NSG 3180 Mistic Hernandez High Yield
Comprehensive Practice Exam with Rationales
and Study Guide for Fall Quarter Nursing
Students Just Released
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Questions
1 Mental Health Assessment Questions 1 to 20
2 Therapeutic Communication in Mental Health Questions 21 to 40
3 Mood Disorders Questions 41 to 60
4 Anxiety Disorders Questions 61 to 80
5 Psychotic Disorders Questions 81 to 100
6 Substance Use Disorders Questions 101 to 120
7 Personality Disorders Questions 121 to 140
8 Eating Disorders Questions 141 to 155
9 Cognitive Disorders Questions 156 to 170
10 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Questions 171 to 185
11 Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Questions 186 to 200
Brief Study Tips by Topic
SECTION 1 MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Questions 1 to 20
Question 1
A nurse is conducting a mental health assessment on a patient. The nurse asks
the patient about their mood and affect. Which question best assesses the
patient's mood
A How would you describe your mood over the past few weeks
B Are you feeling sad or depressed
C Do you have trouble sleeping
D Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy
E Do you feel anxious
Answer A How would you describe your mood over the past few weeks
,
Rationale An open-ended question about mood allows the patient to describe
their emotional state in their own words. Closed-ended questions may not
capture the full range of the patient's mood experience. Mood is the sustained
emotional state that the patient reports, while affect is the observable
expression of emotion.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient's thought processes. The patient's speech is
rapid and difficult to interrupt, and the patient jumps from one topic to
another. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding
A Flight of ideas
B Loose associations
C Circumstantiality
D Tangentiality
E Thought blocking
Answer A Flight of ideas
Rationale Flight of ideas is characterized by rapid, pressured speech with
abrupt topic changes based on associations or external stimuli. Loose
associations involve disconnected thoughts with no logical connection.
Circumstantiality involves excessive detail but eventually returns to the point.
Tangentiality involves veering off topic without returning. Thought blocking
involves sudden interruption of speech.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a patient's perception. The patient reports hearing voices
that are not present. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding
A Auditory hallucination
B Visual hallucination
C Illusion
D Delusion
E Depersonalization
Answer A Auditory hallucination
Rationale Auditory hallucinations are false sensory perceptions of sound,
often voices. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that are not present.
,
Illusions are misinterpretations of real stimuli. Delusions are fixed false
beliefs. Depersonalization is a feeling of being detached from oneself.
Auditory hallucinations are common in psychotic disorders.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a patient's insight and judgment. Which question best
assesses the patient's judgment
A If you saw smoke coming from a building, what would you do
B Do you understand why you are in the hospital
C Can you tell me your name and where you are
D Are you able to make decisions about your care
E Do you feel safe at home
Answer A If you saw smoke coming from a building, what would you do
Rationale Judgment is assessed by asking the patient to respond to
hypothetical situations. This question evaluates the patient's ability to make
appropriate decisions. Insight is the patient's understanding of their illness.
Orientation assesses awareness of person, place, and time. Safety assessment
is important but does not directly assess judgment.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a patient's suicide risk. Which question is most
appropriate for assessing suicidal ideation
A Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
B Do you feel like hurting yourself
C Are you thinking about suicide
D Have you ever attempted suicide
E Do you have a plan to kill yourself
Answer A Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Rationale This open-ended question assesses suicidal ideation without being
leading. It allows the patient to report thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Asking directly about suicide does not increase the risk and is essential for
safety. The nurse should ask about thoughts, intent, and plan if the patient
reports suicidal ideation.
Question 6
,
A nurse is assessing a patient's cognitive function. The nurse asks the patient
to recall three words after 5 minutes. Which cognitive function is being
assessed
A Short-term memory
B Immediate memory
C Long-term memory
D Attention
E Concentration
Answer A Short-term memory
Rationale Recalling words after a delay of several minutes assesses short-term
memory. Immediate memory is assessed by immediate recall. Long-term
memory is assessed by recalling past events. Attention and concentration are
assessed by tasks such as serial subtraction. Cognitive assessment includes
orientation, memory, attention, and executive function.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a patient's affect. The patient's facial expression is flat
and unchanging throughout the interview. Which term should the nurse use to
document this finding
A Flat affect
B Blunted affect
C Labile affect
D Restricted affect
E Inappropriate affect
Answer A Flat affect
Rationale Flat affect is characterized by a complete lack of emotional
expression. Blunted affect is reduced but not absent emotional expression.
