Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
Report a sense of well-being - ✅✅-1. Which outcome, focused on
recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living in the
community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness?
Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time.
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to
work with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will
help. Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic interventions. -
✅✅-2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after
their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have
these feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills
that will contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are
important parts of advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action to
ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be
appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will create
,Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
conflict. Nurses must show compassion for each other. - ✅✅-3. In the
shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy
makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best
demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get
along in society."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect
for the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false
reassurances are non-therapeutic. - ✅✅-4. A nurse assesses a newly
admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which
statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of
the world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for
your depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started
for you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking
with me."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be biased.
".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a commercial one.
".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. ".org"
indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site may or may not have
reliable information, but it does not profit from its activities. ".net" can have
multiple meanings. - ✅✅-5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the
Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of the web site's
,Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced
information?
a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be
viewed in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is
not enough. Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence.
Clinical algorithms use flow charts to manage problems and do not specify
one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should
change as research findings provide evidence for change. - ✅✅-6. A
nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name
to get their attention; however, I read a descriptive research study that says
that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling patients by name."
Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to
change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical
nurse specialists.
c. New research fin
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical and mental
health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have.
Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased,
similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not
simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much
suffering as physical pain. - ✅✅-7. Two nursing students discuss career
plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The
other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All
, Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
they do is talk. You will lose your skills." Select the best response by the
student interested in psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use comp
ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest
evidence for changing practice. Expert committee recommendations and
descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical
pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have
been analyzed. - ✅✅-8. Which research evidence would most influence a
group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the
other person lacks the ability to do that for himself or herself. Examples of
individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,
public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the individuals
with mental illness; the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs. - ✅✅-9. A
bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people
diagnosed with mental illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their
elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the
nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
ANSWERS)
Report a sense of well-being - ✅✅-1. Which outcome, focused on
recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living in the
community and diagnosed with serious and persistent mental illness?
Within 3 months, the patient will:
a. deny suicidal ideation.
b. report a sense of well-being.
c. take medications as prescribed.
d. attend clinic appointments on time.
ANS: A
The nurse's communication should evidence caring and a commitment to
work with the patient. This commitment lets the patient know the nurse will
help. Probing and advice are not helpful or therapeutic interventions. -
✅✅-2. A patient is hospitalized for depression and suicidal ideation after
their spouse asks for a divorce. Select the nurse's most caring comment.
a. "Let's discuss some means of coping other than suicide when you have
these feelings."
b. "I understand why you're so depressed. When I got divorced, I was
devastated too."
c. "You should forget about your marriage and move on with your life."
d. "How did you get so depressed that hospitalization was necessary?"
ANS: D
Accepting patients' needs for self-expression and seeking to teach skills
that will contribute to their well-being demonstrate respect and are
important parts of advocacy. The on-coming nurse needs to take action to
ensure that others are not prejudiced against the patient. Humor can be
appropriate within the privacy of a shift report but not at the expense of
respect for patients. Judging the off-going nurse in a critical way will create
,Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
conflict. Nurses must show compassion for each other. - ✅✅-3. In the
shift-change report, an off-going nurse criticizes a patient who wears heavy
makeup. Which comment by the nurse who receives the report best
demonstrates advocacy?
a. "This is a psychiatric hospital. Craziness is what we are all about."
b. "Let's all show acceptance of this patient by wearing lots of makeup too."
c. "Your comments are inconsiderate and inappropriate. Keep the report
objective."
d. "Our patients need our help to learn behaviors that will help them get
along in society."
ANS: D
Attending is a technique that demonstrates the nurse's commitment to the
relationship and reduces feelings of isolation. This technique shows respect
for the patient and demonstrates caring. Generalizations, probing, and false
reassurances are non-therapeutic. - ✅✅-4. A nurse assesses a newly
admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which
statement is an example of "attending"?
a. "We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital isn't the end of
the world."
b. "Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for
your depression."
c. "You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started
for you."
d. "I'd like to sit with you a while so you may feel more comfortable talking
with me."
ANS: B
Financial influences on a site are a clue that the information may be biased.
".com" at the end of the address indicates that the site is a commercial one.
".gov" indicates that the site is maintained by a government entity. ".org"
indicates that the site is nonproprietary; the site may or may not have
reliable information, but it does not profit from its activities. ".net" can have
multiple meanings. - ✅✅-5. A patient shows the nurse an article from the
Internet about a health problem. Which characteristic of the web site's
,Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced
information?
a. Address ends in ".org."
b. Address ends in ".com."
c. Address ends in ".gov."
d. Address ends in ".net."
ANS: A
Descriptive research findings provide evidence for practice but must be
viewed in relation to other studies before practice changes. One study is
not enough. Descriptive studies are low on the hierarchy of evidence.
Clinical algorithms use flow charts to manage problems and do not specify
one response to a clinical problem. Classic tenets of practice should
change as research findings provide evidence for change. - ✅✅-6. A
nurse says, "When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name
to get their attention; however, I read a descriptive research study that says
that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling patients by name."
Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse's comment?
a. One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to
change practice.
b. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical
nurse specialists.
c. New research fin
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical and mental
health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have.
Nurse-patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric settings have increased,
similar to other specialties. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not
simply documentation. Psychosocial pain is real and can cause as much
suffering as physical pain. - ✅✅-7. Two nursing students discuss career
plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The
other student asks, "Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All
, Mental Health(Varcarolis) Exam 1 ;questions & answers, (Exam Elaborations), (COMPLETE
ANSWERS)
they do is talk. You will lose your skills." Select the best response by the
student interested in psychiatric nursing.
a. "Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of patients'
problems."
b. "Psychiatric nurses use comp
ANS: B
Research findings are graded using a hierarchy of evidence. A systematic
review of randomized controlled trials is Level A and provides the strongest
evidence for changing practice. Expert committee recommendations and
descriptive studies lend less powerful and influential evidence. A critical
pathway is not evidence; it incorporates research findings after they have
been analyzed. - ✅✅-8. Which research evidence would most influence a
group of nurses to change their practice?
a. Expert committee report of recommendations for practice
b. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
c. Nonexperimental descriptive study
d. Critical pathway
ANS: A
An advocate defends or asserts another's cause, particularly when the
other person lacks the ability to do that for himself or herself. Examples of
individual advocacy include helping patients understand their rights or
make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,
public speaking, and publication in the interest of improving the individuals
with mental illness; the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on
behalf of patients who are unable to articulate their own needs. - ✅✅-9. A
bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people
diagnosed with mental illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their
elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the
nurses fulfilled?
a. Advocacy
b. Attending
c. Recovery
