2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
A nurse receives report at the beginning of the shift that one of the patients has a history
of substance use disorder, has stolen t o support herself, and has lost custody of her
three children. The nurse's most appropriate initial action(s) during the preinteraction
phase of the relationship would be to do which of the following? Select all that apply.
a. Examine personal feelings abo ut working with this patient.
b. Review available evidence -based literature on substance use disorder.
c. Assess the patient for withdrawal symptoms because she could be at risk.
d. Review the assessment information from the chart.
e. Gather data from the off-going nurse during report
. - ANSWER-a b d e
There are several conditions that are essential for the nurse in the development of the
therapeutic relationship. Select the appropriate conditions from the list below. Select all
that apply.
Rapport
Empathy
Trust
Genuineness
Caring
- ANSWER-rapport, empathy, trust, genuineness
The nurse is preparing to talk to a patient and wants to use the SOLER technique. Which
technique(s) listed are part of SOLER? Select all that apply.
Listen carefully
Maintain eye contact
Open posture
Relax body language
Sit squarely
- ANSWER-maintain eye contact, open posture, relax body language, sit squarely
,2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
A newly admitted patient has never been on an inpatient psychiatric unit before. The
patient asks, "What's the schedule for? I am here to get some rest." The nurse's best
response to verbalize the implied is:
"The schedule is an important part of the milieu that will help you achieve your
outcomes."
"You think that you are here just to get some rest?"
"It must be overwhelming to be in a place you've never been before."
"Let's work on getting you on board with the schedule."
- ANSWER-it must be overwhelming to be in a place you've never been before
The patient states to the nurse, "My wife said she was going to leave me if I was admitted
one more time and here I am agai n." The nurse responds, "I am sure your wife only wants
you to get better." This is an example of which technique?
Giving advice
Defending
Rejecting
Giving false reassurance
- ANSWER-defending
Joe just broke up with his girlfriend and tells the nurse he i sn't sure he did the right
thing. Which therapeutic techniques would be good to use in this example? Select all that
apply.
Probing
Giving advice
Offering self
Exploring
Reflecting
- ANSWER-offering self, exploring, reflecting
The nurse is caring for a client who is complaining about her treatment in an aggressive
tone of voice. Which statement made by the nurse would encourage the client to
continue what she is saying?
,2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
a. "Yes, I understand. Please continue."
"b. I will sit in the room with you now."
c. "Tell me what you are thinking."
d. "Yes, I understand what you said."
- ANSWER-yes i understand. please continue
While caring for a client with anxiety, the nurse says, "I wouldn't worry so much if I were
you." What is the impact of this statement by the nurse?
It devalues the client's feelings.
It encourages a like response from the client.
It prevents the client from exploring areas of difficulty.
It increases the understanding for both the client and nurse.
- ANSWER-it devalues the clients feelings
A client who lost his or her spouse in an accident tells the nurse, "Leave me alone. I can't
talk to you." How would the nurse respond to this client using therapeutic
communication techniques?
"Everything will be fine."
"Tell me what you are thinking."
"I think you should come in here and discuss your feelings."
"Do you feel that no one understands your feelings?"
- ANSWER-do you feel that no one understands your feelings
A client who separated from his or her spouse tells the nurse, "I don't know why I a m
living. There is nothing to live for." Which statement made by the nurse serves as the
best nontherapeutic communication technique?
"tell me why you separated."
"you appear to be upset. can you tell me how you're feeling?"
"everyone gets down sometimes. i also feel this sometimes."
, 2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
"it must have been very difficult for you when you separated from your spouse." -
ANSWER-"you appear to be upset. can you tell me how you're feeling?"
The nurse is counseling a group of clients on a one -to-one basis to obtain information
regarding their current health situation. Which type of distance should the nurse
maintain while communicating with the clients?
Public
Social
Personal
Intimate
- ANSWER-personal
A client in a psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I think I d on't want to continue with the
treatment. Maybe I should just self -medicate." What is the best response the nurse can
give in this situation using a nontherapeutic communication technique?
"I find it hard to believe that you could do that."
"No one here would lie to you."
"I will try to answer your questions and clarify issues regarding the treatment."
"You have a very capable physician who only has your best interests in mind."
- ANSWER-i will try to answer your questions and clarify issues regarding the t reatment
Which therapeutic communication technique is often used with clients experiencing
delusional thinking?
Voicing doubt
Exploring
Verbalizing the implied
Belittling feelings expressed
- ANSWER-voicing doubt
The nurse is in the first phase of relationship development with a client who is an
alcoholic. What should be the goal of the nurse during this phase?
