VARCAROLIS' FOUNDATIONS OF
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH
NURSING 8TH EDITION
TESTBANK
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments. c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication. d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who have
taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: 15 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses lose all their
nursing skills, the best response by the mental health nurse is:
a. Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios
must be better because of the nature of the patients problems.
b. Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.
c. Thats a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring equipment
and manage complex intravenous therapies.
,d. Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me.
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical
pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: 10 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC:
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with mental illness,
a group of
nurses writes letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery c. Advocacy
b. Attending d. Evidence-based practice ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts anothers cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver
quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter- writing campaign advocates for that
cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: 16 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was caring? My nurse:
, a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication.
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better.
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not alone.
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged sooner.
ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: 7 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental
illness? The patient:
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between as if and for real.
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH
NURSING 8TH EDITION
TESTBANK
,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an advanced
practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
a. Conduct mental health assessments. c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication. d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to masters-prepared nurse practitioners who have
taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to
perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: 15 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses lose all their
nursing skills, the best response by the mental health nurse is:
a. Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios
must be better because of the nature of the patients problems.
b. Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to solve
multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.
c. Thats a misconception. Psychiatric nurses frequently use high technology monitoring equipment
and manage complex intravenous therapies.
,d. Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me.
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical-surgical nursing, though
there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well as
mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios
and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric nursing
involves clinical practice, not just documentation. Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical
pain and suffering.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: 10 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC:
Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with mental illness,
a group of
nurses writes letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have
the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery c. Advocacy
b. Attending d. Evidence-based practice ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts anothers cause, particularly when the other person lacks the ability to
do that for self. Examples of individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity, public speaking, and
publication in the interest of improving the human condition. Since funding is necessary to deliver
quality programming for persons with mental illness, the letter- writing campaign advocates for that
cause on behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: 16 TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the nurse was caring? My nurse:
, a. always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication.
b. explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better.
c. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not alone.
d. told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged sooner.
ANS: C
Caring evidences empathetic understanding as well as competency. It helps change pain and suffering
into a shared experience, creating a human connection that alleviates feelings of isolation. The
distracters give examples of statements that demonstrate advocacy or giving advice.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application) REF: 7 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental
illness? The patient:
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
c. is able to describe the difference between as if and for real.
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
