ESSENTIALS OF PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING CHAPTER 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
m1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings of sadness because of the recent
death of a beloved pet. The clients appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How
should the nurse interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no mental illness. - 4. The
clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no mental illness.
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is not impaired. The client who
experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding within normal expectations. Without
significant impairment, the clients distress does not indicate a mental illness
2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-5 criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection. - 2. When maladaptive responses to stress
are coupled with interference in daily functioning.
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental illness when responses to
stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The DSM-5 indicates that in order to be
diagnosed with a mental illness, daily functioning must be significantly impaired. The clients ability to
communicate distress would be considered a positive attribute.
, 3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond very differently to stress.One
twin becomes anxious and irritable, and the other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain
these different stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly to stress.
4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic influences. - 1. Reactions to stress
are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the twins have identical DNA, there are
several other factors that affect reactions to stress. Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the
individual client. Environmental influences and temperament can affect stress reactions.
4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive. - 1. A Jewish, female social worker.
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place a high importance on
preventative health care and would consider mental health as equally important as physical health.
Women are also more likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than men.
5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense mechanisms should be eliminated. Which
is a correct evaluation of this nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage anxiety and should always be
eliminated.
3. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak ego integrity, should be discouraged and not
eliminated.
4. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego and should be fostered and encouraged. - 1.
Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be eliminated.
HEALTH NURSING CHAPTER 1
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS
m1. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing occasional feelings of sadness because of the recent
death of a beloved pet. The clients appetite, sleep patterns, and daily routine have not changed. How
should the nurse interpret the clients behaviors?
1. The clients behaviors demonstrate mental illness in the form of depression.
2. The clients behaviors are extensive, which indicates the presence of mental illness.
3. The clients behaviors are not congruent with cultural norms.
4. The clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no mental illness. - 4. The
clients behaviors demonstrate no functional impairment, indicating no mental illness.
Rationale: The nurse should assess that the clients daily functioning is not impaired. The client who
experiences feelings of sadness after the loss of a pet is responding within normal expectations. Without
significant impairment, the clients distress does not indicate a mental illness
2. At what point should the nurse determine that a client is at risk for developing a mental illness?
1. When thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are not reflective of the DSM-5 criteria.
2. When maladaptive responses to stress are coupled with interference in daily functioning.
3. When a client communicates significant distress.
4. When a client uses defense mechanisms as ego protection. - 2. When maladaptive responses to stress
are coupled with interference in daily functioning.
Rationale: The nurse should determine that the client is at risk for mental illness when responses to
stress are maladaptive and interfere with daily functioning. The DSM-5 indicates that in order to be
diagnosed with a mental illness, daily functioning must be significantly impaired. The clients ability to
communicate distress would be considered a positive attribute.
, 3. A nurse is assessing a set of 15-year-old identical twins who respond very differently to stress.One
twin becomes anxious and irritable, and the other withdraws and cries. How should the nurse explain
these different stress responses to the parents?
1. Reactions to stress are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
2. It is abnormal for identical twins to react differently to similar stressors.
3. Identical twins should share the same temperament and respond similarly to stress.
4. Environmental influences to stress weigh more heavily than genetic influences. - 1. Reactions to stress
are relative rather than absolute; individual responses to stress vary.
Rationale: The nurse should explain to the parents that, although the twins have identical DNA, there are
several other factors that affect reactions to stress. Mental health is a state of being that is relative to the
individual client. Environmental influences and temperament can affect stress reactions.
4. Which client should the nurse anticipate to be most receptive to psychiatric treatment?
1. A Jewish, female social worker.
2. A Baptist, homeless male.
3. A Catholic, black male.
4. A Protestant, Swedish business executive. - 1. A Jewish, female social worker.
Rationale: The nurse should anticipate that the client of Jewish culture would place a high importance on
preventative health care and would consider mental health as equally important as physical health.
Women are also more likely to seek treatment for mental health problems than men.
5. A psychiatric nurse intern states, This clients use of defense mechanisms should be eliminated. Which
is a correct evaluation of this nurses statement?
1. Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be eliminated.
2. Defense mechanisms are a maladaptive attempt of the ego to manage anxiety and should always be
eliminated.
3. Defense mechanisms, used by individuals with weak ego integrity, should be discouraged and not
eliminated.
4. Defense mechanisms cause disintegration of the ego and should be fostered and encouraged. - 1.
Defense mechanisms can be appropriate responses to stress and need not be eliminated.
