Psychiatric–Mental Health Nursing, 10th
Edition Exam Questions and Answers with
Rationale Top Rated
Question>> 1 (Foundations of Mental Health)
A nurse is teaching a community group about mental health. Which
statement best reflects the current understanding of mental health?
a. Mental health is the absence of any mental illness.
b. Mental health exists on a continuum that includes well-being,
emotional distress, and mental illness.
c. Mental illness is always caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
d. Once a person has a mental illness, they cannot return to good
mental health.
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Modern psychiatric nursing (as emphasized in Videbeck)
views mental health on a continuum. Individuals can move between
states of well-being and distress throughout life. Mental health is not
simply the absence of illness, and recovery is possible.
Question>> 2 (Therapeutic Communication)
A client with depression says, “I’m just a burden to everyone. No one
would miss me if I were gone.” Which is the nurse’s best response?
a. “You shouldn’t feel that way; you have a lot to live for.”
b. “Tell me more about what makes you feel like a burden.”
c. “Let’s focus on the positive things in your life.”
d. “Have you thought about harming yourself?”
,Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: This uses open-ended therapeutic communication to
encourage expression of feelings. It shows empathy and builds trust
without minimizing the client’s emotions or jumping to suicide
assessment prematurely (though safety assessment is still needed).
Question>> 3 (Psychopharmacology)
A client is prescribed an atypical antipsychotic. The nurse should
monitor closely for which potential side effect?
a. Extrapyramidal symptoms (more common with typical
antipsychotics)
b. Metabolic syndrome (weight gain, diabetes risk, dyslipidemia)
c. Severe anticholinergic effects
d. Hypertensive crisis
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Atypical antipsychotics are associated with metabolic side
effects. Nurses educate clients on diet, exercise, and regular monitoring
of weight, blood glucose, and lipids.
Question>> 4 (Schizophrenia Care)
A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “The government is putting
thoughts into my head.” The nurse recognizes this as:
a. A delusion of persecution.
b. An auditory hallucination.
c. Loose association.
d. Flight of ideas.
,Correct Answer>>A
Rationale: This is a fixed false belief (delusion). Persecutory delusions
involve beliefs of being harmed or controlled by external forces. The
nurse should not argue with the delusion but focus on feelings and
safety.
Question>> 5 (Child/Adolescent or Abuse Assessment)
When assessing a child who might be experiencing abuse, the best
initial action for the nurse is:
a. Confront the parents directly with suspicions.
b. Ask the child open-ended Question>>s in a private, safe setting.
c. Immediately report to authorities without further assessment.
d. Tell the child that everything will be okay.
Correct Answer>>B (or follow mandatory reporting laws after
assessment)
Rationale: Use age-appropriate, non-leading Question>>s. Nurses are
mandatory reporters in most jurisdictions, but initial assessment
gathers accurate information while ensuring the child’s safety and
avoiding contamination of evidence.
Question>> 6 (Foundations of Mental Health – Factors Influencing Well-
Being)
The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a
newly admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify
as having a positive impact on the individual’s mental health?
a. Not needing others for companionship
b. The ability to effectively manage stress
, c. A family history of mental illness
d. Striving for total self-reliance
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Individual factors that promote mental health include
effective stress management or coping abilities, self-esteem, sense of
belonging, emotional resilience, and capacity for growth. Dependence
on others for companionship is normal (not isolation), family history of
illness is a risk factor (not protective), and total self-reliance can
indicate difficulty with interdependence.
Question>> 7 (Mental Illness Characteristics – Select All That Apply)
Which of the following statements about mental illness are true?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or
both.
b. Mental illness is always visible through obvious behavioral changes.
c. Cultural norms help determine what is considered normal or
abnormal behavior.
d. Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
e. Mental illness may be influenced by biologic, psychological, and
social factors.
Correct Answers: a, c, e
Rationale: Mental illness is defined by distress and/or impaired
functioning (not always obvious). Behavior is evaluated within cultural
context. It has multifactorial causes (biologic makeup, psychological
resilience, social support). Fantasies alone do not indicate illness; they
can be normal.
