NUR190 MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE 105
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
*C. Only my belief in God can help me.*
The most frequent cause of increased symptoms in psychotic clients is non-
compliance with the medication regimen. If clients believe that "God alone" is
going to heal them (C) then they may discontinue their medication, so (C) would
pose the greatest threat to this client's prognosis. (A) would require further
teaching, but is not as significant a statement as (C). (B) indicates an improvement
in the client's condition. (D) may be a sign of anxiety that could improve with Tx,
but does not have the priority of (C). - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is conducting
discharge teaching for a client with schizophrenia who plans to live in a group
home. Which statement is most indicative of the need for careful follow-up after
discharge?
a. Crickets are a good source of protein.
b. I have not heard any voices for a week.
c. Only my belief in God can help me.
d. Sometimes I have a hard time sitting still
*C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.*
Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto
another--it is the mother who is probably harming the child and she is attributing
her actions to the nurse (C). The mother may be immature, but (A) is not the best
description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a socially acceptable feeling for an
,unacceptable one. These are not socially acceptable feelings. The mother may be
suppressing her fear (D) by displaying anger, but such an interpretation cannot be
concluded from the data presented. - CORRECT ANSWER A child is brought to the
ER with a broken arm. Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects the child may
be a victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the child's
mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch
him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the mother's
statements? The mother is
a. regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
b. sublimating her anger.
c. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
d. suppressing her fear.
*B. Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her.*
Those with dementia often refer to home or parents when seeking security and
comfort. The nurse should use the techniques of "offering self" and "talking to the
feelings" to provide reassurance (B). Clients with advanced dementia have
permanent physiological changes in the brain (plaques and tangles) that prevent
them from comprehending and retaining new information, so (A, C, and D) are
likely to be of little use to this client and do not help the clients emotional needs. -
CORRECT ANSWER An elderly female client with advanced dementia is admitted
to the hospital with a fractured hip. The client repeatedly tells the staff, "Take me
home. I want my Mommy." Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. Orient the client to the time, place, and person.
b. Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her.
,c. Remind the client that her mother is no longer living.
d. Explain the seriousness of her injury and need for hospitalization.
*D. Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.*
Clients in the manic phase of bipolar disorder require decreased stimuli and a
structured environment (D). Plan noncompetitive activities that can be carried out
alone. (A) is contraindicated; stimuli should be reduced as much as possible.
Impulsive decision-making is characteristic of clients with bipolar disorder. To
prevent future complications, the nurse should monitor these clients' decisions
and assist them in decision-making process (B). (C) is more often associated with
depression than with bipolar disorder. - CORRECT ANSWER A 27 y/o F client is
admitted to the psychiatric hospital with a dx of bipolar disorder, manic phase.
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should the nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
a. Schedule her to attend various group activities.
b. Reinforce her ability to make her own decisions.
c. Encourage her to identify feelings of anger.
d. Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
* C. Go to occupational therapy and start a project.*
Delusions often generate fear and isolation, so the nurse should help the client
participate in activities that avoid focusing on the false belief and encourage
interaction with others (C). Delusions are often well-fixed, and though (A)
reinforces reality, it is argumentative and dismisses the clients fears. It is often
, difficult for the client to recognize the relationship between delusions and anxiety
(B), and the nurse should reassure the client that he is in a safe place. Dismissing
delusional thinking (D) is unrealistic because neurochemical imbalances that cause
positive symptoms of schizophrenia require antipsychotic drug therapy. - CORRECT
ANSWER An adult male client who was admitted to the mental hospital unit
yesterday tells the nurse that microchips were planted in his head for military
surveillance of his every move. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. You are in the hospital, and I am the nurse caring for you.
b. It must be difficult for you to control your anxious feelings.
c. Go to occupational therapy and start a project.
d. You are not in a war area now; this is the United States.
*A. I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.*
(A) is the best choice cited. The nurse doesn't argue with the client nor demand
that she eat, but offers support by agreeing to "be there if needed", e.g., to warm
the food. (B and C) are arguing with the client's delusions, and (B) asks "why"
which is usually not a good question for a psychotic client. (D) has nothing to do
with the actual problem; i.e., the problem is not the diet (she thinks any food
given to her is poisoned). - CORRECT ANSWER A 38 y/o F client is admitted with a
dx of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat
and tells the nurse, "I know you're trying to poison me with that food." Which
response is most appropriate for the nurse to make?
a. I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.
b. You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison you?
