NUR180/NUR 180 Exam 1 V1 | Concepts of
Mental Health Nursing for the Practical
Nurse Q&A with Rationale | Hondros
College of Nursing
1. A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt. Which level of
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs must the nurse address first?
A. Self-actualization
B. Physiological Needs
C. Safety and Security
D. Love and Belonging
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Maslow, physiological needs such as breathing, food, and water
are the most basic and must be met first. In the context of a suicide attempt, stabilizing the
patient’s physical health from any injuries or overdoses takes precedence. Once physical
stability is achieved, safety and security become the next priority in the hierarchy.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is the nurse using when saying, ‘Can you tell
me more about what you were feeling when that happened?’
A. Giving Information
B. Exploring
,C. Summarizing
D. Presenting Reality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring is a technique used to encourage the client to delve deeper into a
subject, idea, or experience. This helps the nurse gather more information without being
intrusive or using ‘why’ questions. It allows the patient to elaborate on their internal
experiences and provides the nurse with better clinical data.
3. A patient becomes angry at their physician but later yells at the nurse instead. This
behavior is an example of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Sublimation
C. Reaction Formation
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotional feelings from their actual object
to a less threatening substitute. In this scenario, the nurse is a ‘safer’ target for the patient’s
anger than the physician. This allows the patient to release pent-up frustration without
facing the perceived consequences of confronting the original source.
, 4. A nurse is in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Which of the following
is a primary goal for this phase?
A. Establishing trust and rapport
B. Implementing nursing interventions
C. Overcoming resistance to change
D. Evaluating progress toward goals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The orientation phase is the initial meeting where the nurse and patient get to
know each other and set the parameters of the relationship. Establishing trust and rapport
is essential for a successful therapeutic outcome in psychiatric nursing. During this phase,
the nurse also clarifies roles and determines the patient’s expectations for treatment.
5. Which level of anxiety is characterized by a narrowed perceptual field and the patient
focusing only on the immediate task at hand?
A. Mild
B. Moderate
C. Severe
D. Panic
Correct Answer: B
Mental Health Nursing for the Practical
Nurse Q&A with Rationale | Hondros
College of Nursing
1. A patient is admitted to the psychiatric unit after a suicide attempt. Which level of
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs must the nurse address first?
A. Self-actualization
B. Physiological Needs
C. Safety and Security
D. Love and Belonging
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: According to Maslow, physiological needs such as breathing, food, and water
are the most basic and must be met first. In the context of a suicide attempt, stabilizing the
patient’s physical health from any injuries or overdoses takes precedence. Once physical
stability is achieved, safety and security become the next priority in the hierarchy.
2. Which therapeutic communication technique is the nurse using when saying, ‘Can you tell
me more about what you were feeling when that happened?’
A. Giving Information
B. Exploring
,C. Summarizing
D. Presenting Reality
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring is a technique used to encourage the client to delve deeper into a
subject, idea, or experience. This helps the nurse gather more information without being
intrusive or using ‘why’ questions. It allows the patient to elaborate on their internal
experiences and provides the nurse with better clinical data.
3. A patient becomes angry at their physician but later yells at the nurse instead. This
behavior is an example of which defense mechanism?
A. Projection
B. Sublimation
C. Reaction Formation
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotional feelings from their actual object
to a less threatening substitute. In this scenario, the nurse is a ‘safer’ target for the patient’s
anger than the physician. This allows the patient to release pent-up frustration without
facing the perceived consequences of confronting the original source.
, 4. A nurse is in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient relationship. Which of the following
is a primary goal for this phase?
A. Establishing trust and rapport
B. Implementing nursing interventions
C. Overcoming resistance to change
D. Evaluating progress toward goals
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The orientation phase is the initial meeting where the nurse and patient get to
know each other and set the parameters of the relationship. Establishing trust and rapport
is essential for a successful therapeutic outcome in psychiatric nursing. During this phase,
the nurse also clarifies roles and determines the patient’s expectations for treatment.
5. Which level of anxiety is characterized by a narrowed perceptual field and the patient
focusing only on the immediate task at hand?
A. Mild
B. Moderate
C. Severe
D. Panic
Correct Answer: B
