NR 605 – PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+
LATEST
1. A 28-year-old patient reports feeling hopeless, has withdrawn from social
activities, and states, “I can’t go on like this anymore.” What is the nurse’s
priority intervention?
A. Encourage participation in group therapy
B. Ask directly about suicidal thoughts
C. Suggest journaling to express feelings
D. Teach relaxation techniques
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse must assess for immediate risk of self-harm. Asking directly
about suicidal thoughts is the most urgent and safety-focused intervention.
,2. During an initial psychiatric assessment, a patient consistently changes the
subject when discussing family conflicts. This defense mechanism is most
consistent with:
A. Rationalization
B. Repression
C. Projection
D. Avoidance
Answer: D
Rationale: Avoidance involves sidestepping uncomfortable topics to reduce
anxiety. The patient’s redirection suggests this mechanism.
3. Which statement best reflects therapeutic communication?
A. “Why did you behave that way?”
B. “I understand how you feel; tell me more about it.”
C. “You need to calm down and relax.”
D. “That’s not a problem; everyone feels like that.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended, empathetic statements facilitate trust and encourage
patient expression, essential for therapeutic communication.
4. A patient with severe anxiety frequently taps their fingers and paces. This
behavior is an example of:
A. Compulsion
B. Somatization
C. Psychomotor agitation
D. Cognitive distortion
Answer: C
Rationale: Psychomotor agitation refers to increased, purposeless physical activity
associated with tension or anxiety.
,5. Freud’s theory emphasizes that adult personality is largely shaped by:
A. Unconscious conflicts in childhood
B. Social reinforcement
C. Cognitive schemas
D. Moral reasoning
Answer: A
Rationale: Psychoanalytic theory posits that unconscious childhood experiences
shape adult personality and behavior.
6. A nurse is forming a safety contract with a patient. Which statement
demonstrates an effective safety contract?
A. “Promise me you won’t hurt yourself.”
B. “Can you agree to call staff if you feel unsafe?”
C. “You must stay here until you feel better.”
D. “If you feel suicidal, ignore the thoughts; they will pass.”
Answer: B
Rationale: A safety contract should involve a patient’s active agreement to seek
help and is non-coercive, collaborative, and clear.
7. During a clinical interview, a patient repeatedly says, “I’m fine,” but their body
language indicates distress. The nurse should:
A. Accept the verbal response
B. Explore nonverbal cues gently
C. Confront the patient aggressively
D. Ignore body language and proceed with questions
Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic interviewing requires awareness of nonverbal
communication to assess underlying emotions accurately.
, 8. A patient says, “I failed the exam because the teacher hates me.” This is an
example of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Denial
D. Reaction formation
Answer: A
Rationale: Projection occurs when a person attributes their own feelings or faults
to others.
9. Which of the following is a goal of the initial psychiatric interview?
A. Diagnose psychiatric disorders immediately
B. Build rapport and gather comprehensive history
C. Focus solely on physical examination
D. Provide extensive psychoeducation
Answer: B
Rationale: Initial interviews prioritize rapport-building and data collection to
inform diagnosis and treatment planning.
10. A patient refuses to talk about childhood trauma. The nurse recognizes this as
which defense mechanism?
A. Sublimation
B. Repression
C. Rationalization
D. Regression
Answer: B
Rationale: Repression involves unconsciously blocking distressing memories from
conscious awareness.
HEALTH DIAGNOSIS & MANAGEMENT
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+
LATEST
1. A 28-year-old patient reports feeling hopeless, has withdrawn from social
activities, and states, “I can’t go on like this anymore.” What is the nurse’s
priority intervention?
A. Encourage participation in group therapy
B. Ask directly about suicidal thoughts
C. Suggest journaling to express feelings
D. Teach relaxation techniques
Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse must assess for immediate risk of self-harm. Asking directly
about suicidal thoughts is the most urgent and safety-focused intervention.
,2. During an initial psychiatric assessment, a patient consistently changes the
subject when discussing family conflicts. This defense mechanism is most
consistent with:
A. Rationalization
B. Repression
C. Projection
D. Avoidance
Answer: D
Rationale: Avoidance involves sidestepping uncomfortable topics to reduce
anxiety. The patient’s redirection suggests this mechanism.
3. Which statement best reflects therapeutic communication?
A. “Why did you behave that way?”
B. “I understand how you feel; tell me more about it.”
C. “You need to calm down and relax.”
D. “That’s not a problem; everyone feels like that.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Open-ended, empathetic statements facilitate trust and encourage
patient expression, essential for therapeutic communication.
4. A patient with severe anxiety frequently taps their fingers and paces. This
behavior is an example of:
A. Compulsion
B. Somatization
C. Psychomotor agitation
D. Cognitive distortion
Answer: C
Rationale: Psychomotor agitation refers to increased, purposeless physical activity
associated with tension or anxiety.
,5. Freud’s theory emphasizes that adult personality is largely shaped by:
A. Unconscious conflicts in childhood
B. Social reinforcement
C. Cognitive schemas
D. Moral reasoning
Answer: A
Rationale: Psychoanalytic theory posits that unconscious childhood experiences
shape adult personality and behavior.
6. A nurse is forming a safety contract with a patient. Which statement
demonstrates an effective safety contract?
A. “Promise me you won’t hurt yourself.”
B. “Can you agree to call staff if you feel unsafe?”
C. “You must stay here until you feel better.”
D. “If you feel suicidal, ignore the thoughts; they will pass.”
Answer: B
Rationale: A safety contract should involve a patient’s active agreement to seek
help and is non-coercive, collaborative, and clear.
7. During a clinical interview, a patient repeatedly says, “I’m fine,” but their body
language indicates distress. The nurse should:
A. Accept the verbal response
B. Explore nonverbal cues gently
C. Confront the patient aggressively
D. Ignore body language and proceed with questions
Answer: B
Rationale: Therapeutic interviewing requires awareness of nonverbal
communication to assess underlying emotions accurately.
, 8. A patient says, “I failed the exam because the teacher hates me.” This is an
example of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Displacement
C. Denial
D. Reaction formation
Answer: A
Rationale: Projection occurs when a person attributes their own feelings or faults
to others.
9. Which of the following is a goal of the initial psychiatric interview?
A. Diagnose psychiatric disorders immediately
B. Build rapport and gather comprehensive history
C. Focus solely on physical examination
D. Provide extensive psychoeducation
Answer: B
Rationale: Initial interviews prioritize rapport-building and data collection to
inform diagnosis and treatment planning.
10. A patient refuses to talk about childhood trauma. The nurse recognizes this as
which defense mechanism?
A. Sublimation
B. Repression
C. Rationalization
D. Regression
Answer: B
Rationale: Repression involves unconsciously blocking distressing memories from
conscious awareness.
