MENTAL HEALTH FINAL EXAM (ACTUAL EXAM) |
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2025 (JUST RELEASED)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing | Key Domains: Therapeutic Communication & Relationship
Building, Major Psychiatric Disorders (Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Anxiety, Trauma),
Psychopharmacology, Crisis Intervention & Suicide Risk Assessment, Legal & Ethical Issues
(Voluntary/Involuntary Commitment), Milieu Management, Group Therapy Principles, Care for
Specific Populations (Child, Geriatric), and Self-Awareness & Nurse Safety | Expert-Aligned
Structure | Exam-Ready Format
Introduction
This structured Mental Health Final Exam for 2025 provides 75 high-quality exam-style questions
with correct answers and rationales. It emphasizes the application of the nursing process in
psychiatric care, use of therapeutic communication techniques, safe administration and monitoring
of psychotropic medications, de-escalation strategies, and maintaining a therapeutic environment
while ensuring client and staff safety.
Answer Format
All correct answers appear in bold and cyan blue, accompanied by concise rationales explaining
the therapeutic principle, appropriate nursing response for the specific disorder, medication
action/side effect, priority safety intervention, and why alternative options are non-therapeutic,
unsafe, or contraindicated in mental health care.
1. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is experiencing command hallucinations telling
them to harm others. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Ask the client to describe the content of the hallucinations in detail
B. Reassure the client that the voices are not real
C. Assess for immediate risk of harm to self or others
D. Administer PRN antipsychotic without further assessment
, Rationale: Safety is the priority. Command hallucinations may increase risk of violence. The nurse
must first assess intent, plan, and means before implementing interventions. Option A may reinforce
delusions; B is dismissive; D bypasses assessment.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is most effective when a client with
depression says, “I’m just a burden to everyone”?
A. “You shouldn’t feel that way—your family loves you.”
B. “Let’s focus on your strengths today.”
C. “Tell me more about what makes you feel like a burden.”
D. “Many people feel that way sometimes.”
Rationale: Using open-ended inquiry (C) validates feelings and encourages exploration—a core
therapeutic technique. A and D are dismissive; B shifts focus prematurely before the client feels heard.
3. A nurse is caring for a client recently started on clozapine. Which lab value requires
immediate attention?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Platelets 250,000/mm³
C. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 900/mm³
D. Potassium 4.0 mEq/L
Rationale: Clozapine carries risk of agranulocytosis. ANC <1000/mm³ requires discontinuation.
Normal ANC is 1500–8000/mm³. Other values are within normal limits and not specific to clozapine
monitoring.
4. During a group therapy session, a client with PTSD becomes tearful and disengaged after
another member shares a trauma story. What should the nurse do first?
A. Ask the group to stop sharing traumatic content
B. Check in privately with the distressed client
C. Encourage the client to “stay present” using grounding techniques
D. Redirect the group to a lighter topic immediately
Rationale: Individualized care is essential. Privately assessing distress (B) respects autonomy and
determines needed support. C may be appropriate later but assumes readiness; A and D undermine
group process and may invalidate others’ experiences.
5. Which statement by a nurse reflects proper understanding of involuntary commitment
criteria?
A. “If the client refuses medication, they can be committed.”
B. “Homelessness alone justifies emergency hold.”
C. “The client must pose a danger to self or others or be gravely disabled.”
D. “A family member’s request is sufficient for commitment.”
Rationale: Legal standards for involuntary commitment universally require evidence of danger to
self/others or inability to meet basic needs (grave disability). Medication refusal or homelessness
without these factors is insufficient. Family request alone lacks legal standing.
6. A geriatric client with major neurocognitive disorder (Alzheimer’s) becomes agitated
during bathing. What is the best nursing intervention?
