NURS 222 – Mental Health in
Nursing (WCU – Week 2)
Questions with Correct Answers
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Section 1: Therapeutic Communication (Questions 1–20)
1. Which nursing statement is an example of the therapeutic
communication technique of "clarification"?
A. "Tell me more about how you are feeling."
B. "I am not sure I understand what you mean by 'they are watching
m e.'"
C. "It sounds like you are feeling sad."
D. "Let's focus on one problem at a time."
Correct Answer: B – Clarification seeks to understand the patient's
m essage by asking for validation. Option B asks the patient to explain
their meaning.
2. A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is hiding
cameras in my room to steal my thoughts." Which is the most
therapeutic response?
,A. "That's not true. No one is hiding cameras."
B. "I don't see any cameras, but I understand you believe that."
C. "You need to take your medication so these thoughts stop."
D. "Why do you think the FBI would do that?"
Correct Answer: B – The nurse acknowledges the patient's belief
without reinforcing the delusion (validation without agreement).
Challenging the delusion (A) increases anxiety; asking "why" (D) is
n ontherapeutic.
3. Which of the following is a nontherapeutic communication
technique?
A. Offering self
B. Giving advice
C. Restating
D. Exploring
Correct Answer: B – Giving advice implies the nurse knows what is
best and undermines the patient's autonomy; it is a nontherapeutic
technique.
4. A patient states, "I don't think I can ever be happy again after my
husband died." The nurse responds, "Everyone feels sad after losing a
loved one." This is an example of:
A. Validation
B. Empathy
C. False reassurance
D. Trivializing (cliché)
Correct Answer: D – Trivializing (using clichés) minimizes the patient's
unique feelings and is nontherapeutic.
,5. The therapeutic communication technique of "restating" involves:
A. Repeating the patient's exact words back to them
B. Rephrasing the patient's message in the nurse's own words
C. Asking for more information
D. Summarizing the main points of the conversation
Correct Answer: B – Restating (paraphrasing) shows active listening
and verifies understanding. Example: Patient: "I can't sleep." Nurse:
"You're having trouble sleeping."
6. Which of the following is an example of "offering self" as a
therapeutic communication technique?
A. "You should take your medication as prescribed."
B. "I will sit with you for a few minutes."
C. "Why did you stop taking your medication?"
D. "Everything will be fine."
Correct Answer: B – Offering self means making oneself available to
the patient without imposing; it conveys presence and support.
7. A patient says, "I want to die." Which is the most appropriate nurse
response?
A. "Don't say that. You have so much to live for."
B. "Are you thinking of killing yourself?"
C. "That's a sin."
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
Correct Answer: B – The nurse must directly assess for suicidal
ideation, including plan, intent, and means. Asking directly is
therapeutic and does not "plant the idea."
, 8. A patient who is angry shouts, "You never listen to me!" Which
response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "I always listen to you. That's not fair."
B. "You sound angry. Tell me more about that."
C. "If you don't calm down, I will leave."
D. "You never listen to me either."
Correct Answer: B – The nurse acknowledges the patient's emotion
( anger) and invites further discussion without being defensive.
9. Which of the following best describes empathy?
A. Feeling sorry for the patient
B. Understanding the patient's feelings from their perspective
C. Agreeing with the patient's decisions
D. Sharing personal experiences with the patient
Correct Answer: B – Empathy is the ability to understand and share the
feelings of another from their perspective; sympathy is feeling sorry
for them.
10. The nontherapeutic technique of "false reassurance" is best
illustrated by which statement?
A. "Tell me more about that."
B. "I understand you are frustrated."
C. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
D. "What happened next?"
Correct Answer: C – False reassurance minimizes the patient's
concerns and is nontherapeutic; it is a form of closing off
communication.
Nursing (WCU – Week 2)
Questions with Correct Answers
Plus Rationales | Instant Pdf
Download
Section 1: Therapeutic Communication (Questions 1–20)
1. Which nursing statement is an example of the therapeutic
communication technique of "clarification"?
A. "Tell me more about how you are feeling."
B. "I am not sure I understand what you mean by 'they are watching
m e.'"
C. "It sounds like you are feeling sad."
D. "Let's focus on one problem at a time."
Correct Answer: B – Clarification seeks to understand the patient's
m essage by asking for validation. Option B asks the patient to explain
their meaning.
2. A patient with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is hiding
cameras in my room to steal my thoughts." Which is the most
therapeutic response?
,A. "That's not true. No one is hiding cameras."
B. "I don't see any cameras, but I understand you believe that."
C. "You need to take your medication so these thoughts stop."
D. "Why do you think the FBI would do that?"
Correct Answer: B – The nurse acknowledges the patient's belief
without reinforcing the delusion (validation without agreement).
Challenging the delusion (A) increases anxiety; asking "why" (D) is
n ontherapeutic.
3. Which of the following is a nontherapeutic communication
technique?
A. Offering self
B. Giving advice
C. Restating
D. Exploring
Correct Answer: B – Giving advice implies the nurse knows what is
best and undermines the patient's autonomy; it is a nontherapeutic
technique.
4. A patient states, "I don't think I can ever be happy again after my
husband died." The nurse responds, "Everyone feels sad after losing a
loved one." This is an example of:
A. Validation
B. Empathy
C. False reassurance
D. Trivializing (cliché)
Correct Answer: D – Trivializing (using clichés) minimizes the patient's
unique feelings and is nontherapeutic.
,5. The therapeutic communication technique of "restating" involves:
A. Repeating the patient's exact words back to them
B. Rephrasing the patient's message in the nurse's own words
C. Asking for more information
D. Summarizing the main points of the conversation
Correct Answer: B – Restating (paraphrasing) shows active listening
and verifies understanding. Example: Patient: "I can't sleep." Nurse:
"You're having trouble sleeping."
6. Which of the following is an example of "offering self" as a
therapeutic communication technique?
A. "You should take your medication as prescribed."
B. "I will sit with you for a few minutes."
C. "Why did you stop taking your medication?"
D. "Everything will be fine."
Correct Answer: B – Offering self means making oneself available to
the patient without imposing; it conveys presence and support.
7. A patient says, "I want to die." Which is the most appropriate nurse
response?
A. "Don't say that. You have so much to live for."
B. "Are you thinking of killing yourself?"
C. "That's a sin."
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
Correct Answer: B – The nurse must directly assess for suicidal
ideation, including plan, intent, and means. Asking directly is
therapeutic and does not "plant the idea."
, 8. A patient who is angry shouts, "You never listen to me!" Which
response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "I always listen to you. That's not fair."
B. "You sound angry. Tell me more about that."
C. "If you don't calm down, I will leave."
D. "You never listen to me either."
Correct Answer: B – The nurse acknowledges the patient's emotion
( anger) and invites further discussion without being defensive.
9. Which of the following best describes empathy?
A. Feeling sorry for the patient
B. Understanding the patient's feelings from their perspective
C. Agreeing with the patient's decisions
D. Sharing personal experiences with the patient
Correct Answer: B – Empathy is the ability to understand and share the
feelings of another from their perspective; sympathy is feeling sorry
for them.
10. The nontherapeutic technique of "false reassurance" is best
illustrated by which statement?
A. "Tell me more about that."
B. "I understand you are frustrated."
C. "Don't worry, everything will be fine."
D. "What happened next?"
Correct Answer: C – False reassurance minimizes the patient's
concerns and is nontherapeutic; it is a form of closing off
communication.
