Page 1 of 105
NUR 208: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST
VERSION 2026 - 2027
NUR 208: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING – 300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A new graduate nurse has accepted a staff position at an inpatient mental health
facility. The graduate nurse can expect to be responsible for basic-level functions,
including:
A) Prescriptive authority
B) Counseling and health teaching
C) Psychotherapy
D) Program development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Basic-level functions of the psychiatric–mental health nurse include
counseling, milieu therapy, self-care activities, psychobiologic interventions, health
teaching, case management, and health promotion/maintenance. Advanced-level
functions include psychotherapy, prescriptive authority, consultation/liaison,
evaluation, and program development .
2. Which of the following is defined as an advanced-level function in the practice area of
psychiatric–mental health nursing?
A) Case management
B) Counseling
C) Evaluation
D) Health teaching
Correct Answer: C
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Rationale: Advanced-level functions are psychotherapy, prescriptive authority,
consultation and liaison, evaluation, and program development and management.
Case management, counseling, and health teaching are basic-level functions .
3. The primary purpose of psychiatric–mental health nursing is to:
A) Cure mental illness
B) Promote mental health and prevent mental illness
C) Prescribe psychotropic medications
D) Provide long-term institutional care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The scope of psychiatric–mental health nursing practice includes promotion
of mental health, prevention of mental illness, and care of persons with mental
disorders. While treatment is a component, the overarching focus is on promotion and
prevention.
4. The concept of "recovery" in mental health nursing refers to:
A) Complete elimination of symptoms
B) A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness and
strive to reach their full potential
C) Permanent institutionalization
D) Reliance on medication alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their
health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. It is
not defined by the absence of symptoms but by growth and meaning .
5. Trauma-informed care in mental health nursing involves:
A) Avoiding discussion of trauma
B) Understanding the impact of trauma and creating safe environments that avoid re-
traumatization
C) Focusing only on medication management
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D) Isolating the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma-informed care recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and
understands potential paths for recovery. It actively resists re-traumatization by creating
physically and emotionally safe environments .
6. A patient says to the nurse, "I'm so scared to die. Everything is going to be okay,
right?" Which response by the nurse is an example of a non-therapeutic
communication technique?
A) "It sounds like you are feeling very fearful about what is happening."
B) "Can you tell me more about what scares you the most?"
C) "Don't worry, the doctors here are the best, and you will be just fine."
D) "I can see this is a very difficult time for you."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Offering false reassurance ("Don't worry," "Everything will be fine") blocks
open communication and invalidates the patient's legitimate feelings of fear.
Responses A, B, and D are therapeutic as they use reflection, clarification, and
acknowledging feelings .
7. During a mental status examination, the nurse notes that the patient's speech is rapid
and pressured, jumping from topic to topic without logical connections. How should the
nurse document this finding?
A) Mood: euphoric
B) Thought content: delusions
C) Thought process: flight of ideas
D) Perception: hallucinations
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Flight of ideas describes a thought process disturbance characterized by
rapid, continuous speech that skips from one topic to another based on superficial
associations. Mood refers to the sustained emotion, thought content refers to themes
(like delusions), and perception refers to sensory experiences (like hallucinations) .
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8. A patient with a history of childhood abuse becomes intensely angry and yells at the
nurse, "You're just like my mother, always trying to control me!" What phenomenon is
the patient demonstrating?
A) Countertransference
B) Transference
C) Resistance
D) Splitting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transference occurs when a patient unconsciously redirects feelings about
a significant person in their past onto the nurse. Countertransference is when the nurse
redirects their own feelings onto the patient. Splitting is seen in borderline personality
disorder .
9. Which of the following best describes the concept of milieu therapy?
A) A one-on-one intensive psychotherapy technique
B) A structured, safe environment that promotes healing and recovery
C) A form of medication management
D) A type of restraint procedure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Milieu therapy involves creating a structured, safe, and therapeutic
environment that promotes healing and recovery. It includes the physical setting, the
activities, and the interactions among patients and staff .