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
A nurse receives report at the beginning of the shift that one of the patients has a history
of substance use disorder, has stolen t o support herself, and has lost custody of her
three children. The nurse's most appropriate initial action(s) during the preinteraction
phase of the relationship would be to do which of the following? Select all that apply.
a. Examine personal feelings abo ut working with this patient.
b. Review available evidence -based literature on substance use disorder.
c. Assess the patient for withdrawal symptoms because she could be at risk.
d. Review the assessment information from the chart.
e. Gather data from the off-going nurse during report
. - ANSWER-a b d e
There are several conditions that are essential for the nurse in the development of the
therapeutic relationship. Select the appropriate conditions from the list below. Select all
that apply.
Rapport
Empathy
Trust
Genuineness
Caring
- ANSWER-rapport, empathy, trust, genuineness
The nurse is preparing to talk to a patient and wants to use the SOLER technique. Which
technique(s) listed are part of SOLER? Select all that apply.
Listen carefully
Maintain eye contact
Open posture
Relax body language
Sit squarely
- ANSWER-maintain eye contact, open posture, relax body language, sit squarely
,2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
A newly admitted patient has never been on an inpatient psychiatric unit before. The
patient asks, "What's the schedule for? I am here to get some rest." The nurse's best
response to verbalize the implied is:
"The schedule is an important part of the milieu that will help you achieve your
outcomes."
"You think that you are here just to get some rest?"
"It must be overwhelming to be in a place you've never been before."
"Let's work on getting you on board with the schedule."
- ANSWER-it must be overwhelming to be in a place you've never been before
The patient states to the nurse, "My wife said she was going to leave me if I was admitted
one more time and here I am agai n." The nurse responds, "I am sure your wife only wants
you to get better." This is an example of which technique?
Giving advice
Defending
Rejecting
Giving false reassurance
- ANSWER-defending
Joe just broke up with his girlfriend and tells the nurse he i sn't sure he did the right
thing. Which therapeutic techniques would be good to use in this example? Select all that
apply.
Probing
Giving advice
Offering self
Exploring
Reflecting
- ANSWER-offering self, exploring, reflecting
The nurse is caring for a client who is complaining about her treatment in an aggressive
tone of voice. Which statement made by the nurse would encourage the client to
continue what she is saying?
,2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
a. "Yes, I understand. Please continue."
"b. I will sit in the room with you now."
c. "Tell me what you are thinking."
d. "Yes, I understand what you said."
- ANSWER-yes i understand. please continue
While caring for a client with anxiety, the nurse says, "I wouldn't worry so much if I were
you." What is the impact of this statement by the nurse?
It devalues the client's feelings.
It encourages a like response from the client.
It prevents the client from exploring areas of difficulty.
It increases the understanding for both the client and nurse.
- ANSWER-it devalues the clients feelings
A client who lost his or her spouse in an accident tells the nurse, "Leave me alone. I can't
talk to you." How would the nurse respond to this client using therapeutic
communication techniques?
"Everything will be fine."
"Tell me what you are thinking."
"I think you should come in here and discuss your feelings."
"Do you feel that no one understands your feelings?"
- ANSWER-do you feel that no one understands your feelings
A client who separated from his or her spouse tells the nurse, "I don't know why I a m
living. There is nothing to live for." Which statement made by the nurse serves as the
best nontherapeutic communication technique?
"tell me why you separated."
"you appear to be upset. can you tell me how you're feeling?"
"everyone gets down sometimes. i also feel this sometimes."
, 2025/2026 PSYCHRIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
(MULTIPLE CHOICES AND CORRECT ANSWER)
"it must have been very difficult for you when you separated from your spouse." -
ANSWER-"you appear to be upset. can you tell me how you're feeling?"
The nurse is counseling a group of clients on a one -to-one basis to obtain information
regarding their current health situation. Which type of distance should the nurse
maintain while communicating with the clients?
Public
Social
Personal
Intimate
- ANSWER-personal
A client in a psychiatric unit tells the nurse, "I think I d on't want to continue with the
treatment. Maybe I should just self -medicate." What is the best response the nurse can
give in this situation using a nontherapeutic communication technique?
"I find it hard to believe that you could do that."
"No one here would lie to you."
"I will try to answer your questions and clarify issues regarding the treatment."
"You have a very capable physician who only has your best interests in mind."
- ANSWER-i will try to answer your questions and clarify issues regarding the t reatment
Which therapeutic communication technique is often used with clients experiencing
delusional thinking?
Voicing doubt
Exploring
Verbalizing the implied
Belittling feelings expressed
- ANSWER-voicing doubt
The nurse is in the first phase of relationship development with a client who is an
alcoholic. What should be the goal of the nurse during this phase?
