PRN 1562/PRN1562 Exam 1 V2 | Principles
of Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client. Which action should the
nurse take during the orientation phase?
A. Establish the parameters of the relationship and a contract.
B. Promote the client’s use of constructive coping mechanisms.
C. Encourage the client to describe their feelings about termination.
D. Facilitate the client’s behavioral changes.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The orientation phase involves establishing the trust and parameters
of the nurse-patient relationship. During this time, the nurse defines the purpose of the
meetings and sets the contract for future interactions. This phase is crucial for building a
foundation of rapport and clarifying expectations.
2. Which nursing theorist developed the theory of Interpersonal Relations, emphasizing the
importance of the nurse-patient relationship?
A. Hildegard Peplau
B. Dorothea Orem
C. Florence Nightingale
,D. Sister Callista Roy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Hildegard Peplau is widely known as the mother of psychiatric
nursing because of her focus on the interpersonal process. Her theory describes the four
phases of the nurse-patient relationship: orientation, identification, exploitation, and
resolution. This framework remains a cornerstone of modern mental health nursing
practice.
3. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit involuntarily after threatening their spouse.
Which legal principle allows this admission?
A. Parens Patriae or Police Power
B. Duty to Warn
C. Beneficence
D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Involuntary admission is justified when a person is a danger to
themselves or others, which is supported by the state’s police power to protect society. The
nurse must understand that even involuntary patients retain rights, such as the right to
refuse medication in non-emergencies. Legal documentation must clearly state the
behaviors that necessitate the commitment.
, 4. The nurse observes a client who is paced and restless, stating ‘I just know something bad is
going to happen.’ How should the nurse describe this in the assessment?
A. Depressive affect
B. Anxiety
C. Flight of ideas
D. Compulsive behavior
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Anxiety is often characterized by a vague feeling of apprehension or
dread without a specific identifiable cause. The client’s physical restlessness and verbalized
fear are hallmark symptoms of an anxious state. Proper assessment requires identifying
both subjective feelings and objective physical signs.
5. What is the primary goal of milieu therapy in a psychiatric setting?
A. To ensure the client follows all hospital rules without question.
B. To administer medications at specific times daily.
C. To provide a safe and therapeutic environment for recovery.
D. To isolate the client from external stressors completely.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Milieu therapy focuses on manipulating the environment so that all
aspects of the client’s hospital experience are therapeutic. The goal is to create a safe,
of Mental Health Nursing Q&A with
Rationale | Rasmussen University
1. A nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client. Which action should the
nurse take during the orientation phase?
A. Establish the parameters of the relationship and a contract.
B. Promote the client’s use of constructive coping mechanisms.
C. Encourage the client to describe their feelings about termination.
D. Facilitate the client’s behavioral changes.
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The orientation phase involves establishing the trust and parameters
of the nurse-patient relationship. During this time, the nurse defines the purpose of the
meetings and sets the contract for future interactions. This phase is crucial for building a
foundation of rapport and clarifying expectations.
2. Which nursing theorist developed the theory of Interpersonal Relations, emphasizing the
importance of the nurse-patient relationship?
A. Hildegard Peplau
B. Dorothea Orem
C. Florence Nightingale
,D. Sister Callista Roy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Hildegard Peplau is widely known as the mother of psychiatric
nursing because of her focus on the interpersonal process. Her theory describes the four
phases of the nurse-patient relationship: orientation, identification, exploitation, and
resolution. This framework remains a cornerstone of modern mental health nursing
practice.
3. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit involuntarily after threatening their spouse.
Which legal principle allows this admission?
A. Parens Patriae or Police Power
B. Duty to Warn
C. Beneficence
D. Autonomy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Involuntary admission is justified when a person is a danger to
themselves or others, which is supported by the state’s police power to protect society. The
nurse must understand that even involuntary patients retain rights, such as the right to
refuse medication in non-emergencies. Legal documentation must clearly state the
behaviors that necessitate the commitment.
, 4. The nurse observes a client who is paced and restless, stating ‘I just know something bad is
going to happen.’ How should the nurse describe this in the assessment?
A. Depressive affect
B. Anxiety
C. Flight of ideas
D. Compulsive behavior
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Anxiety is often characterized by a vague feeling of apprehension or
dread without a specific identifiable cause. The client’s physical restlessness and verbalized
fear are hallmark symptoms of an anxious state. Proper assessment requires identifying
both subjective feelings and objective physical signs.
5. What is the primary goal of milieu therapy in a psychiatric setting?
A. To ensure the client follows all hospital rules without question.
B. To administer medications at specific times daily.
C. To provide a safe and therapeutic environment for recovery.
D. To isolate the client from external stressors completely.
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Milieu therapy focuses on manipulating the environment so that all
aspects of the client’s hospital experience are therapeutic. The goal is to create a safe,
