ESTUDYR
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING HESI LPN–ADN MOBILITY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. Suggesting in therapeutic communication means:
A. Giving advice and telling the client what to do.
B. Offering alternatives or gentle prompts (e.g., “Have you ever considered…?”)
C. Forcing solutions on a client.
D. Avoiding options altogether.
Rationale: Suggesting is offering alternatives in a nonjudgmental way to promote client
decision-making.
2. Denial is best described as:
A. Deliberately lying about facts.
B. An unconscious refusal to acknowledge painful realities (e.g., cancer patient
insisting tests were negative).
C. Openly arguing against bad news.
D. Minimization of symptoms for attention.
Rationale: Denial is an unconscious defense protecting the ego from painful facts.
3. Displacement occurs when:
A. You forget an event completely.
B. You convert anxiety into physical symptoms.
C. Emotion is shifted from original object to a safer target (e.g., kicked dog after boss
scolds).
D. You adopt another person’s values.
Rationale: Displacement moves emotional impulses to a substitute target.
4. Identification is:
A. Claiming another’s accomplishments as your own.
B. Emulating traits/behaviors of someone admired (teen imitates favorite singer).
C. Complete loss of identity.
D. Intellectualizing feelings.
Rationale: Identification helps the ego by modeling admired behaviors.
5. Intellectualization as a defense:
A. Is healthy problem solving.
B. Uses excessive logic to avoid emotional impact (detached description of trauma).
C. Is the same as rationalization.
D. Entails acting out impulses physically.
Rationale: Intellectualization isolates affect from cognition to reduce anxiety.
6. Introjection means:
A. Suppressing memories.
B. Acting impulsively.
C. Internalizing values/traits of others into oneself (e.g., adopting father’s business
style).
D. Projecting feelings onto others.
Rationale: Introjection assimilates external standards into the self.
,ESTUDYR
7. Passive-aggression is characterized by:
A. Open hostility.
B. Immediate confrontation.
C. Indirect expression of anger (sarcasm, lateness, procrastination).
D. Elevated mood after conflict.
Rationale: Passive-aggression masks resentment via apparently compliant behavior.
8. Projection involves:
A. Taking responsibility for one’s actions.
B. Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts/urges to others (e.g., “Teacher is
coming on to me”).
C. Repressing memories.
D. Voluntarily sharing secrets to relieve guilt.
Rationale: Projection externalizes inner impulses to avoid self-blame.
9. Reaction formation is:
A. Acting out impulses directly.
B. Displaying attitudes opposite to true feelings (e.g., volunteer for animals despite
hate).
C. Complete memory loss of events.
D. Creating fantasies to escape reality.
Rationale: Reaction formation defends by over-compensating in opposite behavior.
10. Regression refers to:
A. Moving forward developmentally.
B. Intellectualizing trauma.
C. Reverting to earlier developmental behaviors under stress (e.g., bedwetting).
D. Choosing new coping skills.
Rationale: Regression is a return to simpler, earlier behaviors during anxiety.
11. Repression is:
A. A conscious decision to forget.
B. Involuntary exclusion of painful memories from awareness (e.g., can’t recall
mother’s death).
C. Overcompensating for guilt.
D. Acting on impulses publicly.
Rationale: Repression pushes distressing content out of conscious awareness.
12. Sublimation is best defined as:
A. Turning emotions into physical symptoms.
B. Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities (e.g., sports).
C. Denial of reality.
D. Seeking attention through illness.
Rationale: Sublimation converts drives into constructive outcomes.
13. Suppression differs from repression because suppression is:
A. Involuntary memory loss.
B. A conscious decision to postpone worry/thoughts (“I’ll think about it tomorrow”).
C. Permanent removal of memory.
,ESTUDYR
D. Acting on impulses immediately.
Rationale: Suppression is a deliberate withholding of thoughts/feelings.
14. Undoing as a defense involves:
A. Ignoring consequences.
B. Trying to “cancel” unacceptable acts with opposite behavior (e.g., animal lover who
used to hunt).
C. Projecting guilt onto others.
D. Intellectualizing errors.
Rationale: Undoing symbolically negates prior unacceptable thoughts/actions.
15. Milieu therapy focuses on:
A. Individual dream analysis only.
B. Medication management exclusively.
C. Structured use of the therapeutic environment (people/resources/activities) to
improve functioning.
D. Long-term psychoanalysis only.
Rationale: Milieu therapy uses surroundings and community to support recovery and
skill-building.
16. Behavior modification primarily uses:
A. Insight exploration only.
B. Reinforcement (positive/negative), role modeling, and consequences to change
behavior.
C. Medication alone to change behavior.
D. Family therapy exclusively.
Rationale: Behavior modification focuses on observable behavior and its consequences.
17. Family therapy treats:
A. One symptomatic family member only.
B. The family system as the client and patterns of interaction across members.
C. Only parent-child dyads.
D. Only couple conflicts.
Rationale: Family therapy addresses dynamics and roles across the whole family.
