Psychiatric Assessment and
Fundamentals of Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing NCLEX Quiz: 50
Questions
1. Question
Marco approached Nurse Trisha asking for advice on how to deal
with his alcohol addiction. Nurse Trisha should tell the client that
the only effective treatment for alcoholism is:
o A. Psychotherapy
o B. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
o C. Total abstinence
o D. Aversion Therapy
Correct Answer: C. Total abstinence
Total abstinence is the only effective treatment for alcoholism.
Offering counseling on moderation may help convince some
problem drinkers to seek help before they suffer painful
consequences. Research into moderate or “controlled” drinking
has shown that this strategy can be successful for patients who
have not yet developed a pervasive pattern of alcohol abuse, or
who have experienced few negative consequences from drinking.
It also helps to be young, female, employed, in a stable social
situation, and confident about moderating intake. The goal is to
help patients set goals and drinking limits before they cross the
line into dependence.
o Option A: Psychotherapy is a general term for
treating mental health problems by talking with a
psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health
providers. During psychotherapy, the client learns
about their condition and their moods, feelings,
thoughts, and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps the
client learn how to take control of their life and
respond to challenging situations with healthy coping
, skills. There are many types of psychotherapy, each
with its own approach. The type of psychotherapy
that’s right for each client depends on their individual
situation. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy,
counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.
o Option B: Alcoholics Anonymous is an international
fellowship of men and women who have had a
drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-
supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost
everywhere. There are no age or education
requirements. Membership is open to anyone who
wants to do something about their drinking problem.
o Option D: Aversion therapy is a type of behavioral
therapy that involves repeated pairing of unwanted
behavior with discomfort. For example, a person
undergoing aversion therapy to stop smoking might
receive an electrical shock every time they view an
image of a cigarette. The goal of the conditioning
process is to make the individual associate the
stimulus with unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations.
2. 2. Question
Nurse Hazel is caring for a male client who experiences false
sensory perceptions with no basis in reality. This perception is
known as:
o A. Hallucinations
o B. Delusions
o C. Loose associations
o D. Neologisms
Correct Answer: A. Hallucinations
Hallucinations are visual, auditory, gustatory, tactile or olfactory
perceptions that have no basis in reality. The word
“hallucination” comes from Latin and means “to wander
mentally.” Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of a
nonexistent object or event” and “sensory experiences that are
not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs.”
,Hallucinations occur frequently in people with psychiatric
conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder,
however, you don’t necessarily need to have a mental illness to
experience hallucinations.
o Option B: Delusions are defined as fixed, false beliefs
that conflict with reality. Despite contrary evidence, a
person in a delusional state can’t let go of their
convictions. Delusions are often reinforced by the
misinterpretation of events. Many delusions also
involve some level of paranoia. For example, someone
might contend that the government is controlling our
every move via radio waves despite evidence to the
contrary.
o Option C: A thought disturbance demonstrated by
speech that is disconnected and fragmented, with the
individual jumping from one idea to another unrelated
or indirectly related idea. It is essentially equivalent to
derailment.
o Option D: In psychiatry, the term is used to describe
the creation of words which only have meaning to the
person who uses them. It is considered normal in
children, but a symptom of thought disorder indicative
of a psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia in
adults. Usage of neologisms may also be related to
aphasia acquired after brain damage resulting from a
stroke or head injury.
3. 3. Question
Nurse Monet is caring for a female client who has suicidal
tendencies. When accompanying the client to the restroom,
Nurse Monet should…
o A. Give her privacy.
o B. Allow her to urinate.
o C. Open the window and allow her to get some fresh
air.
o D. Observe her.
, Correct Answer: D. Observe her.
The nurse has a responsibility to continuously observe the
acutely suicidal client. The nurse should watch for clues, such as
communicating suicidal thoughts, and messages; hoarding
medications and talking about death. First and foremost, the
patient’s safety must be assured; this is the intervention.
Intervention is based on the application of risk factors coupled
with a clinical inquiry.
o Option A: The individual must not be left alone. In the
ED, such a recommendation is handled easily by
hospital security personnel. In other settings, summon
assistance quickly. In an isolated place, call 911.
Involve family or friends; they can remain with the
patient while treatment arrangements are made.
o Option B: The suicidal patient should be treated
initially in a secure, safe, and highly supervised place.
Inpatient care at a hospital offers one of the best
settings. Most managed care companies recognize the
medical necessity of hospitalization in situations in
which the suicide danger is acute.
o Option C: Remove anything that the patient may use
to hurt or kill him or herself. Remove sharp or
potentially dangerous objects. Ask the patient for any
weapon, such as knives or pills, and secure them away
from the patient. A study of the association between
the provision of mental health services and suicide
rates found that removing ligature points (places
where things like ropes could be attached to) was
associated with significant reductions in the overall
psychiatric inpatient suicide rate and in the rate of
inpatient suicide by hanging.
4. 4. Question
Nurse Maureen is developing a plan of care for a female client
with anorexia nervosa. Which action should the nurse include in
the plan?
o A. Provide privacy during meals.
o B. Set-up a strict eating plan for the client.
