Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 2024-
2025 Questions and Answers (A+)
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan
of care for a patient living in the community and diagnosed with serious
and persistent mental illness? Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time. Report a sense of well-being
2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after
their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you
have these feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to
work with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse
will help. Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic
interventions.
3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who
wears heavy makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the
report best demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup
too."
,c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get
along in society."
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills
that will contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are
important parts of advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action
to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be
appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will
create conflict. Nurses must show compassion for each other.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. Which statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end
of the world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment
for your depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication
started for you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable
talking with me."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to
the relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows
respect for the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations,
probing, and false reassurances are non-therapeutic.
5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health
problem. Which characteristic of the web site's address most alerts the
nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced information?
,a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be
biased. ".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a
commercial one. ".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a
government entity. ".org" indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the
site may or may not have reliable information, but it does not profit from
its activities. ".net" can have multiple meanings.
6. A nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients
by name to get their attention; however, I read a descriptive research
study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling
patients by name." Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's
comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to
change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from
clinical nurse specialists.
c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms
before using them in practice.
d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of
practice do not change.
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be
viewed in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is
not enough. Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence.
Clinical algorithms use flow charts to manage problems and do not
specify one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice
should change as research findings provide evidence for change.
, 7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One
student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, "Why
would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You will
lose your skills." Select the best response by the student interested in
psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature
of patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as
critical thinking, to solve multidimensional problems. I'm challenged by
those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical
rotations in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical surgical nurses. That appeals to me."
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical and mental
health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased, similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves
clinical practice, not simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real
and can cause as much suffering as physical pain.
8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to
change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
2025 Questions and Answers (A+)
1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan
of care for a patient living in the community and diagnosed with serious
and persistent mental illness? Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time. Report a sense of well-being
2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after
their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you
have these feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to
work with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse
will help. Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic
interventions.
3. In the shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who
wears heavy makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the
report best demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup
too."
,c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get
along in society."
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills
that will contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are
important parts of advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action
to ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be
appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will
create conflict. Nurses must show compassion for each other.
4. A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major
depressive disorder. Which statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end
of the world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment
for your depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication
started for you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable
talking with me."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to
the relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows
respect for the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations,
probing, and false reassurances are non-therapeutic.
5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the Internet about a health
problem. Which characteristic of the web site's address most alerts the
nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced information?
,a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be
biased. ".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a
commercial one. ".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a
government entity. ".org" indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the
site may or may not have reliable information, but it does not profit from
its activities. ".net" can have multiple meanings.
6. A nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients
by name to get their attention; however, I read a descriptive research
study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling
patients by name." Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's
comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to
change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from
clinical nurse specialists.
c. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms
before using them in practice.
d. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of
practice do not change.
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be
viewed in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is
not enough. Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence.
Clinical algorithms use flow charts to manage problems and do not
specify one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice
should change as research findings provide evidence for change.
, 7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One
student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, "Why
would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You will
lose your skills." Select the best response by the student interested in
psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other
specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature
of patients' problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as
critical thinking, to solve multidimensional problems. I'm challenged by
those situations."
c. "I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical
rotations in school, so I do not want to continue them after I graduate."
d. "Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as much pain and
suffering as medical surgical nurses. That appeals to me."
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical and mental
health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must
have. Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have
increased, similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves
clinical practice, not simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real
and can cause as much suffering as physical pain.
8. Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to
change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
