,NU 160/NU160 Exam 1 | Mental Health Concepts
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF | Galen College
1. The nurse is using active listening during a client interaction. Which behavior
best demonstrates this technique?
A) Maintaining eye contact and nodding as the client speaks
B) Offering advice based on personal experience
C) Changing the topic when the client cries
D) Asking “Why do you feel that way?”
Correct Answer: Maintaining eye contact and nodding as the client speaks
Rationale: Active listening involves giving full attention, using nonverbal cues
like eye contact and nodding to show engagement. It encourages the client to
share thoughts without interruption. The other options are non-therapeutic:
advice giving, topic changing, and defensive “why” questioning.
2. A client says, “I feel completely alone.” The nurse replies, “You’re feeling
isolated right now.” This is an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Giving false reassurance
D) Summarizing
Correct Answer: Reflection
,Rationale: Reflection directs the client’s feelings back to them, helping them
recognize and accept their emotions. The nurse echoed the feeling of loneliness.
Clarification asks for more detail; false reassurance dismisses feelings;
summarizing condenses multiple points.
3. Which statement by the nurse is an example of the therapeutic technique
offering self?
A) “Tell me more about your family.”
B) “You should try to attend group therapy.”
C) “I’ll sit with you for a while.”
D) “Everything will be okay.”
Correct Answer: “I’ll sit with you for a while.”
Rationale: Offering self communicates presence and willingness to be with the
client without demands. It conveys caring and acceptance. The other options
include open-ended questions (general lead), advice, and false reassurance,
which are different techniques or non-therapeutic.
4. The nurse tells a grieving client, “Don’t worry, you’ll get over this soon.” This
response is an example of which non-therapeutic communication technique?
A) Giving recognition
B) Offering general leads
C) Active listening
D) False reassurance
Correct Answer: False reassurance
, Rationale: False reassurance dismisses the client’s feelings with an empty
promise of positive outcome, blocking further emotional expression. Giving
recognition notices changes, general leads encourage discussion, and active
listening is therapeutic.
5. A client is tearful and unable to speak. The nurse sits quietly at the bedside.
This use of silence is therapeutic because it:
A) Allows the client time to collect their thoughts and feel accepted
B) Forces the client to speak
C) Conveys that the nurse has nothing to say
D) Is a passive-aggressive response to crying
Correct Answer: Allows the client time to collect their thoughts and feel
accepted
Rationale: Therapeutic silence gives space for processing emotions,
communicates empathy, and does not pressure the client. It is an intentional,
caring presence. Using silence to force speech, convey indifference, or passively
aggress is not therapeutic.
6. A client diagnosed with cancer states, “I feel perfectly healthy; the test results
must be wrong.” The nurse identifies this as which defense mechanism?
A) Repression
B) Denial
C) Projection
D) Rationalization
(2026) Actual Q&A PDF | Galen College
1. The nurse is using active listening during a client interaction. Which behavior
best demonstrates this technique?
A) Maintaining eye contact and nodding as the client speaks
B) Offering advice based on personal experience
C) Changing the topic when the client cries
D) Asking “Why do you feel that way?”
Correct Answer: Maintaining eye contact and nodding as the client speaks
Rationale: Active listening involves giving full attention, using nonverbal cues
like eye contact and nodding to show engagement. It encourages the client to
share thoughts without interruption. The other options are non-therapeutic:
advice giving, topic changing, and defensive “why” questioning.
2. A client says, “I feel completely alone.” The nurse replies, “You’re feeling
isolated right now.” This is an example of:
A) Clarification
B) Reflection
C) Giving false reassurance
D) Summarizing
Correct Answer: Reflection
,Rationale: Reflection directs the client’s feelings back to them, helping them
recognize and accept their emotions. The nurse echoed the feeling of loneliness.
Clarification asks for more detail; false reassurance dismisses feelings;
summarizing condenses multiple points.
3. Which statement by the nurse is an example of the therapeutic technique
offering self?
A) “Tell me more about your family.”
B) “You should try to attend group therapy.”
C) “I’ll sit with you for a while.”
D) “Everything will be okay.”
Correct Answer: “I’ll sit with you for a while.”
Rationale: Offering self communicates presence and willingness to be with the
client without demands. It conveys caring and acceptance. The other options
include open-ended questions (general lead), advice, and false reassurance,
which are different techniques or non-therapeutic.
4. The nurse tells a grieving client, “Don’t worry, you’ll get over this soon.” This
response is an example of which non-therapeutic communication technique?
A) Giving recognition
B) Offering general leads
C) Active listening
D) False reassurance
Correct Answer: False reassurance
, Rationale: False reassurance dismisses the client’s feelings with an empty
promise of positive outcome, blocking further emotional expression. Giving
recognition notices changes, general leads encourage discussion, and active
listening is therapeutic.
5. A client is tearful and unable to speak. The nurse sits quietly at the bedside.
This use of silence is therapeutic because it:
A) Allows the client time to collect their thoughts and feel accepted
B) Forces the client to speak
C) Conveys that the nurse has nothing to say
D) Is a passive-aggressive response to crying
Correct Answer: Allows the client time to collect their thoughts and feel
accepted
Rationale: Therapeutic silence gives space for processing emotions,
communicates empathy, and does not pressure the client. It is an intentional,
caring presence. Using silence to force speech, convey indifference, or passively
aggress is not therapeutic.
6. A client diagnosed with cancer states, “I feel perfectly healthy; the test results
must be wrong.” The nurse identifies this as which defense mechanism?
A) Repression
B) Denial
C) Projection
D) Rationalization