Edition Exam Questions and Answers with
Rationale Top Rated
Question>> 1 (Foundations of Mental Health)
A nurse is teaching a community group about mental health. Which
statement best reflects the current understanding of mental health?
a. Mental health is the absence of any mental illness.
b. Mental health exists on a continuum that includes well-being,
emotional distress, and mental illness.
c. Mental illness is always caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
d. Once a person has a mental illness, they cannot return to good
mental health.
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Modern psychiatric nursing (as emphasized in Videbeck)
views mental health on a continuum. Individuals can move between
states of well-being and distress throughout life. Mental health is not
simply the absence of illness, and recovery is possible.
Question>> 2 (Therapeutic Communication)
A client with depression says, “I’m just a burden to everyone. No one
would miss me if I were gone.” Which is the nurse’s best response?
a. “You shouldn’t feel that way; you have a lot to live for.”
b. “Tell me more about what makes you feel like a burden.”
c. “Let’s focus on the positive things in your life.”
d. “Have you thought about harming yourself?”
,Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: This uses open-ended therapeutic communication to
encourage expression of feelings. It shows empathy and builds trust
without minimizing the client’s emotions or jumping to suicide
assessment prematurely (though safety assessment is still needed).
Question>> 3 (Psychopharmacology)
A client is prescribed an atypical antipsychotic. The nurse should
monitor closely for which potential side effect?
a. Extrapyramidal symptoms (more common with typical
antipsychotics)
b. Metabolic syndrome (weight gain, diabetes risk, dyslipidemia)
c. Severe anticholinergic effects
d. Hypertensive crisis
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Atypical antipsychotics are associated with metabolic side
effects. Nurses educate clients on diet, exercise, and regular monitoring
of weight, blood glucose, and lipids.
Question>> 4 (Schizophrenia Care)
A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, “The government is putting
thoughts into my head.” The nurse recognizes this as:
a. A delusion of persecution.
b. An auditory hallucination.
c. Loose association.
d. Flight of ideas.
,Correct Answer>>A
Rationale: This is a fixed false belief (delusion). Persecutory delusions
involve beliefs of being harmed or controlled by external forces. The
nurse should not argue with the delusion but focus on feelings and
safety.
Question>> 5 (Child/Adolescent or Abuse Assessment)
When assessing a child who might be experiencing abuse, the best
initial action for the nurse is:
a. Confront the parents directly with suspicions.
b. Ask the child open-ended Question>>s in a private, safe setting.
c. Immediately report to authorities without further assessment.
d. Tell the child that everything will be okay.
Correct Answer>>B (or follow mandatory reporting laws after
assessment)
Rationale: Use age-appropriate, non-leading Question>>s. Nurses are
mandatory reporters in most jurisdictions, but initial assessment
gathers accurate information while ensuring the child’s safety and
avoiding contamination of evidence.
Question>> 6 (Foundations of Mental Health – Factors Influencing Well-
Being)
The nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a
newly admitted client. Which of the following would the nurse identify
as having a positive impact on the individual’s mental health?
a. Not needing others for companionship
b. The ability to effectively manage stress
, c. A family history of mental illness
d. Striving for total self-reliance
Correct Answer>>B
Rationale: Individual factors that promote mental health include
effective stress management or coping abilities, self-esteem, sense of
belonging, emotional resilience, and capacity for growth. Dependence
on others for companionship is normal (not isolation), family history of
illness is a risk factor (not protective), and total self-reliance can
indicate difficulty with interdependence.
Question>> 7 (Mental Illness Characteristics – Select All That Apply)
Which of the following statements about mental illness are true?
(Select all that apply.)
a. Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or
both.
b. Mental illness is always visible through obvious behavioral changes.
c. Cultural norms help determine what is considered normal or
abnormal behavior.
d. Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
e. Mental illness may be influenced by biologic, psychological, and
social factors.
Correct Answers: a, c, e
Rationale: Mental illness is defined by distress and/or impaired
functioning (not always obvious). Behavior is evaluated within cultural
context. It has multifactorial causes (biologic makeup, psychological
resilience, social support). Fantasies alone do not indicate illness; they
can be normal.
