NR 326 Mental Health Nursing Exam 6 Practice Questions 2026
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which is the most therapeutic response by the nurse?
A. What are the voices telling you to do right now?
B. I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.
C. Why do you think you are hearing these voices today?
D. The voices are just a symptom of your illness and aren’t real.
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the client’s experience without validating the hallucination as
reality is therapeutic and helps establish trust while maintaining a reality-based
perspective.
2. A client is prescribed Lithium Carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely to prevent toxicity?
A. Serum Potassium
B. Serum Sodium
C. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
D. Serum Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium is a salt; low sodium levels can cause the kidneys to retain lithium,
leading to toxic levels in the blood.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) after
starting a first-generation antipsychotic. Which finding is a hallmark sign?
A. Severe muscle rigidity
B. Hypotension
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypothermia
Answer: A
Rationale: NMS is characterized by severe muscle rigidity, high fever (hyperpyrexia),
tachycardia, and fluctuations in blood pressure.
4. A client with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is ‘splitting’ staff
members. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Allow the client to choose their favorite nurse for care.
B. Hold a staff meeting to discuss the client’s manipulative behavior.
C. Isolate the client from other patients to prevent conflict.
D. Ensure consistent communication among the treatment team.
Answer: D
Rationale: Consistency and limit-setting among all staff members are crucial to prevent
the client from playing one staff member against another.
5. Which antidepressant medication requires the client to follow a tyramine-
free diet?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Phenelzine
C. Sertraline
D. Amitriptyline
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI. Ingesting tyramine while on an MAOI can lead to a
hypertensive crisis.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for Clozapine. Which
side effect should the nurse emphasize reporting immediately?
A. Weight gain
B. Sore throat and fever
C. Excessive salivation
D. Drowsiness
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis (dangerously low WBC count). Sore
throat and fever are early signs of infection.
7. A client experiencing a panic attack is hyperventilating. What is the nurse’s
immediate action?
A. Stay with the client and provide a calm, quiet environment.
B. Encourage the client to take deep, rapid breaths.
C. Leave the room to get the charge nurse.
D. Ask the client to explain what triggered the panic.
Answer: A
Rationale: During a panic attack, the nurse should stay with the client to ensure safety and
use short, simple sentences in a calm voice.
8. What is the primary goal of the ‘working phase’ of the nurse-client
relationship?
A. Establishing trust and boundaries.
B. Identifying the client’s reason for seeking help.
C. Summarizing the goals achieved during the relationship.
D. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills.
Answer: D
Rationale: The working phase focuses on behavioral change, problem-solving, and
practicing new coping skills.
|Chamberlain College
1. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which is the most therapeutic response by the nurse?
A. What are the voices telling you to do right now?
B. I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you.
C. Why do you think you are hearing these voices today?
D. The voices are just a symptom of your illness and aren’t real.
Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the client’s experience without validating the hallucination as
reality is therapeutic and helps establish trust while maintaining a reality-based
perspective.
2. A client is prescribed Lithium Carbonate for bipolar disorder. Which
laboratory value should the nurse monitor most closely to prevent toxicity?
A. Serum Potassium
B. Serum Sodium
C. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
D. Serum Calcium
Answer: B
Rationale: Lithium is a salt; low sodium levels can cause the kidneys to retain lithium,
leading to toxic levels in the blood.
,3. A nurse is assessing a client for Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS) after
starting a first-generation antipsychotic. Which finding is a hallmark sign?
A. Severe muscle rigidity
B. Hypotension
C. Bradycardia
D. Hypothermia
Answer: A
Rationale: NMS is characterized by severe muscle rigidity, high fever (hyperpyrexia),
tachycardia, and fluctuations in blood pressure.
4. A client with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is ‘splitting’ staff
members. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Allow the client to choose their favorite nurse for care.
B. Hold a staff meeting to discuss the client’s manipulative behavior.
C. Isolate the client from other patients to prevent conflict.
D. Ensure consistent communication among the treatment team.
Answer: D
Rationale: Consistency and limit-setting among all staff members are crucial to prevent
the client from playing one staff member against another.
5. Which antidepressant medication requires the client to follow a tyramine-
free diet?
A. Fluoxetine
B. Phenelzine
C. Sertraline
D. Amitriptyline
Answer: B
Rationale: Phenelzine is an MAOI. Ingesting tyramine while on an MAOI can lead to a
hypertensive crisis.
, 6. A nurse is teaching a client about a new prescription for Clozapine. Which
side effect should the nurse emphasize reporting immediately?
A. Weight gain
B. Sore throat and fever
C. Excessive salivation
D. Drowsiness
Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine carries a risk of agranulocytosis (dangerously low WBC count). Sore
throat and fever are early signs of infection.
7. A client experiencing a panic attack is hyperventilating. What is the nurse’s
immediate action?
A. Stay with the client and provide a calm, quiet environment.
B. Encourage the client to take deep, rapid breaths.
C. Leave the room to get the charge nurse.
D. Ask the client to explain what triggered the panic.
Answer: A
Rationale: During a panic attack, the nurse should stay with the client to ensure safety and
use short, simple sentences in a calm voice.
8. What is the primary goal of the ‘working phase’ of the nurse-client
relationship?
A. Establishing trust and boundaries.
B. Identifying the client’s reason for seeking help.
C. Summarizing the goals achieved during the relationship.
D. Promoting the client’s problem-solving skills.
Answer: D
Rationale: The working phase focuses on behavioral change, problem-solving, and
practicing new coping skills.
