Mental Health Midterm Exam Questions
And Answers
Which of the following statements is true?
a. People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable
b. Healthy people are not affected by traumatic events
c. Mental disorders are signs of weakness or personality flaws
d. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. - ANS D. Suicide is the tenth leading
cause of death in the United States.
Rationale: According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause
of death. However, it is the 2nd leading cause of death in age groups between 10 and 34 years
of age. Fourth leading cause of death in ages 35 to 54 (2014).
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the following is an expected finding?
A. Diminished reflexes
B. Recurring Nightmares
C. Exaggerated displays of Emotions
D. Obsessive need to talk about the traumatic event - ANS C. Recurring Nightmares
Rationale: These are associated with traumatic events are an expected finding of PTSD.
A charge nurse is discussing the care of a client who has major depressive disorder (MDD) with
a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
a need for further teaching?
a. "The client is at greatest risk for suicide during the first weeks of an MDD episode.
b. "The goal of treatment during the maintenance phase is prevention of future episodes of
MDD."
c."Medication and psychotherapy are used to prevent a relapse of MDD."
d. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of MDD." -
ANS d. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of
MDD."
Rationale: The focus of the continuation phase is relapse prevention. Treatment of
manifestations occurs during the acute phase of MDD.
,A nurse is interviewing a 25-year old client who has a new diagnosis of Persistent Depressive
Disorder (dysthymia). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. There is an inflated sense of self-esteem
B. The presence of manifestations for a least two years.
C. There are wide fluctuations in mood
D. The report of a minimum of five clinical findings of depression. - ANS D. The report of a
minimum of five clinical findings of depression.
Rationale: The essential feature of dysthymia is depressed mood that occurs for most of the
day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years (at least 1 year for children and adolescents)
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic
episode. Which of the following does not belong in the plan of care?
A.Use a firm approach with communication
B. Offer concise explanations
C. Address the client's complaints
D. Provide flexible client behavior expectations
E. Establish consistent limits - ANS D. Provide flexible client behavior expectations
Rationale: The nurse should establish consistent client behavior expectations to decrease the
risk of client manipulation.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic
episode. Which of the following does not belong in the plan of care?
A. "I am a superhero and am immortal."
B. "I am no one and everyone is me"
C. "I know that you are stealing my thoughts."
D. "I feel monsters pinching me all over" - ANS B. "I am no one and everyone is me"
Rationale: The comment indicates the client is experiencing a loss of identity and
depersonalization.
A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has schizophrenia and
documenting positive symptoms. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as
a negative symptom?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Use of clang associations
C. Constantly waving arms
D. Delusions of persecution
, E. Flat affect - ANS E. Flat affect
Rationale: Flat affect is an example of negative symptoms
A nurse is performing an admission assessment for a client who has delirium related to an acute
urinary tract infection. Which of the following is not associated with delirium?
a. History of gradual memory loss
b. Hallucinations
c. Restlessness
d. Family report of personality changes
e. Altered level of consciousness - ANS a. History of gradual memory loss.
Rationale: The client who has delirium may experience memory loss with sudden rather than
gradual onset.
A nurse is making a home visit to a client who has Alzheimer's disease to assess the home for
safety. Which of the following is an appropriate suggestion to decrease the client's risk for
injury?
a. Mark cleaning supplies with colored tape
b. Place rugs over electrical cords
c. Install childproof locks
d. Place medication bottles within client reach. - ANS c. Install childproof locks
Rationale: Install childproof door locks is correct. Door locks that are difficult to open are
appropriate to reduce the risk of the client wandering outside without supervision.
A nurse working in an emergency department is caring for a client who has benzodiazepine
toxicity due to an overdose. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
a. Prepare the client for gastric lavage
b. Administer flumazenil (Romazicon)
c. Infuse IV fluids
d. Identify the client's level of orientation - ANS d. Identify the client's level of orientation
Rationale: When taking the nursing process approach to client care the initial step is
assessment therefore identifying the client's level of orientation is the priority action.
A nurse working in a mental health clinic is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for lorazepam (Ativan) for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following is
appropriate for the nurse to include in teaching?
a. Combining alcohol with lorazepam will produce a paradoxical response
And Answers
Which of the following statements is true?
a. People with mental health problems are violent and unpredictable
b. Healthy people are not affected by traumatic events
c. Mental disorders are signs of weakness or personality flaws
d. Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the US. - ANS D. Suicide is the tenth leading
cause of death in the United States.
