environment. The decreased perceptual field contributes to impaired
attention and inability to concentrate. During an acute panic attack, the client may experience an
increase, not a decrease, in the heart and respiratory rates, which results from stimulation of the
sympathetic nervous system.
A client on the behavioral health unit confides in a nurse that she was raped 5 months before. During
the nurse's assessment of her sleep patterns, the client complains of having difficulty falling and
staying asleep. She attributes her irritability to sleep deprivation. Further questioning reveals that the
client can't recall details of the rape, and feels detached when she has sex with her husband. The
nurse recognizes that this client is experiencing symptoms of what disorder?
1. Antisocial personality disorder
2. Cypridophobia
3. Anhedonia
4. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) –
Correct Answer :4. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is characterized by a pattern of symptoms resulting from exposure to a traumatic event. These
symptoms last more than a month, distinguishing this client's disorder from acute stress disorder,
which resolves within a month. Common symptoms of PTSD include intense fear, helplessness, or
horror related to the trauma; recurrent and disturbing recollections or dreams of the trauma;
avoidance of situations related to the trauma; symptoms of arousal such as difficulty falling or staying
asleep; irritability; and an exaggerated startle response. Clients with antisocial personality disorder
show little concern for others and no moral standards. Cypridophobia is an anxiety disorder in which
the client has an overwhelming fear of sexual intercourse. Anhedonia is defined as the absence of
pleasure from acts that ordinarily produce pleasure. Anhedonia is typically a symptom of depression.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, NUR 256 Exam
During the admission assessment, a client with a panic disorder begins to hyperventilate and says, "I'm
going to die if I don't get out of here right now!" What is the nurse's best response?
1. "Just calm down. You're getting overly anxious."
2. "What do you think is causing your panic attack?"
3. "You can rest alone in your room until you feel better."
4. "You're having a panic attack. I'll stay here with you." –
Correct Answer :4. "You're having a panic attack. I'll stay here with you."
During a panic attack, the nurse's best approach is to orient the client to what is happening and
provide reassurance that the client won't be left alone. The anxiety level is likely to increase and the
panic attack is likely to continue if the client is told to calm down (as in option 1), asked the reasons for
the attack (as in option 2), or left alone (as in option 3).
When teaching a group of nurses about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a nurse-educator
explains that this disorder is most common in:
1. is most common in men ages 30 to 40.
2. is most common in women ages 30 to 40.
3. is most common in men ages 20 to 30.
4. can occur in any age group. –
Correct Answer :4. can occur in any age group.
PTSD, the psychological consequence of a traumatic event outside the range of usual human
experience, can occur in persons of any age, including children.
The nurse discovers that a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is attempting to resist the
compulsion. Based on this finding, the nurse should assess the client for:
A+ TEST BANK 4
