TEST BANK FOR ESSENTIALS OF
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying)
Nursing Process: Outcomes Identification
TOP:
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY VARCAROLIS - MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance abirb.com/test
COVERING ALL CHAPTERS UPDATED 2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a
VESION 2026 divorce. Select the nurse’s most caring comment. abirb.com/test
Chapter 01: Science and the Therapeutic Use of Self in Psychiatric Mental Health a. “Let’s discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings.”
Nursing b. “I understand why you’re so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too.”
Varcarolis: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication c. “You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life.”abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test
d. “How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?”
Approach to Evidence-Based Care, 4th Edition
ANS: A
The nurse’s communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work with the
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
MULTIPLE CHOICE
patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help. Probing and advice are not
helpful for therapeutic interventions.
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living abirb.com/test
in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3 abirb.com/test DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
months, the patient will demonstrate what behavior?
a. Denying suicidal ideation
b. Reporting a sense of well-being abirb.com/test 3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears extremely heavy
c. Taking medications as prescribed abirb.com/test makeup.
Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates
d. Attending clinic appointments on time advocacy? a. “This is a psychiatric hospital, so we expect our patients to behave bizarrely.”
b. “Let’s all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too.” abirb.com/test
c. “Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective.”
ANS: B abirb.com/test
d. “Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society.”
Recovery emphasizes managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and improving
role performance. The goal of recovery is to empower the individual with mental illness to
achieve a sense of meaning and satisfaction in life and to function at the highest possible level ANS: D
of wellness. The incorrect options focus on the classic medical model rather than Accepting patients’ needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will contribute to
recovery.abirb.com/test their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of advocacy. The on-coming
nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor
abirb.com/test can be appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for
abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which abirb.com/test
TEST BANK FOR ESSENTIALS OF 5.
characteristic of the
prejudiced information?
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH a. Address ends in “.org.”
website’s address most
alerts the nurse that the
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY VARCAROLIS - b. Address ends in “.com.”
c. Address ends in “.gov.”
abirb.com/test
site may have biased and
Financial influences on
COVERING ALL CHAPTERS UPDATED d. Address ends in “.net.”
a site are a clue that the
VESION 2026 abirb.com/test
information may be
biased. “.com” at the
patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will create conflict. Nurses must show ANS: B
compassion for each other. end of the address
abirb.com/test indicates that the site is
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) a commercial one. “.gov” indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. “.org”
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site abirb.com/test
may or may not have reliable information, but it does not profit from its activities. “.net” can
abirb.com/test have multiple meanings.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which abirb.com/test
statement is an example of “attending”? DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
a. “We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital is not the end of the world.” MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
abirb.com/test
b. “Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression.” 6. A nurse says, “When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their
abirb.com/test
c. “You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you. abirb.com/test attention; however, I read a
descriptive research study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling
”
patients by name.” Which statement is the best appraisal of this
d. “I’d like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with
me.” nurse’s comment? abirb.com/test
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical nurse
ANS: D abirb.com/test specialists.
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse’s commitment to the relationship and c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms before using
reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for the patient and demonstrates abirb.com/test them in practice.
caring. Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances are nontherapeutic. d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of practice do not
abirb.com/test
change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) abirb.com/test
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be viewed in relation to
other studies before practice changes. One study is not enough. Descriptive studies are low
abirb.com/test
on the hierarchy of evidence. Clinical algorithms use flowcharts to manage problems and do
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, TEST BANK FOR ESSENTIALS OF similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not simply
abirb.com/test
documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much suffering as
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH physical pain.
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) abirb.com/test
VARCAROLIS - COVERING ALL TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
CHAPTERS UPDATED VESION 2026 8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
not abirb.com/test specify one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practiceabirb.com/test
change as research findings provide evidence for change. b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
abirb.com/test
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis (Analyzing) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
d. Critical pathway abirb.com/test
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter ANS: B
abirb.com/test
psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, “Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You will lose your skills.” Select the best response by
the student interested in psychiatric nursing. abirb.com/test
a. “Psychiatric nurses’ practice in safer environments than other specialties and nurse-to-
patient ratios are better because of the nature of patients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to
solve multidimensional problems. I’m challenged by those situations.”abirb.com/test
c. “I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical rotations in school,
so I do not want to continue them after I graduate.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as abirb.com/test
medical-surgical nurses. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical
abirb.com/test nursing, although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses must be able to
help patients with medical and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective
these nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased,
abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic review of a. “My nurse always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my
randomized controlled trials is level A and provides the strongest evidence for changing medication.” abirb.com/test
practice. Expert committee recommendations and descriptive studies lend less powerful and
b. “My nurse explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make
abirb.com/test influential evidence. A critical pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research
it better.”
