BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: EXAM #1
(MODULE 1: CHS. 1, 2, 3) 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1) The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan. - ANS B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists 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) A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their clinical nursing
skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
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,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 clients with
medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-client 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 diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based 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 clients 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 clients who are unable to articulate their own
needs.
4) A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member's comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
2 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
,d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change." - ANS C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may be
healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
5) Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. experiencing 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 for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life. - ANS A
Mental health is a state of well-being in which individuals reach their own potential, cope with
the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to the community. Mental health
3 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, provides people with the capacity for rational thinking, communication skills, learning,
emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. The correct response describes an adaptive,
healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive behaviors.
7) A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new client's admission form.
Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
b. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
d. A behavioral health reference manual - ANS C
The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the official guideline
for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a
psychiatric illness.
8) A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which
resource would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. ICD-10 - ANS B
The DSM-V details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. It is the official
guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do
not define the diagnostic criteria.
9) Which individual behavior demonstrates resilience?
4 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
(MODULE 1: CHS. 1, 2, 3) 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1) The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?
a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
d. Individualizing a nursing care plan. - ANS B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master's-prepared nurse practitioners and
clinical nurse specialists 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) A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their clinical nursing
skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
1 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
,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 clients with
medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-client 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 diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based 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 clients 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 clients who are unable to articulate their own
needs.
4) A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member's comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. "I've made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also."
b. "I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together."
c. "I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family."
2 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
,d. "It's best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change." - ANS C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life may be
healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other incorrect
responses show blaming and avoidance.
5) Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness?
a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. being able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d. experiencing 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 for an adult client?
a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.
d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own
life. - ANS A
Mental health is a state of well-being in which individuals reach their own potential, cope with
the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to the community. Mental health
3 @COPYRIGHT THEBRIGHT 2025/2026
, provides people with the capacity for rational thinking, communication skills, learning,
emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. The correct response describes an adaptive,
healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive behaviors.
7) A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new client's admission form.
Which resource should the nurse consult to determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
a. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)
b. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
d. A behavioral health reference manual - ANS C
The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the official guideline
for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not contain diagnostic criteria for a
psychiatric illness.
8) A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which
resource would have the most complete information?
a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b. DSM-V
c. The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d. ICD-10 - ANS B
The DSM-V details the diagnostic criteria for psychiatric clinical conditions. It is the official
guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The other references are good resources but do
not define the diagnostic criteria.
9) Which individual behavior demonstrates resilience?
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