18. Crisis intervention aims to:
A. Replace long-term therapy.
B. Avoid discussing the current event.
C. Restore function to pre-crisis level quickly (directive, problem-focused, time-limited
~6 weeks).
D. Provide open-ended psychotherapy.
Rationale: Crisis work is short-term, action-oriented, and focused on immediate coping.
19. Cognitive therapy primarily:
A. Emphasizes childhood transference.
B. Replaces irrational beliefs with realistic ones via structured problem-solving
(cognitive restructuring).
C. Uses only dream interpretation.
D. Is typically >1 year long.
Rationale: Cognitive therapy targets maladaptive thoughts to change emotion/behavior.
, ESTUDYR
20. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): which is TRUE?
A. Use the word “shock” freely when explaining it.
B. No premedication is required.
C. Brief electrically induced seizure after premedication (anticholinergic + muscle
relaxant); monitor airway and vitals; side effects include headache and temporary
amnesia.
D. It’s first-line for all depression.
Rationale: ECT is safe when protocol followed; avoid “shock” language; reserved for
refractory/severe cases.
21. Group therapy (group intervention) provides:
A. Only didactic lectures.
B. Opportunities for social skills, universality, feedback, role practice, and mutual
support.
C. Less therapeutic value than solitary therapy always.
D. Confidentiality is not important.
Rationale: Groups allow members to practice interpersonal changes and receive peer
feedback.
22. Group orientation phase is characterized by:
A. Deep problem-solving immediately.
B. High anxiety, superficial interactions, testing trust in the leader.
C. Group termination only.
D. Complete openness among members.
Rationale: Early phase focuses on safety and boundaries.
23. Group working phase is when:
A. Members avoid each other.
B. Problems are identified and group cohesion/“we” sense develop; active problem-
solving begins.
C. The leader leaves.
D. Members terminate.
Rationale: The working phase emphasizes change and skill practice.
24. Group termination phase includes:
A. New member onboarding.
B. Evaluation, feelings about ending, and consolidation of gains.
C. Solely lectures from the therapist.
D. No expression of emotions permitted.
Rationale: Termination reviews progress and addresses separation.
25. Anxiety is:
A. A purely physical disease.
B. Discomfort/tension when a person perceives a threat (real or imagined).
C. Always pathological.
D. Occurs only with phobias.
Rationale: Anxiety is a normal emotion but can be maladaptive depending on severity.
26. Mild anxiety typically:
A. Disrupts logical thinking.
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING HESI LPN–ADN MOBILITY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. Suggesting in therapeutic communication means:
A. Giving advice and telling the client what to do.
B. Offering alternatives or gentle prompts (e.g., “Have you ever considered…?”)
C. Forcing solutions on a client.
D. Avoiding options altogether.
Rationale: Suggesting is offering alternatives in a nonjudgmental way to promote client
decision-making.
2. Denial is best described as:
A. Deliberately lying about facts.
B. An unconscious refusal to acknowledge painful realities (e.g., cancer patient
insisting tests were negative).
C. Openly arguing against bad news.
D. Minimization of symptoms for attention.
Rationale: Denial is an unconscious defense protecting the ego from painful facts.
3. Displacement occurs when:
A. You forget an event completely.
B. You convert anxiety into physical symptoms.
C. Emotion is shifted from original object to a safer target (e.g., kicked dog after boss
scolds).
D. You adopt another person’s values.
Rationale: Displacement moves emotional impulses to a substitute target.
4. Identification is:
A. Claiming another’s accomplishments as your own.
B. Emulating traits/behaviors of someone admired (teen imitates favorite singer).
C. Complete loss of identity.
D. Intellectualizing feelings.
Rationale: Identification helps the ego by modeling admired behaviors.
5. Intellectualization as a defense:
A. Is healthy problem solving.
B. Uses excessive logic to avoid emotional impact (detached description of trauma).
C. Is the same as rationalization.
D. Entails acting out impulses physically.
Rationale: Intellectualization isolates affect from cognition to reduce anxiety.
6. Introjection means:
A. Suppressing memories.
B. Acting impulsively.
C. Internalizing values/traits of others into oneself (e.g., adopting father’s business
style).
D. Projecting feelings onto others.
Rationale: Introjection assimilates external standards into the self.
,ESTUDYR
7. Passive-aggression is characterized by:
A. Open hostility.
B. Immediate confrontation.
C. Indirect expression of anger (sarcasm, lateness, procrastination).
D. Elevated mood after conflict.
Rationale: Passive-aggression masks resentment via apparently compliant behavior.
8. Projection involves:
A. Taking responsibility for one’s actions.
B. Attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts/urges to others (e.g., “Teacher is
coming on to me”).
C. Repressing memories.
D. Voluntarily sharing secrets to relieve guilt.
Rationale: Projection externalizes inner impulses to avoid self-blame.
9. Reaction formation is:
A. Acting out impulses directly.
B. Displaying attitudes opposite to true feelings (e.g., volunteer for animals despite
hate).
