Varcarolis Ch 1; Mental Health & Mental Illness
A new staff nurse completes orienta on to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
prac ce nurse to perform which addi onal interven ons?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeu c rela onships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medica on - D
Prescrip ve privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse prac oners who have taken special
courses on prescribing medica on. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permi ed to perform mental
health assessments, establish rela onships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans a er gradua on. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk.
You'll lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses prac ce in safer environments than other special es. Nurse-to-pa ent ra os must
be be er because of the nature of the pa ents' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communica on skills as well as cri cal thinking to solve
mul dimensional problems. I am challenged by those situa ons."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rota ons in school, so I do not
want to con nue them a er I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical nurses do.
That appeals to me." - B
The prac ce of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substan al overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help pa ents with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflec ng the holis c perspec ve these nurses must have. Nurse-pa ent ra os
and workloads in psychiatric se ngs have increased, just like other special es. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical prac ce, not just documenta on. Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental illness. Groups
of nurses write le ers to their elected representa ves in opposi on to the legisla on. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. A ending
, c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based prac ce - A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, par cularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping pa ents understand their rights or make
decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes poli cal ac vity, public speaking, and publica on in
the interest of improving the human condi on. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality
programming for persons with mental illness, the le er-wri ng campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of pa ents who are unable to ar culate their own needs.
An informal group of pa ents discusses their percep ons of nursing care. Which comment best indicates
a pa ent perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medica on."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it be er."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
d. spends me listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - D
Caring evidences empathe c understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, crea ng a human connec on that alleviates feelings of isola on. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a pa ent has a mental illness? The pa ent:
a.responds to rules, rou nes, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks a empted within the limits set by own abili es.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." - B
The correct response describes a mood altera on, which further reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe mentally healthy behaviors.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was achieved? A
pa ent:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of mee ng demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal ac ons.
A new staff nurse completes orienta on to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
prac ce nurse to perform which addi onal interven ons?
a. Conduct mental health assessments
b. Establish therapeu c rela onships
c. Individualize nursing care plans
d. Prescribe psychotropic medica on - D
Prescrip ve privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse prac oners who have taken special
courses on prescribing medica on. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permi ed to perform mental
health assessments, establish rela onships, and provide individualized care planning
Two nursing students discuss their career plans a er gradua on. One student wants to enter psychiatric
nursing. The other asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? The only thing they do is talk.
You'll lose all your skills." Select the best response.
a. "Psychiatric nurses prac ce in safer environments than other special es. Nurse-to-pa ent ra os must
be be er because of the nature of the pa ents' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communica on skills as well as cri cal thinking to solve
mul dimensional problems. I am challenged by those situa ons."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I did not like clinical rota ons in school, so I do not
want to con nue them a er I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical nurses do.
That appeals to me." - B
The prac ce of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substan al overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help pa ents with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflec ng the holis c perspec ve these nurses must have. Nurse-pa ent ra os
and workloads in psychiatric se ngs have increased, just like other special es. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical prac ce, not just documenta on. Psychosocial pain and suffering is as real as physical.
A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental illness. Groups
of nurses write le ers to their elected representa ves in opposi on to the legisla on. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. A ending
, c. Recovery
d. Evidence-based prac ce - A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, par cularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping pa ents understand their rights or make
decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes poli cal ac vity, public speaking, and publica on in
the interest of improving the human condi on. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality
programming for persons with mental illness, the le er-wri ng campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of pa ents who are unable to ar culate their own needs.
An informal group of pa ents discusses their percep ons of nursing care. Which comment best indicates
a pa ent perceived the nurse was caring? "My nurse:
a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medica on."
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it be er."
c. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged soon."
d. spends me listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I'm not alone." - D
Caring evidences empathe c understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, crea ng a human connec on that alleviates feelings of isola on. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
Which finding best indicates that a pa ent has a mental illness? The pa ent:
a.responds to rules, rou nes, and customs of a group.
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
c. performs tasks a empted within the limits set by own abili es.
d. is able to see the difference between the "as if" and the "for real." - B
The correct response describes a mood altera on, which further reflects mental illness. The distracters
describe mentally healthy behaviors.
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was achieved? A
pa ent:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of mee ng demands.
b. seeks others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life.
c. behaves without considering the consequences of personal ac ons.