10. The nurse is caring for a patient who has just been admitted to the psychiatric unit.
Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A) Administering prescribed medications
B) Conducting a comprehensive assessment including safety and risk evaluation
C) Scheduling recreational activities
D) Obtaining informed consent for treatment
Correct Answer: B
NUR 208: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING QUESTIONS EXAM LATEST
VERSION 2026 - 2027
NUR 208: MENTAL HEALTH NURSING – 300 PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. A new graduate nurse has accepted a staff position at an inpatient mental health
facility. The graduate nurse can expect to be responsible for basic-level functions,
including:
A) Prescriptive authority
B) Counseling and health teaching
C) Psychotherapy
D) Program development
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Basic-level functions of the psychiatric–mental health nurse include
counseling, milieu therapy, self-care activities, psychobiologic interventions, health
teaching, case management, and health promotion/maintenance. Advanced-level
functions include psychotherapy, prescriptive authority, consultation/liaison,
evaluation, and program development .
2. Which of the following is defined as an advanced-level function in the practice area of
psychiatric–mental health nursing?
A) Case management
B) Counseling
C) Evaluation
D) Health teaching
Correct Answer: C
, Page 2 of 105
Rationale: Advanced-level functions are psychotherapy, prescriptive authority,
consultation and liaison, evaluation, and program development and management.
Case management, counseling, and health teaching are basic-level functions .
3. The primary purpose of psychiatric–mental health nursing is to:
A) Cure mental illness
B) Promote mental health and prevent mental illness
C) Prescribe psychotropic medications
D) Provide long-term institutional care
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The scope of psychiatric–mental health nursing practice includes promotion
of mental health, prevention of mental illness, and care of persons with mental
disorders. While treatment is a component, the overarching focus is on promotion and
prevention.
4. The concept of "recovery" in mental health nursing refers to:
A) Complete elimination of symptoms
B) A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness and
strive to reach their full potential
C) Permanent institutionalization
D) Reliance on medication alone
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Recovery is a process of change through which individuals improve their
health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential. It is
not defined by the absence of symptoms but by growth and meaning .
5. Trauma-informed care in mental health nursing involves:
A) Avoiding discussion of trauma
B) Understanding the impact of trauma and creating safe environments that avoid re-
traumatization
C) Focusing only on medication management
, Page 3 of 105
D) Isolating the patient
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma-informed care recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and
understands potential paths for recovery. It actively resists re-traumatization by creating
physically and emotionally safe environments .
6. A patient says to the nurse, "I'm so scared to die. Everything is going to be okay,
right?" Which response by the nurse is an example of a non-therapeutic
communication technique?
A) "It sounds like you are feeling very fearful about what is happening."
B) "Can you tell me more about what scares you the most?"
C) "Don't worry, the doctors here are the best, and you will be just fine."
D) "I can see this is a very difficult time for you."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Offering false reassurance ("Don't worry," "Everything will be fine") blocks
open communication and invalidates the patient's legitimate feelings of fear.
Responses A, B, and D are therapeutic as they use reflection, clarification, and
acknowledging feelings .
7. During a mental status examination, the nurse notes that the patient's speech is rapid
and pressured, jumping from topic to topic without logical connections. How should the
nurse document this finding?
A) Mood: euphoric
B) Thought content: delusions
C) Thought process: flight of ideas
D) Perception: hallucinations
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Flight of ideas describes a thought process disturbance characterized by
rapid, continuous speech that skips from one topic to another based on superficial
associations. Mood refers to the sustained emotion, thought content refers to themes
(like delusions), and perception refers to sensory experiences (like hallucinations) .
, Page 4 of 105
8. A patient with a history of childhood abuse becomes intensely angry and yells at the
nurse, "You're just like my mother, always trying to control me!" What phenomenon is
the patient demonstrating?
A) Countertransference
B) Transference
C) Resistance
D) Splitting
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Transference occurs when a patient unconsciously redirects feelings about
a significant person in their past onto the nurse. Countertransference is when the nurse
redirects their own feelings onto the patient. Splitting is seen in borderline personality
disorder .
9. Which of the following best describes the concept of milieu therapy?
A) A one-on-one intensive psychotherapy technique
B) A structured, safe environment that promotes healing and recovery
C) A form of medication management
D) A type of restraint procedure
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Milieu therapy involves creating a structured, safe, and therapeutic
environment that promotes healing and recovery. It includes the physical setting, the
activities, and the interactions among patients and staff .
10. The nurse is caring for a patient who has just been admitted to the psychiatric unit.
Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
A) Administering prescribed medications
B) Conducting a comprehensive assessment including safety and risk evaluation
C) Scheduling recreational activities
D) Obtaining informed consent for treatment
Correct Answer: B
