MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026
1. "Will you briefly summarize your point because others need
time also?"
2. "Your behavior is obnoxious and drains the group."
3. "I'm so frustrated with your behavior."
4. to ignore the behavior and allow him to vent. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -1. "Will you briefly summarize your point because
others need time also?"
Option 1 redirects the client to focus his comments and allows him
to make his point. Option 2 is judgmental, and option 3 doesn't
facilitate communication. Option 4 focuses more on the nurse
than on the client's need.
The most effective way for the nurse to set limits for a newly
admitted client who puts out cigarettes on the floor of the room
designated for smoking is to:
,1. restrict the client's smoking to times when a staff member can
supervise closely.
2. encourage other clients to speak with the client about dirtying
the floor.
3. ask if the client puts out cigarettes on the floor at home.
4. hand the client an ashtray and state that he must use it or he
won't be allowed to smoke. - CORRECT ANSWERS -4.
hand the client an ashtray and state that he must use it or he
won't be allowed to smoke.
Setting limits is necessary to help clients behave in socially
acceptable ways. By handing the client an ashtray and stating
objectively that the client must use it or he won't be allowed to
smoke, the nurse is setting limits on behavior. Because this client
is newly admitted, the nurse may need to restate these limits in a
manner that shows disapproval of the behavior but doesn't reject
the client as a person. A matter-of-fact, nonpunitive tone of voice
is important. The nurse must stress that noncompliance will have
consequences — in this case, a prohibition against smoking.
Encouraging other clients to deal with a new client isn't advisable.
Asking if the client puts out cigarettes on the floor at home has no
bearing on whether this behavior is acceptable in the hospital.
A client with borderline personality disorder dramatically
expresses feelings about each nurse on the staff, stating that only
one nurse is understanding and trustworthy — namely, the nurse
the client is talking to at the time. This client is demonstrating
which behavior?
,1. Confidentiality
2. Splitting
3. Empathy
4. Gnawing - CORRECT ANSWERS -2. Splitting
In splitting, or primitive dissociation, the client categorizes people
as good or bad and tries to keep the bad from contaminating the
good. Such a client may view a staff member as ideal and then
devalue that person. Confidentiality is the protection of client
information. Empathy is the nurse's attempt to understand and
respond to a client's needs and feelings. Gnawing isn't a term used
in psychiatric nursing.
Which statement accurately describes therapeutic
communication?
1. Offering advice and your opinion
2. Not verbalizing your feelings
3. Avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval
4. Telling the client how to cope - CORRECT ANSWERS -3.
Avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval
The goal of therapeutic communication is to help the client
develop insight and skills to solve his own problems. This is done
by avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval.
, Pointing out mistakes can make a client defensive. The client-
nurse relationship isn't the place for the nurse to offer advice or
an opinion. It also isn't the place for the nurse to verbalize her
own feelings. The client needs assistance in developing coping
skills, not someone to solve problems for him.
A client in group therapy is restless. His face is flushed and he
makes sarcastic remarks to group members. The nurse responds
by saying, "You look angry." The nurse is using which technique?
1. A broad, opening statement
2. Reassurance
3. Clarifying
4. Making observations - CORRECT ANSWERS -4. Making
observations
The nurse is using observation to give the client feedback about
his behavior and attitude. A broad statement doesn't give
feedback to the client. The nurse didn't ask the client to explain
his actions (clarifying) and didn't reassure the client.
The American Nurses Association guidelines state that to serve as
a group therapist a nurse must have what educational
background?
1. Master's degree in psychiatric nursing
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS 2026
1. "Will you briefly summarize your point because others need
time also?"
2. "Your behavior is obnoxious and drains the group."
3. "I'm so frustrated with your behavior."
4. to ignore the behavior and allow him to vent. - CORRECT
ANSWERS -1. "Will you briefly summarize your point because
others need time also?"
Option 1 redirects the client to focus his comments and allows him
to make his point. Option 2 is judgmental, and option 3 doesn't
facilitate communication. Option 4 focuses more on the nurse
than on the client's need.
The most effective way for the nurse to set limits for a newly
admitted client who puts out cigarettes on the floor of the room
designated for smoking is to:
,1. restrict the client's smoking to times when a staff member can
supervise closely.
2. encourage other clients to speak with the client about dirtying
the floor.
3. ask if the client puts out cigarettes on the floor at home.
4. hand the client an ashtray and state that he must use it or he
won't be allowed to smoke. - CORRECT ANSWERS -4.
hand the client an ashtray and state that he must use it or he
won't be allowed to smoke.
Setting limits is necessary to help clients behave in socially
acceptable ways. By handing the client an ashtray and stating
objectively that the client must use it or he won't be allowed to
smoke, the nurse is setting limits on behavior. Because this client
is newly admitted, the nurse may need to restate these limits in a
manner that shows disapproval of the behavior but doesn't reject
the client as a person. A matter-of-fact, nonpunitive tone of voice
is important. The nurse must stress that noncompliance will have
consequences — in this case, a prohibition against smoking.
Encouraging other clients to deal with a new client isn't advisable.
Asking if the client puts out cigarettes on the floor at home has no
bearing on whether this behavior is acceptable in the hospital.
A client with borderline personality disorder dramatically
expresses feelings about each nurse on the staff, stating that only
one nurse is understanding and trustworthy — namely, the nurse
the client is talking to at the time. This client is demonstrating
which behavior?
,1. Confidentiality
2. Splitting
3. Empathy
4. Gnawing - CORRECT ANSWERS -2. Splitting
In splitting, or primitive dissociation, the client categorizes people
as good or bad and tries to keep the bad from contaminating the
good. Such a client may view a staff member as ideal and then
devalue that person. Confidentiality is the protection of client
information. Empathy is the nurse's attempt to understand and
respond to a client's needs and feelings. Gnawing isn't a term used
in psychiatric nursing.
Which statement accurately describes therapeutic
communication?
1. Offering advice and your opinion
2. Not verbalizing your feelings
3. Avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval
4. Telling the client how to cope - CORRECT ANSWERS -3.
Avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval
The goal of therapeutic communication is to help the client
develop insight and skills to solve his own problems. This is done
by avoiding advice, judgment, false reassurance, and approval.
, Pointing out mistakes can make a client defensive. The client-
nurse relationship isn't the place for the nurse to offer advice or
an opinion. It also isn't the place for the nurse to verbalize her
own feelings. The client needs assistance in developing coping
skills, not someone to solve problems for him.
A client in group therapy is restless. His face is flushed and he
makes sarcastic remarks to group members. The nurse responds
by saying, "You look angry." The nurse is using which technique?
1. A broad, opening statement
2. Reassurance
3. Clarifying
4. Making observations - CORRECT ANSWERS -4. Making
observations
The nurse is using observation to give the client feedback about
his behavior and attitude. A broad statement doesn't give
feedback to the client. The nurse didn't ask the client to explain
his actions (clarifying) and didn't reassure the client.
The American Nurses Association guidelines state that to serve as
a group therapist a nurse must have what educational
background?
1. Master's degree in psychiatric nursing
