Treatment of Mental Health Disorders (Psychiatric/ Mental Health
Nursing)Exam (2025) comprehensive questions and verified answers (
detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
A client confides to the nurse that she enjoys engaging in sex with multiple
male adult sex partners simultaneously. What is the most appropriate
response by the nurse?
"I recommend that you seek counseling for this problem."
"Don't you think that having sex with multiple partners is immoral?"
"These men are abusing you, and you should go to the police to report them."
"What are you using for birth control and protection from sexually transmitted
infections?"
"What are you using for birth control and protection from sexually transmitted
infections?"
Rationale
Adults may have consensual sex as desired, but the nurse should encourage the
use of birth control and protection from sexually transmitted infections. The nurse is
interjecting personal values by stating that the client should seek counseling for this
behavior or that the client's behavior is immoral. If the sex is consensual, it is not
abusive.
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for clients who exhibit mild
cognitive impairment?
,Reality orientation
Behavioral confrontation
Reflective communication
Reminiscence group therapy
Reality orientation
Rationale
Reality orientation is generally helpful for clients exhibiting mild cognitive impairment;
these clients are aware of their impairment, and orientation then reduces anxiety.
Behavioral confrontation is not therapeutic because it may cause frustration and
increase psychomotor agitation in a client with cognitive impairment. Reflective
communication is a technique in which the nurse restates or repeats the client's
statements; it can be used to clarify thoughts but may also lead to frustration when
the approach is overdone. Reminiscence group therapy is helpful with severely
confused, disorganized clients because it reinforces identity, acknowledges what
was significant, and often compensates for the dullness of the present.
While walking to the examination room with the nurse, a toddler with autism
suddenly runs to the wall and starts banging the head on it. What should the
nurse's initial action be?
Allowing the toddler to act out feelings
Asking the toddler to stop this behavior
Restraining the toddler to prevent head injury
Telling the toddler that the behavior is unacceptable
Restraining the toddler to prevent head injury
,Rationale
The child with autism needs protection from self-injury. Permitting the child to act out
is possible only if the acting out does not place the child in jeopardy. The child with
autism has difficulty following directions, especially when out of control. The child
with autism cannot separate self from behavior; a punitive approach will decrease
the child's self-esteem.
A client is found to have generalized anxiety disorder. For what behavior
should the nurse assess the client to determine the effectiveness of therapy?
Participating in activities
Learning how to avoid anxiety
Taking medications as prescribed
Recognizing when anxiety is developing
Recognizing when anxiety is developing
Rationale
Recognition of anxiety or symptoms of increasing anxiety is an indication that the
client is improving. Avoidance of anxiety is not a good indication of improvement;
there is no guarantee that anxiety can always be avoided. Participating in activities
and taking medications as prescribed do not indicate improvement or recognition of
feelings; the client may be doing what others expect.
What should a nurse who is caring for a hospitalized older client with dementia
consider before planning care?
Physical contact will increase dependency needs.
Routines provide stability for clients with dementia.
Regressive behavior should be interrupted immediately.
, Procedures do not have to be explained to clients with dementia.
Routines provide stability for clients with dementia.
Rationale
Rituals and routines in activities of daily living provide a framework and structure for
clients with dementia, adding to their sense of safety and security. Touch is a
universal message that denotes caring; it can be soothing and will not encourage
dependency. Regressive behavior under stress has a calming effect and should be
allowed. Care should be explained to all clients; simple declarative statements are
usually understood.
A client who was recently admitted to the psychiatric unit with the diagnosis of
an obsessive-compulsive disorder engages in a handwashing ritual. When the
nurse interrupts the ritual, the client becomes angry and acts out. What is the
most probable cause for this behavior?
The client is feeling overwhelmed in this situation.
The client resents the nurse's authoritarian manner.
The client's personality is clashing with the nurse's.
The client's response reflects an aggressive personality.
The client is feeling overwhelmed in this situation.
Rationale
The ritual reduces anxiety; when not permitted to complete the ritual, a client with an
obsessive-compulsive disorder will experience increased anxiety, frustration, and
anger and may act out. The client is experiencing anxiety not related to a personality
clash, the nurse's manner, or an aggressive personality.
he nursing staff is discussing the best way to develop a relationship with a
new client who has antisocial personality disorder. What characteristic of
clients with antisocial personality should the nurses consider when planning
care?
