Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
1. A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication
2. Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student wants to
enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, “Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse?
The only thing they do is talk. You’ll lose all your skills.” Select the best response.
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
3. A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental
illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the
legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
4. An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which
comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? “My nurse:
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I’m
not alone.”
5. Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient’s admission form. To
determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the nurse should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
8. Which documentation of diagnosis would a nurse expect in a psychiatric treatment setting?
d. I Major Depression
II Avoidant Personality Disorder
III Hypertension
I V Home destroyed by hurricane last year
V 80
ANS: D
9. A nurse explains the multiaxial DSM-IV-TR to a psychiatric technician and includes
information that it:
c. classifies problems in multiple areas of functioning.
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
10. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which
resource would have the most complete information?
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
11. Which comment most clearly shows a speaker views mental illness with stigma?
b. “Most people with mental illness are unmotivated.”
12. Complete this analogy. NANDA : clinical judgment :: NIC :
b. nursing actions
13. A college student said, “Most of the time I’m happy and feel good about myself. I have
learned that what I get out of something is proportional to the effort I put into it.”
Which number on this mental health continuum should the nurse select?
Mental Illness Mental Health
12345
e. 5
14. A newly admitted patient is uncommunicative about recent life events. The nurse suspects
marital and economic problems, but the social worker’s assessment is not yet available.
Select the nurse’s best action.
d. Refer to axis I V of the DSM-IV-TR in the medical record.
15. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies:
d. mental disorders people have.
16. A nurse participating in a community health fair is asked, “What is the most prevalent
mental disorder in the United States?” Select the nurse’s best response.
d. Alzheimer’s disease
17. In the majority culture of the United States, which individual has the greatest risk to be
labeled mentally ill? One who:
a. describes hearing God’s voice speaking.
18. A patient’s relationships are intense and unstable. The patient initially idealizes the
significant other and then devalues them, resulting in frequent feelings of emptiness.
This patient will benefit from interventions to develop which aspect of mental health?
d. Fulfilling relationships
19. A patient is depressed, mute, and motionless. According to family members, the patient has
refused to bathe or eat for a week. The patient’s global assessment of functioning score is:
d. 10
20. Which belief will best support a nurse’s efforts to provide patient advocacy during
a multidisciplinary patient care planning session?
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
d. Assessment findings in mental disorders reflect a person’s cultural patterns.
21. A nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team working with groups of depressed patients. Half
the patients receive supportive interventions and antidepressant medication. The other half
receives only medication. The team measures outcomes for each group. Which type of
study is evident?
b. Clinical epidemiology
22. The spouse of a patient with schizophrenia says, “I don’t understand how nurturing or
toilet training in childhood has anything to do with this incredibly disabling illness.” Which
response by the nurse will best help the spouse understand this disorder?
d. “New findings show that this condition more likely has biological rather than
psychological origins.”
23. A 40-year-old who lives with parents and works at an unchallenging job says, “I’m as happy
as anyone else, even though I don’t socialize much outside of work. My work is routine, but
when new things come up, my boss explains things a few times to make sure I catch on. At
home, my parents make decisions for me, and I go along with their ideas.” The nurse should
identify interventions to improve this patient’s:
a. self-concept.
24. The psychiatric nurse addresses axis I of the DSM as the focus of treatment but must also
consider physical health problems that may affect treatment. Which axis contains the
desired information?
b. III
25. Select the best response for the nurse who receives a query from another mental health
professional seeking to understand the difference between a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis and
a nursing diagnosis.
d. “The DSM-IV-TR diagnosis affects the choice of medical treatment, whereas the
nursing diagnosis offers a framework for identifying interventions for
phenomena a patient is experiencing.”
1. An experienced nurse says to a new graduate, “When you’ve practiced as long as I have,
you’ll instantly know how to take care of psychotic patients.” Which information should the
new graduate consider when analyzing this comment? You may select more than one
answer.
a. The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients’ individuality, which may
compromise the integrity of practice.
b. New research findings should be integrated continuously into a nurse’s practice
to provide the most effective care.
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
1. A new staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This nurse may expect an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional interventions?
d. Prescribe psychotropic medication
2. Two nursing students discuss their career plans after graduation. One student wants to
enter psychiatric nursing. The other asks, “Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse?
The only thing they do is talk. You’ll lose all your skills.” Select the best response.
b. “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking
to solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations.”
