FOUNDATION OF PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
2025/2026
1.A staff caregiver completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This caregiver may expect
an advanced practice caregiver to perform which additional intervention?
a.
Conduct mental health assessments.
c.
Establish therapeutic relationships.
b.
Prescribe psychotropic medication.
d.
Individualize nursing care plans.
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Prescribe psychotropic medication
2.When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health caregivers
"lose all their nursing skills," the best response by the mental health caregiver is:
a.
"Psychiatric caregivers practice in safer environments than other specialties. Caregiver-
to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b.
"Psychiatric caregivers 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 caregivers frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d.
"Psychiatric caregivers do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical caregivers do. That appeals to me."
- CORRECT ANS -b.
"Psychiatric caregivers use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
3.When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with
mental illness, a group of caregivers writes letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the caregivers fulfilled?
a.
Recovery
c.
Advocacy
1
,b.
Attending
d.
Evidence-based practice
- CORRECT ANS -c.
Advocacy
4.Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the caregiver was caring? "My
caregiver:
a.
always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b.
explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c.
spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
d.
told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged
sooner."
- CORRECT ANS -c.
spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
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.
c.
is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d.
perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
- CORRECT ANS -b.
reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
6.Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior"
was achieved? A patient:
a.
sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b.
behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c.
aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d.
seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
2
, - CORRECT ANS -a.
sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
7.A caregiver encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. Which resource should the caregiver consult to determine criteria used
to establish this diagnosis?
a.
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-
10)
b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c.
A behavioral health reference manual
d.
Wikipedia
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
8.A caregiver wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders.
Which resource would have the most complete information?
a.
Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c.
The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d.
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-
10)
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
9.Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who:
a.
is able to repress stressors.
b.
becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c.
lives in a shelter for two years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d.
takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent job.
- CORRECT ANS -d.
takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent job.
10.Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a.
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MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
2025/2026
1.A staff caregiver completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This caregiver may expect
an advanced practice caregiver to perform which additional intervention?
a.
Conduct mental health assessments.
c.
Establish therapeutic relationships.
b.
Prescribe psychotropic medication.
d.
Individualize nursing care plans.
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Prescribe psychotropic medication
2.When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health caregivers
"lose all their nursing skills," the best response by the mental health caregiver is:
a.
"Psychiatric caregivers practice in safer environments than other specialties. Caregiver-
to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of the patients' problems."
b.
"Psychiatric caregivers 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 caregivers frequently use high technology
monitoring equipment and manage complex intravenous therapies."
d.
"Psychiatric caregivers do not have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical-
surgical caregivers do. That appeals to me."
- CORRECT ANS -b.
"Psychiatric caregivers use complex communication skills as well as critical thinking to
solve multidimensional problems. I am challenged by those situations."
3.When a new bill introduced in Congress reduces funding for care of persons with
mental illness, a group of caregivers writes letters to their elected representatives in
opposition to the legislation. Which role have the caregivers fulfilled?
a.
Recovery
c.
Advocacy
1
,b.
Attending
d.
Evidence-based practice
- CORRECT ANS -c.
Advocacy
4.Which comment best indicates that a patient perceived the caregiver was caring? "My
caregiver:
a.
always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication."
b.
explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better."
c.
spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
d.
told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, then I will get discharged
sooner."
- CORRECT ANS -c.
spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I am not
alone."
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.
c.
is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
d.
perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.
- CORRECT ANS -b.
reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
6.Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior"
was achieved? A patient:
a.
sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
b.
behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
c.
aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
d.
seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.
2
, - CORRECT ANS -a.
sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
7.A caregiver encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient's
admission form. Which resource should the caregiver consult to determine criteria used
to establish this diagnosis?
a.
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-
10)
b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c.
A behavioral health reference manual
d.
Wikipedia
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
8.A caregiver wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders.
Which resource would have the most complete information?
a.
Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)
b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
c.
The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
d.
International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-
10)
- CORRECT ANS -b.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
9.Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience? One who:
a.
is able to repress stressors.
b.
becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
c.
lives in a shelter for two years after the home is destroyed by fire.
d.
takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent job.
- CORRECT ANS -d.
takes a temporary job to maintain financial stability after loss of a permanent job.
10.Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgment: NIC: _________________
a.
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