MENTAL HEALH NURSING EXAM 1
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
On admission to the mental health unit, a client tells the nurse she's
afraid to leave the house for fear of criticism. She informs the nurse,
"My nose is so big. I know everyone is looking at me and making fun of
me. I had plastic surgery and it still looks awful!" These symptoms are
an indication of which disorder?
1. Paranoid personality disorder
2. Body dysmorphic disorder
3. Paranoid schizophrenia
4. Antisocial disorder - ANSWER- 2. Body dysmorphic disorder
This disorder is characterized by a belief that the body is deformed
or defective in a specific way. Although elements of paranoia are
evident, the focus on a defective body part is the clue. There is some
evidence of a thought disorder; however, paranoid schizophrenia
isn't likely. Antisocial personality is characterized by manipulative
behavior.
When should the nurse introduce information about the end of the nurse-
client relationship?
,1. During the orientation phase
2. As the goals of the relationship are reached
3. At least one or two sessions before the last meeting
4. When the client can tolerate it - ANSWER- 1. During the
orientation phase
Preparation for ending the nurse-client relationship should begin
during the orientation phase, when realistic limits of the relationship
are established. Termination should also be discussed as goals are
achieved and the relationship nears an end. Although the nurse
should remind the client that only one or two sessions are left, the
nurse must not wait until then to prepare the client for termination.
The client's ability to tolerate the end of a relationship shouldn't
dictate its timing. Because many clients have had negative
experiences when ending relationships, the nurse can use
termination of the nurse-client relationship to prepare the client for
and work the client through positive termination experiences with
others.
The nurse is explaining the Bill of Rights for psychiatric patients to a
client who has voluntarily sought admission to an inpatient psychiatric
facility. Which of the following rights should the nurse include in the
discussion?
1. Right to select health care team members
2. Right to refuse treatment
3. Right to a written treatment plan
,4. Right to obtain disability
5. Right to confidentiality
6. Right to personal mail - ANSWER- 2. Right to refuse treatment
3. Right to a written treatment plan
5. Right to confidentiality
6. Right to personal mail
An inpatient client usually receives a copy of the Bill of Rights for
psychiatric patients, where they would find options 2, 3, 5, and 6 in
writing. However, a client in an inpatient setting can't select health
team members. A client may apply for disability as a result of a
chronic, incapacitating illness; however, disability isn't a patient
right, and members of a psychiatric institution don't decide who
should receive it.
Which nursing intervention is most important when restraining a violent
client?
1. Reviewing facility policy regarding how long the client can be
restrained
2. Preparing an as-needed dose of the client's psychotropic medication
3. Checking that the restraints have been applied correctly
4. Asking if the client needs to use the bathroom or is thirsty -
ANSWER- 3. Checking that the restraints have been applied
correctly
The nurse must determine whether the restraints have been applied
correctly to make sure that the client's circulation and respiration
aren't restricted and that adequate padding has been used. The
, nurse should document the client's response and status carefully
after the restraints are applied. All staff members involved in
restraining clients should be aware of facility policy before using
restraints. If an as needed medication is ordered, it should be given
before the restraints are in place and with the assistance of other
team members. The nurse should attend to the client's elimination
and hydration needs after the client is properly restrained.
An adolescent, age 17, rarely expresses feelings and usually remains
passive. However, when angry, her face becomes flushed and her blood
pressure rises to 170/100 mm Hg. Her parents are passive and
easygoing. The adolescent may be using which defense mechanism to
handle anger?
1. Displacement
2. Introjection
3. Projection
4. Sublimation - ANSWER- 2. Introjection
The adolescent may be introjecting (assuming as her own) her
parents' belief that anger shouldn't be outwardly expressed. She
may also be holding in and somatizing her angry feelings, as
evidenced by her increased blood pressure. (A blood pressure rise is
a common physiological reaction to the fight-or-flight response that
may be brought on by strong emotions. Habitual failure to express
anger may contribute to hypertension.) Displacement is the
discharge of negative feelings onto another person or an object.
