MENTAL HEALTH EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
AA 73-year-old man was diagnosed with a serious mental illness at age 20. Subsequently, he
was frequently hospitalized. Two years ago, he was transferred to a group home. When
considering the effects of institutionalization, which behavior demonstrates adaptation to the
new environment?
A. Willingly takes his medications
B.Keeps his room neat and clean
C.Makes himself lunch when he is hungry
D.Enjoys spending the afternoon watching television
Due to the need to self-medicate for anxiety, a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia
smokes two packs of cigarettes a day. What unique risk does nicotine pose to this
patient‟s health?
A. Lung cancer
B.Cardiovascular constriction
C.Impaired psychotropic medication therapy
D.Increased incidence of lung-reacted disorders
Which functions are often simultaneously impaired when a patient is experiencing a
serious mental illness? Select all that apply.
A. Cognition
B. Emotions
C. Perceptions
D. Social interactions
E. Self-care
Charlie is coping well with a severe mental illness diagnosis. He and his 91-year-old father
live together on the family farm. This stable and secluded life has allowed Charlie to live with
minimal stimulation, and his relapses have been few. Charlie‟s caseworker makes a visit to
open up a conversation about where Charlie will live when his father can no longer care for
him. By bringing up the topic now, the caseworker is hoping to:
A. Arrange housing for Charlie for when his father dies.
B. Avert a relapse and preserve stability in Charlie‟s life.
C. Rescue Charlie when the crisis occurs.
D. Make Charlie realize he will soon live independently.
Jimmy has been hospitalized three times for schizophrenia. Typically, he is very disorganized,
spends his money irresponsibly, and loses his housing when he does not pay the rent. In turn,
Jimmy cannot be located by his case manager, which leads to treatment nonadherence and
relapse. Which response would be most therapeutic? Select all that apply.
A. Advise Jimmy that if he does not pay his rent, he will be placed in a group home
instead of independent housing.
B. Discuss with Jimmy the option of having a guardian who will ensure that the rent is
paid and that his money is managed to meet his basic needs.
, C. Suggest to Jimmy and his prescribing clinician that he be placed on a long-acting
injectable form of antipsychotic medication to improve treatment nonadherence.
D. Encourage Jimmy‟ 's case manager to hold him responsible for the outcomes of
his poor decisions by allowing periods of homelessness to serve as a natural
consequence.
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) diagnoses can suffer from ineffective healthcare.
Providers may be unaccustomed to working with this population or not comprehend obscure
details described by the person seeking medical attention. This hurdle can be overcome by:
A. Seeking medical attention at the emergency department.
B.Having a community clinic in the area where the SMI live.
C.Medicate the patient before a medical examination.
D.Integrating mental and physical health in one setting.
• A female consumer with severe and recurrent mania argues with outpatient staff about her
medication. She does not believe she has a mental illness. Although she takes medication
during hospitalizations, she stops taking them after discharge. Which intervention is most
helpful in promoting medication adherence?
A. Assign a new outpatient staff to reduce the conflicts she is experiencing with her
current providers.
B.Explain that the medications will help her and that all medications have side effects, but
she can learn to live with these.
C.Involve her in a medication group that will teach her the types and names of
psychotropic medications, their purpose, and possible side effects.
D. Explore her perceptions and experiences
regarding medication and help her to connect taking medications with achieving her
goals.
• Isadora is a middle-aged woman living in a group home after being discharged from a
psychiatric institution nearly 20 years ago. Isadora keeps to herself, stays in her room most of
the day, and only ventures out for meals. Cassandra, the house manager, encourages Isadora
to:
A. Begin looking for a job
B.Join a day program clubhouse
C.Assist in the kitchen washing dishes
D.Take on a roommate so as not to be alone
Which statement made by the patient demonstrates an understanding of the
foundational principle of integrative care?
A. “My body has the ability to heal itself if we know to give it the right tools.”
B. “The integrative care I‟m getting is primarily a combination of complementary,
alternative, and mainstream medicines.”
C. “Much of the knowledge that integrative care is based on comes from Western
cultural traditions.”
