NSG 3450 Mental Health Exam Review
Questions and Answers
Question 1
A client in the emergency department says, "Voices say someone is stalking me. They
want to kill me because I developed a cure for cancer. I have a knife and will stab
anyone who is a threat." Which aspects of the client's mental health have the greatest
and most immediate
concern to the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
a. Happiness
b. Appraisal of reality
c. Control over behavior
d. Effectiveness in work
e. Healthy self-concept
Correct Answer
b. Appraisal of reality
c. Control over behavior
e. Healthy self-concept
Question 2
A group activity on an inpatient psychiatric unit is scheduled to begin at 1000. A
client, who was recently discharged from U.S. Marine Corps, arrives at 0945. Which
analysis best explains this behavior?
a. The client wants to lead the group and give directions to others.
b. The client wants to secure a chair that will be close to the group leader.
c. The military culture values timeliness. The client does not want to be late.
d. The behavior indicates feelings of self-importance that the client wants others to
appreciate.
Correct Answer
c. The military culture values timeliness. The client does not want to be late.
Page 1 of 103
,Question 3
Which characteristic would be more applicable to a community mental health nurse
than to a nurse working in an operating room?
a. Kindness
b. Autonomy
c. Compassion
d. Professionalism
Correct Answer
B. Autonomy
Question 4
A nurse uses Maslow's hierarchy of needs to plan care for a client diagnosed with
mental illness. Which problem will receive priority?
a. Refusal to eat or bathe.
b. Reporting feelings of alienation from family.
c. Reluctance to participate in unit social activities.
d. Being unaware of medication action and side effects.
Correct Answer
a. Refusal to eat or bathe.
Question 5
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their clinical
nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
Correct Answer
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
Page 2 of 103
,Question 6
The relationship of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) is to
clinical judgment as Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) is to what?
a. client outcomes.
b. nursing actions.
c. diagnosis.
d. symptoms.
Correct Answer
b. nursing actions.
Question 7
Which comments by an adult best indicate self-actualization? (Select all that apply.)
a. "I am content with a good book."
b. "I often wonder if I chose the right career."
c. "Sometimes I think about how my parents would have handled problems."
d. "It's important for our country to provide basic health care services for everyone."
e. "When I was lost at sea for 2 days, I gained an understanding of what is important."
Correct Answer
a. "I am content with a good book."
d. "It's important for our country to provide basic health care services for everyone."
e. "When I was lost at sea for 2 days, I gained an understanding of what is
important."
Question 8
An adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "I'm going
to kill my father, but you can't tell anyone." What is the nurse's best response?
a. "You are right. Federal law requires me to keep clinical information private."
b. "I am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
c. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
d. "You should share this thought with your psychiatrist."
Correct Answer
b. "I am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
Page 3 of 103
, Question 9
Clinical pathways are used in managed care settings to accomplish what?
a. stabilization of aggressive clients.
b. identifying obstacles to effective care.
c. relieving nurses of planning responsibilities.
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
Correct Answer
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
Question 10
A nurse in the clinic has a full appointment schedule. A Hispanic American client
arrives at 1230 for a 1000 appointment. A Native American client does not keep an
appointment at all. What understanding about the clients will improve the nurse's
planning?
a. They are members of cultural groups that have a different view of time.
b. They are immature and irresponsible in health care matters.
c. They are acting-out feelings of anger toward the system.
d. They are displaying passive-aggressive tendencies.
Correct Answer
a. They are members of cultural groups that have a different view of time.
Question 11
Which client meets criteria for involuntary hospitalization for psychiatric treatment?
a. The client who is noncompliant with the treatment regimen.
b. The client who fraudulently files for bankruptcy.
c. The client who sold and distributed illegal drugs.
d. The client who threatens to harm self and others.
Correct Answer
d. The client who threatens to harm self and others.