Projection is the attribution of one's own thoughts or impulses to
another person. Sublimation is the channeling of unbearable or
ACTUAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
DETAILED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
On admission to the mental health unit, a client tells the nurse she's
afraid to leave the house for fear of criticism. She informs the nurse,
"My nose is so big. I know everyone is looking at me and making fun of
me. I had plastic surgery and it still looks awful!" These symptoms are
an indication of which disorder?
1. Paranoid personality disorder
2. Body dysmorphic disorder
3. Paranoid schizophrenia
4. Antisocial disorder - ANSWER- 2. Body dysmorphic disorder
This disorder is characterized by a belief that the body is deformed
or defective in a specific way. Although elements of paranoia are
evident, the focus on a defective body part is the clue. There is some
evidence of a thought disorder; however, paranoid schizophrenia
isn't likely. Antisocial personality is characterized by manipulative
behavior.
When should the nurse introduce information about the end of the nurse-
client relationship?
,1. During the orientation phase
2. As the goals of the relationship are reached
3. At least one or two sessions before the last meeting
4. When the client can tolerate it - ANSWER- 1. During the
orientation phase
Preparation for ending the nurse-client relationship should begin
during the orientation phase, when realistic limits of the relationship
are established. Termination should also be discussed as goals are
achieved and the relationship nears an end. Although the nurse
should remind the client that only one or two sessions are left, the
nurse must not wait until then to prepare the client for termination.
The client's ability to tolerate the end of a relationship shouldn't
dictate its timing. Because many clients have had negative
experiences when ending relationships, the nurse can use
termination of the nurse-client relationship to prepare the client for
and work the client through positive termination experiences with
others.
The nurse is explaining the Bill of Rights for psychiatric patients to a
client who has voluntarily sought admission to an inpatient psychiatric
facility. Which of the following rights should the nurse include in the
discussion?
1. Right to select health care team members
2. Right to refuse treatment
3. Right to a written treatment plan
,4. Right to obtain disability
5. Right to confidentiality
6. Right to personal mail - ANSWER- 2. Right to refuse treatment
3. Right to a written treatment plan
5. Right to confidentiality
6. Right to personal mail
An inpatient client usually receives a copy of the Bill of Rights for
psychiatric patients, where they would find options 2, 3, 5, and 6 in
writing. However, a client in an inpatient setting can't select health
team members. A client may apply for disability as a result of a
chronic, incapacitating illness; however, disability isn't a patient
right, and members of a psychiatric institution don't decide who
should receive it.
Which nursing intervention is most important when restraining a violent
client?
1. Reviewing facility policy regarding how long the client can be
restrained
2. Preparing an as-needed dose of the client's psychotropic medication
3. Checking that the restraints have been applied correctly
4. Asking if the client needs to use the bathroom or is thirsty -
ANSWER- 3. Checking that the restraints have been applied
correctly
The nurse must determine whether the restraints have been applied
correctly to make sure that the client's circulation and respiration
aren't restricted and that adequate padding has been used. The
, nurse should document the client's response and status carefully
after the restraints are applied. All staff members involved in
restraining clients should be aware of facility policy before using
restraints. If an as needed medication is ordered, it should be given
before the restraints are in place and with the assistance of other
team members. The nurse should attend to the client's elimination
and hydration needs after the client is properly restrained.
An adolescent, age 17, rarely expresses feelings and usually remains
passive. However, when angry, her face becomes flushed and her blood
pressure rises to 170/100 mm Hg. Her parents are passive and
easygoing. The adolescent may be using which defense mechanism to
handle anger?
1. Displacement
2. Introjection
3. Projection
4. Sublimation - ANSWER- 2. Introjection
The adolescent may be introjecting (assuming as her own) her
parents' belief that anger shouldn't be outwardly expressed. She
may also be holding in and somatizing her angry feelings, as
evidenced by her increased blood pressure. (A blood pressure rise is
a common physiological reaction to the fight-or-flight response that
may be brought on by strong emotions. Habitual failure to express
anger may contribute to hypertension.) Displacement is the
discharge of negative feelings onto another person or an object.
Projection is the attribution of one's own thoughts or impulses to
another person. Sublimation is the channeling of unbearable or
