MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1 RASMUSSEM
UNIVERSITY NEWEST WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
1. According To Freud, Which Part Of The Personality Operates On
The Pleasure Principle, Seeking Immediate Gratification Of Instinctual
Drives?
A) Ego
B) Superego
C) Id
D) Conscious Mind
Answer: C
Rationale: The Id Is The Primitive Part Of The Personality Present At
Birth; It Operates On The Pleasure Principle, Seeking Immediate
Satisfaction Of Needs Without Regard For Reality Or Morality.
2. A Client States, ―My Husband Is Being So Mean To Me, But I‘m Not
Angry; He Just Has A Lot Of Work Stress.‖ The Nurse Identifies This
As An Example Of Which Defense Mechanism?
A) Projection
B) Rationalization
C) Denial
D) Displacement
Answer: B
,Rationale: Rationalization Involves Justifying Unacceptable Behavior
Or Feelings With Logical But False Explanations To Avoid The True
Reason. The Client Is Making Excuses For Her Husband‘s Meanness
Rather Than Acknowledging Her Hurt Feelings.
3. Which Therapeutic Communication Technique Involves The Nurse
Repeating The Main Idea Expressed By The Client?
A) Restating
B) Reflecting
C) Clarifying
D) Focusing
Answer: A
Rationale: Restating Allows The Client To Know The Nurse Heard The
Message Correctly And Encourages Further Elaboration By Repeating
The Main Thought.
4. The Nurse Is Caring For A Client With Moderate Anxiety. Which
Intervention Is Most Appropriate?
A) Encourage The Client To Use Deep Breathing And Explore Coping
Mechanisms
B) Firmly Direct The Client To A Quiet Room And Set Limits
C) Allow The Client To Pace While Providing Reassurance
D) Confront The Client‘s Distorted Thoughts Immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: At Moderate Anxiety, The Client Can Still Process
Information With Guidance. Deep Breathing And Exploring Coping
Mechanisms Help Reduce Anxiety And Increase Focus.
5. A Client Who Lost His Spouse 3 Weeks Ago Says, ―I Still Can‘t
Believe He‘s Gone. I Wait For Him To Walk Through The Door.‖
,According To Kübler-Ross, Which Stage Of Grief Is This?
A) Bargaining
B) Denial
C) Depression
D) Anger
Answer: B
Rationale: Denial Is An Early Stage Of Grief Characterized By
Disbelief And Difficulty Accepting The Loss. The Client Is Not
Acknowledging The Reality Of The Death.
6. During A Mental Status Examination, The Nurse Notes The Client‘s
Mood Is ―Angry And Irritable.‖ Which Documentation Best Reflects
This Finding?
A) Affect – Labile
B) Mood – Euphoric
C) Mood – Angry And Irritable
D) Affect – Flat
Answer: C
Rationale: Mood Is The Client‘s Sustained Emotional State
(Subjective), While Affect Is The Objective, Observable Expression
Of Emotion. ―Angry And Irritable‖ Describes Mood.
7. A Student Nurse Asks Why Self-Awareness Is Important In Mental
Health Nursing. The Best Response By The Instructor Is:
A) ―It Helps The Nurse Maintain Professional Boundaries And
Recognize Personal Biases.‖
B) ―It Ensures The Nurse Always Agrees With The Treatment Plan.‖
C) ―It Allows The Nurse To Share Personal Problems With Clients.‖
D) ―It Prevents Countertransference Completely.‖
Answer: A
, Rationale: Self-Awareness Helps Nurses Understand Their Own
Feelings, Values, And Biases, Which Is Essential For Establishing
Therapeutic Relationships, Maintaining Boundaries, And Avoiding
Countertransference.
8. The Nurse Is Caring For A Client With Severe Anxiety. Which
Nursing Intervention Is The Priority?
A) Encourage Participation In Group Therapy
B) Teach Progressive Muscle Relaxation
C) Provide A Calm, Quiet Environment And Meet Physical Needs
D) Discuss The Source Of The Anxiety In Detail
Answer: C
Rationale: In Severe Anxiety, The Client Cannot Process Information
Effectively. The Priority Is Safety And Reducing Environmental
Stimulation, As Well As Addressing Physical Symptoms.
9. The Physician Orders Lithium For A Client With Bipolar Disorder.
Prior To Initiating Therapy, Which Laboratory Test Is Essential?
A) Liver Function Tests
B) Complete Blood Count
C) Renal Function Tests (Bun, Creatinine)
D) Serum Glucose
Answer: C
Rationale: Lithium Is Excreted By The Kidneys, And Existing Renal
Impairment Can Lead To Toxicity. Baseline Renal Function And Ongoing
Monitoring Are Essential.
10. A Client Tells The Nurse, ―Don‘t Tell Anyone, But I Plan To Kill My
Neighbor When I Get Out.‖ What Is The Nurse‘s Best Initial Action?
