Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Chapter 1
1. 1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings of
sadness because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The clients appetite,
sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should the nurse
interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of
depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no
mental illness.: 4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment,
indicating no mental illness.
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is not impaired.
The client who experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding
within normal expectations. Without significant impairment, the clients distress does
not indicate a mental illness
2. 2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for
developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-5
criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in
daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection.: 2. When
maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily
functioning.
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental illness
when responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The
DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a mental illness, daily functioning
must be significantly impaired. The clients ability to communicate distress would be
considered a positive attribute.
3. 3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond
very differently to stress.One twin becomes anxious and irritable, and the
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, Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Chapter 1
other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain these different
stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses
to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly
to stress.
4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic
influences.: 1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual
responses to stress vary.
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the twins have
identical DNA, there are several other factors that affect reactions to stress.
Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the individual client.
Environmental influences and temperament can affect stress reactions.
4. 4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to
psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive.: 1. A Jewish, female social
worker.
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place
a high importance on preventative health care and would consider mental health as
equally important as physical health. Women are also more likely to seek treatment
for mental health problems than men.
5. 5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense
mechanisms should be eliminated. Which is a correct evaluation of this
nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need
not be eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage
anxiety and should always be eliminated.
2/8
1. 1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings of
sadness because of the recent death of a beloved pet. The clients appetite,
sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How should the nurse
interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of
depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of
mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no
mental illness.: 4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment,
indicating no mental illness.
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is not impaired.
The client who experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding
within normal expectations. Without significant impairment, the clients distress does
not indicate a mental illness
2. 2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for
developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-5
criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in
daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection.: 2. When
maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily
functioning.
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental illness
when responses to stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The
DSM-5 indicates that in order to be diagnosed with a mental illness, daily functioning
must be significantly impaired. The clients ability to communicate distress would be
considered a positive attribute.
3. 3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond
very differently to stress.One twin becomes anxious and irritable, and the
1/8
, Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Chapter 1
other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain these different
stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses
to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly
to stress.
4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic
influences.: 1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual
responses to stress vary.
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the twins have
identical DNA, there are several other factors that affect reactions to stress.
Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the individual client.
Environmental influences and temperament can affect stress reactions.
4. 4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to
psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive.: 1. A Jewish, female social
worker.
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place
a high importance on preventative health care and would consider mental health as
equally important as physical health. Women are also more likely to seek treatment
for mental health problems than men.
5. 5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense
mechanisms should be eliminated. Which is a correct evaluation of this
nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need
not be eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage
anxiety and should always be eliminated.
2/8