D. “The most important focus of my integrative care is the cure of my cardiac illness.”
• When considering the goals of complementary and alternative medicines, which patient
would be of particular interest to researchers studying advances in symptom management?
, A. One who experiences chronic pain related to a neck injury
B.A patient diagnosed with an acute gastrointestinal infection
C.A pregnant woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes
D. A child requiring surgery for a clubbed foot
• Which assessment question regarding a patient‟ 's report of pain demonstrates the
nurse‟s attention to the principles of holistic nursing care?
A. “When did your pain begin?”
B.“Are you taking any herbal supplements for the pain?”
C.“Has anyone else in your family ever experienced this kind of pain?”
D.“How has the pain affected your daily ability to care for yourself?”
• What medication education should the nurse provide to a patient who has expressed an
interest in taking St. John‟'s wort?
A. Allergic reactions to this herb are common.
B. Due to liver toxicity, regular liver function test should be conducted while taking it.
C. St. John‟s wort should not be taken in combination with antidepressants.
D. This medication results in gastrointestinal symptoms including bleeding.
• Which factor is likely to attract a patient to complementary and alternative medicine?
Select all that apply.
A. This nonmainstream approach is always less expensive than conventional medical
treatment.
B. A desire to choose personal healthcare practices.
C. Using these approaches carries a lower risk than many pharmaceuticals.
D. Traditional medicine has been unsuccessful in providing effective treatment.
• Integrative medication practices tend to produce desired results more quickly
than conventional practices.
A.In contrast to most Western medicine, integrative care takes into consideration:
B.The physician‟s diagnosis and the patient‟s response
C.The nurse‟ 's ideas about healing in addition to the physician
D.A whole-person perspective: body, mind, and spirit
E. The diagnosis before beginning spirit work
• A nursing student in her last semester has increasing test anxiety. Her professor suggests the
student try some integrative therapies. The student reported successful test anxiety reduction
with which of the following therapies?
A. Aromatherapy and breathing exercises
B. Megavitamin therapy and yoga
C.Naturopathy
D.Reiki
• The nurse is caring for a patient who has a question about the safety of an herbal
supplement. Which nursing response is best?
, A. “Herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA.”
B. “Natural ingredients in herbal supplements are harmless.”
C. “Your primary care provider needs to be aware of any supplements you take.”
D. “Marketing for herbal supplements demonstrates that all supplements are safe.”
• A patient asks the nurse if exercise and what she eats can impact her mood. The nurse‟ 's
best response is which of the following?
A. “There is no need to be concerned about exercise and nutrition if you
take your antidepressant.”
B.“Limited studies are available on exercise and nutrition and mood.”
C.“Exercise is helpful, but you don't need to worry about nutrition.”
D.“Extensive research has shown that exercise and proper nutrition greatly improve
mood symptoms.”
• Reviewing prescription medications in the discharge instructions for a patient with a
diagnosis of major depression, the nurse would caution the patient about which over-the-
counter supplement(s)? Select all that apply.
A. Fish oil
B. SAMe
C.St. John‟s wort
D.Melatonin
• Which outcome would be appropriate for a group session on medication education? Select
all that apply.
A. The patient will identify three side effects of the prescribed medication.
B.The patient will verbalize the purpose of taking the medication.
C.The patient will acknowledge and accept the financial cost of prescribed medications.
D.The patient will correctly identify the time of day and dose for each prescribed medication.
E. The patient will list two dangerous drug-drug and drug-food interactions for
prescribed medications.
• What question by the nurse leader is helpful in managing a monopolizing member of a
group?
A. “You seem angry. Is there something you want to discuss with the group?”
B.“Would it be helpful if you had time to think about the question?”
C.“Would you tell us about experiences that have frightened you?”
D.“Who else would like to share feelings about this issue?”
• What advantages does group therapy have over those of individual therapy? Select all
that apply.
A. Groups are less expensive than one-to-one therapy.
B. Groups provide an opportunity to learn from others.
C.Groups are homogeneous in composition.
