2025/2026 PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL
HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS |
A+ GRADE
A nurse is talking with a patient, and 5 minutes remain in
the session. The patient has been silent most of the
session. Another patient comes to the door of the room,
interrupts, and says to the nurse, "I really need to talk to
you." The nurse should:
a. invite the interrupting patient to join in the session with
the current patient.
b. say to the interrupting patient, "I am not available to talk
with you at the present time."
c. end the unproductive session with the current patient
and spend time with the interrupting patient.
d. tell the interrupting patient, "This session is 5 more
minutes; then I will talk with you." Correct Answer ANS: D
When a specific duration for sessions has been set,
the nurse must adhere to the schedule. Leaving the
first patient would be equivalent to abandonment and
would destroy any trust the patient had in the nurse.
Adhering to the contract demonstrates that the nurse
can be trusted and that the patient and the sessions
are important. The incorrect responses preserve the
nurse-patient relationship with the silent patient but
may seem abrupt to the interrupting patient, abandon
the silent patient, or fail to observe the contract with
the silent patient.
,Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship has
been successful when the nurse:
a. avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other
patients before the discharge.
b. gives the patient a personal telephone number and
permission to call after discharge.
c. discusses with the patient changes that happened
during the relationship and evaluates outcomes.
d. offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation
three times a week after discharge. Correct Answer ANS:
C
Summarizing and evaluating progress help validate
the experience for the patient and the nurse and
facilitate closure. Termination must be discussed;
avoiding discussion by spending little time with the
patient promotes feelings of abandonment.
Successful termination requires that the relationship
be brought to closure without the possibility of
dependency-producing ongoing contact.
What is the desirable outcome for the orientation stage of
a nurse-patient relationship? The patient will demonstrate
behaviors that indicate:
a. self-responsibility and autonomy.
b. a greater sense of independence.
c. rapport and trust with the nurse.
d. resolved transference. Correct Answer ANS: C
Development of rapport and trust is necessary before
the relationship can progress to the working phase.
,Behaviors indicating a greater sense of independence,
self-responsibility, and resolved transference occur in
the working phase.
During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship can
the nurse anticipate that identified patient issues will be
explored and resolved?
a. Preorientation
b. Orientation
c. Working
d. Termination Correct Answer ANS: C
During the working phase, the nurse strives to assist
the patient in making connections among
dysfunctional behaviors, thinking, and emotions and
offers support while alternative coping behaviors are
tried.
At what point in the nurse-patient relationship should a
nurse plan to first address termination?
a. During the orientation phase
b. At the end of the working phase
c. Near the beginning of the termination phase
d. When the patient initially brings up the topic Correct
Answer ANS: A
The patient has a right to know the conditions of the
nurse-patient relationship. If the relationship is to be
time-limited, the patient should be informed of the
number of sessions. If it is open-ended, the
termination date will not be known at the outset, and
the patient should know that the issue will be
negotiated at a later date. The nurse is responsible for
, bringing up the topic of termination early in the
relationship, usually during the orientation phase.
A nurse introduces the matter of a contract during the first
session with a new patient because contracts:
a. specify what the nurse will do for the patient.
b. spell out the participation and responsibilities of each
party.
c. indicate the feeling tone established between the
participants.
d. are binding and prevent either party from prematurely
ending the relationship. Correct Answer ANS: B
A contract emphasizes that the nurse works with the
patient rather than doing something for the patient.
"Working with" is a process that suggests each party
is expected to participate and share responsibility for
outcomes. Contracts do not, however, stipulate roles
or feeling tone, and premature termination is
forbidden.
As a nurse escorts a patient being discharged after
treatment for major depression, the patient gives the nurse
a necklace with a heart pendant and says, "Thank you for
helping mend my broken heart." Which is the nurse's best
response?
a. "Accepting gifts violates the policies and procedures of
the facility."
b. "I'm glad you feel so much better now. Thank you for
the beautiful necklace."
c. "I'm glad I could help you, but I can't accept the gift. My
reward is seeing you with a renewed sense of hope."
