Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Pollard: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 3rd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is considered an Advanced Practice Intervention?
a. Conducting mental health assessments (MSA)
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication
c. Establishing therapeutic relationships
d. Individualizing nursing care plans
ANS: B
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses can further their education at a
baccalaureate level or at the graduate level (master’s doctorate) and become qualified to
practise psychiatric mental health nursing at two levels – basic and advanced – developing
on their education preparation. Prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as they have taken additional advanced courses on prescribing
medication. Appropriate use of diagnostic tests must be completed as well as having
hospital admitting privileges. Establishing therapeutic relationship, conducting mental
health assessments (MSAs), and individualizing nursing care plans are foundational
psychiatric nursing skills. Therefore, they are considered Basic-Level Interventions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. Which has been identified as a priority for national plans and strategies in psychiatric
mental health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
In early phases of strategic development, the Mental Health Commission of Canada
identified cultural diversity as a priority for national plans and strategies. Increasing
cultural diversity within Canada warrants deeper attention to culturally safe care and
concern for the mental health consequences of colonization and racism. An aging
population and shortage of physicians are important to future trends. The role of the
advanced practice nurse is continuing to evolve in psychiatric mental health nursing in
Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
3. Which serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders?
a. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
, d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by
the American Psychiatric Association in 1952. Its purpose was to provide clinicians,
educators, and researchers with a common framework to understand and communicate
about mental disorders. With a common understanding about mental disorders, researchers
and clinicians could work together in their attempts to improve care for people with mental
illness. The current DSM-5 serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric
disorders. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) sets the global health
information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics. Clinicians and researchers use
this classification system to define diseases, study disease patterns, monitor outcomes, and
subsequently allocate resources based on the prevalence of disease. The Canadian Institute
for Health Information developed an enhanced version of the previous version, ICD-10
referred to as the ICD 10-CA period that version extends beyond defining and classifying
diseases to describe conditions and situations that are not diseases, including for example,
risk factors to health and psychosocial circumstances. A behavioral health reference
manual and NurseOne online are not used as official guides for diagnosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. When locating the description and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders, which resource
would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the
official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources
but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. An individual repressing their stressors who is having a difficult time coping with
activities of daily living (ADLs)
b. An individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse
c. An individual who lives in a shelter for 2 years after their home is destroyed by a
fire
d. An individual who navigates and negotiates resources to support their well-being
ANS: D
Pollard: Varcarolis’s Canadian Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 3rd Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is considered an Advanced Practice Intervention?
a. Conducting mental health assessments (MSA)
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication
c. Establishing therapeutic relationships
d. Individualizing nursing care plans
ANS: B
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses can further their education at a
baccalaureate level or at the graduate level (master’s doctorate) and become qualified to
practise psychiatric mental health nursing at two levels – basic and advanced – developing
on their education preparation. Prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) as they have taken additional advanced courses on prescribing
medication. Appropriate use of diagnostic tests must be completed as well as having
hospital admitting privileges. Establishing therapeutic relationship, conducting mental
health assessments (MSAs), and individualizing nursing care plans are foundational
psychiatric nursing skills. Therefore, they are considered Basic-Level Interventions.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
2. Which has been identified as a priority for national plans and strategies in psychiatric
mental health nursing in Canada?
a. Decrease in the aging population
b. Increase in cultural diversity
c. Role of the advanced practice nurse
d. Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas
ANS: B
In early phases of strategic development, the Mental Health Commission of Canada
identified cultural diversity as a priority for national plans and strategies. Increasing
cultural diversity within Canada warrants deeper attention to culturally safe care and
concern for the mental health consequences of colonization and racism. An aging
population and shortage of physicians are important to future trends. The role of the
advanced practice nurse is continuing to evolve in psychiatric mental health nursing in
Canada.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Outcome Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
3. Which serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders?
a. International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
c. A behavioural health reference manual
, d. NurseOne online
ANS: B
The first Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) was published by
the American Psychiatric Association in 1952. Its purpose was to provide clinicians,
educators, and researchers with a common framework to understand and communicate
about mental disorders. With a common understanding about mental disorders, researchers
and clinicians could work together in their attempts to improve care for people with mental
illness. The current DSM-5 serves as the official guide for diagnosing psychiatric
disorders. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) sets the global health
information standard for mortality and morbidity statistics. Clinicians and researchers use
this classification system to define diseases, study disease patterns, monitor outcomes, and
subsequently allocate resources based on the prevalence of disease. The Canadian Institute
for Health Information developed an enhanced version of the previous version, ICD-10
referred to as the ICD 10-CA period that version extends beyond defining and classifying
diseases to describe conditions and situations that are not diseases, including for example,
risk factors to health and psychosocial circumstances. A behavioral health reference
manual and NurseOne online are not used as official guides for diagnosis.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
4. When locating the description and diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders, which resource
would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c. The ANA’s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
(ICD-10)
ANS: B
The DSM-5 details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions and is the
official guide for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources
but do not define the diagnostic criteria.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe Effective Care Environment
5. Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?
a. An individual repressing their stressors who is having a difficult time coping with
activities of daily living (ADLs)
b. An individual who is in a depressed state after the death of their spouse
c. An individual who lives in a shelter for 2 years after their home is destroyed by a
fire
d. An individual who navigates and negotiates resources to support their well-being
ANS: D