A) Respect The Client‘s Confidentiality And Document The Statement
UNIVERSITY NEWEST WITH ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
1. According To Freud, Which Part Of The Personality Operates On
The Pleasure Principle, Seeking Immediate Gratification Of Instinctual
Drives?
A) Ego
B) Superego
C) Id
D) Conscious Mind
Answer: C
Rationale: The Id Is The Primitive Part Of The Personality Present At
Birth; It Operates On The Pleasure Principle, Seeking Immediate
Satisfaction Of Needs Without Regard For Reality Or Morality.
2. A Client States, ―My Husband Is Being So Mean To Me, But I‘m Not
Angry; He Just Has A Lot Of Work Stress.‖ The Nurse Identifies This
As An Example Of Which Defense Mechanism?
A) Projection
B) Rationalization
C) Denial
D) Displacement
Answer: B
,Rationale: Rationalization Involves Justifying Unacceptable Behavior
Or Feelings With Logical But False Explanations To Avoid The True
Reason. The Client Is Making Excuses For Her Husband‘s Meanness
Rather Than Acknowledging Her Hurt Feelings.
3. Which Therapeutic Communication Technique Involves The Nurse
Repeating The Main Idea Expressed By The Client?
A) Restating
B) Reflecting
C) Clarifying
D) Focusing
Answer: A
Rationale: Restating Allows The Client To Know The Nurse Heard The
Message Correctly And Encourages Further Elaboration By Repeating
The Main Thought.
4. The Nurse Is Caring For A Client With Moderate Anxiety. Which
Intervention Is Most Appropriate?
A) Encourage The Client To Use Deep Breathing And Explore Coping
Mechanisms
B) Firmly Direct The Client To A Quiet Room And Set Limits
C) Allow The Client To Pace While Providing Reassurance
D) Confront The Client‘s Distorted Thoughts Immediately
Answer: A
Rationale: At Moderate Anxiety, The Client Can Still Process
Information With Guidance. Deep Breathing And Exploring Coping
Mechanisms Help Reduce Anxiety And Increase Focus.
5. A Client Who Lost His Spouse 3 Weeks Ago Says, ―I Still Can‘t
Believe He‘s Gone. I Wait For Him To Walk Through The Door.‖
,According To Kübler-Ross, Which Stage Of Grief Is This?
A) Bargaining
B) Denial
C) Depression
D) Anger
Answer: B
Rationale: Denial Is An Early Stage Of Grief Characterized By
Disbelief And Difficulty Accepting The Loss. The Client Is Not
Acknowledging The Reality Of The Death.
6. During A Mental Status Examination, The Nurse Notes The Client‘s
Mood Is ―Angry And Irritable.‖ Which Documentation Best Reflects
This Finding?
A) Affect – Labile
B) Mood – Euphoric
C) Mood – Angry And Irritable
D) Affect – Flat
Answer: C
Rationale: Mood Is The Client‘s Sustained Emotional State
(Subjective), While Affect Is The Objective, Observable Expression
Of Emotion. ―Angry And Irritable‖ Describes Mood.
7. A Student Nurse Asks Why Self-Awareness Is Important In Mental
Health Nursing. The Best Response By The Instructor Is:
A) ―It Helps The Nurse Maintain Professional Boundaries And
Recognize Personal Biases.‖
B) ―It Ensures The Nurse Always Agrees With The Treatment Plan.‖
C) ―It Allows The Nurse To Share Personal Problems With Clients.‖
D) ―It Prevents Countertransference Completely.‖
Answer: A
, Rationale: Self-Awareness Helps Nurses Understand Their Own
Feelings, Values, And Biases, Which Is Essential For Establishing
Therapeutic Relationships, Maintaining Boundaries, And Avoiding
Countertransference.
8. The Nurse Is Caring For A Client With Severe Anxiety. Which
Nursing Intervention Is The Priority?
A) Encourage Participation In Group Therapy
B) Teach Progressive Muscle Relaxation
C) Provide A Calm, Quiet Environment And Meet Physical Needs
D) Discuss The Source Of The Anxiety In Detail
Answer: C
Rationale: In Severe Anxiety, The Client Cannot Process Information
Effectively. The Priority Is Safety And Reducing Environmental
Stimulation, As Well As Addressing Physical Symptoms.
9. The Physician Orders Lithium For A Client With Bipolar Disorder.
Prior To Initiating Therapy, Which Laboratory Test Is Essential?
A) Liver Function Tests
B) Complete Blood Count
C) Renal Function Tests (Bun, Creatinine)
D) Serum Glucose
Answer: C
Rationale: Lithium Is Excreted By The Kidneys, And Existing Renal
Impairment Can Lead To Toxicity. Baseline Renal Function And Ongoing
Monitoring Are Essential.
10. A Client Tells The Nurse, ―Don‘t Tell Anyone, But I Plan To Kill My
Neighbor When I Get Out.‖ What Is The Nurse‘s Best Initial Action?
A) Respect The Client‘s Confidentiality And Document The Statement
