NUR 256 Mental Health Exam 4 |
Galen College of Nursing | Q&A
Guide (2025/2026) with Detailed
Rationales Already Graded A+
Master your NUR 256 Mental Health Exam 4 with this comprehensive, 100%
verified Q&A study guide. Specifically designed for Galen College of Nursing
students, this resource covers critical topics including anxiety disorders,
OCD, eating disorders (Anorexia/Bulimia), and end-of-life care. Each
question includes italicized rationales to ensure deep conceptual
understanding for the 2025/2026 academic year. Perfect for quick revision
and achieving a Grade A. Instant PDF download available.
, 1. A nurse is caring for a client with anorexia nervosa. Which behavior indicates the client’s
eating habits are beginning to normalize?
A. The client accurately calculates the caloric content of their meal.
B. The client chooses a high-calorie dessert to prove they are recovered.
C. The client begins eating meals independently without being prompted.
D. The client requests to exercise immediately after finishing their meal.
C. The client begins eating meals independently without being prompted.
Rationale: Independence in eating without external redirection is a primary
indicator of normalizing behavior and treatment success in eating disorders.
2. A client is being treated for bulimia nervosa. Which physical finding requires immediate
notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign).
B. Tooth erosion and dental caries.
C. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
D. Reports of feeling "out of control" while eating.
C. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
Rationale: Hypokalemia is a life-threatening complication of purging that can
lead to fatal cardiac dysrhythmias.
3. What is the priority nursing intervention when conducting a crisis intervention?
A. Identify the client’s support system.
B. Assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation.
C. Teach new coping strategies.
D. Help the client identify the triggering event.
B. Assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation.
Rationale: Physical safety is always the first and most critical consideration in
crisis intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill client in severe pain. What is the priority action?
A. Teach the client the five stages of grief.
B. Implement measures to enhance the client's quality of life.
C. Encourage the client to speak with a grief counselor.
D. Support the family through the bereavement process.
,B. Implement measures to enhance the client's quality of life.
Rationale: For end-of-life care, palliative measures to manage symptoms and
provide comfort take priority over psychological education.
5. A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Teach the client deep breathing exercises.
B. Stay with the client and remain calm.
C. Encourage the client to discuss the cause of the panic.
D. Administer a PRN dose of a long-acting antidepressant.
B. Stay with the client and remain calm.
Rationale: During a panic attack, a client cannot learn new skills; the nurse’s
presence and calm demeanor provide immediate safety and help lower anxiety.
6. Which finding is characteristic of an abuser in a domestic violence situation?
A. Encouragement of independent friendships for the victim.
B. Strong, supportive relationships outside the home.
C. Lack of supportive relationships outside the primary relationship.
D. Respect for the victim’s privacy and alone time.
C. Lack of supportive relationships outside the primary relationship.
Rationale: Abusers often lack outside support and seek to isolate victims from
their own support systems to maintain control.
7. A nurse is assessing an elderly client for potential abuse. Which factor increases the risk
of elder abuse?
A. The client is financially independent.
B. The client is highly social within their community.
C. The client is dependent on the perpetrator for care.
D. The perpetrator has a stable, high-income job.
C. The client is dependent on the perpetrator for care.
Rationale: Dependency on a caregiver increases vulnerability and may make the
victim reluctant to disclose abuse due to fear of losing care.
8. A client with anorexia nervosa is starting a refeeding program. Which complication is
most lethal?
A. Constipation.
B. Russell’s sign.
, C. Refeeding syndrome.
D. Dental caries.
C. Refeeding syndrome.
Rationale: Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal metabolic complication that
occurs when malnourished patients are reintroduced to food too quickly.
9. Which defense mechanism is being used when a woman anonymously donates to a
colleague’s GoFundMe campaign?
A. Compensation.
B. Altruism.
C. Conversion.
D. Displacement.
B. Altruism.
Rationale: Altruism is an adaptive defense mechanism where an individual
reaches out to others to help or provide well-being.
10. A man becomes blind after witnessing his wife flirting with other men. This is an
example of which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
/B. Displacement.
C. Conversion.
D. Compensation.
C. Conversion.
Rationale: Conversion is the unconscious transformation of anxiety into a
physical symptom with no organic cause.
11. A child yells at his teddy bear after being picked on by a bully. Which defense mechanism
is this?
A. Displacement.
B. Altruism.
C. Conversion.
D. Denial.
A. Displacement.
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotions from a threatening
target to a less threatening one, such as a toy.
