,NSG 221 Exam 3 Mental Health Nursing Questions And Answers
2026/2027 HERZING UNIVERSITY
Q1. Which finding is characteristic of mild anxiety?
A) Severely narrowed perceptual field
B) Increased alertness and effective problem-solving
C) Inability to concentrate on any stimulus
D) Loss of contact with reality
Correct Answer: B) Increased alertness and effective problem-solving
Rationale: Mild anxiety can sharpen perception, increase motivation, and
improve learning and problem-solving.
Q2. Which physiologic response is commonly associated with mild
anxiety?
A) Restlessness and fidgeting
B) Complete immobility
C) Severe autonomic instability
D) Loss of consciousness
Correct Answer: A) Restlessness and fidgeting
Rationale: Mild anxiety may produce restlessness, fidgeting,
gastrointestinal sensations, difficulty sleeping, and increased sensitivity to
noise.
Q3. Which perceptual change is characteristic of moderate anxiety?
A) Broad awareness of every environmental stimulus
B) Narrowed perceptual field
C) Complete inability to perceive the environment
D) Loss of consciousness
Correct Answer: B) Narrowed perceptual field
Rationale: Moderate anxiety narrows attention so the person focuses on
selected aspects of the environment.
Q4. Which physiologic finding is associated with moderate anxiety?
A) Muscle tension and diaphoresis
B) Complete relaxation
C) Absence of autonomic symptoms
D) Profound unconsciousness
Correct Answer: A) Muscle tension and diaphoresis
Rationale: Moderate anxiety may produce muscle tension, sweating,
increased pulse, headache, and other autonomic responses.
, Q5. A client experiencing severe anxiety is unable to concentrate on
the nurse's questions. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A) Provide lengthy explanations
B) Use brief, simple statements
C) Ask several questions simultaneously
D) Require the client to make complex decisions
Correct Answer: B) Use brief, simple statements
Rationale: Severe anxiety significantly reduces attention and information-
processing ability, so communication should be simple and focused.
Q6. Which finding is characteristic of severe anxiety?
A) Greatly narrowed perceptual field
B) Improved problem-solving
C) Enhanced ability to learn
D) Broad environmental awareness
Correct Answer: A) Greatly narrowed perceptual field
Rationale: Severe anxiety markedly restricts attention and makes
concentration and problem-solving difficult.
Q7. Which finding is most characteristic of panic-level anxiety?
A) Enhanced ability to solve problems
B) Gross impairment of functioning and loss of control
C) Mild restlessness
D) Increased learning ability
Correct Answer: B) Gross impairment of functioning and loss of control
Rationale: Panic severely disrupts perception, cognition, communication,
and behavioral control.
Q8. A client experiencing panic is pacing and cannot follow
instructions. What should the nurse do first?
A) Ask the client to analyze the cause of the panic
B) Stay with the client and reduce environmental stimulation
C) Give detailed health teaching
D) Leave the client alone
Correct Answer: B) Stay with the client and reduce environmental stimulation
Rationale: During panic, the nurse's priorities are safety, presence, and
reduction of stimuli rather than complex discussion.
Q9. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for mild anxiety?
A) No direct intervention may be required if the client remains functional
B) Immediate seclusion
C) Continuous one-to-one observation
2026/2027 HERZING UNIVERSITY
Q1. Which finding is characteristic of mild anxiety?
A) Severely narrowed perceptual field
B) Increased alertness and effective problem-solving
C) Inability to concentrate on any stimulus
D) Loss of contact with reality
Correct Answer: B) Increased alertness and effective problem-solving
Rationale: Mild anxiety can sharpen perception, increase motivation, and
improve learning and problem-solving.
Q2. Which physiologic response is commonly associated with mild
anxiety?
A) Restlessness and fidgeting
B) Complete immobility
C) Severe autonomic instability
D) Loss of consciousness
Correct Answer: A) Restlessness and fidgeting
Rationale: Mild anxiety may produce restlessness, fidgeting,
gastrointestinal sensations, difficulty sleeping, and increased sensitivity to
noise.
Q3. Which perceptual change is characteristic of moderate anxiety?
A) Broad awareness of every environmental stimulus
B) Narrowed perceptual field
C) Complete inability to perceive the environment
D) Loss of consciousness
Correct Answer: B) Narrowed perceptual field
Rationale: Moderate anxiety narrows attention so the person focuses on
selected aspects of the environment.
Q4. Which physiologic finding is associated with moderate anxiety?
A) Muscle tension and diaphoresis
B) Complete relaxation
C) Absence of autonomic symptoms
D) Profound unconsciousness
Correct Answer: A) Muscle tension and diaphoresis
Rationale: Moderate anxiety may produce muscle tension, sweating,
increased pulse, headache, and other autonomic responses.
, Q5. A client experiencing severe anxiety is unable to concentrate on
the nurse's questions. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A) Provide lengthy explanations
B) Use brief, simple statements
C) Ask several questions simultaneously
D) Require the client to make complex decisions
Correct Answer: B) Use brief, simple statements
Rationale: Severe anxiety significantly reduces attention and information-
processing ability, so communication should be simple and focused.
Q6. Which finding is characteristic of severe anxiety?
A) Greatly narrowed perceptual field
B) Improved problem-solving
C) Enhanced ability to learn
D) Broad environmental awareness
Correct Answer: A) Greatly narrowed perceptual field
Rationale: Severe anxiety markedly restricts attention and makes
concentration and problem-solving difficult.
Q7. Which finding is most characteristic of panic-level anxiety?
A) Enhanced ability to solve problems
B) Gross impairment of functioning and loss of control
C) Mild restlessness
D) Increased learning ability
Correct Answer: B) Gross impairment of functioning and loss of control
Rationale: Panic severely disrupts perception, cognition, communication,
and behavioral control.
Q8. A client experiencing panic is pacing and cannot follow
instructions. What should the nurse do first?
A) Ask the client to analyze the cause of the panic
B) Stay with the client and reduce environmental stimulation
C) Give detailed health teaching
D) Leave the client alone
Correct Answer: B) Stay with the client and reduce environmental stimulation
Rationale: During panic, the nurse's priorities are safety, presence, and
reduction of stimuli rather than complex discussion.
Q9. Which nursing intervention is appropriate for mild anxiety?
A) No direct intervention may be required if the client remains functional
B) Immediate seclusion
C) Continuous one-to-one observation