HEALTH NURSING EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND DETAILED CORRECT ANSWERS |
A+ GRADE
A nurse is talking with a patient, and 5 minutes remain in
the session. The patient has been silent most of the
session. Another patient comes to the door of the room,
interrupts, and says to the nurse, "I really need to talk to
you." The nurse should:
a. invite the interrupting patient to join in the session with
the current patient.
b. say to the interrupting patient, "I am not available to talk
with you at the present time."
c. end the unproductive session with the current patient
and spend time with the interrupting patient.
d. tell the interrupting patient, "This session is 5 more
minutes; then I will talk with you." Correct Answer ANS: D
When a specific duration for sessions has been set,
the nurse must adhere to the schedule. Leaving the
first patient would be equivalent to abandonment and
would destroy any trust the patient had in the nurse.
Adhering to the contract demonstrates that the nurse
can be trusted and that the patient and the sessions
are important. The incorrect responses preserve the
nurse-patient relationship with the silent patient but
may seem abrupt to the interrupting patient, abandon
the silent patient, or fail to observe the contract with
the silent patient.
,Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship has
been successful when the nurse:
a. avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other
patients before the discharge.
b. gives the patient a personal telephone number and
permission to call after discharge.
c. discusses with the patient changes that happened
during the relationship and evaluates outcomes.
d. offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation
three times a week after discharge. Correct Answer ANS:
C
Summarizing and evaluating progress help validate
the experience for the patient and the nurse and
facilitate closure. Termination must be discussed;
avoiding discussion by spending little time with the
patient promotes feelings of abandonment.
Successful termination requires that the relationship
be brought to closure without the possibility of
dependency-producing ongoing contact.
What is the desirable outcome for the orientation stage of
a nurse-patient relationship? The patient will demonstrate
behaviors that indicate:
a. self-responsibility and autonomy.
b. a greater sense of independence.
c. rapport and trust with the nurse.
d. resolved transference. Correct Answer ANS: C
Development of rapport and trust is necessary before
the relationship can progress to the working phase.
,Behaviors indicating a greater sense of independence,
self-responsibility, and resolved transference occur in
the working phase.
During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship can
the nurse anticipate that identified patient issues will be
explored and resolved?
a. Preorientation
b. Orientation
c. Working
d. Termination Correct Answer ANS: C
During the working phase, the nurse strives to assist
the patient in making connections among
dysfunctional behaviors, thinking, and emotions and
offers support while alternative coping behaviors are
tried.
At what point in the nurse-patient relationship should a
nurse plan to first address termination?
a. During the orientation phase
b. At the end of the working phase
c. Near the beginning of the termination phase
d. When the patient initially brings up the topic Correct
Answer ANS: A
The patient has a right to know the conditions of the
nurse-patient relationship. If the relationship is to be
time-limited, the patient should be informed of the
number of sessions. If it is open-ended, the
termination date will not be known at the outset, and
the patient should know that the issue will be
negotiated at a later date. The nurse is responsible for
, bringing up the topic of termination early in the
relationship, usually during the orientation phase.
A nurse introduces the matter of a contract during the first
session with a new patient because contracts:
a. specify what the nurse will do for the patient.
b. spell out the participation and responsibilities of each
party.
c. indicate the feeling tone established between the
participants.
d. are binding and prevent either party from prematurely
ending the relationship. Correct Answer ANS: B
A contract emphasizes that the nurse works with the
patient rather than doing something for the patient.
"Working with" is a process that suggests each party
is expected to participate and share responsibility for
outcomes. Contracts do not, however, stipulate roles
or feeling tone, and premature termination is
forbidden.
As a nurse escorts a patient being discharged after
treatment for major depression, the patient gives the nurse
a necklace with a heart pendant and says, "Thank you for
helping mend my broken heart." Which is the nurse's best
response?
a. "Accepting gifts violates the policies and procedures of
the facility."
b. "I'm glad you feel so much better now. Thank you for
the beautiful necklace."
c. "I'm glad I could help you, but I can't accept the gift. My
reward is seeing you with a renewed sense of hope."
