HALTER VARCAROLIS FOUNDATIONS OF
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
CLINICAL APPROACH TEST PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ What role does a nurse play as a teacher in inpatient care? Answer:
Educates patients about their diagnosis, medications, and symptom
management.
⩥ What is the difference between counseling and psychotherapy in
nursing? Answer: Basic-level RNs do counseling; psychotherapy is an
advanced skill for PMH-APRNs.
⩥ What are the four phases of Peplau's Nurse-Patient Relationship?
Answer: 1. Preorientation, 2. Orientation, 3. Working, 4. Termination.
⩥ What happens during the preorientation phase? Answer: The nurse
prepares by reviewing the patient's chart, medications, and identifying
personal anxieties.
⩥ What is established during the orientation phase? Answer: Rapport
and trust, purpose, role clarification, and initial goals.
,⩥ What occurs in the working phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
Answer: Gathering data, promoting symptom management, and
evaluating progress.
⩥ What is the focus of the termination phase? Answer: Summarizing
goals achieved, discussing coping strategies, and planning for follow-up
care.
⩥ What is the nature of evaluation in psychiatric nursing? Answer:
Continuous assessment of whether outcomes were achieved, leading to
reassessment and care plan revision.
⩥ What are the three core qualities that promote patient growth
according to Rogers & Truax? Answer: Genuineness, empathy, and
positive regard.
⩥ What is the role of boundaries in the therapeutic relationship? Answer:
To protect patients and maintain a professional nurse-patient dynamic.
⩥ What distinguishes boundary crossings from boundary violations?
Answer: Boundary crossings are less serious and may create discomfort,
while violations exploit patient vulnerability.
, ⩥ What is transference in the context of nursing? Answer: When a
patient unconsciously transfers feelings from significant past figures
onto the nurse.
⩥ What is countertransference? Answer: When a nurse unconsciously
displaces feelings from their past onto the patient.
⩥ What does milieu therapy refer to? Answer: Using the entire physical
and social environment of the inpatient unit as a therapeutic tool.
⩥ What are the components of the milieu? Answer: Physical space,
social atmosphere, structure and rules, community meetings, and group
activities.
⩥ What are the goals of milieu therapy? Answer: To provide safety,
empower patients, promote self-care, build coping skills, and encourage
therapeutic interactions.
⩥ What cultural beliefs dominate nursing practice in the Western model?
Answer: Roman, Greek, Judeo-Christian, and Enlightenment
philosophies.
⩥ How does the Eastern model differ from the Western model in
healthcare decision-making? Answer: Eastern models emphasize family
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
CLINICAL APPROACH TEST PAPER 2026
QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
⩥ What role does a nurse play as a teacher in inpatient care? Answer:
Educates patients about their diagnosis, medications, and symptom
management.
⩥ What is the difference between counseling and psychotherapy in
nursing? Answer: Basic-level RNs do counseling; psychotherapy is an
advanced skill for PMH-APRNs.
⩥ What are the four phases of Peplau's Nurse-Patient Relationship?
Answer: 1. Preorientation, 2. Orientation, 3. Working, 4. Termination.
⩥ What happens during the preorientation phase? Answer: The nurse
prepares by reviewing the patient's chart, medications, and identifying
personal anxieties.
⩥ What is established during the orientation phase? Answer: Rapport
and trust, purpose, role clarification, and initial goals.
,⩥ What occurs in the working phase of the nurse-patient relationship?
Answer: Gathering data, promoting symptom management, and
evaluating progress.
⩥ What is the focus of the termination phase? Answer: Summarizing
goals achieved, discussing coping strategies, and planning for follow-up
care.
⩥ What is the nature of evaluation in psychiatric nursing? Answer:
Continuous assessment of whether outcomes were achieved, leading to
reassessment and care plan revision.
⩥ What are the three core qualities that promote patient growth
according to Rogers & Truax? Answer: Genuineness, empathy, and
positive regard.
⩥ What is the role of boundaries in the therapeutic relationship? Answer:
To protect patients and maintain a professional nurse-patient dynamic.
⩥ What distinguishes boundary crossings from boundary violations?
Answer: Boundary crossings are less serious and may create discomfort,
while violations exploit patient vulnerability.
, ⩥ What is transference in the context of nursing? Answer: When a
patient unconsciously transfers feelings from significant past figures
onto the nurse.
⩥ What is countertransference? Answer: When a nurse unconsciously
displaces feelings from their past onto the patient.
⩥ What does milieu therapy refer to? Answer: Using the entire physical
and social environment of the inpatient unit as a therapeutic tool.
⩥ What are the components of the milieu? Answer: Physical space,
social atmosphere, structure and rules, community meetings, and group
activities.
⩥ What are the goals of milieu therapy? Answer: To provide safety,
empower patients, promote self-care, build coping skills, and encourage
therapeutic interactions.
⩥ What cultural beliefs dominate nursing practice in the Western model?
Answer: Roman, Greek, Judeo-Christian, and Enlightenment
philosophies.
⩥ How does the Eastern model differ from the Western model in
healthcare decision-making? Answer: Eastern models emphasize family
