PSYCHIATRIC AND MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING
1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with early alcohol withdrawal?
A. Heart rate of 80 beats/minute
B. Blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg
C. Heart rate of 120 to 140 beats/minute ✅
D. Temperature of 95°F (35°C)
2. Which patient is at highest risk for suicide?
A. One who occasionally expresses suicidal thoughts
B. One who denies having a plan
C. One who plans a violent death and has the means readily available ✅
D. One who talks about suicide without intent
3. A 15-year-old patient is brought to the clinic by her mother, who reports weight loss and
constant dieting. Which comment indicates possible anorexia nervosa?
A. “I eat small meals, but I’m always hungry.”
B. “I just can’t seem to get down to the weight I want. I’m so fat compared to other girls.” ✅
C. “I’m trying to eat healthier lately.”
D. “I’m just stressed from school.”
4. The caregiver is caring for a patient who has been abusing opiates. Which finding is expected?
A. Dilated pupils and restlessness
B. Euphoria and constricted pupils ✅
C. Insomnia and hypertension
D. Diaphoresis and diarrhea
5. A female adolescent reports amenorrhea, weight loss, and depression. Which finding suggests
an eating disorder?
A. Increased appetite
B. Social withdrawal
1
,C. Excessive and ritualized exercise ✅
D. Decreased physical activity
6. A patient with anorexia nervosa (5’8” tall, 103 lbs) insists she is fat. What is the caregiver’s
first priority?
A. Explain normal body weight
B. Establish a trusting relationship with the patient ✅
C. Restrict her physical activity
D. Focus on calorie intake
7. Which task is most important when developing a plan of care for a patient with anorexia
nervosa?
A. Evaluating exercise activities ✅
B. Setting short-term weight goals
C. Promoting group therapy
D. Encouraging social meals
8. A patient with impulse control disorder shows violent behavior. Which assessment is
expected?
A. The patient functions poorly in all areas
B. Aggressiveness is proportional to stressors
C. The degree of aggressiveness is out of proportion to the stressor ✅
D. No family history of trauma
9. A patient returns late to the unit with alcohol on his breath and an unsteady gait. What should
the caregiver say?
A. “You broke the rules and will lose privileges.”
B. “Please go to bed now. We’ll talk in the morning.” ✅
C. “Why did you drink again?”
D. “You’ll be discharged if this happens again.”
10. Early signs of alcohol withdrawal include:
A. Bradycardia and confusion
B. Diaphoresis, tremors, and nervousness ✅
2
,C. Seizures and hallucinations
D. Disorientation and coma
11. Which behavior shows progress in coping for a patient with anorexia nervosa?
A. The patient avoids stressful discussions
B. The patient keeps a journal and discusses it with the caregiver ✅
C. The patient isolates herself
D. The patient refuses to talk about her emotions
12. A school caregiver addressing alcohol-related accidents among students should begin with:
A. Counseling individual students
B. Punishing offenders
C. Arranging a presentation by a teen involved in a fatal alcohol-related crash ✅
D. Conducting breathalyzer tests
13. During post-meal monitoring, a bulimic patient says, “You can sit with me, but I’ll still purge
later.” The caregiver should respond:
A. “You need to stop making excuses.”
B. “We’ll increase your observation period.”
C. “I know it’s important for you to feel in control, but I’ll monitor you for 90 minutes after you
eat.” ✅
D. “Try to control your urge to purge.”
14. The most appropriate initial goal for a patient with bulimia nervosa is to:
A. Gain 2 pounds weekly
B. Maintain a food diary
C. Identify anxiety-causing situations ✅
D. Stop purging immediately
15. A family member of an alcoholic patient asks how to help the family cope. The caregiver
should suggest joining:
A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
B. Al-Anon ✅
C. Narcotics Anonymous
D. Codependents Anonymous
3
, 16. A behavioral contract for an adolescent arrested for selling cocaine should be written:
A. By the caregiver alone
B. Jointly by the patient and caregiver ✅
C. By the parents
D. By the psychiatrist
17. A patient begins experiencing alcoholic hallucinosis. The appropriate nursing action is:
A. Restrain the patient
B. Leave lights bright and stimulating
C. Provide a quiet environment and administer medication as prescribed ✅
D. Ignore the hallucinations
18. A caregiver caring for a patient separated from her alcoholic husband should say:
A. “You’ll feel better soon.”
B. “You made a very difficult decision. I’ll be here if you want to talk.” ✅
C. “You should forgive him.”
D. “You must stay strong.”
19. The only completely effective treatment for alcoholism is:
A. Medication
B. Total abstinence ✅
C. Group therapy
D. Nutritional support
20. Nursing interventions for a patient with bulimia nervosa should include:
A. Rewarding purging control
B. Allowing unsupervised meals
C. Establishing a meal contract and rewarding weight gain ✅
D. Ignoring calorie intake
21. Which psychosocial influence is linked to aggressive behavior and conduct disorder?
A. Excessive praise
B. Rejection by peers ✅
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HEALTH NURSING
1. Which assessment finding is most consistent with early alcohol withdrawal?
A. Heart rate of 80 beats/minute
B. Blood pressure of 100/60 mm Hg
C. Heart rate of 120 to 140 beats/minute ✅
D. Temperature of 95°F (35°C)
2. Which patient is at highest risk for suicide?
A. One who occasionally expresses suicidal thoughts
B. One who denies having a plan
C. One who plans a violent death and has the means readily available ✅
D. One who talks about suicide without intent
3. A 15-year-old patient is brought to the clinic by her mother, who reports weight loss and
constant dieting. Which comment indicates possible anorexia nervosa?
