NSG 503 Exam 1 Questions with correct
Answers 2025/2026 A+ Graded 100%
Verified
define mental health - ANS-"Successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external
environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and
congruent with local and cultural norms."
define mental illness - ANS-"Maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external
environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with the local
and cultural norms, and interfere with the individual's social, occupational, and/or physical
functioning."
What is the physical response to stress? - ANS-fight or flight response
What is the psychological response to stress? - ANS-- anxiety
- grief
Peplau's Four Levels of Anxiety - ANS-- *Mild:* Seldom a problem
- *Moderate:* Perceptual field begins to diminish
- *Severe:* Perceptual field diminishes greatly
- *Panic:* The most intense state
adapting to Mild Anxiety - ANS-People use various coping mechanisms to deal with stress.
Coping skills - ANS-behaviors that enhance one's adaptation (to stress, anxiety, etc)
adapting to Mild to Moderate Anxiety - ANS-- Strength of the ego is tested.
- Ego *defense mechanisms* are employed for protection.
unresolved Moderate to Severe Anxiety contributes to - ANS-Severe Anxiety
effects of severe anxiety - ANS-- Can result in psychoneurotic patterns of behaving
ex:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Dissociative Disorders
,extended periods of Panic Anxiety can lead to - ANS-psychosis
psychosis - ANS-Thought disturbance with impaired reality testing
Grief - ANS-- Not a mental illness
- Maladaptive response to grief may predispose someone to depression
During previous visits with the PMHNP, the client disclosed that she "hates" her mother because
of neglect during childhood. At today's visit, the client denies a difficult relationship with her
mother and states "I have a very wonderful mother whom I love very much" The nurse should
document that the client is demonstrating which defense mechanisms? SELECT ALL THAT
APPLY.
A. Repression
B. Denial
C. Regression
D. Reaction Formation - ANS-
describe The Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Relationship - ANS-- patient Input/perspective
- Social relationship
- Healthcare needs
- Therapeutic use of self
- Relatedness/structured nursing interventions
- Self-awareness and self-understanding
- Relationships are goal-oriented
Goals and the Problem-Solving Model - ANS-this is just ADPIE with extra steps...
1) Identify the patient's problem
2) Promote discussion of desired changes
3) Discuss aspects that cannot realistically be changed & ways to cope more adaptively
4) Discuss alternative strategies for creating desired changes
5) Weigh benefits and consequences of each alternative
6) Help patient select an alternative
7) Encourage patient to implement the change
8) Provide positive feedback for patient's attempts to create change
9) Help patient evaluate outcomes of the change and make modifications as required
Which is the primary nursing goal when establishing a therapeutic relationship with a patient?
A. To promote patient growth
B. To develop the nurse's personal identity
C. To establish a purposeful social interaction
,D. To develop communication skills - ANS-A
The goal of a therapeutic nursing interaction is to promote patient insight and behavioral change
directed toward patient growth.
Essentials to Therapeutic Relationship Development - ANS-- Rapport
- Trust
- Respect
- Genuineness
- Empathy
phases of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- pre-interaction phase
- orientation (introductory) phase
- working phase
- termination phase
describe the pre-interaction phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-gathering information
describe the orientation/introductory phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-getting
acquainted
describe the working phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-therapeutic work begins
Transference - ANS-transfers feelings formed to the nurse toward a person from the past
Countertransference - ANS-nurse's behavioral and emotional response to the patient
what phase of the therapeutic relationship might transference/countertransference occur? -
ANS-working phase
describe the termination phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- Goals
- Discharge
- Clinical Rotation
A patient threatens to kill himself, his wife, and their children if the wife follows through with
divorce proceedings. During the pre-interaction phase of the nurse-patient relationship, which
interaction should the nurse employ?
A. Acknowledging the patient's actions and encouraging alternative behaviors
B. Establishing rapport and developing treatment goals
C. Providing community resources on aggression management
D. Exploring personal thoughts and feelings that may adversely impact the provision of care -
ANS-D
, In the pre-interaction phase, the nurse must clarify personal attitudes, values, and beliefs to
become aware of how these might affect the nurse's ability to care for various patients. This
occurs before the nurse meets the patient.
types of boundaries in the nurse-patient relationship - ANS-- material
- personal
- social
- professional
impact of pre-existing values, attitudes, and beliefs on the therapeutic relationship -
ANS-Learned ways of thinking from life may affect attitudes towards treatment
impact of culture and religion on the therapeutic relationship - ANS-Cultural mores, norms,
ideas, and customs may affect attitudes towards treatment
impact of environment on the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- Territoriality
- density
- distance
Using silence (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Allows patient to take control of the
discussion
Accepting (therapeutic communication) - ANS-conveys an attitude of reception and regard
Giving recognition (therapeutic communication) - ANS-acknowledging, indicating awareness
Offering Self (therapeutic communication) - ANS-making oneself available
Giving Broad Openings (therapeutic communication) - ANS-allows client to select the topic
Offering general leads (therapeutic communication) - ANS-encourages client to continue
Placing the event in sequence (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Time clarification
Making observations (therapeutic communication) - ANS-verbalizing what is observed or
perceived
Encouraging Description of Perceptions (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Verbalize what is
being perceived
Encouraging comparison (therapeutic communication) - ANS-asking that similarities and
differences be noted
Answers 2025/2026 A+ Graded 100%
Verified
define mental health - ANS-"Successful adaptation to stressors from the internal or external
environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are age-appropriate and
congruent with local and cultural norms."
define mental illness - ANS-"Maladaptive responses to stressors from the internal or external
environment, evidenced by thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that are incongruent with the local
and cultural norms, and interfere with the individual's social, occupational, and/or physical
functioning."