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS 2026
*C. Only my belief in God can help me.*
The most frequent cause of increased symptoms in psychotic clients is non-
compliance with the medication regimen. If clients believe that "God alone" is
going to heal them (C) then they may discontinue their medication, so (C) would
pose the greatest threat to this client's prognosis. (A) would require further
teaching, but is not as significant a statement as (C). (B) indicates an improvement
in the client's condition. (D) may be a sign of anxiety that could improve with Tx,
but does not have the priority of (C). - CORRECT ANSWER The nurse is conducting
discharge teaching for a client with schizophrenia who plans to live in a group
home. Which statement is most indicative of the need for careful follow-up after
discharge?
a. Crickets are a good source of protein.
b. I have not heard any voices for a week.
c. Only my belief in God can help me.
d. Sometimes I have a hard time sitting still
*C. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.*
Projection is attributing one's own thoughts, impulses, or behaviors onto
another--it is the mother who is probably harming the child and she is attributing
her actions to the nurse (C). The mother may be immature, but (A) is not the best
description of her behavior. (B) is substituting a socially acceptable feeling for an
,unacceptable one. These are not socially acceptable feelings. The mother may be
suppressing her fear (D) by displaying anger, but such an interpretation cannot be
concluded from the data presented. - CORRECT ANSWER A child is brought to the
ER with a broken arm. Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects the child may
be a victim of abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the child's
mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you touch
him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the mother's
statements? The mother is
a. regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
b. sublimating her anger.
c. projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
d. suppressing her fear.
*B. Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her.*
Those with dementia often refer to home or parents when seeking security and
comfort. The nurse should use the techniques of "offering self" and "talking to the
feelings" to provide reassurance (B). Clients with advanced dementia have
permanent physiological changes in the brain (plaques and tangles) that prevent
them from comprehending and retaining new information, so (A, C, and D) are
likely to be of little use to this client and do not help the clients emotional needs. -
CORRECT ANSWER An elderly female client with advanced dementia is admitted
to the hospital with a fractured hip. The client repeatedly tells the staff, "Take me
home. I want my Mommy." Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. Orient the client to the time, place, and person.
b. Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her.
,c. Remind the client that her mother is no longer living.
d. Explain the seriousness of her injury and need for hospitalization.
*D. Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.*
Clients in the manic phase of bipolar disorder require decreased stimuli and a
structured environment (D). Plan noncompetitive activities that can be carried out
alone. (A) is contraindicated; stimuli should be reduced as much as possible.
Impulsive decision-making is characteristic of clients with bipolar disorder. To
prevent future complications, the nurse should monitor these clients' decisions
and assist them in decision-making process (B). (C) is more often associated with
depression than with bipolar disorder. - CORRECT ANSWER A 27 y/o F client is
admitted to the psychiatric hospital with a dx of bipolar disorder, manic phase.
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should the nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
a. Schedule her to attend various group activities.
b. Reinforce her ability to make her own decisions.
c. Encourage her to identify feelings of anger.
d. Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
* C. Go to occupational therapy and start a project.*
Delusions often generate fear and isolation, so the nurse should help the client
participate in activities that avoid focusing on the false belief and encourage
interaction with others (C). Delusions are often well-fixed, and though (A)
reinforces reality, it is argumentative and dismisses the clients fears. It is often
, difficult for the client to recognize the relationship between delusions and anxiety
(B), and the nurse should reassure the client that he is in a safe place. Dismissing
delusional thinking (D) is unrealistic because neurochemical imbalances that cause
positive symptoms of schizophrenia require antipsychotic drug therapy. - CORRECT
ANSWER An adult male client who was admitted to the mental hospital unit
yesterday tells the nurse that microchips were planted in his head for military
surveillance of his every move. Which response is best for the nurse to provide?
a. You are in the hospital, and I am the nurse caring for you.
b. It must be difficult for you to control your anxious feelings.
c. Go to occupational therapy and start a project.
d. You are not in a war area now; this is the United States.
*A. I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.*
(A) is the best choice cited. The nurse doesn't argue with the client nor demand
that she eat, but offers support by agreeing to "be there if needed", e.g., to warm
the food. (B and C) are arguing with the client's delusions, and (B) asks "why"
which is usually not a good question for a psychotic client. (D) has nothing to do
with the actual problem; i.e., the problem is not the diet (she thinks any food
given to her is poisoned). - CORRECT ANSWER A 38 y/o F client is admitted with a
dx of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat
and tells the nurse, "I know you're trying to poison me with that food." Which
response is most appropriate for the nurse to make?
a. I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.
b. You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to poison you?
