NSG 221
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
PRE-ASSESSMENT VERSION 5
QNS & ANS
2025
,1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This
nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which
additional intervention?
a Conduct mental c Establish therapeutic
. health assessments. . relationships.
b Prescribe psychotropic d Individualize nursing
. medication. . care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-
prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is
permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental
health nurses lose all their nursing skills, the best response by the
mental health nurse is:
Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments
than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios
a must be better because of the nature of the
. patients problems.
Psychiatric nurses use complex communication
skills as well as critical thinking to solve
b multidimensional problems. I am challenged by
. those situations.
That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses
frequently use high technology monitoring
c equipment and manage complex intravenous
. therapies.
Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as
d much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
. nurses do. That appeals to me.
,ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills
than medical-surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well
as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care
of persons with mental illness, a group of nurses writes letters to
their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which
role have the nurses fulfilled?
a c
. Recovery . Advocacy
b d Evidence-based
. Attending . practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when
the other person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of
individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights
or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of
improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to
deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the
letter- writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of
patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
4. Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse
was caring? My nurse:
, a always asks me which type of juice I want to help
. me swallow my medication.
b explained my treatment plan to me and asked
. for my ideas about how to make it better.
c spends time listening to me talk about my
. problems. That helps me feel like I am not alone.
d told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor
. prescribes, then I will get discharged sooner.
ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency.
It helps change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating
a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy
or giving advice.
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient
may be experiencing a mental illness? The patient:
a
. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and
. hopeless mood.
c is able to describe the difference between as if
. and for real.
d perceives difficulty making a decision about
. whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects
mental illness. The distracters describe behaviors that are mentally
healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal Demonstrate mentally
healthy behavior was achieved? A patient:
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
PRE-ASSESSMENT VERSION 5
QNS & ANS
2025
,1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This
nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which
additional intervention?
a Conduct mental c Establish therapeutic
. health assessments. . relationships.
b Prescribe psychotropic d Individualize nursing
. medication. . care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-
prepared nurse practitioners who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is
permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental
health nurses lose all their nursing skills, the best response by the
mental health nurse is:
Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments
than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios
a must be better because of the nature of the
. patients problems.
Psychiatric nurses use complex communication
skills as well as critical thinking to solve
b multidimensional problems. I am challenged by
. those situations.
That’s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses
frequently use high technology monitoring
c equipment and manage complex intravenous
. therapies.
Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as
d much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
. nurses do. That appeals to me.
,ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills
than medical-surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well
as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care
of persons with mental illness, a group of nurses writes letters to
their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which
role have the nurses fulfilled?
a c
. Recovery . Advocacy
b d Evidence-based
. Attending . practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when
the other person lacks the ability to do that for self. Examples of
individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights
or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of
improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to
deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness, the
letter- writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of
patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
4. Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse
was caring? My nurse:
, a always asks me which type of juice I want to help
. me swallow my medication.
b explained my treatment plan to me and asked
. for my ideas about how to make it better.
c spends time listening to me talk about my
. problems. That helps me feel like I am not alone.
d told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor
. prescribes, then I will get discharged sooner.
ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency.
It helps change pain and suffering into a shared experience, creating
a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy
or giving advice.
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient
may be experiencing a mental illness? The patient:
a
. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and
. hopeless mood.
c is able to describe the difference between as if
. and for real.
d perceives difficulty making a decision about
. whether to change jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects
mental illness. The distracters describe behaviors that are mentally
healthy or within the usual scope of human experience.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal Demonstrate mentally
healthy behavior was achieved? A patient:
