NR 326 Mental Health Nursing Exam 7 Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Borderline Personality Disorder who is using
‘splitting.’ Which behavior should the nurse expect?
A. The client expresses intense guilt for their actions.
B. The client sees staff members as either all good or all bad.
C. The client isolates themselves from all social interactions.
D. The client mimics the behavior of the nurse to fit in.
Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is a common defense mechanism in Borderline Personality Disorder
where the individual is unable to integrate positive and negative qualities of self or others
into a cohesive image.
2. An older adult client is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected
urinary tract infection. What condition is the client likely experiencing?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Vascular Dementia
C. Major Depressive Disorder
D. Delirium
Answer: D
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset, fluctuating levels of consciousness,
and is often caused by an underlying medical condition like an infection.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client with Anorexia Nervosa. Which physical finding is
most consistent with this diagnosis?
A. Hypertension
B. Tachycardia
C. Lanugo
D. Hyperthermia
Answer: C
Rationale: Lanugo (fine, downy hair) is a physiological response to extreme weight loss
and malnutrition seen in Anorexia Nervosa to help retain body heat.
4. Which medication is a nurse likely to administer to a child with ADHD to
improve focus and reduce impulsivity?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
C. Lithium Carbonate
D. Haloperidol
Answer: B
Rationale: Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant commonly used to treat
ADHD by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
5. A client with Antisocial Personality Disorder is being admitted. Which trait is
the nurse most likely to observe?
A. Disregard for the rights of others and lack of remorse
B. Excessive emotionality and attention seeking
C. Fear of abandonment and self-mutilation
D. Perfectionism and preoccupation with order
Answer: A
Rationale: Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of
disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often involving deceit and manipulation.
, 6. A client with Alzheimer’s disease is in the ‘wandering’ stage. Which nursing
intervention is the priority?
A. Restrict the client to their room during the day
B. Administer sedative medications at bedtime
C. Place the client in a room near the nurses’ station
D. Install complex locks or alarm systems on exit doors
Answer: D
Rationale: Safety is the priority for clients who wander; physical barriers like alarms or
complex locks help prevent elopement and injury.
7. A nurse is teaching a family about Donepezil. What is the primary mechanism
of this drug?
A. It stimulates the production of serotonin
B. It blocks dopamine receptors in the brain
C. It reduces the production of amyloid plaques
D. It increases the availability of acetylcholine
Answer: D
Rationale: Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of
acetylcholine, which helps improve cognitive function in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
8. A client with Bulimia Nervosa is admitted. Which assessment finding should
the nurse prioritize?
A. Calluses on the knuckles (Russell’s sign)
B. Hypokalemia
C. Tooth enamel erosion
D. Parotid gland swelling
Answer: B
Rationale: While all are signs of Bulimia, hypokalemia (low potassium) is the priority
because it can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is caring for a client with Borderline Personality Disorder who is using
‘splitting.’ Which behavior should the nurse expect?
A. The client expresses intense guilt for their actions.
B. The client sees staff members as either all good or all bad.
C. The client isolates themselves from all social interactions.
D. The client mimics the behavior of the nurse to fit in.
Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is a common defense mechanism in Borderline Personality Disorder
where the individual is unable to integrate positive and negative qualities of self or others
into a cohesive image.
2. An older adult client is admitted with acute confusion and a suspected
urinary tract infection. What condition is the client likely experiencing?
A. Alzheimer’s Disease
B. Vascular Dementia
C. Major Depressive Disorder
D. Delirium
Answer: D
Rationale: Delirium is characterized by an acute onset, fluctuating levels of consciousness,
and is often caused by an underlying medical condition like an infection.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client with Anorexia Nervosa. Which physical finding is
most consistent with this diagnosis?
A. Hypertension
B. Tachycardia
C. Lanugo
D. Hyperthermia
Answer: C
Rationale: Lanugo (fine, downy hair) is a physiological response to extreme weight loss
and malnutrition seen in Anorexia Nervosa to help retain body heat.
4. Which medication is a nurse likely to administer to a child with ADHD to
improve focus and reduce impulsivity?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Methylphenidate
C. Lithium Carbonate
D. Haloperidol
Answer: B
Rationale: Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant commonly used to treat
ADHD by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine levels.
5. A client with Antisocial Personality Disorder is being admitted. Which trait is
the nurse most likely to observe?
A. Disregard for the rights of others and lack of remorse
B. Excessive emotionality and attention seeking
C. Fear of abandonment and self-mutilation
D. Perfectionism and preoccupation with order
Answer: A
Rationale: Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by a pervasive pattern of
disregard for and violation of the rights of others, often involving deceit and manipulation.
, 6. A client with Alzheimer’s disease is in the ‘wandering’ stage. Which nursing
intervention is the priority?
A. Restrict the client to their room during the day
B. Administer sedative medications at bedtime
C. Place the client in a room near the nurses’ station
D. Install complex locks or alarm systems on exit doors
Answer: D
Rationale: Safety is the priority for clients who wander; physical barriers like alarms or
complex locks help prevent elopement and injury.
7. A nurse is teaching a family about Donepezil. What is the primary mechanism
of this drug?
A. It stimulates the production of serotonin
B. It blocks dopamine receptors in the brain
C. It reduces the production of amyloid plaques
D. It increases the availability of acetylcholine
Answer: D
Rationale: Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor that prevents the breakdown of
acetylcholine, which helps improve cognitive function in mild to moderate Alzheimer’s.
8. A client with Bulimia Nervosa is admitted. Which assessment finding should
the nurse prioritize?
A. Calluses on the knuckles (Russell’s sign)
B. Hypokalemia
C. Tooth enamel erosion
D. Parotid gland swelling
Answer: B
Rationale: While all are signs of Bulimia, hypokalemia (low potassium) is the priority
because it can lead to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
