Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health
Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter |Test
Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2025 WITH EXPERT ANSW
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention? a. Conduct mental
health assessments.
Prescribe psychotropic medication.
Establish therapeutic relationships.
Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared nurse practitioners
and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The
nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP:
Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses ―lose all their clinical
nursing skills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
―Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients‘ problems.‖
―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.‖
―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical– surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients
1
,with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just
documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
2
,PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3
, Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing A Clinical
9th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter |Test
Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2022
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
Recovery
Attending
Advocacy
Evidence-based practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another‘s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients
understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human
condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with
mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who
are unable to articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26 TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which
family member‘s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
―I‘ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.‖
―I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.‖
―I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.‖
―It‘s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.‖
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life
may be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other
incorrect responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Pages 1-2, 3, 32 (Figure 1-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a
mental illness? The patient
reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
is able to describe the difference between ―as if‖ and ―for real.‖
4
Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter |Test
Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2025 WITH EXPERT ANSW
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention? a. Conduct mental
health assessments.
Prescribe psychotropic medication.
Establish therapeutic relationships.
Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared nurse practitioners
and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The
nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish
relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP:
Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses ―lose all their clinical
nursing skills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
―Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-
patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients‘ problems.‖
―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies.‖
―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as
medical– surgical nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical
nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients
1
,with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just
documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and suffering.
2
,PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3
, Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing A Clinical
9th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter |Test
Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2022
When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
Recovery
Attending
Advocacy
Evidence-based practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another‘s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients
understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
political activity, public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the human
condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with
mental illness, the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who
are unable to articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26 TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which
family member‘s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
―I‘ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.‖
―I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.‖
―I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.‖
―It‘s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.‖
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life
may be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other
incorrect responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Pages 1-2, 3, 32 (Figure 1-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a
mental illness? The patient
reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
is able to describe the difference between ―as if‖ and ―for real.‖
4
