MENTAL HEALTH ACTUAL REAL EXAM 2 COMPLETE QUESTIONS 100% SOLVED (ALL
CORRECT & VERIFIED) GRADED A+
1. A psychiatric nurse best implements the ethical principle of autonomy when he or she:
a. intervenes when a self-mutilating patient attempts to harm self.
b. stays with a patient who is demonstrating a high level of anxiety.
c. suggests that two patients who are fighting be restricted to the unit.
d. explores alternative solutions with a patient, who then makes a choice.
2. Which action by a psychiatric nurse best supports a patient's right to be treated with dignity and respect?
a. Consistently addressing a patient by title and surname.
b. Strongly encouraging a patient to participate in the unit milieu.
c. Discussing a patient's condition with another health care provider in the elevator.
d. Informing a treatment team that a patient is too drowsy to participate in care planning.
3. Two hospitalized patients fight when they are in the same room. During a team meeting, a nurse asserts
that safety is of paramount importance and therefore the treatment plans should call for both patients to be
secluded to prevent them from injuring each other. This assertion:
a. reveals that the nurse values the principle of justice.
b. reinforces the autonomy of the two patients.
c. violates the civil rights of the two patients.
d. represents the intentional tort of battery.
4. In a team meeting a nurse says, "I'm concerned whether we are behaving ethically by using restraint to
prevent one patient from self-mutilation while the care plan for another patient who has also self-mutilated
calls for one-on-one supervision." Which ethical principle most clearly applies to this situation?
a. Beneficence
b. Autonomy
c. Fidelity
d. Justice
5. Which scenario is an example of a tort?
a. The primary nurse does not complete the plan of care for a patient within 24 hours of the patient's admission.
b. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a patient who is dangerous to self and others be voluntarily
hospitalized.
c. A patient's admission status is changed from involuntary to voluntary after the patient's hallucinations subside.
d. A nurse gives an as-needed dose of an antipsychotic drug to a patient to prevent violence because a unit is short
staffed.
6. A nurse's neighbor asks, "Why aren't people with mental illness kept in state institutions anymore?" What
is the nurse's best response?
a. "Many people are still in psychiatric institutions. Inpatient care is needed because many people who are mentally ill
are violent."
b. "Less restrictive settings are now available to care for individuals with mental illness."
c. "Our nation has fewer persons with mental illness; therefore fewer hospital beds are needed."
d. "Psychiatric institutions are no longer popular as a consequence of negative stories in the press."
7. Which nursing intervention demonstrates false imprisonment?
a. A confused and combative patient says, "I'm getting out of here and no one can stop me." The nurse restrains this
patient without a health care provider's order and then promptly obtains an order.
b. A patient has been irritating, seeking the attention of nurses most of the day. Now a nurse escorts the patient down
the hall, saying, "Stay in your room or you'll be put in seclusion."
c. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation runs out of the psychiatric unit. A nurse rushes after the
patient and convinces the patient to return to the unit.
d. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation attempts to leave the unit. A nurse calls the security team
and uses established protocols to prevent the patient from leaving.
8. A patient should be considered for involuntary commitment for psychiatric care when he or she:
a. is noncompliant with the treatment regimen.
b. sells and distributes illegal drugs.
c. threatens to harm self and others.
d. fraudulently files for bankruptcy.
9. A nurse at the mental health center prepares to administer a scheduled injection of haloperidol decanoate
(Haldol depot) to a patient with schizophrenia. As the nurse swabs the site, the patient shouts, "Stop! I don't
, want to take that medicine anymore. I hate the side effects." Select the nurse's best initial action.
a. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell me more about the side effects you've
been having."
b. Say to the patient, "Since I've already drawn the medication in the syringe, I'm required to give it, but let's talk to
the doctor about skipping next month's dose."
c. Proceed with the injection but explain to the patient that other medications are available that may help reduce the
unpleasant side effects.
d. Notify other staff members to report to the room for a show of force and proceed with the injection, using restraint if
necessary.
10. Several nurses are concerned that agency policies related to restraint and seclusion are inadequate.
Which statement about the relationship of substandard institutional policies and individual nursing practice
should guide nursing practice?
a. The policies do not absolve an individual nurse of the responsibility to practice according to the professional
standards of nursing care.
b. Agency policies are the legal standard by which a professional nurse must act and therefore override other
standards of care.
c. In an institution with substandard policies, the nurse has a responsibility to inform the supervisor and leave the
premises.
d. Interpretation of policies by the judicial system is rendered on an individual basis and therefore cannot be
predicted.
