Mental Health Nursing &
Psychiatric Care Examination
2026/2027
**Question 1**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep
B. Anhedonia and fatigue
C. Grandiose delusions
D. Auditory hallucinations
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of interest or
pleasure in activities) and fatigue. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep are signs of mania.
Grandiose delusions and hallucinations are more characteristic of psychosis or schizophrenia.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Anhedonia and fatigue
---
**Question 2**
The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack. Which nursing intervention is most
therapeutic?
A. Leave the client alone to calm down
B. Use a loud, firm voice to direct the client
C. Stay with the client and use a calm, reassuring voice
D. Ask the client to identify the cause of the panic
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: During a panic attack, the client feels a sense of impending doom and loss of
control. The nurse should remain with the client and provide a calm, reassuring presence. Quiet, brief
communication is helpful. Asking the client to identify the cause during the attack is not appropriate.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Stay with the client and use a calm, reassuring voice
---
**Question 3**
The nurse is assessing a client with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Which symptom is considered a
negative symptom?
,A. Hallucinations
B. Delusions
C. Social withdrawal
D. Disorganized speech
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Negative symptoms are a deficit in normal functioning and include social
withdrawal, apathy, flat affect, and anhedonia. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech are
positive symptoms (excess of normal functioning). Negative symptoms are often more difficult to treat.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Social withdrawal
---
**Question 4**
The nurse is providing education to a client who has been prescribed sertraline (Zoloft). Which
instruction is most important?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime to prevent insomnia."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect to be felt."
C. "This medication may cause weight gain."
D. "You should avoid all tyramine-rich foods."
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Antidepressants, including SSRIs like sertraline, take 4-6 weeks to reach
therapeutic effect. The client should be informed of this so they do not discontinue the medication
prematurely. Tyramine restriction is for MAOIs, not SSRIs.
, 💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect to be felt."
---
**Question 5**
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who is in the manic phase. Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
C. Allow the client to set their own activity schedule
D. Engage the client in competitive games
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Clients in a manic episode are easily overstimulated. A quiet, low-stimulation
environment is most appropriate to reduce agitation and prevent escalation. Competitive games and
group activities may increase stimulation and agitation.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
---
**Question 6**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The
client spends hours each day washing their hands. Which nursing intervention is most therapeutic?
Psychiatric Care Examination
2026/2027
**Question 1**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which finding is
most characteristic of this condition?
A. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep
B. Anhedonia and fatigue
C. Grandiose delusions
D. Auditory hallucinations
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of interest or
pleasure in activities) and fatigue. Pressured speech and decreased need for sleep are signs of mania.
Grandiose delusions and hallucinations are more characteristic of psychosis or schizophrenia.
,💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Anhedonia and fatigue
---
**Question 2**
The nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack. Which nursing intervention is most
therapeutic?
A. Leave the client alone to calm down
B. Use a loud, firm voice to direct the client
C. Stay with the client and use a calm, reassuring voice
D. Ask the client to identify the cause of the panic
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: During a panic attack, the client feels a sense of impending doom and loss of
control. The nurse should remain with the client and provide a calm, reassuring presence. Quiet, brief
communication is helpful. Asking the client to identify the cause during the attack is not appropriate.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Stay with the client and use a calm, reassuring voice
---
**Question 3**
The nurse is assessing a client with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Which symptom is considered a
negative symptom?
,A. Hallucinations
B. Delusions
C. Social withdrawal
D. Disorganized speech
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Negative symptoms are a deficit in normal functioning and include social
withdrawal, apathy, flat affect, and anhedonia. Hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized speech are
positive symptoms (excess of normal functioning). Negative symptoms are often more difficult to treat.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Social withdrawal
---
**Question 4**
The nurse is providing education to a client who has been prescribed sertraline (Zoloft). Which
instruction is most important?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime to prevent insomnia."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect to be felt."
C. "This medication may cause weight gain."
D. "You should avoid all tyramine-rich foods."
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Antidepressants, including SSRIs like sertraline, take 4-6 weeks to reach
therapeutic effect. The client should be informed of this so they do not discontinue the medication
prematurely. Tyramine restriction is for MAOIs, not SSRIs.
, 💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect to be felt."
---
**Question 5**
The nurse is caring for a client with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder who is in the manic phase. Which
nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
C. Allow the client to set their own activity schedule
D. Engage the client in competitive games
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Clients in a manic episode are easily overstimulated. A quiet, low-stimulation
environment is most appropriate to reduce agitation and prevent escalation. Competitive games and
group activities may increase stimulation and agitation.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment
---
**Question 6**
The nurse is assessing a client who has been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The
client spends hours each day washing their hands. Which nursing intervention is most therapeutic?