Rationale: According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause
of death. However, it is the 2nd leading cause of death in age groups between 10 and 34 years
of age. Fourth leading cause of death in ages 35 to 54 (2014).
A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has posttraumatic
stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the following is an expected finding?
A. Diminished reflexes
B. Recurring Nightmares
C. Exaggerated displays of Emotions
D. Obsessive need to talk about the traumatic event - ANS C. Recurring Nightmares
Rationale: These are associated with traumatic events are an expected finding of PTSD.
A charge nurse is discussing the care of a client who has major depressive disorder (MDD) with
a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
a need for further teaching?
a. "The client is at greatest risk for suicide during the first weeks of an MDD episode.
b. "The goal of treatment during the maintenance phase is prevention of future episodes of
MDD."
c."Medication and psychotherapy are used to prevent a relapse of MDD."
d. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of MDD." -
ANS d. "Care during the continuation phase focuses on treating continued manifestations of
MDD."
Rationale: The focus of the continuation phase is relapse prevention. Treatment of
manifestations occurs during the acute phase of MDD.
,A nurse is interviewing a 25-year old client who has a new diagnosis of Persistent Depressive
Disorder (dysthymia). Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. There is an inflated sense of self-esteem
B. The presence of manifestations for a least two years.
C. There are wide fluctuations in mood
D. The report of a minimum of five clinical findings of depression. - ANS D. The report of a
minimum of five clinical findings of depression.
Rationale: The essential feature of dysthymia is depressed mood that occurs for most of the
day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years (at least 1 year for children and adolescents)
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic
episode. Which of the following does not belong in the plan of care?
A.Use a firm approach with communication
B. Offer concise explanations
C. Address the client's complaints
D. Provide flexible client behavior expectations
E. Establish consistent limits - ANS D. Provide flexible client behavior expectations
Rationale: The nurse should establish consistent client behavior expectations to decrease the
risk of client manipulation.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic
episode. Which of the following does not belong in the plan of care?
A. "I am a superhero and am immortal."
B. "I am no one and everyone is me"
C. "I know that you are stealing my thoughts."
D. "I feel monsters pinching me all over" - ANS B. "I am no one and everyone is me"
Rationale: The comment indicates the client is experiencing a loss of identity and
depersonalization.
A nurse is completing an admission assessment for a client who has schizophrenia and
documenting positive symptoms. Which of the following findings should the nurse document as
a negative symptom?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Use of clang associations
C. Constantly waving arms
D. Delusions of persecution
, E. Flat affect - ANS E. Flat affect
Rationale: Flat affect is an example of negative symptoms
A nurse is performing an admission assessment for a client who has delirium related to an acute
urinary tract infection. Which of the following is not associated with delirium?
a. History of gradual memory loss
b. Hallucinations
c. Restlessness
d. Family report of personality changes
e. Altered level of consciousness - ANS a. History of gradual memory loss.
Rationale: The client who has delirium may experience memory loss with sudden rather than
gradual onset.
A nurse is making a home visit to a client who has Alzheimer's disease to assess the home for
safety. Which of the following is an appropriate suggestion to decrease the client's risk for
injury?
a. Mark cleaning supplies with colored tape
b. Place rugs over electrical cords
c. Install childproof locks
d. Place medication bottles within client reach. - ANS c. Install childproof locks
Rationale: Install childproof door locks is correct. Door locks that are difficult to open are
appropriate to reduce the risk of the client wandering outside without supervision.
A nurse working in an emergency department is caring for a client who has benzodiazepine
toxicity due to an overdose. Which of the following is the priority nursing action?
a. Prepare the client for gastric lavage
b. Administer flumazenil (Romazicon)
c. Infuse IV fluids
d. Identify the client's level of orientation - ANS d. Identify the client's level of orientation
Rationale: When taking the nursing process approach to client care the initial step is
assessment therefore identifying the client's level of orientation is the priority action.
A nurse working in a mental health clinic is providing teaching to a client who has a new
prescription for lorazepam (Ativan) for generalized anxiety disorder. Which of the following is
appropriate for the nurse to include in teaching?
a. Combining alcohol with lorazepam will produce a paradoxical response