Fundamentals of Mental Health and
Psychiatric Nursing NCLEX Quiz: 50
Questions
1. Question
Marco approached Nurse Trisha asking for advice on how to deal
with his alcohol addiction. Nurse Trisha should tell the client that
the only effective treatment for alcoholism is:
o A. Psychotherapy
o B. Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.)
o C. Total abstinence
o D. Aversion Therapy
Correct Answer: C. Total abstinence
Total abstinence is the only effective treatment for alcoholism.
Offering counseling on moderation may help convince some
problem drinkers to seek help before they suffer painful
consequences. Research into moderate or “controlled” drinking
has shown that this strategy can be successful for patients who
have not yet developed a pervasive pattern of alcohol abuse, or
who have experienced few negative consequences from drinking.
It also helps to be young, female, employed, in a stable social
situation, and confident about moderating intake. The goal is to
help patients set goals and drinking limits before they cross the
line into dependence.
o Option A: Psychotherapy is a general term for
treating mental health problems by talking with a
psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health
providers. During psychotherapy, the client learns
about their condition and their moods, feelings,
thoughts, and behaviors. Psychotherapy helps the
client learn how to take control of their life and
respond to challenging situations with healthy coping
, skills. There are many types of psychotherapy, each
with its own approach. The type of psychotherapy
that’s right for each client depends on their individual
situation. Psychotherapy is also known as talk therapy,
counseling, psychosocial therapy or, simply, therapy.
o Option B: Alcoholics Anonymous is an international
fellowship of men and women who have had a
drinking problem. It is nonprofessional, self-
supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost
everywhere. There are no age or education
requirements. Membership is open to anyone who
wants to do something about their drinking problem.
o Option D: Aversion therapy is a type of behavioral
therapy that involves repeated pairing of unwanted
behavior with discomfort. For example, a person
undergoing aversion therapy to stop smoking might
receive an electrical shock every time they view an
image of a cigarette. The goal of the conditioning
process is to make the individual associate the
stimulus with unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations.
2. 2. Question
Nurse Hazel is caring for a male client who experiences false
sensory perceptions with no basis in reality. This perception is
known as:
o A. Hallucinations
o B. Delusions
o C. Loose associations
o D. Neologisms
Correct Answer: A. Hallucinations
Hallucinations are visual, auditory, gustatory, tactile or olfactory
perceptions that have no basis in reality. The word
“hallucination” comes from Latin and means “to wander
mentally.” Hallucinations are defined as the “perception of a
nonexistent object or event” and “sensory experiences that are
not caused by stimulation of the relevant sensory organs.”
,Hallucinations occur frequently in people with psychiatric
conditions, including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder,
however, you don’t necessarily need to have a mental illness to
experience hallucinations.
o Option B: Delusions are defined as fixed, false beliefs
that conflict with reality. Despite contrary evidence, a
person in a delusional state can’t let go of their
convictions. Delusions are often reinforced by the
misinterpretation of events. Many delusions also
involve some level of paranoia. For example, someone
might contend that the government is controlling our
every move via radio waves despite evidence to the
contrary.
o Option C: A thought disturbance demonstrated by
speech that is disconnected and fragmented, with the
individual jumping from one idea to another unrelated
or indirectly related idea. It is essentially equivalent to
derailment.
o Option D: In psychiatry, the term is used to describe
the creation of words which only have meaning to the
person who uses them. It is considered normal in
children, but a symptom of thought disorder indicative
of a psychotic mental illness such as schizophrenia in
adults. Usage of neologisms may also be related to
aphasia acquired after brain damage resulting from a
stroke or head injury.
3. 3. Question
Nurse Monet is caring for a female client who has suicidal
tendencies. When accompanying the client to the restroom,
Nurse Monet should…
o A. Give her privacy.
o B. Allow her to urinate.
o C. Open the window and allow her to get some fresh
air.
o D. Observe her.
, Correct Answer: D. Observe her.
The nurse has a responsibility to continuously observe the
acutely suicidal client. The nurse should watch for clues, such as
communicating suicidal thoughts, and messages; hoarding
medications and talking about death. First and foremost, the
patient’s safety must be assured; this is the intervention.
Intervention is based on the application of risk factors coupled
with a clinical inquiry.
o Option A: The individual must not be left alone. In the
ED, such a recommendation is handled easily by
hospital security personnel. In other settings, summon
assistance quickly. In an isolated place, call 911.
Involve family or friends; they can remain with the
patient while treatment arrangements are made.
o Option B: The suicidal patient should be treated
initially in a secure, safe, and highly supervised place.
Inpatient care at a hospital offers one of the best
settings. Most managed care companies recognize the
medical necessity of hospitalization in situations in
which the suicide danger is acute.
o Option C: Remove anything that the patient may use
to hurt or kill him or herself. Remove sharp or
potentially dangerous objects. Ask the patient for any
weapon, such as knives or pills, and secure them away
from the patient. A study of the association between
the provision of mental health services and suicide
rates found that removing ligature points (places
where things like ropes could be attached to) was
associated with significant reductions in the overall
psychiatric inpatient suicide rate and in the rate of
inpatient suicide by hanging.
4. 4. Question
Nurse Maureen is developing a plan of care for a female client
with anorexia nervosa. Which action should the nurse include in
the plan?
o A. Provide privacy during meals.
o B. Set-up a strict eating plan for the client.
