Chapter 1: Foundations of psychiatric-
mental health nursing Exam questions
and verified Answers
1. 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 - ANSWER-Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or
stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of
separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and
therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of
mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have a
negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on an
individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not
possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. 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 only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on
or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily
life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self. - ANSWER-Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to
mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily
life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in
other cultures.
, B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and
coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - ANSWER-Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society
may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional,
psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons
who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality
from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." -
ANSWER-Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered
mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the
client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
D) To serve as a guide for client assessment - ANSWER-Ans: D
Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and
identifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or
prognostic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the
generalist RN's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would
be inappropriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM-5?
A) Identifying the medical diagnosis
B) Treat clients
mental health nursing Exam questions
and verified Answers
1. 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 - ANSWER-Ans: B
Feedback:
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or
stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of
separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and
therefore a healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of
mental illness could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have a
negative impact on an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on an
individual's interpersonal and social-cultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not
possible, and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. 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 only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency on
or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with daily
life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self. - ANSWER-Ans: A, D, E
Feedback:
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to
mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with daily
life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable in
other cultures.
, B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior and
coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill. - ANSWER-Ans: C
Feedback:
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society
may see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are
difficult to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional,
psychological, and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships,
effective behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons
who engage in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality
from fantasy is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A client grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally ill
because she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) "You may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain."
B) "You are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced."
C) "Were you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?"
D) "Try not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings." -
ANSWER-Ans: B
Feedback:
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered
mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the
client's concerns.
5. The nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted client
B) To predict the client's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the client's medical record
D) To serve as a guide for client assessment - ANSWER-Ans: D
Feedback:
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and
identifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or
prognostic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the
generalist RN's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would
be inappropriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student nurse to use the DSM-5?
A) Identifying the medical diagnosis
B) Treat clients