findings after they have been analyzed.
c. “My nurse told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, I will get
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) abirb.com/test
TOP: Nursing Process:
discharged soon.” abirb.com/test
Planning d. “My nurse spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment like I’m not alone.”
abirb.com/test
ANS: D
9. A bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed with
Caring evidences empathic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and
abirb.com/test mental illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in
suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
isolation. The incorrect options give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or
a. Advocacy abirb.com/test
b. Attending abirb.com/test giving advice.
c. Recovery
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
d. Evidence-based practice abirb.com/test
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
ANS: A abirb.com/test
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the 11. A patient who immigrated to the United States from Honduras was diagnosed with
ability to do that for him or herself. Examples of individual advocacy include helping schizophrenia. The patient took an antipsychotic medication for 3 weeks but showed no
patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes improvement. Which resource should the treatment team consult for information on more
abirb.com/test effective medications for this patient?
political abirb.com/test activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the
individuals with mental illness; the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on a. Clinical algorithm
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs. b. Clinical pathway
abirb.com/test c. Clinical practice guideline abirb.com/test
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment (ICD)
abirb.com/test
10. An informal group of patients discuss their perceptions of nursing care. Which comment best ANS: A
abirb.com/test A clinical algorithm is a guideline that describes diagnostic and/or treatment approaches
indicates a patient’s perception that his or her nurse is caring?
drawn from large databases of information. These guidelines help the treatment team make
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying)
Nursing Process: Outcomes Identification
TOP:
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY VARCAROLIS - MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance abirb.com/test
COVERING ALL CHAPTERS UPDATED 2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after their spouse asks for a
VESION 2026 divorce. Select the nurse’s most caring comment. abirb.com/test
Chapter 01: Science and the Therapeutic Use of Self in Psychiatric Mental Health a. “Let’s discuss healthy means of coping when you have suicidal feelings.”
Nursing b. “I understand why you’re so depressed. When I got divorced, I was devastated too.”
Varcarolis: Essentials of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Communication c. “You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life.”abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test
d. “How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?”
Approach to Evidence-Based Care, 4th Edition
ANS: A
The nurse’s communication should evidence caring and a commitment to work with the
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
MULTIPLE CHOICE
patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will help. Probing and advice are not
helpful for therapeutic interventions.
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living abirb.com/test
in the community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3 abirb.com/test DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
months, the patient will demonstrate what behavior?
a. Denying suicidal ideation
b. Reporting a sense of well-being abirb.com/test 3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears extremely heavy
c. Taking medications as prescribed abirb.com/test makeup.
Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best demonstrates
d. Attending clinic appointments on time advocacy? a. “This is a psychiatric hospital, so we expect our patients to behave bizarrely.”
b. “Let’s all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too.” abirb.com/test
c. “Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report objective.”
ANS: B abirb.com/test
d. “Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get along in society.”
Recovery emphasizes managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and improving
role performance. The goal of recovery is to empower the individual with mental illness to
achieve a sense of meaning and satisfaction in life and to function at the highest possible level ANS: D
of wellness. The incorrect options focus on the classic medical model rather than Accepting patients’ needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills that will contribute to
recovery.abirb.com/test their well-being demonstrate respect and are important parts of advocacy. The on-coming
nurse needs to take action to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor
abirb.com/test can be appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for
abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health problem. Which abirb.com/test
TEST BANK FOR ESSENTIALS OF 5.
characteristic of the
prejudiced information?
