Mental Health & Psychiatric Nursing Exam Questions and Answers
NCLEX/ATI/HESI Practice Questions, Disorders, and Therapeutic
Approaches
All Answers are in RED
Major Study Keywords: Mental health nursing exam, psychiatric nursing questions and answers, therapeutic communication techniques, psychiatric
disorders in nursing, nursing care plans for mental illness, NCLEX mental health review, ATI psychiatric nursing prep, HESI mental health questions, psych
nursing interventions, crisis management in nursing
Self-awareness
first and important task that a psychiatric nurse should develop
Transference
patient developing an emotional attitude towards the nurse (patient views nurse as being similar to an imporant
person in his/her life)
Countertransference
the healthcare provider's emotional reaction to the client (patient reminds the nurse of someone in his/her life)
Coping Mechanism
conscious efforts to indicate/reflect how we adapt to problems
Defense Mechanism
efforts performed unconsciously but are not really healthy
Trust
most essential component of a NPR, develops if the nurse is consistent with what he says and does.
Rapport
spirit of harmony, cooperation, conveying a positive willingness to deal with patient.
Unconditional positive regard
providing respect by calling out names (not by diagnosis, room numbers), listening attentively to concerns,
nonjudgmental, warm, spending time, listen actively with their concerns
Setting limits
on the behavior, not on the patient. Conveying that the behavior is not acceptable, we tell them what behavior is
considered to be acceptable (alternative). Should be done consistently.
Pre-orientation / pre-interaction phase
Phase of the NPR where there is no interaction with the patient yet. The major task is Self-awareness.
Orientation / interaction-orientation phase
, Phase of the NPR where for the first few days, the nurse must be able to establish some activities (schedules,
sessions, goal to accomplish, problems to be resolved, when is the start and end session). The Major task is to
establish a mutually agreed contract with the patient.
Working phase
longest yet most productive phase of NPR. Nurse assists the patient in identifying and resolving problems. The
major task is the patient being able to identify and resolve his/her problems.
Termination phase
Phase of the NPR that is acknowledged in the orientation phase. Assist the client to review what was learned
Moving towards independence. Major task is to implement by focusing on future-oriented topics, gradually
reduce interaction time, make necessary referrals if not able to overcome feelings of separation, allow
verbalization of feelings with separation (lost). Patient is able to have learnings and apply to future
relationships.
Sigmund Freud
Theorist of Psychosexual Personality Disorder
Active Listening
Therapeutic Communication: Listening not only w/ ears but the whole body
Establish eye contact, incline body a little bit forward,safe distance (3-6ft)
Presenting Reality
Therapeutic communication: Presenting fact as it is in external reality.
Therapeutic silence
Therapeutic Communication: Allow client to process feelings,
Supportive confrontation
Therapeutic Communication: Citing discrepancy in patient's behavior (usually used in alcoholic clients to
promote acceptance)
Offering self
Therapeutic communication: Making yourself available for the client. The Nurse/Self is the primary tool.
"Let me sit here with you for 5 minutes."
Giving feedback/facilitate self-disclosure
Therapeutic communication: share something to the patient
Giving recognition
Therapeutic communication: calling the patient using name; Acknowledging accomplishment; Can serve as a
reward
Collaborating
NCLEX/ATI/HESI Practice Questions, Disorders, and Therapeutic
Approaches
All Answers are in RED
Major Study Keywords: Mental health nursing exam, psychiatric nursing questions and answers, therapeutic communication techniques, psychiatric
disorders in nursing, nursing care plans for mental illness, NCLEX mental health review, ATI psychiatric nursing prep, HESI mental health questions, psych
nursing interventions, crisis management in nursing
Self-awareness
first and important task that a psychiatric nurse should develop
Transference
patient developing an emotional attitude towards the nurse (patient views nurse as being similar to an imporant
person in his/her life)
Countertransference
the healthcare provider's emotional reaction to the client (patient reminds the nurse of someone in his/her life)
Coping Mechanism
conscious efforts to indicate/reflect how we adapt to problems
Defense Mechanism
efforts performed unconsciously but are not really healthy
Trust
most essential component of a NPR, develops if the nurse is consistent with what he says and does.
Rapport
spirit of harmony, cooperation, conveying a positive willingness to deal with patient.
Unconditional positive regard
providing respect by calling out names (not by diagnosis, room numbers), listening attentively to concerns,
nonjudgmental, warm, spending time, listen actively with their concerns
Setting limits
on the behavior, not on the patient. Conveying that the behavior is not acceptable, we tell them what behavior is
considered to be acceptable (alternative). Should be done consistently.
Pre-orientation / pre-interaction phase
Phase of the NPR where there is no interaction with the patient yet. The major task is Self-awareness.
Orientation / interaction-orientation phase
, Phase of the NPR where for the first few days, the nurse must be able to establish some activities (schedules,
sessions, goal to accomplish, problems to be resolved, when is the start and end session). The Major task is to
establish a mutually agreed contract with the patient.
Working phase
longest yet most productive phase of NPR. Nurse assists the patient in identifying and resolving problems. The
major task is the patient being able to identify and resolve his/her problems.
Termination phase
Phase of the NPR that is acknowledged in the orientation phase. Assist the client to review what was learned
Moving towards independence. Major task is to implement by focusing on future-oriented topics, gradually
reduce interaction time, make necessary referrals if not able to overcome feelings of separation, allow
verbalization of feelings with separation (lost). Patient is able to have learnings and apply to future
relationships.
Sigmund Freud
Theorist of Psychosexual Personality Disorder
Active Listening
Therapeutic Communication: Listening not only w/ ears but the whole body
Establish eye contact, incline body a little bit forward,safe distance (3-6ft)
Presenting Reality
Therapeutic communication: Presenting fact as it is in external reality.
Therapeutic silence
Therapeutic Communication: Allow client to process feelings,
Supportive confrontation
Therapeutic Communication: Citing discrepancy in patient's behavior (usually used in alcoholic clients to
promote acceptance)
Offering self
Therapeutic communication: Making yourself available for the client. The Nurse/Self is the primary tool.
"Let me sit here with you for 5 minutes."
Giving feedback/facilitate self-disclosure
Therapeutic communication: share something to the patient
Giving recognition
Therapeutic communication: calling the patient using name; Acknowledging accomplishment; Can serve as a
reward
Collaborating