Nursing)Exam (2025) comprehensive questions and verified answers (
detailed & elaborated) 2025-2026 TEST
A client confides to the nurse that she enjoys engaging in sex with multiple
male adult sex partners simultaneously. What is the most appropriate
response by the nurse?
"I recommend that you seek counseling for this problem."
"Don't you think that having sex with multiple partners is immoral?"
"These men are abusing you, and you should go to the police to report them."
"What are you using for birth control and protection from sexually transmitted
infections?"
"What are you using for birth control and protection from sexually transmitted
infections?"
Rationale
Adults may have consensual sex as desired, but the nurse should encourage the
use of birth control and protection from sexually transmitted infections. The nurse is
interjecting personal values by stating that the client should seek counseling for this
behavior or that the client's behavior is immoral. If the sex is consensual, it is not
abusive.
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention for clients who exhibit mild
cognitive impairment?
,Reality orientation
Behavioral confrontation
Reflective communication
Reminiscence group therapy
Reality orientation
Rationale
Reality orientation is generally helpful for clients exhibiting mild cognitive impairment;
these clients are aware of their impairment, and orientation then reduces anxiety.
Behavioral confrontation is not therapeutic because it may cause frustration and
increase psychomotor agitation in a client with cognitive impairment. Reflective
communication is a technique in which the nurse restates or repeats the client's
statements; it can be used to clarify thoughts but may also lead to frustration when
the approach is overdone. Reminiscence group therapy is helpful with severely
confused, disorganized clients because it reinforces identity, acknowledges what
was significant, and often compensates for the dullness of the present.
While walking to the examination room with the nurse, a toddler with autism
suddenly runs to the wall and starts banging the head on it. What should the
nurse's initial action be?
Allowing the toddler to act out feelings
Asking the toddler to stop this behavior
Restraining the toddler to prevent head injury
Telling the toddler that the behavior is unacceptable
Restraining the toddler to prevent head injury
,Rationale
The child with autism needs protection from self-injury. Permitting the child to act out
is possible only if the acting out does not place the child in jeopardy. The child with
autism has difficulty following directions, especially when out of control. The child
with autism cannot separate self from behavior; a punitive approach will decrease
the child's self-esteem.
A client is found to have generalized anxiety disorder. For what behavior
should the nurse assess the client to determine the effectiveness of therapy?
Participating in activities
Learning how to avoid anxiety
Taking medications as prescribed
Recognizing when anxiety is developing
Recognizing when anxiety is developing
Rationale
Recognition of anxiety or symptoms of increasing anxiety is an indication that the
client is improving. Avoidance of anxiety is not a good indication of improvement;
there is no guarantee that anxiety can always be avoided. Participating in activities
and taking medications as prescribed do not indicate improvement or recognition of
feelings; the client may be doing what others expect.
What should a nurse who is caring for a hospitalized older client with dementia
consider before planning care?
Physical contact will increase dependency needs.
Routines provide stability for clients with dementia.
Regressive behavior should be interrupted immediately.
, Procedures do not have to be explained to clients with dementia.
Routines provide stability for clients with dementia.
Rationale
Rituals and routines in activities of daily living provide a framework and structure for
clients with dementia, adding to their sense of safety and security. Touch is a
universal message that denotes caring; it can be soothing and will not encourage
dependency. Regressive behavior under stress has a calming effect and should be
allowed. Care should be explained to all clients; simple declarative statements are
usually understood.
A client who was recently admitted to the psychiatric unit with the diagnosis of
an obsessive-compulsive disorder engages in a handwashing ritual. When the
nurse interrupts the ritual, the client becomes angry and acts out. What is the
most probable cause for this behavior?
The client is feeling overwhelmed in this situation.
The client resents the nurse's authoritarian manner.
The client's personality is clashing with the nurse's.
The client's response reflects an aggressive personality.
The client is feeling overwhelmed in this situation.
Rationale
The ritual reduces anxiety; when not permitted to complete the ritual, a client with an
obsessive-compulsive disorder will experience increased anxiety, frustration, and
anger and may act out. The client is experiencing anxiety not related to a personality
clash, the nurse's manner, or an aggressive personality.
he nursing staff is discussing the best way to develop a relationship with a
new client who has antisocial personality disorder. What characteristic of
clients with antisocial personality should the nurses consider when planning
care?
