The Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Process
questions and answers
1. Which of the following questions would be most helpful in beginning an initial assessment interview
for a patient who has just been admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit?
A) Have you had any previous psychiatric admissions?
B) What brings you to the hospital today?
C) Have you had any thoughts about trying to harm yourself?
D) How would you describe your relationship with your spouse?
B) What brings you to the hospital today?
2. A patient is being admitted to the psychiatric unit. While explaining his reason for seeking admission,
he describes how his 32-year-old son recently died of a heart attack. Which response by the nurse would
enhance the effectiveness of this interview?
A) How is your wife handling your son's death?
B) Do you have any other living children that can help you cope with this loss?
C) This must be a very difficult time for you.
D) I know exactly how you're feeling; my 23-year-old son died unexpectedly last year.
C) This must be a very difficult time for you.
3. A patient was admitted to the hospital after a suicide attempt made after his daughter was killed in an
automobile accident during which he had been driving and survived with only minor injuries. Even
though the accident was unavoidable, he feels responsible. During the assessment interview, the patient
begins to describe the last conversation he had with his daughter before he lost control of the
automobile. As he speaks about his daughter, his voice trembles, and a silent tear rolls down his face. He
makes a visible attempt to straighten up and smiles superficially at the nurse, stating, I'll get over this. I
just need to keep a stiff upper lip. I think all I need to do is stay overnight. I'll be as good as new by
tomorrow. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A) Tell me about your daughter. How would you describe the relationship you had with her?
, B) I'm sure you are right; a good night's rest should make a big difference.
C) As good as new?
D) You made a serious attempt on your life; you will not be ready go home by tomorrow.
D) You made a serious attempt on your life; you will not be ready go home by tomorrow.
4. After assessing a patient, the nurse noted the following: he was tearful, he tried to kill himself before
coming into the hospital, he had no immediate plan for another suicide attempt, he was unable to
concentrate, and he reported having trouble sleeping and having little or no appetite. The nurse also
noted that the patient's appearance was unkempt, that he spoke in a low monotone, and that he was
unable to establish and maintain eye contact. Based on this information, which nursing diagnoses would
be the most appropriate?
A) Ineffective Role Performance
B) Risk for Infection
C) Risk for Suicide
D) Risk for Self-Mutilation
C) Risk for Suicide
5. A staff nurse on a psychiatric unit knows that patients often have trouble sleeping because of their
psychiatric conditions. Which of the following would reflect a psychiatric nursing intervention to
appropriately address this problem?
A) Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages
B) Involving patients in a volleyball game immediately before bedtime
C) Enforcing the rule that all patients be in bed with lights out by 10:30 PM
D) Encouraging patients to take short naps in the afternoons
A) Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages
6. The nurse is determining the success of a patient's plan of care by evaluating outcome indicators. The
nurse understands that these indicators are usually determined initially at which time?
questions and answers
1. Which of the following questions would be most helpful in beginning an initial assessment interview
for a patient who has just been admitted to a psychiatric inpatient unit?
A) Have you had any previous psychiatric admissions?
B) What brings you to the hospital today?
C) Have you had any thoughts about trying to harm yourself?
D) How would you describe your relationship with your spouse?
B) What brings you to the hospital today?
2. A patient is being admitted to the psychiatric unit. While explaining his reason for seeking admission,
he describes how his 32-year-old son recently died of a heart attack. Which response by the nurse would
enhance the effectiveness of this interview?
A) How is your wife handling your son's death?
B) Do you have any other living children that can help you cope with this loss?
C) This must be a very difficult time for you.
D) I know exactly how you're feeling; my 23-year-old son died unexpectedly last year.
C) This must be a very difficult time for you.
3. A patient was admitted to the hospital after a suicide attempt made after his daughter was killed in an
automobile accident during which he had been driving and survived with only minor injuries. Even
though the accident was unavoidable, he feels responsible. During the assessment interview, the patient
begins to describe the last conversation he had with his daughter before he lost control of the
automobile. As he speaks about his daughter, his voice trembles, and a silent tear rolls down his face. He
makes a visible attempt to straighten up and smiles superficially at the nurse, stating, I'll get over this. I
just need to keep a stiff upper lip. I think all I need to do is stay overnight. I'll be as good as new by
tomorrow. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A) Tell me about your daughter. How would you describe the relationship you had with her?
, B) I'm sure you are right; a good night's rest should make a big difference.
C) As good as new?
D) You made a serious attempt on your life; you will not be ready go home by tomorrow.
D) You made a serious attempt on your life; you will not be ready go home by tomorrow.
4. After assessing a patient, the nurse noted the following: he was tearful, he tried to kill himself before
coming into the hospital, he had no immediate plan for another suicide attempt, he was unable to
concentrate, and he reported having trouble sleeping and having little or no appetite. The nurse also
noted that the patient's appearance was unkempt, that he spoke in a low monotone, and that he was
unable to establish and maintain eye contact. Based on this information, which nursing diagnoses would
be the most appropriate?
A) Ineffective Role Performance
B) Risk for Infection
C) Risk for Suicide
D) Risk for Self-Mutilation
C) Risk for Suicide
5. A staff nurse on a psychiatric unit knows that patients often have trouble sleeping because of their
psychiatric conditions. Which of the following would reflect a psychiatric nursing intervention to
appropriately address this problem?
A) Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages
B) Involving patients in a volleyball game immediately before bedtime
C) Enforcing the rule that all patients be in bed with lights out by 10:30 PM
D) Encouraging patients to take short naps in the afternoons
A) Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages
6. The nurse is determining the success of a patient's plan of care by evaluating outcome indicators. The
nurse understands that these indicators are usually determined initially at which time?