3. A new bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for care of persons with mental
illness. Groups of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the
legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
4. An informal group of patients discusses their perceptions of nursing care. Which
comment best indicates a patient perceived the nurse was caring? “My nurse:
d. spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I’m
not alone.”
5. Which finding best indicates that a patient has a mental illness? The patient:
b. reports mood is consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior” was
achieved? A patient:
a. sees self as approaching ideals and capable of meeting demands.
7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient’s admission form. To
determine criteria used to establish this diagnosis, the nurse should consult which resource?
a. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
8. Which documentation of diagnosis would a nurse expect in a psychiatric treatment setting?
d. I Major Depression
II Avoidant Personality Disorder
III Hypertension
I V Home destroyed by hurricane last year
V 80
ANS: D
9. A nurse explains the multiaxial DSM-IV-TR to a psychiatric technician and includes
information that it:
c. classifies problems in multiple areas of functioning.
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
10. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which
resource would have the most complete information?
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
11. Which comment most clearly shows a speaker views mental illness with stigma?
b. “Most people with mental illness are unmotivated.”
12. Complete this analogy. NANDA : clinical judgment :: NIC :
b. nursing actions
13. A college student said, “Most of the time I’m happy and feel good about myself. I have
learned that what I get out of something is proportional to the effort I put into it.”
Which number on this mental health continuum should the nurse select?
Mental Illness Mental Health
12345
e. 5
14. A newly admitted patient is uncommunicative about recent life events. The nurse suspects
marital and economic problems, but the social worker’s assessment is not yet available.
Select the nurse’s best action.
d. Refer to axis I V of the DSM-IV-TR in the medical record.
15. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies:
d. mental disorders people have.
16. A nurse participating in a community health fair is asked, “What is the most prevalent
mental disorder in the United States?” Select the nurse’s best response.
d. Alzheimer’s disease
17. In the majority culture of the United States, which individual has the greatest risk to be
labeled mentally ill? One who:
a. describes hearing God’s voice speaking.
18. A patient’s relationships are intense and unstable. The patient initially idealizes the
significant other and then devalues them, resulting in frequent feelings of emptiness.
This patient will benefit from interventions to develop which aspect of mental health?
d. Fulfilling relationships
19. A patient is depressed, mute, and motionless. According to family members, the patient has
refused to bathe or eat for a week. The patient’s global assessment of functioning score is:
d. 10
20. Which belief will best support a nurse’s efforts to provide patient advocacy during
a multidisciplinary patient care planning session?
, Varcarolis: Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, 6th Edition
d. Assessment findings in mental disorders reflect a person’s cultural patterns.
21. A nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team working with groups of depressed patients. Half
the patients receive supportive interventions and antidepressant medication. The other half
receives only medication. The team measures outcomes for each group. Which type of
study is evident?
b. Clinical epidemiology
22. The spouse of a patient with schizophrenia says, “I don’t understand how nurturing or
toilet training in childhood has anything to do with this incredibly disabling illness.” Which
response by the nurse will best help the spouse understand this disorder?
d. “New findings show that this condition more likely has biological rather than
psychological origins.”
23. A 40-year-old who lives with parents and works at an unchallenging job says, “I’m as happy
as anyone else, even though I don’t socialize much outside of work. My work is routine, but
when new things come up, my boss explains things a few times to make sure I catch on. At
home, my parents make decisions for me, and I go along with their ideas.” The nurse should
identify interventions to improve this patient’s:
a. self-concept.
24. The psychiatric nurse addresses axis I of the DSM as the focus of treatment but must also
consider physical health problems that may affect treatment. Which axis contains the
desired information?
b. III
25. Select the best response for the nurse who receives a query from another mental health
professional seeking to understand the difference between a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis and
a nursing diagnosis.
d. “The DSM-IV-TR diagnosis affects the choice of medical treatment, whereas the
nursing diagnosis offers a framework for identifying interventions for
phenomena a patient is experiencing.”
1. An experienced nurse says to a new graduate, “When you’ve practiced as long as I have,
you’ll instantly know how to take care of psychotic patients.” Which information should the
new graduate consider when analyzing this comment? You may select more than one
answer.
a. The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients’ individuality, which may
compromise the integrity of practice.
b. New research findings should be integrated continuously into a nurse’s practice
to provide the most effective care.