Galen College of Nursing | Q&A
Guide (2025/2026) with Detailed
Rationales Already Graded A+
Master your NUR 256 Mental Health Exam 4 with this comprehensive, 100%
verified Q&A study guide. Specifically designed for Galen College of Nursing
students, this resource covers critical topics including anxiety disorders,
OCD, eating disorders (Anorexia/Bulimia), and end-of-life care. Each
question includes italicized rationales to ensure deep conceptual
understanding for the 2025/2026 academic year. Perfect for quick revision
and achieving a Grade A. Instant PDF download available.
, 1. A nurse is caring for a client with anorexia nervosa. Which behavior indicates the client’s
eating habits are beginning to normalize?
A. The client accurately calculates the caloric content of their meal.
B. The client chooses a high-calorie dessert to prove they are recovered.
C. The client begins eating meals independently without being prompted.
D. The client requests to exercise immediately after finishing their meal.
C. The client begins eating meals independently without being prompted.
Rationale: Independence in eating without external redirection is a primary
indicator of normalizing behavior and treatment success in eating disorders.
2. A client is being treated for bulimia nervosa. Which physical finding requires immediate
notification of the healthcare provider?
A. Calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign).
B. Tooth erosion and dental caries.
C. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
D. Reports of feeling "out of control" while eating.
C. A serum potassium level of 2.8 mEq/L.
Rationale: Hypokalemia is a life-threatening complication of purging that can
lead to fatal cardiac dysrhythmias.
3. What is the priority nursing intervention when conducting a crisis intervention?
A. Identify the client’s support system.
B. Assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation.
C. Teach new coping strategies.
D. Help the client identify the triggering event.
B. Assess for suicidal or homicidal ideation.
Rationale: Physical safety is always the first and most critical consideration in
crisis intervention.
4. A nurse is caring for a terminally ill client in severe pain. What is the priority action?
A. Teach the client the five stages of grief.
B. Implement measures to enhance the client's quality of life.
C. Encourage the client to speak with a grief counselor.
D. Support the family through the bereavement process.
,B. Implement measures to enhance the client's quality of life.
Rationale: For end-of-life care, palliative measures to manage symptoms and
provide comfort take priority over psychological education.
5. A client is experiencing a panic attack. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Teach the client deep breathing exercises.
B. Stay with the client and remain calm.
C. Encourage the client to discuss the cause of the panic.
D. Administer a PRN dose of a long-acting antidepressant.
B. Stay with the client and remain calm.
Rationale: During a panic attack, a client cannot learn new skills; the nurse’s
presence and calm demeanor provide immediate safety and help lower anxiety.
6. Which finding is characteristic of an abuser in a domestic violence situation?
A. Encouragement of independent friendships for the victim.
B. Strong, supportive relationships outside the home.
C. Lack of supportive relationships outside the primary relationship.
D. Respect for the victim’s privacy and alone time.
C. Lack of supportive relationships outside the primary relationship.
Rationale: Abusers often lack outside support and seek to isolate victims from
their own support systems to maintain control.
7. A nurse is assessing an elderly client for potential abuse. Which factor increases the risk
of elder abuse?
A. The client is financially independent.
B. The client is highly social within their community.
C. The client is dependent on the perpetrator for care.
D. The perpetrator has a stable, high-income job.
C. The client is dependent on the perpetrator for care.
Rationale: Dependency on a caregiver increases vulnerability and may make the
victim reluctant to disclose abuse due to fear of losing care.
8. A client with anorexia nervosa is starting a refeeding program. Which complication is
most lethal?
A. Constipation.
B. Russell’s sign.
, C. Refeeding syndrome.
D. Dental caries.
C. Refeeding syndrome.
Rationale: Refeeding syndrome is a potentially fatal metabolic complication that
occurs when malnourished patients are reintroduced to food too quickly.
9. Which defense mechanism is being used when a woman anonymously donates to a
colleague’s GoFundMe campaign?
A. Compensation.
B. Altruism.
C. Conversion.
D. Displacement.
B. Altruism.
Rationale: Altruism is an adaptive defense mechanism where an individual
reaches out to others to help or provide well-being.
10. A man becomes blind after witnessing his wife flirting with other men. This is an
example of which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
/B. Displacement.
C. Conversion.
D. Compensation.
C. Conversion.
Rationale: Conversion is the unconscious transformation of anxiety into a
physical symptom with no organic cause.
11. A child yells at his teddy bear after being picked on by a bully. Which defense mechanism
is this?
A. Displacement.
B. Altruism.
C. Conversion.
D. Denial.
A. Displacement.
Rationale: Displacement involves transferring emotions from a threatening
target to a less threatening one, such as a toy.