A. Complete the bath quickly to minimize distress
B. Restrain the client gently to ensure safety
C. Stop the bath, provide reassurance, and try again later
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS |
GRADED A+ | VERIFIED ANSWERS | LATEST VERSION
2025 (JUST RELEASED)
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing | Key Domains: Therapeutic Communication & Relationship
Building, Major Psychiatric Disorders (Schizophrenia, Mood Disorders, Anxiety, Trauma),
Psychopharmacology, Crisis Intervention & Suicide Risk Assessment, Legal & Ethical Issues
(Voluntary/Involuntary Commitment), Milieu Management, Group Therapy Principles, Care for
Specific Populations (Child, Geriatric), and Self-Awareness & Nurse Safety | Expert-Aligned
Structure | Exam-Ready Format
Introduction
This structured Mental Health Final Exam for 2025 provides 75 high-quality exam-style questions
with correct answers and rationales. It emphasizes the application of the nursing process in
psychiatric care, use of therapeutic communication techniques, safe administration and monitoring
of psychotropic medications, de-escalation strategies, and maintaining a therapeutic environment
while ensuring client and staff safety.
Answer Format
All correct answers appear in bold and cyan blue, accompanied by concise rationales explaining
the therapeutic principle, appropriate nursing response for the specific disorder, medication
action/side effect, priority safety intervention, and why alternative options are non-therapeutic,
unsafe, or contraindicated in mental health care.
1. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is experiencing command hallucinations telling
them to harm others. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Ask the client to describe the content of the hallucinations in detail
B. Reassure the client that the voices are not real
C. Assess for immediate risk of harm to self or others
D. Administer PRN antipsychotic without further assessment
, Rationale: Safety is the priority. Command hallucinations may increase risk of violence. The nurse
must first assess intent, plan, and means before implementing interventions. Option A may reinforce
delusions; B is dismissive; D bypasses assessment.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is most effective when a client with
depression says, “I’m just a burden to everyone”?
A. “You shouldn’t feel that way—your family loves you.”
B. “Let’s focus on your strengths today.”
C. “Tell me more about what makes you feel like a burden.”
D. “Many people feel that way sometimes.”
Rationale: Using open-ended inquiry (C) validates feelings and encourages exploration—a core
therapeutic technique. A and D are dismissive; B shifts focus prematurely before the client feels heard.
3. A nurse is caring for a client recently started on clozapine. Which lab value requires
immediate attention?
A. Sodium 138 mEq/L
B. Platelets 250,000/mm³
C. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 900/mm³
D. Potassium 4.0 mEq/L
Rationale: Clozapine carries risk of agranulocytosis. ANC <1000/mm³ requires discontinuation.
Normal ANC is 1500–8000/mm³. Other values are within normal limits and not specific to clozapine
monitoring.
4. During a group therapy session, a client with PTSD becomes tearful and disengaged after
another member shares a trauma story. What should the nurse do first?
A. Ask the group to stop sharing traumatic content
B. Check in privately with the distressed client
C. Encourage the client to “stay present” using grounding techniques
D. Redirect the group to a lighter topic immediately
Rationale: Individualized care is essential. Privately assessing distress (B) respects autonomy and
determines needed support. C may be appropriate later but assumes readiness; A and D undermine
group process and may invalidate others’ experiences.
5. Which statement by a nurse reflects proper understanding of involuntary commitment
criteria?
A. “If the client refuses medication, they can be committed.”
B. “Homelessness alone justifies emergency hold.”
C. “The client must pose a danger to self or others or be gravely disabled.”
D. “A family member’s request is sufficient for commitment.”
Rationale: Legal standards for involuntary commitment universally require evidence of danger to
self/others or inability to meet basic needs (grave disability). Medication refusal or homelessness
without these factors is insufficient. Family request alone lacks legal standing.
6. A geriatric client with major neurocognitive disorder (Alzheimer’s) becomes agitated
during bathing. What is the best nursing intervention?
A. Complete the bath quickly to minimize distress
B. Restrain the client gently to ensure safety
C. Stop the bath, provide reassurance, and try again later
