Kneisl, Contemporary Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing, 3/e Test Bank
Chapter 1
Question 1
Type: MCSA
During the shift report, a nurse describes a client as “crazy.” Which approach by the nurse
would be best?
1. Ask the staff what terminology they wish to use.
2. Say nothing.
3. Suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill.”
4. Role model using the term “nervous breakdown.”
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 2: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 3: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 4: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
,Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 2
Type: MCSA
The psychiatric mental health nursing student is preparing to attend a meeting of the
psychiatric mental health care team to discuss possible updates to clients’ diagnoses. In
preparing for this meeting, the nursing student should consult which of the following
references?
1. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice
2. Psychiatric nursing care plan manual
3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
4. Dictionary of common mental disorders
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 2: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 3: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
,responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 4: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 3
Type: MCSA
The nurse is sharing client assessment data with the multidisciplinary health care team.
Which comment by the nurse is irrelevant and indicates a misunderstanding of the concept
of a mental disorder?
1. “The client reports significant emotional distress about the current situation.”
2. “The client reports a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and commitments.”
3. “The client denies thoughts of harming self or others.”
4. “The client has some very inappropriate religious ideas and spiritual beliefs.”
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 2: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
, others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 3: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 4: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 4
Type: MCSA
The nursing assistant verbalizes to the psychiatric nurse that normal people don’t have
mental disorders. Which approach by the nurse would be best?
1. Instruct the nursing assistant that anyone can have a mental health problem.
2. Alert the nursing manager of the nursing assistant’s remark.
3. Refer the nursing assistant back to the psychiatric orientation materials.
4. Ignore the comment; the nurse has no responsibility in this situation.
Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: The nurse should instruct that given the right circumstances, anyone can have
a mental health problem or disorder. The nursing assistant’s ability to be therapeutic with
clients may be decreased if misinformation is not corrected. Referring the assistant back to
the orientation materials, alerting the nursing manager, and ignoring the comment do not
address the situation directly. The nurse has an opportunity to be a positive role model and
teacher and promote therapeutic care.
Chapter 1
Question 1
Type: MCSA
During the shift report, a nurse describes a client as “crazy.” Which approach by the nurse
would be best?
1. Ask the staff what terminology they wish to use.
2. Say nothing.
3. Suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill.”
4. Role model using the term “nervous breakdown.”
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 2: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 3: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Rationale 4: The nurse should suggest that staff use the term “mentally ill,” thus,
reinforcing that the client has an illness. The term “nervous breakdown” is too general and
nonspecific for clinical usage. Saying nothing or asking staff what terminology to use is not
implementing the client–advocate role of the professional nurse.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
,Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Implementation
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 2
Type: MCSA
The psychiatric mental health nursing student is preparing to attend a meeting of the
psychiatric mental health care team to discuss possible updates to clients’ diagnoses. In
preparing for this meeting, the nursing student should consult which of the following
references?
1. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice
2. Psychiatric nursing care plan manual
3. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
4. Dictionary of common mental disorders
Correct Answer: 3
Rationale 1: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 2: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 3: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
,responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Rationale 4: Mental disorders are identified, standardized, and categorized in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric
Association (APA). All members of the health care team use this reference. A psychiatric
nursing care plan manual is a reference for nursing care and a dictionary will offer only a
general definition. Standards of Psychiatric Nursing Practice outlines nursing
responsibilities, but does not apply to clients or other members of the multidisciplinary
health care team.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Analyzing
Client Need: Safe Effective Care Environment
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Planning
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 3
Type: MCSA
The nurse is sharing client assessment data with the multidisciplinary health care team.
Which comment by the nurse is irrelevant and indicates a misunderstanding of the concept
of a mental disorder?
1. “The client reports significant emotional distress about the current situation.”
2. “The client reports a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and commitments.”
3. “The client denies thoughts of harming self or others.”
4. “The client has some very inappropriate religious ideas and spiritual beliefs.”
Correct Answer: 4
Rationale 1: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 2: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
, others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 3: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Rationale 4: Deviant religious beliefs and behavior are not generally labeled as mental
disorders unless the deviance is a symptom of dysfunction. Thoughts of harming self or
others, emotional distress, and a loss of interest in usual pleasurable activities and
commitments are relevant and meet the generally accepted definition of a mental disorder.
Global Rationale:
Cognitive Level: Applying
Client Need: Psychosocial Integrity
Client Need Sub:
Nursing/Integrated Concepts: Nursing Process: Evaluation
Learning Outcome: Define and explain mental disorder.
Question 4
Type: MCSA
The nursing assistant verbalizes to the psychiatric nurse that normal people don’t have
mental disorders. Which approach by the nurse would be best?
1. Instruct the nursing assistant that anyone can have a mental health problem.
2. Alert the nursing manager of the nursing assistant’s remark.
3. Refer the nursing assistant back to the psychiatric orientation materials.
4. Ignore the comment; the nurse has no responsibility in this situation.
Correct Answer: 1
Rationale 1: The nurse should instruct that given the right circumstances, anyone can have
a mental health problem or disorder. The nursing assistant’s ability to be therapeutic with
clients may be decreased if misinformation is not corrected. Referring the assistant back to
the orientation materials, alerting the nursing manager, and ignoring the comment do not
address the situation directly. The nurse has an opportunity to be a positive role model and
teacher and promote therapeutic care.