Labile affect involves rapid, unpredictable shifts in emotion. Restricted affect
involves limited emotional expression. Inappropriate affect involves
emotional responses that do not match the situation.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. The patient is drowsy
but responds to verbal stimuli. Which term should the nurse use to document
this finding
Comprehensive Practice Exam with Rationales
and Study Guide for Fall Quarter Nursing
Students Just Released
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Questions
1 Mental Health Assessment Questions 1 to 20
2 Therapeutic Communication in Mental Health Questions 21 to 40
3 Mood Disorders Questions 41 to 60
4 Anxiety Disorders Questions 61 to 80
5 Psychotic Disorders Questions 81 to 100
6 Substance Use Disorders Questions 101 to 120
7 Personality Disorders Questions 121 to 140
8 Eating Disorders Questions 141 to 155
9 Cognitive Disorders Questions 156 to 170
10 Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention Questions 171 to 185
11 Legal and Ethical Issues in Mental Health Questions 186 to 200
Brief Study Tips by Topic
SECTION 1 MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
Questions 1 to 20
Question 1
A nurse is conducting a mental health assessment on a patient. The nurse asks
the patient about their mood and affect. Which question best assesses the
patient's mood
A How would you describe your mood over the past few weeks
B Are you feeling sad or depressed
C Do you have trouble sleeping
D Have you lost interest in activities you used to enjoy
E Do you feel anxious
Answer A How would you describe your mood over the past few weeks
,
Rationale An open-ended question about mood allows the patient to describe
their emotional state in their own words. Closed-ended questions may not
capture the full range of the patient's mood experience. Mood is the sustained
emotional state that the patient reports, while affect is the observable
expression of emotion.
Question 2
A nurse is assessing a patient's thought processes. The patient's speech is
rapid and difficult to interrupt, and the patient jumps from one topic to
another. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding
A Flight of ideas
B Loose associations
C Circumstantiality
D Tangentiality
E Thought blocking
Answer A Flight of ideas
Rationale Flight of ideas is characterized by rapid, pressured speech with
abrupt topic changes based on associations or external stimuli. Loose
associations involve disconnected thoughts with no logical connection.
Circumstantiality involves excessive detail but eventually returns to the point.
Tangentiality involves veering off topic without returning. Thought blocking
involves sudden interruption of speech.
Question 3
A nurse is assessing a patient's perception. The patient reports hearing voices
that are not present. Which term should the nurse use to document this finding
A Auditory hallucination
B Visual hallucination
C Illusion
D Delusion
E Depersonalization
Answer A Auditory hallucination
Rationale Auditory hallucinations are false sensory perceptions of sound,
often voices. Visual hallucinations involve seeing things that are not present.
,
Illusions are misinterpretations of real stimuli. Delusions are fixed false
beliefs. Depersonalization is a feeling of being detached from oneself.
Auditory hallucinations are common in psychotic disorders.
Question 4
A nurse is assessing a patient's insight and judgment. Which question best
assesses the patient's judgment
A If you saw smoke coming from a building, what would you do
B Do you understand why you are in the hospital
C Can you tell me your name and where you are
D Are you able to make decisions about your care
E Do you feel safe at home
Answer A If you saw smoke coming from a building, what would you do
Rationale Judgment is assessed by asking the patient to respond to
hypothetical situations. This question evaluates the patient's ability to make
appropriate decisions. Insight is the patient's understanding of their illness.
Orientation assesses awareness of person, place, and time. Safety assessment
is important but does not directly assess judgment.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a patient's suicide risk. Which question is most
appropriate for assessing suicidal ideation
A Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
B Do you feel like hurting yourself
C Are you thinking about suicide
D Have you ever attempted suicide
E Do you have a plan to kill yourself
Answer A Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life
Rationale This open-ended question assesses suicidal ideation without being
leading. It allows the patient to report thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Asking directly about suicide does not increase the risk and is essential for
safety. The nurse should ask about thoughts, intent, and plan if the patient
reports suicidal ideation.
Question 6
,
A nurse is assessing a patient's cognitive function. The nurse asks the patient
to recall three words after 5 minutes. Which cognitive function is being
assessed
A Short-term memory
B Immediate memory
C Long-term memory
D Attention
E Concentration
Answer A Short-term memory
Rationale Recalling words after a delay of several minutes assesses short-term
memory. Immediate memory is assessed by immediate recall. Long-term
memory is assessed by recalling past events. Attention and concentration are
assessed by tasks such as serial subtraction. Cognitive assessment includes
orientation, memory, attention, and executive function.
Question 7
A nurse is assessing a patient's affect. The patient's facial expression is flat
and unchanging throughout the interview. Which term should the nurse use to
document this finding
A Flat affect
B Blunted affect
C Labile affect
D Restricted affect
E Inappropriate affect
Answer A Flat affect
Rationale Flat affect is characterized by a complete lack of emotional
expression. Blunted affect is reduced but not absent emotional expression.
Labile affect involves rapid, unpredictable shifts in emotion. Restricted affect
involves limited emotional expression. Inappropriate affect involves
emotional responses that do not match the situation.
Question 8
A nurse is assessing a patient's level of consciousness. The patient is drowsy
but responds to verbal stimuli. Which term should the nurse use to document
this finding
