PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING NCLEX
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANATION
Your patient is ready for discharge after a 30-day hospitalization for manic depression. About 30
minutes before his discharge, his roommate comes to you and says, 'He is talking crazy.' When
you ask your patient how he is feeling, he states, 'I feel like Superman. I can do anything. I can
fly home today and then become a U.S. Senator.' Which type of mania-related symptoms is this
patient exhibiting?
A. Social.
B. Cognitive.
C. Behavioral.
D. Perceptual. - ANSWER --B. Cognitive.
Reason: Cognitive symptoms include inflated self-esteem and grandiosity.
You need to assess whether a patient who has a mood disorder is ready for discharge. Which
statement would indicate readiness for discharge?
A. Right now, I can't bathe myself or dress myself, but I feel good about that.
,B. Going home will be fun, but if it isn't fun, I can always make my mother help me or tell her to
do so. She better help me.
C. I will take my medicines as I should and know to call the number you gave me if I have bad
thoughts.
D. Taking care of myself is important, but it's okay if I don't want to do anything. -
ANSWER --C. I will take my medicines as I should and know to call the number you gave
me if I have bad thoughts.
Reason: Verbalization of a plan for help and demonstration of care are realistic discharge
criteria.
An angry patient is in the community room. She picks up a chair and uses it to hit another
patient on the head. When you come into the community room, what should your first
response to the patient holding the chair be?
A. Are you crazy? Hitting people can hurt them!
B. Hitting others is unacceptable. Please put the chair completely down on the floor.
C. How would you like it if I hit you over the head with a chair?
D. You're in big trouble now. It's probably prison you are looking at! - ANSWER --B. Hitting
others is unacceptable. Please put the chair completely down on the floor.
Reason: Use words to indicate your lack of acceptance of the patient's behavior in a
nonthreatening voice or tone.
A 48-year-old Hispanic woman is seen by a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist after receiving a
call by her son. According to the son, since his father's death 7 months ago, his mother has lost
30 pounds and can't sleep. During her initial visit, the patient states, 'My husband talks to me in
his visits, but his words make no sense to me. I don't understand what he wants me to do.'
What is an appropriate nursing diagnosis?
A. Ineffective denial.
B. Bipolar mood disorder.
, C. Hyper-religiosity.
D. Grieving. - ANSWER --D. Grieving.
Reason: Grieving may be characterized by weight loss, sleep disturbances, and messages from
beyond.
Your neighbor's husband comes to talk to you. He says his wife has not left the house in 2
weeks, has a flat mood, and has lost interest in her usual activities. You recognize these as the
primary symptoms of
A. Depression.
B. Schizophrenia.
C. Suicidal ideation.
D. Bipolar manic episodes. - ANSWER --A. Depression.
Reason: Depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in activities) are the
primary symptoms of major depression.
A 22-year-old female is admitted to the unit following a suicide attempt. She has a 2-week
history of depression as well as a history of abusing multiple substances and anorexia nervosa.
What is your first nursing priority?
A. Socialization.
B. Contracting for eating behavior.
C. Safety.
D. Administering the Beck depression scale. - ANSWER --C. Safety.
Reason: Safety is the major principle underlying psychiatric nursing.
HEALTH NURSING NCLEX
REVIEW QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS WITH
EXPLANATION
Your patient is ready for discharge after a 30-day hospitalization for manic depression. About 30
minutes before his discharge, his roommate comes to you and says, 'He is talking crazy.' When
you ask your patient how he is feeling, he states, 'I feel like Superman. I can do anything. I can
fly home today and then become a U.S. Senator.' Which type of mania-related symptoms is this
patient exhibiting?
A. Social.
B. Cognitive.
C. Behavioral.
D. Perceptual. - ANSWER --B. Cognitive.
Reason: Cognitive symptoms include inflated self-esteem and grandiosity.
You need to assess whether a patient who has a mood disorder is ready for discharge. Which
statement would indicate readiness for discharge?
A. Right now, I can't bathe myself or dress myself, but I feel good about that.
,B. Going home will be fun, but if it isn't fun, I can always make my mother help me or tell her to
do so. She better help me.
C. I will take my medicines as I should and know to call the number you gave me if I have bad
thoughts.
D. Taking care of myself is important, but it's okay if I don't want to do anything. -
ANSWER --C. I will take my medicines as I should and know to call the number you gave
me if I have bad thoughts.
Reason: Verbalization of a plan for help and demonstration of care are realistic discharge
criteria.
An angry patient is in the community room. She picks up a chair and uses it to hit another
patient on the head. When you come into the community room, what should your first
response to the patient holding the chair be?
A. Are you crazy? Hitting people can hurt them!
B. Hitting others is unacceptable. Please put the chair completely down on the floor.
C. How would you like it if I hit you over the head with a chair?
D. You're in big trouble now. It's probably prison you are looking at! - ANSWER --B. Hitting
others is unacceptable. Please put the chair completely down on the floor.
Reason: Use words to indicate your lack of acceptance of the patient's behavior in a
nonthreatening voice or tone.
A 48-year-old Hispanic woman is seen by a psychiatric clinical nurse specialist after receiving a
call by her son. According to the son, since his father's death 7 months ago, his mother has lost
30 pounds and can't sleep. During her initial visit, the patient states, 'My husband talks to me in
his visits, but his words make no sense to me. I don't understand what he wants me to do.'
What is an appropriate nursing diagnosis?
A. Ineffective denial.
B. Bipolar mood disorder.
, C. Hyper-religiosity.
D. Grieving. - ANSWER --D. Grieving.
Reason: Grieving may be characterized by weight loss, sleep disturbances, and messages from
beyond.
Your neighbor's husband comes to talk to you. He says his wife has not left the house in 2
weeks, has a flat mood, and has lost interest in her usual activities. You recognize these as the
primary symptoms of
A. Depression.
B. Schizophrenia.
C. Suicidal ideation.
D. Bipolar manic episodes. - ANSWER --A. Depression.
Reason: Depressed mood and anhedonia (loss of interest or pleasure in activities) are the
primary symptoms of major depression.
A 22-year-old female is admitted to the unit following a suicide attempt. She has a 2-week
history of depression as well as a history of abusing multiple substances and anorexia nervosa.
What is your first nursing priority?
A. Socialization.
B. Contracting for eating behavior.
C. Safety.
D. Administering the Beck depression scale. - ANSWER --C. Safety.
Reason: Safety is the major principle underlying psychiatric nursing.
