NUR 3525 Mental Health Exams 2 and 3 | Full Questions and Answers |
2026 Update | 100% Correct - Keiser University.
1. Q: What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in psychiatric
nursing?
A: To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship that promotes patient growth,
insight, and behavioral change.
2. Q: List the three phases of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
A:
• Orientation phase
• Working phase
• Termination phase
3. Q: What occurs during the orientation phase?
A:
• Establish trust and rapport
• Set boundaries and expectations
• Discuss confidentiality
• Identify patient problems and goals
• Contract for frequency and duration of meetings
4. Q: What occurs during the working phase?
A:
• Explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Identify and work through resistance
• Promote problem-solving and coping
• Encourage insight and change
5. Q: What occurs during the termination phase?
A:
• Review progress and achievements
, • Discuss feelings about ending relationship
• Reinforce coping skills
• Refer to ongoing support if needed
6. Q: What is transference?
A: Patient unconsciously redirects feelings from past relationships onto the nurse (e.g.,
anger toward father redirected at nurse).
7. Q: What is countertransference?
A: Nurse unconsciously redirects personal feelings from past relationships onto the
patient (e.g., nurse over-identifies with patient due to similar life experience).
8. Q: How should a nurse handle countertransference?
A:
• Recognize it through self-awareness
• Seek supervision or consultation
• Avoid acting on personal feelings
• Maintain professional boundaries
9. Q: What is a therapeutic boundary?
A: The professional limits that protect both patient and nurse, ensuring a safe
therapeutic relationship.
10. Q: Give examples of boundary crossing in psychiatric nursing.
A:
• Self-disclosure beyond therapeutic purpose
• Accepting gifts of significant value
• Meeting patient outside clinical setting
• Developing romantic or sexual relationship
• Providing special favors or exceptions
11. Q: What is the most important element of therapeutic communication?
A: Active listening – hearing and understanding both verbal and nonverbal messages.
12. Q: What is active listening?
A: Fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the patient
says without interrupting or judging.
13. Q: List five therapeutic communication techniques.
A:
, • Active listening
• Clarifying
• Reflecting
• Summarizing
• Exploring
14. Q: What is clarifying as a therapeutic technique?
A: Asking patient to explain unclear statements (e.g., "I'm not sure what you mean by
'they are out to get me.' Can you tell me more?")
15. Q: What is reflecting?
A: Directing patient's feelings or statements back to them to encourage awareness (e.g.,
Patient: "I'm so angry." Nurse: "You feel angry.")
16. Q: What is summarizing?
A: Reviewing main points of conversation to ensure understanding and provide closure.
17. Q: What is exploring?
A: Gently encouraging patient to discuss a topic more deeply (e.g., "Tell me more about
that.")
18. Q: List five nontherapeutic communication techniques.
A:
• Giving false reassurance
• Asking "why" questions
• Changing the subject
• Giving advice
• Judging or criticizing
19. Q: Why are "why" questions nontherapeutic?
A: They put patients on the defensive and imply they must justify their feelings or
actions, which is rarely helpful.
20. Q: What is false reassurance?
A: Telling patient everything will be fine when outcome is uncertain (e.g., "Don't worry,
you'll be fine").
21. Q: What is therapeutic silence?
A: Purposeful absence of speech that allows patient time to reflect, process emotions, or
gather thoughts.
2026 Update | 100% Correct - Keiser University.
1. Q: What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in psychiatric
nursing?
A: To establish a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship that promotes patient growth,
insight, and behavioral change.
2. Q: List the three phases of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship.
A:
• Orientation phase
• Working phase
• Termination phase
3. Q: What occurs during the orientation phase?
A:
• Establish trust and rapport
• Set boundaries and expectations
• Discuss confidentiality
• Identify patient problems and goals
• Contract for frequency and duration of meetings
4. Q: What occurs during the working phase?
A:
• Explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Identify and work through resistance
• Promote problem-solving and coping
• Encourage insight and change
5. Q: What occurs during the termination phase?
A:
• Review progress and achievements
, • Discuss feelings about ending relationship
• Reinforce coping skills
• Refer to ongoing support if needed
6. Q: What is transference?
A: Patient unconsciously redirects feelings from past relationships onto the nurse (e.g.,
anger toward father redirected at nurse).
7. Q: What is countertransference?
A: Nurse unconsciously redirects personal feelings from past relationships onto the
patient (e.g., nurse over-identifies with patient due to similar life experience).
8. Q: How should a nurse handle countertransference?
A:
• Recognize it through self-awareness
• Seek supervision or consultation
• Avoid acting on personal feelings
• Maintain professional boundaries
9. Q: What is a therapeutic boundary?
A: The professional limits that protect both patient and nurse, ensuring a safe
therapeutic relationship.
10. Q: Give examples of boundary crossing in psychiatric nursing.
A:
• Self-disclosure beyond therapeutic purpose
• Accepting gifts of significant value
• Meeting patient outside clinical setting
• Developing romantic or sexual relationship
• Providing special favors or exceptions
11. Q: What is the most important element of therapeutic communication?
A: Active listening – hearing and understanding both verbal and nonverbal messages.
12. Q: What is active listening?
A: Fully concentrating, understanding, responding, and remembering what the patient
says without interrupting or judging.
13. Q: List five therapeutic communication techniques.
A:
, • Active listening
• Clarifying
• Reflecting
• Summarizing
• Exploring
14. Q: What is clarifying as a therapeutic technique?
A: Asking patient to explain unclear statements (e.g., "I'm not sure what you mean by
'they are out to get me.' Can you tell me more?")
15. Q: What is reflecting?
A: Directing patient's feelings or statements back to them to encourage awareness (e.g.,
Patient: "I'm so angry." Nurse: "You feel angry.")
16. Q: What is summarizing?
A: Reviewing main points of conversation to ensure understanding and provide closure.
17. Q: What is exploring?
A: Gently encouraging patient to discuss a topic more deeply (e.g., "Tell me more about
that.")
18. Q: List five nontherapeutic communication techniques.
A:
• Giving false reassurance
• Asking "why" questions
• Changing the subject
• Giving advice
• Judging or criticizing
19. Q: Why are "why" questions nontherapeutic?
A: They put patients on the defensive and imply they must justify their feelings or
actions, which is rarely helpful.
20. Q: What is false reassurance?
A: Telling patient everything will be fine when outcome is uncertain (e.g., "Don't worry,
you'll be fine").
21. Q: What is therapeutic silence?
A: Purposeful absence of speech that allows patient time to reflect, process emotions, or
gather thoughts.
