NUR 256 EXAM 3
Concepts Of Mental Health Nursing
Galen College of Nursing
High-Yield Qs & Verified Answers
with Rationales
This Exam Features:
NUR 256 Exam 3 Mental Health Nursing (Galen
College) including 50 high-yield questions
written to mirror actual course exams. Covers core
Mental Health concepts with clear, accurate, and
student-friendly explanations. Perfect for mastering high-priority
topics and boosting exam confidence.
### 1. The nurse is caring for a 20-year-old client who is a
survivor of a gang-related shooting. The client suffers
from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and requires
,education about the condition. Which of the following
information should the nurse provide to the client?
A. A thankful attitude for being alive is common with this
condition.
B. This condition occurs when directly experiencing a traumatic
event rather than witnessing the event.
C. Clients who have this condition will revisit the physical place
where the trauma occurred.
D. Marked physiological reactions to things that remind the client
of the event.
Correct Answer: D. Marked physiological reactions to things that
remind the client of the event.
Rationale: PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing symptoms,
including marked physiological responses such as increased heart
rate, sweating, or panic when confronted with trauma reminders.
Survivors may have flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance
behaviors. It is not limited to direct experience (B is incorrect) as
witnessing trauma can also cause PTSD. Appreciative or thankful
attitudes are not typical diagnostic descriptors (A). Visiting the
trauma site is not a hallmark symptom and may not occur (C).
---
### 2. The nurse is preparing a care plan for a newly
admitted 73-year-old patient who lost their spouse last
year and is suffering from depression. After assessing for
suicidal ideation, which of the following interventions is a
priority for this client?
A. Teach the client new coping skills
B. Monitor the client's nutritional intake during admission.
,C. Encourage the client to attend socialization groups
D. Offer grief counseling services to the client while on unit.
Correct Answer: B. Monitor the client's nutritional intake during
admission.
Rationale: Nutrition is a critical priority as depressed older adults
may neglect meals leading to physical deterioration. Ensuring
adequate intake prevents complications. While teaching coping
skills (A), encouraging socialization (C), and providing grief
counseling (D) are important, addressing the physical needs and
safety first is essential.
---
### 3. The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old child who has
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The parents are
concerned because the child has stopped playing with
friends and continues to draw pictures of themself as a
bad guy. Which of the following responses is appropriate
for the nurse to tell the parents?
A. "Let's speak with the doctor, your child needs some intense
therapy."
B. "Don't worry. This will pass within several months."
C. "This is part of the grieving process and a response to the
trauma."
D. "Just sit with them quietly, a child this age needs to deal with
these emotions internally."
Correct Answer: C. "This is part of the grieving process and a
response to the trauma."
, Rationale: Children with PTSD often express trauma through play
and drawings; these behaviors are normal responses to loss and
trauma. The nurse should normalize these reactions and educate
parents about trauma responses. Immediate referral for intense
therapy (A) may be premature. Minimizing concerns (B) or
ignoring emotions (D) is inappropriate.
---
### 4. The nurse working on the mental health unit is
caring for a newly admitted client. The client was in an
argument with their spouse. The spouse asked for a
divorce and suddenly the client could not hear anymore.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse
identify the client is experiencing?
A. Somatic symptom disorder.
B. Conversion disorder.
C. Factitious disorder.
D. Illness anxiety disorder.
Correct Answer: B. Conversion disorder.
Rationale: Conversion disorder presents with neurological
symptoms (e.g., hearing loss, paralysis) incompatible with
medical findings and often triggered by psychological stress.
Somatic symptom disorder (A) involves chronic distress about
symptoms without neurological deficits. Factitious disorder (C) is
intentional symptom fabrication. Illness anxiety disorder (D)
involves excessive worry about serious illness without significant
symptoms.
---
Concepts Of Mental Health Nursing
Galen College of Nursing
High-Yield Qs & Verified Answers
with Rationales
This Exam Features:
NUR 256 Exam 3 Mental Health Nursing (Galen
College) including 50 high-yield questions
written to mirror actual course exams. Covers core
Mental Health concepts with clear, accurate, and
student-friendly explanations. Perfect for mastering high-priority
topics and boosting exam confidence.
### 1. The nurse is caring for a 20-year-old client who is a
survivor of a gang-related shooting. The client suffers
from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and requires
,education about the condition. Which of the following
information should the nurse provide to the client?
A. A thankful attitude for being alive is common with this
condition.
B. This condition occurs when directly experiencing a traumatic
event rather than witnessing the event.
C. Clients who have this condition will revisit the physical place
where the trauma occurred.
D. Marked physiological reactions to things that remind the client
of the event.
Correct Answer: D. Marked physiological reactions to things that
remind the client of the event.
Rationale: PTSD is characterized by re-experiencing symptoms,
including marked physiological responses such as increased heart
rate, sweating, or panic when confronted with trauma reminders.
Survivors may have flashbacks, hypervigilance, and avoidance
behaviors. It is not limited to direct experience (B is incorrect) as
witnessing trauma can also cause PTSD. Appreciative or thankful
attitudes are not typical diagnostic descriptors (A). Visiting the
trauma site is not a hallmark symptom and may not occur (C).
---
### 2. The nurse is preparing a care plan for a newly
admitted 73-year-old patient who lost their spouse last
year and is suffering from depression. After assessing for
suicidal ideation, which of the following interventions is a
priority for this client?
A. Teach the client new coping skills
B. Monitor the client's nutritional intake during admission.
,C. Encourage the client to attend socialization groups
D. Offer grief counseling services to the client while on unit.
Correct Answer: B. Monitor the client's nutritional intake during
admission.
Rationale: Nutrition is a critical priority as depressed older adults
may neglect meals leading to physical deterioration. Ensuring
adequate intake prevents complications. While teaching coping
skills (A), encouraging socialization (C), and providing grief
counseling (D) are important, addressing the physical needs and
safety first is essential.
---
### 3. The nurse is caring for a 6-year-old child who has
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The parents are
concerned because the child has stopped playing with
friends and continues to draw pictures of themself as a
bad guy. Which of the following responses is appropriate
for the nurse to tell the parents?
A. "Let's speak with the doctor, your child needs some intense
therapy."
B. "Don't worry. This will pass within several months."
C. "This is part of the grieving process and a response to the
trauma."
D. "Just sit with them quietly, a child this age needs to deal with
these emotions internally."
Correct Answer: C. "This is part of the grieving process and a
response to the trauma."
, Rationale: Children with PTSD often express trauma through play
and drawings; these behaviors are normal responses to loss and
trauma. The nurse should normalize these reactions and educate
parents about trauma responses. Immediate referral for intense
therapy (A) may be premature. Minimizing concerns (B) or
ignoring emotions (D) is inappropriate.
---
### 4. The nurse working on the mental health unit is
caring for a newly admitted client. The client was in an
argument with their spouse. The spouse asked for a
divorce and suddenly the client could not hear anymore.
Which of the following conditions should the nurse
identify the client is experiencing?
A. Somatic symptom disorder.
B. Conversion disorder.
C. Factitious disorder.
D. Illness anxiety disorder.
Correct Answer: B. Conversion disorder.
Rationale: Conversion disorder presents with neurological
symptoms (e.g., hearing loss, paralysis) incompatible with
medical findings and often triggered by psychological stress.
Somatic symptom disorder (A) involves chronic distress about
symptoms without neurological deficits. Factitious disorder (C) is
intentional symptom fabrication. Illness anxiety disorder (D)
involves excessive worry about serious illness without significant
symptoms.
---