Page 4 of 103
Questions and Answers
Question 1
A client in the emergency department says, "Voices say someone is stalking me. They
want to kill me because I developed a cure for cancer. I have a knife and will stab
anyone who is a threat." Which aspects of the client's mental health have the greatest
and most immediate
concern to the nurse? (Select all that apply.)
a. Happiness
b. Appraisal of reality
c. Control over behavior
d. Effectiveness in work
e. Healthy self-concept
Correct Answer
b. Appraisal of reality
c. Control over behavior
e. Healthy self-concept
Question 2
A group activity on an inpatient psychiatric unit is scheduled to begin at 1000. A
client, who was recently discharged from U.S. Marine Corps, arrives at 0945. Which
analysis best explains this behavior?
a. The client wants to lead the group and give directions to others.
b. The client wants to secure a chair that will be close to the group leader.
c. The military culture values timeliness. The client does not want to be late.
d. The behavior indicates feelings of self-importance that the client wants others to
appreciate.
Correct Answer
c. The military culture values timeliness. The client does not want to be late.
Page 1 of 103
,Question 3
Which characteristic would be more applicable to a community mental health nurse
than to a nurse working in an operating room?
a. Kindness
b. Autonomy
c. Compassion
d. Professionalism
Correct Answer
B. Autonomy
Question 4
A nurse uses Maslow's hierarchy of needs to plan care for a client diagnosed with
mental illness. Which problem will receive priority?
a. Refusal to eat or bathe.
b. Reporting feelings of alienation from family.
c. Reluctance to participate in unit social activities.
d. Being unaware of medication action and side effects.
Correct Answer
a. Refusal to eat or bathe.
Question 5
A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses "lose all their clinical
nursing skills." Select the best response by the mental health nurse.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to
client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
c. "That's a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology
monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical nurses do. That appeals to me."
Correct Answer
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
Page 2 of 103
,Question 6
The relationship of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (NANDA) is to
clinical judgment as Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) is to what?
a. client outcomes.
b. nursing actions.
c. diagnosis.
d. symptoms.
Correct Answer
b. nursing actions.
Question 7
Which comments by an adult best indicate self-actualization? (Select all that apply.)
a. "I am content with a good book."
b. "I often wonder if I chose the right career."
c. "Sometimes I think about how my parents would have handled problems."
d. "It's important for our country to provide basic health care services for everyone."
e. "When I was lost at sea for 2 days, I gained an understanding of what is important."
Correct Answer
a. "I am content with a good book."
d. "It's important for our country to provide basic health care services for everyone."
e. "When I was lost at sea for 2 days, I gained an understanding of what is
important."
Question 8
An adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "I'm going
to kill my father, but you can't tell anyone." What is the nurse's best response?
a. "You are right. Federal law requires me to keep clinical information private."
b. "I am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
c. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
d. "You should share this thought with your psychiatrist."
Correct Answer
b. "I am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
Page 3 of 103
, Question 9
Clinical pathways are used in managed care settings to accomplish what?
a. stabilization of aggressive clients.
b. identifying obstacles to effective care.
c. relieving nurses of planning responsibilities.
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
Correct Answer
d. streamlining the care process to reduce costs.
Question 10
A nurse in the clinic has a full appointment schedule. A Hispanic American client
arrives at 1230 for a 1000 appointment. A Native American client does not keep an
appointment at all. What understanding about the clients will improve the nurse's
planning?
a. They are members of cultural groups that have a different view of time.
b. They are immature and irresponsible in health care matters.
c. They are acting-out feelings of anger toward the system.
d. They are displaying passive-aggressive tendencies.
Correct Answer
a. They are members of cultural groups that have a different view of time.
Question 11
Which client meets criteria for involuntary hospitalization for psychiatric treatment?
a. The client who is noncompliant with the treatment regimen.
b. The client who fraudulently files for bankruptcy.
c. The client who sold and distributed illegal drugs.
d. The client who threatens to harm self and others.
Correct Answer
d. The client who threatens to harm self and others.
Page 4 of 103
