Exam 1 - Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing practice
questions (Answered) Complete Verified Solution With
Rationale
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt emotionally
drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should the nurse use to clarify the
patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?"
ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of the
patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating
that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic
technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring us through the
fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which response by the nurse would
be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness."
ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging
undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the underlying
feelings or thoughts the patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to talk about
something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the CIA is
prohibited from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the
patient has lost touch with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree." The nurse
observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient twirls a shirt button. The
,conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate.
ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the
speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in the relationship was modified by the
nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal
message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's comment that applies
the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me."
ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient
relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of "offering self," helps to build trust and
convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-
therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example of "offering hope."
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying."
ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been
communicated. Restating is an active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended in a
nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific
information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply states that he or she
understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse wants to seek
clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
,b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning."
ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the
nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about common
elements encourages comparison rather than clarification. The remaining responses are implied
questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the nurse's most
therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting by
putting into words what the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit, issues
are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining options are non-therapeutic techniques.
Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone feels that way at
times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always result in success is
falsely reassuring.
Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interaction, patient
fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands, and looked under chair
while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing
and incongruent. Some clinicians call it a "mixed message." It is inaccurate to say that the
patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques. The concept of
a cultural filter is not relevant to the situation because a cultural filter determines what we will
pay attention to and what we will ignore. Data are insufficient to draw the conclusion that the
patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
, While talking with a patient diagnosed with major depression, a nurse notices the patient is
unable to maintain eye contact. The patient's chin lowers to the chest, while the patient looks
at the floor. Which aspect of communication has the nurse assessed?
a. Nonverbal communication
b. A message filter
c. A cultural barrier
d. Social skills
ANS: A
Eye contact and body movements are considered nonverbal communication. There are
insufficient data to determine the level of the patient's social skills or whether a cultural barrier
exists.
During the first interview with a parent whose child died in a car accident, the nurse feels
empathic and reaches out to take the patient's hand. Select the correct analysis of the nurse's
behavior.
a. It shows empathy and compassion. It will encourage the patient to continue to express
feelings.
b. The gesture is premature. The patient's cultural and individual interpretation of touch is
unknown.
c. The patient will perceive the gesture as intrusive and overstepping boundaries.
d. The action is inappropriate. Psychiatric patients should not be touched.
ANS: B
Touch has various cultural and individual interpretations. Nurses should refrain from using
touch until an assessment can be made regarding the way in which the patient will perceive
touch. The other options present prematurely drawn conclusions.
During a one-on-one interaction with the nurse, a patient frequently looks nervously at the
door. Select the best comment by the nurse regarding this nonverbal communication.
a. "I notice you keep looking toward the door."
b. "This is our time together. No one is going to interrupt us."
c. "It looks as if you are eager to end our discussion for today."
d. "If you are uncomfortable in this room, we can move someplace else."
ANS: A
Making observations and encouraging the patient to describe perceptions are useful
therapeutic communication techniques for this situation. The other responses are assumptions
made by the nurse.
questions (Answered) Complete Verified Solution With
Rationale
A patient says to the nurse, "I dreamed I was stoned. When I woke up, I felt emotionally
drained, as though I hadn't rested well." Which response should the nurse use to clarify the
patient's comment?
a. "It sounds as though you were uncomfortable with the content of your dream."
b. "I understand what you're saying. Bad dreams leave me feeling tired, too."
c. "So you feel as though you did not get enough quality sleep last night?"
d. "Can you give me an example of what you mean by 'stoned'?"
ANS: D
The technique of clarification is therapeutic and helps the nurse examine the meaning of the
patient's statement. Asking for a definition of "stoned" directly asks for clarification. Restating
that the patient is uncomfortable with the dream's content is parroting, a non-therapeutic
technique. The other responses fail to clarify the meaning of the patient's comment.
A patient diagnosed with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The CIA is monitoring us through the
fluorescent lights in this room. Be careful what you say." Which response by the nurse would
be most therapeutic?
a. "Let's talk about something other than the CIA."
b. "It sounds like you're concerned about your privacy."
c. "The CIA is prohibited from operating in health care facilities."
d. "You have lost touch with reality, which is a symptom of your illness."
ANS: B
It is important not to challenge the patient's beliefs, even if they are unrealistic. Challenging
undermines the patient's trust in the nurse. The nurse should try to understand the underlying
feelings or thoughts the patient's message conveys. The correct response uses the therapeutic
technique of reflection. The other comments are non-therapeutic. Asking to talk about
something other than the concern at hand is changing the subject. Saying that the CIA is
prohibited from operating in health care facilities gives false reassurance. Stating that the
patient has lost touch with reality is truthful, but uncompassionate.
The patient says, "My marriage is just great. My spouse and I always agree." The nurse
observes the patient's foot moving continuously as the patient twirls a shirt button. The
,conclusion the nurse can draw is that the patient's communication is:
a. clear.
b. mixed.
c. precise.
d. inadequate.