11. A newly admitted patient who is acutely psychotic is a private patient of the senior psychiatrist. To whom
does the psychiatric nurse who is assigned to this patient owe the duty of care?
a. Health care provider
b. Profession
c. Hospital
d. Patient
12. An example of a breach of a patient's right to privacy occurs when a nurse:
a. asks a family to share information about a patient's prehospitalization behavior.
b. discusses the patient's history with other staff members during care planning.
c. documents the patient's daily behaviors during hospitalization.
d. releases information to the patient's employer without consent.
13. An adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "I'm going to kill my father,
but you can't tell anyone." Select the nurse's best response.
a. "You're right. Federal law requires me to keep that information private."
b. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
c. "You really should share this thought with your psychiatrist."
d. "I am required to share information with the treatment team."
14. A voluntarily hospitalized patient tells the nurse, "Get me the forms for discharge against medical advice
so I can leave now." What is the nurse's best initial response?
a. "I can't give you those forms without your health care provider's knowledge."
b. "I will get them for you, but let's talk about your decision to leave treatment."
c. "Since you signed your consent for treatment, you may leave if you desire."
d. "I'll get the forms for you right now and bring them to your room."
15. The family of a patient whose insurance will not pay for continuing hospitalization considers transferring
the patient to a public psychiatric hospital. The family expresses concern that the patient will "never get any
treatment." Which reply by the nurse would be most helpful?
a. "Under the law, treatment must be provided. Hospitalization without treatment violates patients' rights."
b. "That's a justifiable concern because the right to treatment extends only to the provision of food, shelter, and
safety."
c. "Much will depend on other patients, because the right to treatment for a psychotic patient takes precedence over
the right to treatment of a patient who is stable."
d. "All patients in public hospitals have the right to choose both a primary therapist and a primary nurse."
16. Which individual with a mental illness may need emergency or involuntary hospitalization for mental
illness? The individual who:
a. resumes using heroin while still taking methadone.
CORRECT & VERIFIED) GRADED A+
1. A psychiatric nurse best implements the ethical principle of autonomy when he or she:
a. intervenes when a self-mutilating patient attempts to harm self.
b. stays with a patient who is demonstrating a high level of anxiety.
c. suggests that two patients who are fighting be restricted to the unit.
d. explores alternative solutions with a patient, who then makes a choice.
2. Which action by a psychiatric nurse best supports a patient's right to be treated with dignity and respect?
a. Consistently addressing a patient by title and surname.
b. Strongly encouraging a patient to participate in the unit milieu.
c. Discussing a patient's condition with another health care provider in the elevator.
d. Informing a treatment team that a patient is too drowsy to participate in care planning.
3. Two hospitalized patients fight when they are in the same room. During a team meeting, a nurse asserts
that safety is of paramount importance and therefore the treatment plans should call for both patients to be
secluded to prevent them from injuring each other. This assertion:
a. reveals that the nurse values the principle of justice.
b. reinforces the autonomy of the two patients.
c. violates the civil rights of the two patients.
d. represents the intentional tort of battery.
4. In a team meeting a nurse says, "I'm concerned whether we are behaving ethically by using restraint to
prevent one patient from self-mutilation while the care plan for another patient who has also self-mutilated
calls for one-on-one supervision." Which ethical principle most clearly applies to this situation?
a. Beneficence
b. Autonomy
c. Fidelity
d. Justice
5. Which scenario is an example of a tort?
a. The primary nurse does not complete the plan of care for a patient within 24 hours of the patient's admission.
b. An advanced practice nurse recommends that a patient who is dangerous to self and others be voluntarily
hospitalized.
c. A patient's admission status is changed from involuntary to voluntary after the patient's hallucinations subside.
d. A nurse gives an as-needed dose of an antipsychotic drug to a patient to prevent violence because a unit is short
staffed.
6. A nurse's neighbor asks, "Why aren't people with mental illness kept in state institutions anymore?" What
is the nurse's best response?
a. "Many people are still in psychiatric institutions. Inpatient care is needed because many people who are mentally ill
are violent."
b. "Less restrictive settings are now available to care for individuals with mental illness."
c. "Our nation has fewer persons with mental illness; therefore fewer hospital beds are needed."
d. "Psychiatric institutions are no longer popular as a consequence of negative stories in the press."