AA 73-year-old man was diagnosed with a serious mental illness at age 20. Subsequently, he
was frequently hospitalized. Two years ago, he was transferred to a group home. When
considering the effects of institutionalization, which behavior demonstrates adaptation to the
new environment?
A. Willingly takes his medications
B.Keeps his room neat and clean
C.Makes himself lunch when he is hungry
D.Enjoys spending the afternoon watching television
Due to the need to self-medicate for anxiety, a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia
smokes two packs of cigarettes a day. What unique risk does nicotine pose to this
patient‟s health?
A. Lung cancer
B.Cardiovascular constriction
C.Impaired psychotropic medication therapy
D.Increased incidence of lung-reacted disorders
Which functions are often simultaneously impaired when a patient is experiencing a
serious mental illness? Select all that apply.
A. Cognition
B. Emotions
C. Perceptions
D. Social interactions
E. Self-care
Charlie is coping well with a severe mental illness diagnosis. He and his 91-year-old father
live together on the family farm. This stable and secluded life has allowed Charlie to live with
minimal stimulation, and his relapses have been few. Charlie‟s caseworker makes a visit to
open up a conversation about where Charlie will live when his father can no longer care for
him. By bringing up the topic now, the caseworker is hoping to:
A. Arrange housing for Charlie for when his father dies.
B. Avert a relapse and preserve stability in Charlie‟s life.
C. Rescue Charlie when the crisis occurs.
D. Make Charlie realize he will soon live independently.
Jimmy has been hospitalized three times for schizophrenia. Typically, he is very disorganized,
spends his money irresponsibly, and loses his housing when he does not pay the rent. In turn,
Jimmy cannot be located by his case manager, which leads to treatment nonadherence and
relapse. Which response would be most therapeutic? Select all that apply.
A. Advise Jimmy that if he does not pay his rent, he will be placed in a group home
instead of independent housing.
B. Discuss with Jimmy the option of having a guardian who will ensure that the rent is
paid and that his money is managed to meet his basic needs.
, C. Suggest to Jimmy and his prescribing clinician that he be placed on a long-acting
injectable form of antipsychotic medication to improve treatment nonadherence.
D. Encourage Jimmy‟ 's case manager to hold him responsible for the outcomes of
his poor decisions by allowing periods of homelessness to serve as a natural
consequence.
Individuals with severe mental illness (SMI) diagnoses can suffer from ineffective healthcare.
Providers may be unaccustomed to working with this population or not comprehend obscure
details described by the person seeking medical attention. This hurdle can be overcome by:
A. Seeking medical attention at the emergency department.
B.Having a community clinic in the area where the SMI live.
C.Medicate the patient before a medical examination.
D.Integrating mental and physical health in one setting.
• A female consumer with severe and recurrent mania argues with outpatient staff about her
medication. She does not believe she has a mental illness. Although she takes medication
during hospitalizations, she stops taking them after discharge. Which intervention is most
helpful in promoting medication adherence?
A. Assign a new outpatient staff to reduce the conflicts she is experiencing with her
current providers.
B.Explain that the medications will help her and that all medications have side effects, but
she can learn to live with these.
C.Involve her in a medication group that will teach her the types and names of
psychotropic medications, their purpose, and possible side effects.
D. Explore her perceptions and experiences
regarding medication and help her to connect taking medications with achieving her
goals.
• Isadora is a middle-aged woman living in a group home after being discharged from a
psychiatric institution nearly 20 years ago. Isadora keeps to herself, stays in her room most of
the day, and only ventures out for meals. Cassandra, the house manager, encourages Isadora
to:
A. Begin looking for a job
B.Join a day program clubhouse
C.Assist in the kitchen washing dishes
D.Take on a roommate so as not to be alone
Which statement made by the patient demonstrates an understanding of the
foundational principle of integrative care?
A. “My body has the ability to heal itself if we know to give it the right tools.”
B. “The integrative care I‟m getting is primarily a combination of complementary,
alternative, and mainstream medicines.”
C. “Much of the knowledge that integrative care is based on comes from Western
cultural traditions.”