A. “I eat small meals, but I’m always hungry.”
B. “I just can’t seem to get down to the weight I want. I’m so fat compared to other girls.” ✅
C. “I’m trying to eat healthier lately.”
D. “I’m just stressed from school.”
4. The caregiver is caring for a patient who has been abusing opiates. Which finding is expected?
A. Dilated pupils and restlessness
B. Euphoria and constricted pupils ✅
C. Insomnia and hypertension
D. Diaphoresis and diarrhea
5. A female adolescent reports amenorrhea, weight loss, and depression. Which finding suggests
an eating disorder?
A. Increased appetite
B. Social withdrawal
1
,C. Excessive and ritualized exercise ✅
D. Decreased physical activity
6. A patient with anorexia nervosa (5’8” tall, 103 lbs) insists she is fat. What is the caregiver’s
first priority?
A. Explain normal body weight
B. Establish a trusting relationship with the patient ✅
C. Restrict her physical activity
D. Focus on calorie intake
7. Which task is most important when developing a plan of care for a patient with anorexia
nervosa?
A. Evaluating exercise activities ✅
B. Setting short-term weight goals
C. Promoting group therapy
D. Encouraging social meals
8. A patient with impulse control disorder shows violent behavior. Which assessment is
expected?
A. The patient functions poorly in all areas
B. Aggressiveness is proportional to stressors
C. The degree of aggressiveness is out of proportion to the stressor ✅
D. No family history of trauma
9. A patient returns late to the unit with alcohol on his breath and an unsteady gait. What should
the caregiver say?
A. “You broke the rules and will lose privileges.”
B. “Please go to bed now. We’ll talk in the morning.” ✅
C. “Why did you drink again?”
D. “You’ll be discharged if this happens again.”
10. Early signs of alcohol withdrawal include:
A. Bradycardia and confusion
B. Diaphoresis, tremors, and nervousness ✅
2
,C. Seizures and hallucinations
D. Disorientation and coma
11. Which behavior shows progress in coping for a patient with anorexia nervosa?
A. The patient avoids stressful discussions
B. The patient keeps a journal and discusses it with the caregiver ✅
C. The patient isolates herself
D. The patient refuses to talk about her emotions
12. A school caregiver addressing alcohol-related accidents among students should begin with:
A. Counseling individual students
B. Punishing offenders
C. Arranging a presentation by a teen involved in a fatal alcohol-related crash ✅
D. Conducting breathalyzer tests
13. During post-meal monitoring, a bulimic patient says, “You can sit with me, but I’ll still purge
later.” The caregiver should respond:
A. “You need to stop making excuses.”
B. “We’ll increase your observation period.”
C. “I know it’s important for you to feel in control, but I’ll monitor you for 90 minutes after you
eat.” ✅
D. “Try to control your urge to purge.”
14. The most appropriate initial goal for a patient with bulimia nervosa is to:
A. Gain 2 pounds weekly
B. Maintain a food diary
C. Identify anxiety-causing situations ✅
D. Stop purging immediately
15. A family member of an alcoholic patient asks how to help the family cope. The caregiver
should suggest joining:
A. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
B. Al-Anon ✅
C. Narcotics Anonymous
D. Codependents Anonymous
3
, 16. A behavioral contract for an adolescent arrested for selling cocaine should be written:
A. By the caregiver alone
B. Jointly by the patient and caregiver ✅
C. By the parents
D. By the psychiatrist
17. A patient begins experiencing alcoholic hallucinosis. The appropriate nursing action is:
A. Restrain the patient
B. Leave lights bright and stimulating
C. Provide a quiet environment and administer medication as prescribed ✅
D. Ignore the hallucinations
18. A caregiver caring for a patient separated from her alcoholic husband should say:
A. “You’ll feel better soon.”
B. “You made a very difficult decision. I’ll be here if you want to talk.” ✅
C. “You should forgive him.”
D. “You must stay strong.”
19. The only completely effective treatment for alcoholism is:
A. Medication
B. Total abstinence ✅
C. Group therapy
D. Nutritional support
20. Nursing interventions for a patient with bulimia nervosa should include:
A. Rewarding purging control
B. Allowing unsupervised meals
C. Establishing a meal contract and rewarding weight gain ✅
D. Ignoring calorie intake
21. Which psychosocial influence is linked to aggressive behavior and conduct disorder?
A. Excessive praise
B. Rejection by peers ✅
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