7. Which nursing intervention demonstrates false imprisonment?
a. A confused and combative patient says, "I'm getting out of here and no one can stop me." The nurse restrains this
patient without a health care provider's order and then promptly obtains an order.
b. A patient has been irritating, seeking the attention of nurses most of the day. Now a nurse escorts the patient down
the hall, saying, "Stay in your room or you'll be put in seclusion."
c. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation runs out of the psychiatric unit. A nurse rushes after the
patient and convinces the patient to return to the unit.
d. An involuntarily hospitalized patient with suicidal ideation attempts to leave the unit. A nurse calls the security team
and uses established protocols to prevent the patient from leaving.
8. A patient should be considered for involuntary commitment for psychiatric care when he or she:
a. is noncompliant with the treatment regimen.
b. sells and distributes illegal drugs.
c. threatens to harm self and others.
d. fraudulently files for bankruptcy.
9. A nurse at the mental health center prepares to administer a scheduled injection of haloperidol decanoate
(Haldol depot) to a patient with schizophrenia. As the nurse swabs the site, the patient shouts, "Stop! I don't
, want to take that medicine anymore. I hate the side effects." Select the nurse's best initial action.
a. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell me more about the side effects you've
been having."
b. Say to the patient, "Since I've already drawn the medication in the syringe, I'm required to give it, but let's talk to
the doctor about skipping next month's dose."
c. Proceed with the injection but explain to the patient that other medications are available that may help reduce the
unpleasant side effects.
d. Notify other staff members to report to the room for a show of force and proceed with the injection, using restraint if
necessary.
10. Several nurses are concerned that agency policies related to restraint and seclusion are inadequate.
Which statement about the relationship of substandard institutional policies and individual nursing practice
should guide nursing practice?
a. The policies do not absolve an individual nurse of the responsibility to practice according to the professional
standards of nursing care.
b. Agency policies are the legal standard by which a professional nurse must act and therefore override other
standards of care.
c. In an institution with substandard policies, the nurse has a responsibility to inform the supervisor and leave the
premises.
d. Interpretation of policies by the judicial system is rendered on an individual basis and therefore cannot be
predicted.
11. A newly admitted patient who is acutely psychotic is a private patient of the senior psychiatrist. To whom
does the psychiatric nurse who is assigned to this patient owe the duty of care?
a. Health care provider
b. Profession
c. Hospital
d. Patient
12. An example of a breach of a patient's right to privacy occurs when a nurse:
a. asks a family to share information about a patient's prehospitalization behavior.
b. discusses the patient's history with other staff members during care planning.
c. documents the patient's daily behaviors during hospitalization.
d. releases information to the patient's employer without consent.
13. An adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "I'm going to kill my father,
but you can't tell anyone." Select the nurse's best response.
a. "You're right. Federal law requires me to keep that information private."
b. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
c. "You really should share this thought with your psychiatrist."
d. "I am required to share information with the treatment team."
14. A voluntarily hospitalized patient tells the nurse, "Get me the forms for discharge against medical advice
so I can leave now." What is the nurse's best initial response?
a. "I can't give you those forms without your health care provider's knowledge."
b. "I will get them for you, but let's talk about your decision to leave treatment."
c. "Since you signed your consent for treatment, you may leave if you desire."
d. "I'll get the forms for you right now and bring them to your room."
15. The family of a patient whose insurance will not pay for continuing hospitalization considers transferring
the patient to a public psychiatric hospital. The family expresses concern that the patient will "never get any
treatment." Which reply by the nurse would be most helpful?
a. "Under the law, treatment must be provided. Hospitalization without treatment violates patients' rights."
b. "That's a justifiable concern because the right to treatment extends only to the provision of food, shelter, and
safety."
c. "Much will depend on other patients, because the right to treatment for a psychotic patient takes precedence over
the right to treatment of a patient who is stable."
d. "All patients in public hospitals have the right to choose both a primary therapist and a primary nurse."
16. Which individual with a mental illness may need emergency or involuntary hospitalization for mental
illness? The individual who:
a. resumes using heroin while still taking methadone.