C. Complete memory loss of events.
D. Creating fantasies to escape reality.
Rationale: Reaction formation defends by over-compensating in opposite behavior.
10. Regression refers to:
A. Moving forward developmentally.
B. Intellectualizing trauma.
C. Reverting to earlier developmental behaviors under stress (e.g., bedwetting).
D. Choosing new coping skills.
Rationale: Regression is a return to simpler, earlier behaviors during anxiety.
11. Repression is:
A. A conscious decision to forget.
B. Involuntary exclusion of painful memories from awareness (e.g., can’t recall
mother’s death).
C. Overcompensating for guilt.
D. Acting on impulses publicly.
Rationale: Repression pushes distressing content out of conscious awareness.
12. Sublimation is best defined as:
A. Turning emotions into physical symptoms.
B. Channeling unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities (e.g., sports).
C. Denial of reality.
D. Seeking attention through illness.
Rationale: Sublimation converts drives into constructive outcomes.
13. Suppression differs from repression because suppression is:
A. Involuntary memory loss.
B. A conscious decision to postpone worry/thoughts (“I’ll think about it tomorrow”).
C. Permanent removal of memory.
,ESTUDYR
D. Acting on impulses immediately.
Rationale: Suppression is a deliberate withholding of thoughts/feelings.
14. Undoing as a defense involves:
A. Ignoring consequences.
B. Trying to “cancel” unacceptable acts with opposite behavior (e.g., animal lover who
used to hunt).
C. Projecting guilt onto others.
D. Intellectualizing errors.
Rationale: Undoing symbolically negates prior unacceptable thoughts/actions.
15. Milieu therapy focuses on:
A. Individual dream analysis only.
B. Medication management exclusively.
C. Structured use of the therapeutic environment (people/resources/activities) to
improve functioning.
D. Long-term psychoanalysis only.
Rationale: Milieu therapy uses surroundings and community to support recovery and
skill-building.
16. Behavior modification primarily uses:
A. Insight exploration only.
B. Reinforcement (positive/negative), role modeling, and consequences to change
behavior.
C. Medication alone to change behavior.
D. Family therapy exclusively.
Rationale: Behavior modification focuses on observable behavior and its consequences.
17. Family therapy treats:
A. One symptomatic family member only.
B. The family system as the client and patterns of interaction across members.
C. Only parent-child dyads.
D. Only couple conflicts.
Rationale: Family therapy addresses dynamics and roles across the whole family.
18. Crisis intervention aims to:
A. Replace long-term therapy.
B. Avoid discussing the current event.
C. Restore function to pre-crisis level quickly (directive, problem-focused, time-limited
~6 weeks).
D. Provide open-ended psychotherapy.
Rationale: Crisis work is short-term, action-oriented, and focused on immediate coping.
19. Cognitive therapy primarily:
A. Emphasizes childhood transference.
B. Replaces irrational beliefs with realistic ones via structured problem-solving
(cognitive restructuring).
C. Uses only dream interpretation.
D. Is typically >1 year long.
Rationale: Cognitive therapy targets maladaptive thoughts to change emotion/behavior.
, ESTUDYR
20. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT): which is TRUE?
A. Use the word “shock” freely when explaining it.
B. No premedication is required.
C. Brief electrically induced seizure after premedication (anticholinergic + muscle
relaxant); monitor airway and vitals; side effects include headache and temporary
amnesia.
D. It’s first-line for all depression.
Rationale: ECT is safe when protocol followed; avoid “shock” language; reserved for
refractory/severe cases.
21. Group therapy (group intervention) provides:
A. Only didactic lectures.
B. Opportunities for social skills, universality, feedback, role practice, and mutual
support.
C. Less therapeutic value than solitary therapy always.
D. Confidentiality is not important.
Rationale: Groups allow members to practice interpersonal changes and receive peer
feedback.
22. Group orientation phase is characterized by:
A. Deep problem-solving immediately.
B. High anxiety, superficial interactions, testing trust in the leader.
C. Group termination only.
D. Complete openness among members.
Rationale: Early phase focuses on safety and boundaries.
23. Group working phase is when:
A. Members avoid each other.
B. Problems are identified and group cohesion/“we” sense develop; active problem-
solving begins.
C. The leader leaves.
D. Members terminate.
Rationale: The working phase emphasizes change and skill practice.
24. Group termination phase includes:
A. New member onboarding.
B. Evaluation, feelings about ending, and consolidation of gains.
C. Solely lectures from the therapist.
D. No expression of emotions permitted.
Rationale: Termination reviews progress and addresses separation.
25. Anxiety is:
A. A purely physical disease.
B. Discomfort/tension when a person perceives a threat (real or imagined).
C. Always pathological.
D. Occurs only with phobias.
Rationale: Anxiety is a normal emotion but can be maladaptive depending on severity.
26. Mild anxiety typically:
A. Disrupts logical thinking.
