Mental Health Nursing,
Psychiatric Disorders, and
Therapeutic Communication
2026
---
**Target Question Count: 70**
---
### Question 1
A patient with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, "I don't see the point in anything anymore. I
just want to go to sleep and not wake up." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "You have so much to live for. Think about your family."
B. "I understand you're feeling hopeless. Are you thinking about harming yourself?"
,C. "Everyone feels down sometimes. These feelings will pass."
D. "Let's talk about your medications and how they're working."
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The patient's statement indicates suicidal ideation. The nurse should directly
assess the patient's risk of self-harm by asking about suicidal thoughts, plans, and intent. This is the
priority intervention to ensure patient safety.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. "I understand you're feeling hopeless. Are you thinking about harming
yourself?"
---
### Question 2
A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. The patient tells the nurse, "The
voices are telling me I'm worthless." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "I don't hear any voices. You're safe here."
B. "Try to ignore the voices and focus on what's real."
C. "The voices are not real. They are a symptom of your illness."
D. "I understand you're hearing voices. Do they frighten you?"
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should acknowledge the patient's experience without reinforcing the
hallucination. Asking about the emotional response to the voices validates the patient's feelings while
maintaining a therapeutic connection.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. "I understand you're hearing voices. Do they frighten you?"
,---
### Question 3
A patient with borderline personality disorder is experiencing intense anger and threatens to leave the
unit against medical advice. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the patient they cannot leave until they calm down
B. Call security to restrain the patient
C. Use a calm, firm approach and set clear limits on behavior
D. Ignore the behavior and allow the patient to leave
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Patients with borderline personality disorder benefit from consistent, calm limit-
setting. The nurse should use a firm but non-punitive approach to help the patient maintain control
while reinforcing boundaries.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use a calm, firm approach and set clear limits on behavior
---
### Question 4
The nurse is caring for a patient with generalized anxiety disorder. Which finding is most consistent with
this diagnosis?
A. Panic attacks occurring unpredictably
B. Excessive worry about multiple topics for at least 6 months
, C. Intense fear of social situations
D. Recurrent intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
about multiple topics that persists for at least 6 months. Physical symptoms such as restlessness,
fatigue, and muscle tension may also be present.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Excessive worry about multiple topics for at least 6 months
---
### Question 5
A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports experiencing nightmares and flashbacks.
Which intervention should the nurse implement to promote sleep?
A. Encourage the patient to watch television before bed
B. Provide a quiet, calm environment and offer relaxation techniques
C. Keep the patient's room light on to reduce fear
D. Discuss the traumatic event in detail before bedtime
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Providing a quiet, calm environment and offering relaxation techniques can help
reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Discussing the traumatic event before bedtime may increase anxiety
and worsen sleep disturbances.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provide a quiet, calm environment and offer relaxation techniques
Psychiatric Disorders, and
Therapeutic Communication
2026
---
**Target Question Count: 70**
---
### Question 1
A patient with major depressive disorder tells the nurse, "I don't see the point in anything anymore. I
just want to go to sleep and not wake up." Which response by the nurse is most appropriate?
A. "You have so much to live for. Think about your family."
B. "I understand you're feeling hopeless. Are you thinking about harming yourself?"
,C. "Everyone feels down sometimes. These feelings will pass."
D. "Let's talk about your medications and how they're working."
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The patient's statement indicates suicidal ideation. The nurse should directly
assess the patient's risk of self-harm by asking about suicidal thoughts, plans, and intent. This is the
priority intervention to ensure patient safety.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. "I understand you're feeling hopeless. Are you thinking about harming
yourself?"
---
### Question 2
A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. The patient tells the nurse, "The
voices are telling me I'm worthless." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "I don't hear any voices. You're safe here."
B. "Try to ignore the voices and focus on what's real."
C. "The voices are not real. They are a symptom of your illness."
D. "I understand you're hearing voices. Do they frighten you?"
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: The nurse should acknowledge the patient's experience without reinforcing the
hallucination. Asking about the emotional response to the voices validates the patient's feelings while
maintaining a therapeutic connection.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: D. "I understand you're hearing voices. Do they frighten you?"
,---
### Question 3
A patient with borderline personality disorder is experiencing intense anger and threatens to leave the
unit against medical advice. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the patient they cannot leave until they calm down
B. Call security to restrain the patient
C. Use a calm, firm approach and set clear limits on behavior
D. Ignore the behavior and allow the patient to leave
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Patients with borderline personality disorder benefit from consistent, calm limit-
setting. The nurse should use a firm but non-punitive approach to help the patient maintain control
while reinforcing boundaries.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: C. Use a calm, firm approach and set clear limits on behavior
---
### Question 4
The nurse is caring for a patient with generalized anxiety disorder. Which finding is most consistent with
this diagnosis?
A. Panic attacks occurring unpredictably
B. Excessive worry about multiple topics for at least 6 months
, C. Intense fear of social situations
D. Recurrent intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
about multiple topics that persists for at least 6 months. Physical symptoms such as restlessness,
fatigue, and muscle tension may also be present.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Excessive worry about multiple topics for at least 6 months
---
### Question 5
A patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports experiencing nightmares and flashbacks.
Which intervention should the nurse implement to promote sleep?
A. Encourage the patient to watch television before bed
B. Provide a quiet, calm environment and offer relaxation techniques
C. Keep the patient's room light on to reduce fear
D. Discuss the traumatic event in detail before bedtime
💫RATIONALE✔️✔️: Providing a quiet, calm environment and offering relaxation techniques can help
reduce anxiety and promote sleep. Discussing the traumatic event before bedtime may increase anxiety
and worsen sleep disturbances.
💫ANSWER✔️✔️: B. Provide a quiet, calm environment and offer relaxation techniques
