Test Bank for Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
9th edition by Videbeck
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,Chapter 1
1. The registered nurse is assessing the factors contributing to the well-being of a newly
admitted patient. Which of the following would the registered nurse identify as
having a positive impact onthe individual's mental health?
A) Not needing others for companionship
B) The ability to effectively manage stress
C) A family history of mental illness
D) Striving for total self-reliance
RIGHT CHOICE✔✔ B
Detailed Elaboration>
Individual factors influencing mental health include biologic makeup, autonomy,
independence, self-esteem, capacity for growth, vitality, ability to find meaning in life,
emotional resilience or hardiness, sense of belonging, reality orientation, and coping or
stress management abilities. Interpersonal factors such as intimacy and a balance of
separateness and connectedness are both needed for good mental health, and therefore a
healthy person would need others for companionship. A family history of mental illness
could relate to the biologic makeup of an individual, which may have a negative impact
on an individual's mental health, as well as a negative impact on an individual's
interpersonal and socialñcultural factors of health. Total self-reliance is not possible,
and a positive social/cultural factor is access to adequate resources.
2. Which of the following statements about mental illness are true? Select all that apply.
A) Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both.
B) Mental illness is only due to social/cultural factors.
C) Social/cultural factors that relate to mental illness include excessive dependency
on or withdrawal from relationships.
D) Individuals suffering from mental illness are usually able to cope effectively with
daily life.
E) Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
RIGHT CHOICE✔✔ A, D, E
Detailed Elaboration>
Mental illness can cause significant distress, impaired functioning, or both. Mental
illness may be related to individual, interpersonal, or social/cultural factors. Excessive
dependency on or withdrawal from relationships are interpersonal factors that relate to
mental illness. Individuals suffering from mental illness can feel overwhelmed with
daily life. Individuals suffering from mental illness may experience dissatisfaction with
relationships and self.
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,3. Which of the following are true regarding mental health and mental illness?
A) Behavior that may be viewed as acceptable in one culture is always unacceptable
in other cultures.
B) It is easy to determine if a person is mentally healthy or mentally ill.
C) In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological, and social
wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective behavior
and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability.
D) Persons who engage in fantasies are mentally ill.
RIGHT CHOICE✔✔ C
Detailed Elaboration>
What one society may view as acceptable and appropriate behavior, another society may
see that as maladaptive, and inappropriate. Mental health and mental illness are difficult
to define precisely. In most cases, mental health is a state of emotional, psychological,
and social wellness evidenced by satisfying interpersonal relationships, effective
behavior and coping, positive self-concept, and emotional stability. Persons who engage
in fantasies may be mentally healthy, but the inability to distinguish reality from fantasy
is an individual factor that may contribute to mental illness.
4. A patient grieving the recent loss of her husband asks if she is becoming mentally
illbecause she is so sad. The nurse's best response would be,
A) ìYou may have a temporary mental illness because you are experiencing so much
pain.î
B) ìYou are not mentally ill. This is an expected reaction to the loss you have
experienced.î
C) ìWere you generally dissatisfied with your relationship before your husband's
death?î
D) ìTry not to worry about that right now. You never know what the future brings.î
RIGHT CHOICE✔✔ B
Detailed Elaboration>
Mental illness includes general dissatisfaction with self, ineffective relationships,
ineffective coping, and lack of personal growth. Additionally the behavior must not be
culturally expected. Acute grief reactions are expected and therefore not considered
mental illness. False reassurance or overanalysis does not accurately address the
patient'sconcerns.
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, 5. The registered nurse consults the DSM for which of the following purposes?
A) To devise a plan of care for a newly admitted patient
B) To predict the patient's prognosis of treatment outcomes
C) To document the appropriate diagnostic code in the patient's medical record
D) To serve as a guide for patient
assessmentRIGHT CHOICE✔✔ D
Detailed Elaboration>
The DSM provides standard nomenclature, presents defining characteristics, and
identifies underlying causes of mental disorders. It does not provide care plans or
prognostic outcomes of treatment. Diagnosis of mental illness is not within the
generalist RN's scope of practice, so documenting the code in the medical record would
be inappropriate.
6. Which would be a reason for a student registered nurse to use the DSM?
A) Identifying the medical diagnosis
B) Treat patients
C) Evaluate treatments
D) Understand the reason for the admission and the nature of psychiatric illnesses.
RIGHT CHOICE✔✔ D
Detailed Elaboration>
Although student nurses do not use the DSM to diagnose patients, they will find it a
helpful resource to understand the reason for the admission and to begin building
knowledge about the nature of psychiatric illnesses. Identifying the medical diagnosis,
treating, and evaluating treatments are not a part of the nursing process.
7. The legislation enacted in 1963 was largely responsible for which of the following shifts
in care for the mentally ill?
A) The widespread use of community-based services
B) The advancement in pharmacotherapies
C) Increased access to hospitalization
D) Improved rights for patients in long-term institutional
careRIGHT CHOICE✔✔ A
Detailed Elaboration>
The Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963 accomplished the
release of individuals from long-term stays in state institutions, the decrease in
admissions to hospitals, and the development of community-based services as an
alternative to hospital care.
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