WGU C487 – PSYCH/MENTAL HEALTH CLINICAL
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. Which of the following is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient
experiencing acute psychosis?
A) Risk for injury
B) Impaired social interaction
C) Chronic low self-esteem
D) Ineffective coping
A) Risk for injury
Patients with acute psychosis may be disoriented and unable to
distinguish reality, increasing their risk for injury.
2. A patient with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to harm
themselves. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A) Document the hallucinations in the chart
B) Assess the patient’s safety and suicidal intent
C) Provide reassurance that the voices are not real
D) Encourage the patient to ignore the voices
B) Assess the patient’s safety and suicidal intent
Safety is the highest priority when a patient reports command
hallucinations related to self-harm.
,3. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line treatment for bipolar
disorder during a manic episode?
A) Lithium
B) Fluoxetine
C) Haloperidol
D) Diazepam
A) Lithium
Lithium is a mood stabilizer commonly prescribed to control manic
episodes in bipolar disorder.
4. What is the most appropriate therapeutic communication technique when
a patient is refusing to talk?
A) Giving advice
B) Using silence
C) Changing the subject
D) Challenging the patient
B) Using silence
Silence allows the patient time to think and often encourages them to
express themselves when ready.
5. A patient with major depressive disorder exhibits psychomotor retardation.
What symptom best describes this?
A) Agitation
B) Excessive talking
C) Slowed movements and speech
D) Increased energy
C) Slowed movements and speech
, Psychomotor retardation refers to the slowing of physical and emotional
reactions, common in depression.
6. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with anxiety disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) GABA
D) Acetylcholine
C) GABA
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter linked to reducing anxiety.
7. A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is exhibiting self-
harming behavior. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
A) Encourage group therapy participation
B) Monitor for self-injury and provide a safe environment
C) Administer prescribed antidepressants
D) Encourage independence
B) Monitor for self-injury and provide a safe environment
Ensuring patient safety is critical to prevent injury from self-harming
behaviors.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of antipsychotic
medications?
A) Insomnia
B) Extrapyramidal symptoms
C) Weight loss
PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2025
1. Which of the following is the priority nursing diagnosis for a patient
experiencing acute psychosis?
A) Risk for injury
B) Impaired social interaction
C) Chronic low self-esteem
D) Ineffective coping
A) Risk for injury
Patients with acute psychosis may be disoriented and unable to
distinguish reality, increasing their risk for injury.
2. A patient with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to harm
themselves. What is the nurse’s immediate action?
A) Document the hallucinations in the chart
B) Assess the patient’s safety and suicidal intent
C) Provide reassurance that the voices are not real
D) Encourage the patient to ignore the voices
B) Assess the patient’s safety and suicidal intent
Safety is the highest priority when a patient reports command
hallucinations related to self-harm.
,3. Which medication is commonly used as a first-line treatment for bipolar
disorder during a manic episode?
A) Lithium
B) Fluoxetine
C) Haloperidol
D) Diazepam
A) Lithium
Lithium is a mood stabilizer commonly prescribed to control manic
episodes in bipolar disorder.
4. What is the most appropriate therapeutic communication technique when
a patient is refusing to talk?
A) Giving advice
B) Using silence
C) Changing the subject
D) Challenging the patient
B) Using silence
Silence allows the patient time to think and often encourages them to
express themselves when ready.
5. A patient with major depressive disorder exhibits psychomotor retardation.
What symptom best describes this?
A) Agitation
B) Excessive talking
C) Slowed movements and speech
D) Increased energy
C) Slowed movements and speech
, Psychomotor retardation refers to the slowing of physical and emotional
reactions, common in depression.
6. Which neurotransmitter is primarily associated with anxiety disorders?
A) Dopamine
B) Serotonin
C) GABA
D) Acetylcholine
C) GABA
GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) is the primary inhibitory
neurotransmitter linked to reducing anxiety.
7. A patient diagnosed with borderline personality disorder is exhibiting self-
harming behavior. What is the nurse’s priority intervention?
A) Encourage group therapy participation
B) Monitor for self-injury and provide a safe environment
C) Administer prescribed antidepressants
D) Encourage independence
B) Monitor for self-injury and provide a safe environment
Ensuring patient safety is critical to prevent injury from self-harming
behaviors.
8. Which of the following is a common side effect of antipsychotic
medications?
A) Insomnia
B) Extrapyramidal symptoms
C) Weight loss