ANS: B
Mixed messages involve the transmission of conflicting or incongruent messages by the
speaker. The patient's verbal message that all was well in the relationship was modified by the
nonverbal behaviors denoting anxiety. Data are not present to support the choice of the verbal
message being clear, explicit, or inadequate.
A nurse interacts with a newly hospitalized patient. Select the nurse's comment that applies
the communication technique of "offering self."
a. "I've also had traumatic life experiences. Maybe it would help if I told you about them."
b. "Why do you think you had so much difficulty adjusting to this change in your life?"
c. "I hope you will feel better after getting accustomed to how this unit operates."
d. "I'd like to sit with you for a while to help you get comfortable talking to me."
ANS: D
"Offering self" is a technique that should be used in the orientation phase of the nurse-patient
relationship. Sitting with the patient, an example of "offering self," helps to build trust and
convey that the nurse cares about the patient. Two incorrect responses are ineffective and non-
therapeutic. The other incorrect response is therapeutic but is an example of "offering hope."
Which technique will best communicate to a patient that the nurse is interested in listening?
a. Restating a feeling or thought the patient has expressed.
b. Asking a direct question, such as "Did you feel angry?"
c. Making a judgment about the patient's problem.
d. Saying, "I understand what you're saying."
ANS: A
Restating allows the patient to validate the nurse's understanding of what has been
communicated. Restating is an active listening technique. Judgments should be suspended in a
nurse-patient relationship. Close-ended questions such as "Did you feel angry?" ask for specific
information rather than showing understanding. When the nurse simply states that he or she
understands the patient's words, the patient has no way of measuring the understanding.
A patient discloses several concerns and associated feelings. If the nurse wants to seek
clarification, which comment would be appropriate?
a. "What are the common elements here?"
,b. "Tell me again about your experiences."
c. "Am I correct in understanding that . . ."
d. "Tell me everything from the beginning."
ANS: C
Asking, "Am I correct in understanding that..." permits clarification to ensure that both the
nurse and patient share mutual understanding of the communication. Asking about common
elements encourages comparison rather than clarification. The remaining responses are implied
questions that suggest the nurse was not listening.
A patient tells the nurse, "I don't think I'll ever get out of here." Select the nurse's most
therapeutic response.
a. "Don't talk that way. Of course you will leave here!"
b. "Keep up the good work, and you certainly will."
c. "You don't think you're making progress?"
d. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
ANS: C
By asking if the patient does not believe that progress has been made, the nurse is reflecting by
putting into words what the patient is hinting. By making communication more explicit, issues
are easier to identify and resolve. The remaining options are non-therapeutic techniques.
Telling the patient not to "talk that way" is disapproving. Saying that everyone feels that way at
times minimizes feelings. Telling the patient that good work will always result in success is
falsely reassuring.
Documentation in a patient's chart shows, "Throughout a 5-minute interaction, patient
fidgeted and tapped left foot, periodically covered face with hands, and looked under chair
while stating, 'I enjoy spending time with you.'" Which analysis is most accurate?
a. The patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques.
b. The nurse is viewing the patient's behavior through a cultural filter.
c. The patient's verbal and nonverbal messages are incongruent.
d. The patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
ANS: C
When a verbal message is not reinforced with nonverbal behavior, the message is confusing
and incongruent. Some clinicians call it a "mixed message." It is inaccurate to say that the
patient is giving positive feedback about the nurse's communication techniques. The concept of
a cultural filter is not relevant to the situation because a cultural filter determines what we will
pay attention to and what we will ignore. Data are insufficient to draw the conclusion that the
patient is demonstrating psychotic behaviors.
, While talking with a patient diagnosed with major depression, a nurse notices the patient is
unable to maintain eye contact. The patient's chin lowers to the chest, while the patient looks
at the floor. Which aspect of communication has the nurse assessed?
a. Nonverbal communication
b. A message filter
c. A cultural barrier
d. Social skills
ANS: A
Eye contact and body movements are considered nonverbal communication. There are
insufficient data to determine the level of the patient's social skills or whether a cultural barrier
exists.
During the first interview with a parent whose child died in a car accident, the nurse feels
empathic and reaches out to take the patient's hand. Select the correct analysis of the nurse's
behavior.
a. It shows empathy and compassion. It will encourage the patient to continue to express
feelings.
b. The gesture is premature. The patient's cultural and individual interpretation of touch is
unknown.
c. The patient will perceive the gesture as intrusive and overstepping boundaries.
d. The action is inappropriate. Psychiatric patients should not be touched.
ANS: B
Touch has various cultural and individual interpretations. Nurses should refrain from using
touch until an assessment can be made regarding the way in which the patient will perceive
touch. The other options present prematurely drawn conclusions.
During a one-on-one interaction with the nurse, a patient frequently looks nervously at the
door. Select the best comment by the nurse regarding this nonverbal communication.
a. "I notice you keep looking toward the door."
b. "This is our time together. No one is going to interrupt us."
c. "It looks as if you are eager to end our discussion for today."
d. "If you are uncomfortable in this room, we can move someplace else."
ANS: A
Making observations and encouraging the patient to describe perceptions are useful
therapeutic communication techniques for this situation. The other responses are assumptions
made by the nurse.
