Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This
nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which
additional intervention? a. Conduct
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-
prepared nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have
taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared
at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments,
establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand
(Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health
nurses ―lose all their clinical nursing skills.‖ Select the best
response by the mental health nurse.
a. ―Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than
other specialties. Nurse-to- patient ratios must be better
because of the nature of the patients‘ problems.‖
b. ―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as
well as critical thinking to solve multidimensional
, problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
c. ―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses
frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous
therapies.‖
d. ―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as
much pain and suffering as medical– surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills
than medical–surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well
as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
,Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by Margaret
Jordan Halter |Test Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2022
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
, Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric- Mental
Health Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another‘s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. 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 human
condition.
Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness,
the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to
articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26 TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member‘s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. ―I‘ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.‖
b. ―I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.‖
c. ―I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.‖
d. ―It‘s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.‖
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life
may be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other
incorrect responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Pages 1-2, 3, 32 (Figure 1-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a
mental illness? The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental
Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 8th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This
nurse may expect an advanced practice nurse to perform which
additional intervention? a. Conduct
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
ANS: B
In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-
prepared nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have
taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared
at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments,
establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand
(Comprehension) REF: Page 1-23 TOP: Nursing
Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health
nurses ―lose all their clinical nursing skills.‖ Select the best
response by the mental health nurse.
a. ―Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than
other specialties. Nurse-to- patient ratios must be better
because of the nature of the patients‘ problems.‖
b. ―Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills as
well as critical thinking to solve multidimensional
, problems. I am challenged by those situations.‖
c. ―That‘s a misconception. Psychiatric nurses
frequently use high technology monitoring
equipment and manage complex intravenous
therapies.‖
d. ―Psychiatric nurses do not have to deal with as
much pain and suffering as medical– surgical
nurses do. That appeals to me.‖
ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills
than medical–surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap.
Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical as well
as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these
nurses must have. Nurse–patient ratios and workloads in psychiatric
settings have increased, just like other specialties. Psychiatric
nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation.
Psychosocial pain and suffering are as real as physical pain and
suffering.
,Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental
Health Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by Margaret
Jordan Halter |Test Bank|Chapter 1-36 UPDATED 2022
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
, Test Bank Varcarolis' Foundations of
Psychiatric- Mental
Health Nursing A Clinical 9th Edition by
3. When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons diagnosed with
mental illness, a group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to
the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
ANS: C
An advocate defends or asserts another‘s cause, particularly when the other person lacks the
ability to do that for self. 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 human
condition.
Since funding is necessary to deliver quality programming for persons with mental illness,
the letter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of patients who are unable to
articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26 TOP:
Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
4. A family has a long history of conflicted relationships among the members. Which family
member‘s comment best reflects a mentally healthy perspective?
a. ―I‘ve made mistakes but everyone else in this family has also.‖
b. ―I remember joy and mutual respect from our early years together.‖
c. ―I will make some changes in my behavior for the good of the family.‖
d. ―It‘s best for me to move away from my family. Things will never change.‖
ANS: C
The correct response demonstrates the best evidence of a healthy recognition of the
importance of relationships. Mental health includes rational thinking, communication skills,
learning, emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. Recalling joy from earlier in life
may be healthy, but the correct response shows a higher level of mental health. The other
incorrect responses show blaming and avoidance.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Analyze (Analysis)
REF: Pages 1-2, 3, 32 (Figure 1-1) TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC:
Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a
mental illness? The patient
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
