Exam 1 Psychiatric/Mental
Health Nursing 2026 Exam All
Answers and Illustrations Given
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt
emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response
should the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired,
too."
,c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine
the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned"
directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is uncomfortable
with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic technique. The
other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what
you say." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness." - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are
unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The
,nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the
patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to
talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the
subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited from operating in health care
facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch with
reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always
agree." The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the
patient twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that the
patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate. - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent
messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in
the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety.
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STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal message being
clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's
comment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you
about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in
your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit
operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to
me." - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of
the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of
"offering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse cares about
the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-therapeutic.
The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example of "offering
hope."
Health Nursing 2026 Exam All
Answers and Illustrations Given
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt
emotionally drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response
should the nurse use to clarify the patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your
dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired,
too."
,c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?" - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine
the meaning of the patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned"
directly asks for clarification. Restating that the patient is uncomfortable
with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic technique. The
other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is
monitoring us through the fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what
you say." Which response by the nurse would be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness." - 🧠
ANSWER ✔✔ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are
unrealistic. Challenging undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The
,nurse should try to understand the underlying feelings or thoughts the
patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to
talk about something other than the concern at hand is changing the
subject. Saying that the CIA is prohibited from operating in health care
facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the patient has lost touch with
reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always
agree." The nurse observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the
patient twirls a shirt button. The conclusion the nurse can draw is that the
patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate. - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent
messages by the speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in
the relationship was modified by the nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety.
COPYRIGHT©NINJANERD 2025/2026. YEAR PUBLISHED 2025. COMPANY REGISTRATION NUMBER: 619652435. TERMS OF USE. PRIVACY
STATEMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
3
, Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal message being
clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's
comment that applies the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you
about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in
your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit
operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to
me." - 🧠 ANSWER ✔✔ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of
the nurse-patient relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of
"offering self," helps to build trust and convey that the nurse cares about
the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-therapeutic.
The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example of "offering
hope."
