NUR2459 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING FINAL
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depression has gained
20 pounds over a few months and has suicidal ideation. The patient has
taken an antidepressant medication for 1 week without remission of
symptoms. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.
a. Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements
b. Chronic low self-esteem
c. Risk for suicide
d. Hopelessness. Answer: C
Risk for suicide is the priority diagnosis when the patient has both
suicidal ideation and a plan to carry out the suicidal intent. Imbalanced
nutrition, hopelessness, and chronic low self-esteem may be applicable
nursing diagnoses, but these problems do not affect patient safety as
urgently as would a suicide attempt.
◉ A patient diagnosed with major depression has lost 20 pounds in one
month, has chronic low self-esteem, and a plan for suicide. The patient
has taken an antidepressant medication for 1 week. Which nursing
intervention has the highest priority?
a. Implement suicide precautions.
b. Offer high-calorie snacks and fluids frequently.
,c. Assist the patient to identify three personal strengths.
d. Observe patient for therapeutic effects of antidepressant medication.
Answer: A
Implementing suicide precautions is the only option related to patient
safety. The other options, related to nutrition, self-esteem, and
medication therapy, are important but are not priorities.
◉ The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient
will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of
7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4
hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. The nurse will document
the outcome as:
a. consistently demonstrated.
b. often demonstrated.
c. sometimes demonstrated.
d. never demonstrated. Answer: D
Although the patient is sleeping 6 hours daily, the total is not one
uninterrupted session at night. Therefore, the outcome must be evaluated
as never demonstrated. See relationship to audience response question.
◉ The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient
will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of
7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4
hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. What is the nurse's next
action?
, a. Continue the current plan without changes.
b. Remove this nursing diagnosis from the plan of care.
c. Write a new nursing diagnosis that better reflects the problem.
d. Examine interventions for possible revision of the target date.
Answer: D
Sleeping a total of 5 hours at night remains a reasonable outcome.
Extending the period for attaining the outcome may be appropriate.
Examining interventions might result in planning an activity during the
afternoon rather than permitting a nap. Continuing the current plan
without changes is inappropriate. Removing this nursing diagnosis from
the plan of care would be correct when the outcome was met and the
problem resolved. Writing a new nursing diagnosis is inappropriate
because no other nursing diagnosis relates to the problem.
◉ A patient begins a new program to assist with building social skills. In
which part of the plan of care should a nurse record the item,
"Encourage patient to attend one psychoeducational group daily"?
a. Assessment
b. Analysis
c. Implementation
d. Evaluation. Answer: C
Interventions are the nursing prescriptions to achieve the outcomes.
Interventions should be specific.
PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ A newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depression has gained
20 pounds over a few months and has suicidal ideation. The patient has
taken an antidepressant medication for 1 week without remission of
symptoms. Select the priority nursing diagnosis.
a. Imbalanced nutrition: more than body requirements
b. Chronic low self-esteem
c. Risk for suicide
d. Hopelessness. Answer: C
Risk for suicide is the priority diagnosis when the patient has both
suicidal ideation and a plan to carry out the suicidal intent. Imbalanced
nutrition, hopelessness, and chronic low self-esteem may be applicable
nursing diagnoses, but these problems do not affect patient safety as
urgently as would a suicide attempt.
◉ A patient diagnosed with major depression has lost 20 pounds in one
month, has chronic low self-esteem, and a plan for suicide. The patient
has taken an antidepressant medication for 1 week. Which nursing
intervention has the highest priority?
a. Implement suicide precautions.
b. Offer high-calorie snacks and fluids frequently.
,c. Assist the patient to identify three personal strengths.
d. Observe patient for therapeutic effects of antidepressant medication.
Answer: A
Implementing suicide precautions is the only option related to patient
safety. The other options, related to nutrition, self-esteem, and
medication therapy, are important but are not priorities.
◉ The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient
will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of
7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4
hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. The nurse will document
the outcome as:
a. consistently demonstrated.
b. often demonstrated.
c. sometimes demonstrated.
d. never demonstrated. Answer: D
Although the patient is sleeping 6 hours daily, the total is not one
uninterrupted session at night. Therefore, the outcome must be evaluated
as never demonstrated. See relationship to audience response question.
◉ The desired outcome for a patient experiencing insomnia is, "Patient
will sleep for a minimum of 5 hours nightly within 7 days." At the end of
7 days, review of sleep data shows the patient sleeps an average of 4
hours nightly and takes a 2-hour afternoon nap. What is the nurse's next
action?
, a. Continue the current plan without changes.
b. Remove this nursing diagnosis from the plan of care.
c. Write a new nursing diagnosis that better reflects the problem.
d. Examine interventions for possible revision of the target date.
Answer: D
Sleeping a total of 5 hours at night remains a reasonable outcome.
Extending the period for attaining the outcome may be appropriate.
Examining interventions might result in planning an activity during the
afternoon rather than permitting a nap. Continuing the current plan
without changes is inappropriate. Removing this nursing diagnosis from
the plan of care would be correct when the outcome was met and the
problem resolved. Writing a new nursing diagnosis is inappropriate
because no other nursing diagnosis relates to the problem.
◉ A patient begins a new program to assist with building social skills. In
which part of the plan of care should a nurse record the item,
"Encourage patient to attend one psychoeducational group daily"?
a. Assessment
b. Analysis
c. Implementation
d. Evaluation. Answer: C
Interventions are the nursing prescriptions to achieve the outcomes.
Interventions should be specific.
