MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS
1. The nurse is working with an adolescent client with social anxiety disorder who will be
attending college in 6 months. The parent tells the nurse that this anticipated change is
already causing increased anxiety for the client. Which action reported by the client does
the nurse evaluate as indicating the greatest amount of progress? The client:
a. arranges an overnight visit at a college with a current student
b. sends an electronic application to a college close to home
c. attends open houses at colleges of interest with the parent
d. decides to go to a community college and commute from home
2. A hospitalized client is dying and is very weak, tired and short of breath. The appropriate
nursing care plan for this client and the client’s family will include:
a. allowing family members to spend as much time as possible with the client
b. limiting visiting hours to help the client conserve energy
c. planning all of the client’s care to be done at one time so long intervals of rest
can be scheduled
d. having the client do as much self care as possible to increase self esteem and
independence
3. The community health nurse notes several suspicious bruises and old burns on an infant.
Which is the nurse’s priority action?
a. call the child protection hotline and report possible abuse
b. discuss the family with the physician and social worker at the next team
meeting
c. carefully record the visit for follow-up
d. tell the parent that child protection will be notified if injuries are noted at the
next visit.
4. The nurse understands that the best explanation for involuntary admission for psychiatric
treatment is that:
a. a psychiatrist has determined the client’s behavior is irrational
b. the client exhibits behavior that is a threat to either the client or to society
c. The client is unable to manage the affairs necessary for daily life
d. the client has broken a law
, 5. A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder purposely cuts his arm with a piece
of broken glass when his favorite nurse calls in sick. When the client’s favorite nurse
returns to the unit, they meet to discuss the cutting incident. How can the nurse best
prevent future incidents of self mutilating behavior in this client?
a. ask the client to make a promise to discuss any self destructive feelings that the
client may have with a staff member
b. emphasize that self destructive behavior is unacceptable and obtain a written
contract from the client stating, “I will not harm myself.”
c. tell the client that he is making increasingly unrealistic demands on the nurse
and other staff members
d. assign a staff member to supervise the client’s whereabouts at all times
6. The nurse is interviewing an elderly client who may have been abused by the neighbor
who provides much of the client’s care. The nurse’s interview questions should:
a. avoid asking the client about the potential abuse
b. avoid directly asking the client if the client has ever been hurt by someone
c. be confrontational
d. be nonthreatening and nonjudgemental
7. The nurse realizes that a typical characteristic of clients with anorexia nervosa is they:
a. have problems with self control
b. do poorly in school
c. exercise relentlessly
d. are truthful in reporting their eating habits
8. In planning the initial care for a client with an acute schizophrenic illness, the nurse will
appropriately emphasize:
a. establishing a daily routine to promote orientation to the unit
b. encouraging the client to enter into simple group activities
c. providing a variety of activities to keep the client focused on reality based
topics
d. assign the same staff members of the nursing staff to work with the client each
day.
9. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit on a temporary detention order. The nurse
observes that the client is staring out the 4th floor window and replying to voices that the
nurse is unable to see. The initial therapeutic statement that the nurse makes to the client is:
a. tell me what the voices are saying to you
b. who are you talking to?
c. are you thinking about jumping out the window?
d. why are you looking outside?
1. The nurse is working with an adolescent client with social anxiety disorder who will be
attending college in 6 months. The parent tells the nurse that this anticipated change is
already causing increased anxiety for the client. Which action reported by the client does
the nurse evaluate as indicating the greatest amount of progress? The client:
a. arranges an overnight visit at a college with a current student
b. sends an electronic application to a college close to home
c. attends open houses at colleges of interest with the parent
d. decides to go to a community college and commute from home
2. A hospitalized client is dying and is very weak, tired and short of breath. The appropriate
nursing care plan for this client and the client’s family will include:
a. allowing family members to spend as much time as possible with the client
b. limiting visiting hours to help the client conserve energy
c. planning all of the client’s care to be done at one time so long intervals of rest
can be scheduled
d. having the client do as much self care as possible to increase self esteem and
independence
3. The community health nurse notes several suspicious bruises and old burns on an infant.
Which is the nurse’s priority action?
a. call the child protection hotline and report possible abuse
b. discuss the family with the physician and social worker at the next team
meeting
c. carefully record the visit for follow-up
d. tell the parent that child protection will be notified if injuries are noted at the
next visit.
4. The nurse understands that the best explanation for involuntary admission for psychiatric
treatment is that:
a. a psychiatrist has determined the client’s behavior is irrational
b. the client exhibits behavior that is a threat to either the client or to society
c. The client is unable to manage the affairs necessary for daily life
d. the client has broken a law
, 5. A client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder purposely cuts his arm with a piece
of broken glass when his favorite nurse calls in sick. When the client’s favorite nurse
returns to the unit, they meet to discuss the cutting incident. How can the nurse best
prevent future incidents of self mutilating behavior in this client?
a. ask the client to make a promise to discuss any self destructive feelings that the
client may have with a staff member
b. emphasize that self destructive behavior is unacceptable and obtain a written
contract from the client stating, “I will not harm myself.”
c. tell the client that he is making increasingly unrealistic demands on the nurse
and other staff members
d. assign a staff member to supervise the client’s whereabouts at all times
6. The nurse is interviewing an elderly client who may have been abused by the neighbor
who provides much of the client’s care. The nurse’s interview questions should:
a. avoid asking the client about the potential abuse
b. avoid directly asking the client if the client has ever been hurt by someone
c. be confrontational
d. be nonthreatening and nonjudgemental
7. The nurse realizes that a typical characteristic of clients with anorexia nervosa is they:
a. have problems with self control
b. do poorly in school
c. exercise relentlessly
d. are truthful in reporting their eating habits
8. In planning the initial care for a client with an acute schizophrenic illness, the nurse will
appropriately emphasize:
a. establishing a daily routine to promote orientation to the unit
b. encouraging the client to enter into simple group activities
c. providing a variety of activities to keep the client focused on reality based
topics
d. assign the same staff members of the nursing staff to work with the client each
day.
9. A client is admitted to the psychiatric unit on a temporary detention order. The nurse
observes that the client is staring out the 4th floor window and replying to voices that the
nurse is unable to see. The initial therapeutic statement that the nurse makes to the client is:
a. tell me what the voices are saying to you
b. who are you talking to?
c. are you thinking about jumping out the window?
d. why are you looking outside?