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH a. Address ends in “.org.”
website’s address most
alerts the nurse that the
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY VARCAROLIS - b. Address ends in “.com.”
c. Address ends in “.gov.”
abirb.com/test
site may have biased and
Financial influences on
COVERING ALL CHAPTERS UPDATED d. Address ends in “.net.”
a site are a clue that the
VESION 2026 abirb.com/test
information may be
biased. “.com” at the
patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will create conflict. Nurses must show ANS: B
compassion for each other. end of the address
abirb.com/test indicates that the site is
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) a commercial one. “.gov” indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. “.org”
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site abirb.com/test
may or may not have reliable information, but it does not profit from its activities. “.net” can
abirb.com/test have multiple meanings.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which abirb.com/test
statement is an example of “attending”? DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
a. “We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital is not the end of the world.” MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
abirb.com/test
b. “Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression.” 6. A nurse says, “When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their
abirb.com/test
c. “You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you. abirb.com/test attention; however, I read a
descriptive research study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling
”
patients by name.” Which statement is the best appraisal of this
d. “I’d like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with
me.” nurse’s comment? abirb.com/test
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical nurse
ANS: D abirb.com/test specialists.
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse’s commitment to the relationship and c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms before using
reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect for the patient and demonstrates abirb.com/test them in practice.
caring. Generalizations, probing, and false reassurances are nontherapeutic. d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of practice do not
abirb.com/test
change.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) abirb.com/test
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be viewed in relation to
other studies before practice changes. One study is not enough. Descriptive studies are low
abirb.com/test
on the hierarchy of evidence. Clinical algorithms use flowcharts to manage problems and do
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, TEST BANK FOR ESSENTIALS OF similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not simply
abirb.com/test
documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much suffering as
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH physical pain.
NURSING 4TH EDITION BY DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) abirb.com/test
VARCAROLIS - COVERING ALL TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment
CHAPTERS UPDATED VESION 2026 8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
not abirb.com/test specify one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practiceabirb.com/test
change as research findings provide evidence for change. b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
abirb.com/test
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis (Analyzing) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
d. Critical pathway abirb.com/test
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance
7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter ANS: B
abirb.com/test
psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, “Why would you want to be a
psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You will lose your skills.” Select the best response by
the student interested in psychiatric nursing. abirb.com/test
a. “Psychiatric nurses’ practice in safer environments than other specialties and nurse-to-
patient ratios are better because of the nature of patients’ problems.”
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to
solve multidimensional problems. I’m challenged by those situations.”abirb.com/test
c. “I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical rotations in school,
so I do not want to continue them after I graduate.”
d. “Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as abirb.com/test
medical-surgical nurses. That appeals to me.”
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical
abirb.com/test nursing, although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses must be able to
help patients with medical and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective
these nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased,
abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
, Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic review of a. “My nurse always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my
randomized controlled trials is level A and provides the strongest evidence for changing medication.” abirb.com/test
practice. Expert committee recommendations and descriptive studies lend less powerful and
b. “My nurse explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make
abirb.com/test influential evidence. A critical pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research
it better.”
findings after they have been analyzed.
c. “My nurse told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, I will get
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) abirb.com/test
TOP: Nursing Process:
discharged soon.” abirb.com/test
Planning d. “My nurse spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel
MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment like I’m not alone.”
abirb.com/test
ANS: D
9. A bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed with
Caring evidences empathic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and
abirb.com/test mental illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in
suffering into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
isolation. The incorrect options give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or
a. Advocacy abirb.com/test
b. Attending abirb.com/test giving advice.
c. Recovery
DIF: Cognitive Level: Application (Applying) TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
d. Evidence-based practice abirb.com/test
MSC: NCLEX: Psychosocial Integrity
ANS: A abirb.com/test
An advocate defends or asserts another’s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the 11. A patient who immigrated to the United States from Honduras was diagnosed with
ability to do that for him or herself. Examples of individual advocacy include helping schizophrenia. The patient took an antipsychotic medication for 3 weeks but showed no
patients understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes improvement. Which resource should the treatment team consult for information on more
abirb.com/test effective medications for this patient?
political abirb.com/test activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the
individuals with mental illness; the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on a. Clinical algorithm
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs. b. Clinical pathway
abirb.com/test c. Clinical practice guideline abirb.com/test
DIF: Cognitive Level: Comprehension (Understanding) d. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: NCLEX: Safe, Effective Care Environment (ICD)
abirb.com/test
10. An informal group of patients discuss their perceptions of nursing care. Which comment best ANS: A
abirb.com/test A clinical algorithm is a guideline that describes diagnostic and/or treatment approaches
indicates a patient’s perception that his or her nurse is caring?
drawn from large databases of information. These guidelines help the treatment team make
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
WWW.NURSYLAB.COM WWW.NURSYLAB.COM
WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM WWW.THENURSINGMASTERY.C OM
abirb.com/test abirb.com/test