D. “The most important focus of my integrative care is the cure of my cardiac illness.”
• When considering the goals of complementary and alternative medicines, which patient
would be of particular interest to researchers studying advances in symptom management?
, A. One who experiences chronic pain related to a neck injury
B.A patient diagnosed with an acute gastrointestinal infection
C.A pregnant woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes
D. A child requiring surgery for a clubbed foot
• Which assessment question regarding a patient‟ 's report of pain demonstrates the
nurse‟s attention to the principles of holistic nursing care?
A. “When did your pain begin?”
B.“Are you taking any herbal supplements for the pain?”
C.“Has anyone else in your family ever experienced this kind of pain?”
D.“How has the pain affected your daily ability to care for yourself?”
• What medication education should the nurse provide to a patient who has expressed an
interest in taking St. John‟'s wort?
A. Allergic reactions to this herb are common.
B. Due to liver toxicity, regular liver function test should be conducted while taking it.
C. St. John‟s wort should not be taken in combination with antidepressants.
D. This medication results in gastrointestinal symptoms including bleeding.
• Which factor is likely to attract a patient to complementary and alternative medicine?
Select all that apply.
A. This nonmainstream approach is always less expensive than conventional medical
treatment.
B. A desire to choose personal healthcare practices.
C. Using these approaches carries a lower risk than many pharmaceuticals.
D. Traditional medicine has been unsuccessful in providing effective treatment.
• Integrative medication practices tend to produce desired results more quickly
than conventional practices.
A.In contrast to most Western medicine, integrative care takes into consideration:
B.The physician‟s diagnosis and the patient‟s response
C.The nurse‟ 's ideas about healing in addition to the physician
D.A whole-person perspective: body, mind, and spirit
E. The diagnosis before beginning spirit work
• A nursing student in her last semester has increasing test anxiety. Her professor suggests the
student try some integrative therapies. The student reported successful test anxiety reduction
with which of the following therapies?
A. Aromatherapy and breathing exercises
B. Megavitamin therapy and yoga
C.Naturopathy
D.Reiki
• The nurse is caring for a patient who has a question about the safety of an herbal
supplement. Which nursing response is best?
, A. “Herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA.”
B. “Natural ingredients in herbal supplements are harmless.”
C. “Your primary care provider needs to be aware of any supplements you take.”
D. “Marketing for herbal supplements demonstrates that all supplements are safe.”
• A patient asks the nurse if exercise and what she eats can impact her mood. The nurse‟ 's
best response is which of the following?
A. “There is no need to be concerned about exercise and nutrition if you
take your antidepressant.”
B.“Limited studies are available on exercise and nutrition and mood.”
C.“Exercise is helpful, but you don't need to worry about nutrition.”
D.“Extensive research has shown that exercise and proper nutrition greatly improve
mood symptoms.”
• Reviewing prescription medications in the discharge instructions for a patient with a
diagnosis of major depression, the nurse would caution the patient about which over-the-
counter supplement(s)? Select all that apply.
A. Fish oil
B. SAMe
C.St. John‟s wort
D.Melatonin
• Which outcome would be appropriate for a group session on medication education? Select
all that apply.
A. The patient will identify three side effects of the prescribed medication.
B.The patient will verbalize the purpose of taking the medication.
C.The patient will acknowledge and accept the financial cost of prescribed medications.
D.The patient will correctly identify the time of day and dose for each prescribed medication.
E. The patient will list two dangerous drug-drug and drug-food interactions for
prescribed medications.
• What question by the nurse leader is helpful in managing a monopolizing member of a
group?
A. “You seem angry. Is there something you want to discuss with the group?”
B.“Would it be helpful if you had time to think about the question?”
C.“Would you tell us about experiences that have frightened you?”
D.“Who else would like to share feelings about this issue?”
• What advantages does group therapy have over those of individual therapy? Select all
that apply.
A. Groups are less expensive than one-to-one therapy.
B. Groups provide an opportunity to learn from others.
C.Groups are homogeneous in composition.