What is the physical response to stress? - ANS-fight or flight response
What is the psychological response to stress? - ANS-- anxiety
- grief
Peplau's Four Levels of Anxiety - ANS-- *Mild:* Seldom a problem
- *Moderate:* Perceptual field begins to diminish
- *Severe:* Perceptual field diminishes greatly
- *Panic:* The most intense state
adapting to Mild Anxiety - ANS-People use various coping mechanisms to deal with stress.
Coping skills - ANS-behaviors that enhance one's adaptation (to stress, anxiety, etc)
adapting to Mild to Moderate Anxiety - ANS-- Strength of the ego is tested.
- Ego *defense mechanisms* are employed for protection.
unresolved Moderate to Severe Anxiety contributes to - ANS-Severe Anxiety
effects of severe anxiety - ANS-- Can result in psychoneurotic patterns of behaving
ex:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders
- Dissociative Disorders
,extended periods of Panic Anxiety can lead to - ANS-psychosis
psychosis - ANS-Thought disturbance with impaired reality testing
Grief - ANS-- Not a mental illness
- Maladaptive response to grief may predispose someone to depression
During previous visits with the PMHNP, the client disclosed that she "hates" her mother because
of neglect during childhood. At today's visit, the client denies a difficult relationship with her
mother and states "I have a very wonderful mother whom I love very much" The nurse should
document that the client is demonstrating which defense mechanisms? SELECT ALL THAT
APPLY.
A. Repression
B. Denial
C. Regression
D. Reaction Formation - ANS-
describe The Therapeutic Nurse-Patient Relationship - ANS-- patient Input/perspective
- Social relationship
- Healthcare needs
- Therapeutic use of self
- Relatedness/structured nursing interventions
- Self-awareness and self-understanding
- Relationships are goal-oriented
Goals and the Problem-Solving Model - ANS-this is just ADPIE with extra steps...
1) Identify the patient's problem
2) Promote discussion of desired changes
3) Discuss aspects that cannot realistically be changed & ways to cope more adaptively
4) Discuss alternative strategies for creating desired changes
5) Weigh benefits and consequences of each alternative
6) Help patient select an alternative
7) Encourage patient to implement the change
8) Provide positive feedback for patient's attempts to create change
9) Help patient evaluate outcomes of the change and make modifications as required
Which is the primary nursing goal when establishing a therapeutic relationship with a patient?
A. To promote patient growth
B. To develop the nurse's personal identity
C. To establish a purposeful social interaction
,D. To develop communication skills - ANS-A
The goal of a therapeutic nursing interaction is to promote patient insight and behavioral change
directed toward patient growth.
Essentials to Therapeutic Relationship Development - ANS-- Rapport
- Trust
- Respect
- Genuineness
- Empathy
phases of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- pre-interaction phase
- orientation (introductory) phase
- working phase
- termination phase
describe the pre-interaction phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-gathering information
describe the orientation/introductory phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-getting
acquainted
describe the working phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-therapeutic work begins
Transference - ANS-transfers feelings formed to the nurse toward a person from the past
Countertransference - ANS-nurse's behavioral and emotional response to the patient
what phase of the therapeutic relationship might transference/countertransference occur? -
ANS-working phase
describe the termination phase of the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- Goals
- Discharge
- Clinical Rotation
A patient threatens to kill himself, his wife, and their children if the wife follows through with
divorce proceedings. During the pre-interaction phase of the nurse-patient relationship, which
interaction should the nurse employ?
A. Acknowledging the patient's actions and encouraging alternative behaviors
B. Establishing rapport and developing treatment goals
C. Providing community resources on aggression management
D. Exploring personal thoughts and feelings that may adversely impact the provision of care -
ANS-D
, In the pre-interaction phase, the nurse must clarify personal attitudes, values, and beliefs to
become aware of how these might affect the nurse's ability to care for various patients. This
occurs before the nurse meets the patient.
types of boundaries in the nurse-patient relationship - ANS-- material
- personal
- social
- professional
impact of pre-existing values, attitudes, and beliefs on the therapeutic relationship -
ANS-Learned ways of thinking from life may affect attitudes towards treatment
impact of culture and religion on the therapeutic relationship - ANS-Cultural mores, norms,
ideas, and customs may affect attitudes towards treatment
impact of environment on the therapeutic relationship - ANS-- Territoriality
- density
- distance
Using silence (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Allows patient to take control of the
discussion
Accepting (therapeutic communication) - ANS-conveys an attitude of reception and regard
Giving recognition (therapeutic communication) - ANS-acknowledging, indicating awareness
Offering Self (therapeutic communication) - ANS-making oneself available
Giving Broad Openings (therapeutic communication) - ANS-allows client to select the topic
Offering general leads (therapeutic communication) - ANS-encourages client to continue
Placing the event in sequence (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Time clarification
Making observations (therapeutic communication) - ANS-verbalizing what is observed or
perceived
Encouraging Description of Perceptions (therapeutic communication) - ANS-Verbalize what is
being perceived
Encouraging comparison (therapeutic communication) - ANS-asking that similarities and
differences be noted
