NR 326 EXAM 1 AND STUDY GUIDE NEWEST 2026 TEST
BANK| NR 326 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1
REVIEW WITH 350 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT (DETAILED ANSWERS) VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW!!)
1. A nurse is providing care to a client with a mental health
disorder. Which statement best describes the concept of
"mental health"?
A. The absence of all stressors in daily life
B. The ability to cope with the demands of daily life and function
socially
C. Complete control over one's emotions at all times
D. The absence of psychiatric diagnosis
Correct Answer: B. The ability to cope with the demands of
daily life and function socially
Rationale: Mental health is defined as the state of mental well-
being in which one can cope with the demands of daily life and
function effectively in society. It is not merely the absence of
illness but the presence of adaptive coping and functioning .
2. A client demonstrates maladaptive responses to stressors
that are incongruent with cultural norms and interfere with
1
,social functioning. This presentation is most consistent with:
A. Mental health
B. Mental illness
C. An adjustment disorder
D. Normal grief
Correct Answer: B. Mental illness
Rationale: Mental illness is characterized by maladaptive
responses to internal or external stressors, evidenced by thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with local and
cultural norms and interfere with the individual's social,
occupational, or physical functioning .
3. A nurse is applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs when
prioritizing care for a psychiatric client. Which client need
should the nurse address first?
A. Self-esteem needs
B. Love and belonging needs
C. Physiological needs
D. Self-actualization needs
Correct Answer: C. Physiological needs
Rationale: According to Maslow's hierarchy, physiological needs
(air, water, food, shelter, sleep) form the foundation and must be
2
,met before higher-level needs can be addressed. Safety is the
second level, followed by love/belonging, self-esteem, and
finally self-actualization .
4. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, an adult client
struggling to form close, meaningful relationships is likely
experiencing difficulty with which developmental stage?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Identity vs. role confusion
C. Intimacy vs. isolation
D. Generativity vs. stagnation
Correct Answer: C. Intimacy vs. isolation
Rationale: Erikson's Intimacy vs. Isolation stage (approximately
ages 20-30 years) focuses on developing close, intimate
relationships with others. Failure to achieve this task results in
social isolation and loneliness .
5. A nurse is orienting a new client to the mental health unit.
The nurse explains the unit rules, daily schedule, and
confidentiality policies. This occurs during which phase of the
nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase
B. Orientation (introductory) phase
3
, C. Working phase
D. Termination phase
Correct Answer: B. Orientation (introductory) phase
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing trust and
rapport, setting the contract for intervention, gathering
assessment data, identifying client strengths and limitations, and
formulating nursing diagnoses. Explaining unit rules and
confidentiality occurs here .
6. During the working phase of the nurse-client relationship,
the client begins to view the nurse as a symbol of a past
authority figure. This phenomenon is known as:
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Resistance
D. Empathy
Correct Answer: B. Transference
Rationale: Transference occurs when the client unconsciously
displaces feelings, attitudes, and behaviors associated with a
significant person from the past onto the nurse.
Countertransference is when the nurse displaces feelings onto the
client .
4
BANK| NR 326 MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1
REVIEW WITH 350 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT (DETAILED ANSWERS) VERIFIED ANSWERS/
ALREADY GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW!!)
1. A nurse is providing care to a client with a mental health
disorder. Which statement best describes the concept of
"mental health"?
A. The absence of all stressors in daily life
B. The ability to cope with the demands of daily life and function
socially
C. Complete control over one's emotions at all times
D. The absence of psychiatric diagnosis
Correct Answer: B. The ability to cope with the demands of
daily life and function socially
Rationale: Mental health is defined as the state of mental well-
being in which one can cope with the demands of daily life and
function effectively in society. It is not merely the absence of
illness but the presence of adaptive coping and functioning .
2. A client demonstrates maladaptive responses to stressors
that are incongruent with cultural norms and interfere with
1
,social functioning. This presentation is most consistent with:
A. Mental health
B. Mental illness
C. An adjustment disorder
D. Normal grief
Correct Answer: B. Mental illness
Rationale: Mental illness is characterized by maladaptive
responses to internal or external stressors, evidenced by thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with local and
cultural norms and interfere with the individual's social,
occupational, or physical functioning .
3. A nurse is applying Maslow's hierarchy of needs when
prioritizing care for a psychiatric client. Which client need
should the nurse address first?
A. Self-esteem needs
B. Love and belonging needs
C. Physiological needs
D. Self-actualization needs
Correct Answer: C. Physiological needs
Rationale: According to Maslow's hierarchy, physiological needs
(air, water, food, shelter, sleep) form the foundation and must be
2
,met before higher-level needs can be addressed. Safety is the
second level, followed by love/belonging, self-esteem, and
finally self-actualization .
4. According to Erikson's psychosocial theory, an adult client
struggling to form close, meaningful relationships is likely
experiencing difficulty with which developmental stage?
A. Trust vs. mistrust
B. Identity vs. role confusion
C. Intimacy vs. isolation
D. Generativity vs. stagnation
Correct Answer: C. Intimacy vs. isolation
Rationale: Erikson's Intimacy vs. Isolation stage (approximately
ages 20-30 years) focuses on developing close, intimate
relationships with others. Failure to achieve this task results in
social isolation and loneliness .
5. A nurse is orienting a new client to the mental health unit.
The nurse explains the unit rules, daily schedule, and
confidentiality policies. This occurs during which phase of the
nurse-client relationship?
A. Pre-interaction phase
B. Orientation (introductory) phase
3
, C. Working phase
D. Termination phase
Correct Answer: B. Orientation (introductory) phase
Rationale: The orientation phase involves establishing trust and
rapport, setting the contract for intervention, gathering
assessment data, identifying client strengths and limitations, and
formulating nursing diagnoses. Explaining unit rules and
confidentiality occurs here .
6. During the working phase of the nurse-client relationship,
the client begins to view the nurse as a symbol of a past
authority figure. This phenomenon is known as:
A. Countertransference
B. Transference
C. Resistance
D. Empathy
Correct Answer: B. Transference
Rationale: Transference occurs when the client unconsciously
displaces feelings, attitudes, and behaviors associated with a
significant person from the past onto the nurse.
Countertransference is when the nurse displaces feelings onto the
client .
4
