C HAPTER 02: T HEORIES AND T HERAPIES
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Operant conditioning is part of the treatment plan to encourage speech in
a child who is nearl y mute. Which technique applies?
a. Encourage the child to observe others talking.
b. Include the child in small group activities.
c. Give the child a small treat for speaking.
d. Teach the child relaxation tec hniques.
ANS: C
Operant conditioning involves giving positive reinforcement for a
desired behavior. Treats are rewards and reinforce speech through
positive reinforcement.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implem entation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. The parent of a child diagnosed with schizophrenia tearfull y asks the
nurse, “What could I have done differently to prevent this illness?” What
is the nurse’s best response?
, a. “Although schizophrenia resul ts from impaired famil y relationships,
try not to feel guilt y. No one can predict how a child will respond to
parental guidance.”
b. “Schizophrenia is a biological illness resulting from changes in how
the brain and nervous system function. You are not to bla me for
your child’s illness.”
c. “There is still hope. Changing your parenting st yle can help your
child learn to cope effectivel y with the environment.”
d. “Most mental illnesses result from genetic inheritance. Your genes
are more at fault than your parenting. ”
ANS: B
The parent’s comment suggests feelings of guilt or inadequacy. The
nurse’s response should address these feelings as well as provide
information. Clients and families need reassurance that the major
mental disorders are biological in origin and are not the “fault” of
parents. One distracter places the burden of having fault y genes on the
shoulders of the parents. The other distracters are neither wholl y
accurate nor reassuring.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A nurse influenced by Peplau’s interpersonal theory works with an
anxious, withdrawn client. What principle will the interventions be
focused on?
a. Rewarding desired behaviors.
b. Using assertive communication.
c. Changing the client’s self -concept.
, d. Administering medications to relieve anxiet y.
ANS: B
The nurse–client relationship is structured to provide a model for
adaptive interpersonal relationships that can be generalized to others.
Helping the client learn to use assertive communication will improve
the client’s interpersonal relationships. The distracters appl y to
theories of cognitive, behavioral, and biological therapy.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. A client participated in psychotherapy weekl y for 5 months. The therapist
used free association, dream anal ysis, and facilitated transference to help
the client understand conflicts a nd foster change. What is the term that
applies to this method?
a. Rational-emotive behavior therapy
b. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
c. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
d. Operant conditioning
ANS: B
The techniques are aspects of psychodynamic psychotherapy. The
distracters use other techniques.
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric -Mental Health Nursing: A
Clinical Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Operant conditioning is part of the treatment plan to encourage speech in
a child who is nearl y mute. Which technique applies?
a. Encourage the child to observe others talking.
b. Include the child in small group activities.
c. Give the child a small treat for speaking.
d. Teach the child relaxation tec hniques.
ANS: C
Operant conditioning involves giving positive reinforcement for a
desired behavior. Treats are rewards and reinforce speech through
positive reinforcement.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implem entation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
2. The parent of a child diagnosed with schizophrenia tearfull y asks the
nurse, “What could I have done differently to prevent this illness?” What
is the nurse’s best response?
, a. “Although schizophrenia resul ts from impaired famil y relationships,
try not to feel guilt y. No one can predict how a child will respond to
parental guidance.”
b. “Schizophrenia is a biological illness resulting from changes in how
the brain and nervous system function. You are not to bla me for
your child’s illness.”
c. “There is still hope. Changing your parenting st yle can help your
child learn to cope effectivel y with the environment.”
d. “Most mental illnesses result from genetic inheritance. Your genes
are more at fault than your parenting. ”
ANS: B
The parent’s comment suggests feelings of guilt or inadequacy. The
nurse’s response should address these feelings as well as provide
information. Clients and families need reassurance that the major
mental disorders are biological in origin and are not the “fault” of
parents. One distracter places the burden of having fault y genes on the
shoulders of the parents. The other distracters are neither wholl y
accurate nor reassuring.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Appl y (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
3. A nurse influenced by Peplau’s interpersonal theory works with an
anxious, withdrawn client. What principle will the interventions be
focused on?
a. Rewarding desired behaviors.
b. Using assertive communication.
c. Changing the client’s self -concept.
, d. Administering medications to relieve anxiet y.
ANS: B
The nurse–client relationship is structured to provide a model for
adaptive interpersonal relationships that can be generalized to others.
Helping the client learn to use assertive communication will improve
the client’s interpersonal relationships. The distracters appl y to
theories of cognitive, behavioral, and biological therapy.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation MSC: Client
Needs: Psychosocial Integrit y
4. A client participated in psychotherapy weekl y for 5 months. The therapist
used free association, dream anal ysis, and facilitated transference to help
the client understand conflicts a nd foster change. What is the term that
applies to this method?
a. Rational-emotive behavior therapy
b. Psychodynamic psychotherapy
c. Cognitive-behavioral therapy
d. Operant conditioning
ANS: B
The techniques are aspects of psychodynamic psychotherapy. The
distracters use other techniques.
