, Test bank Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health
Nursing, 8th Edition by Margaret Jordan Halter
Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
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 mental health
assessments.
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.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2, 21 TOP: Nursing Process:
Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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.
c. is able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”
d. perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change
jobs.
ANS: B
The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental illness. The
distractersdescribe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual scope of
human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
