VARCAROLIS’ FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING: A CLINICAL APPROACH,
9TH EDITION/COMPLETE GUIDE 2024-2025
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,Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness
Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical
Approach, 9th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A staff caregiver completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. This caregiver may expect an
advancedpractice caregiver to perform which additional intervention? a. Conduct mental
health assessments.
b. Prescribe psychotropic medication.
c. Establish therapeutic relationships.
d. Individualize nursing care plans.
CORRECT ANSWER:- B
Feedback :->>>In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master‘s-prepared
caregiver practitioners and clinical caregiver specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The caregiver 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
TOPIC:Nursing Process: Implementation
MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health caregivers ―lose all their clinical
nursingskills.‖ Select the best response by the mental health caregiver.
a. ―Psychiatric caregivers practice in safer environments than other specialties. Caregiver-
to-patientratios must be better because of the nature of the clients‘ 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 ANSWER:- B
Feedback :->>>The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than
medical–surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric caregivers must
be able to help clientswith medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic
perspective these caregivers must have. Caregiver–patientratios 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 TOPIC: Nursing Process:
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, ImplementationMSC: 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 caregivers write letters to their elected representatives in
opposition tothe legislation. Which role have the caregivers fulfilled?
a. Recovery
b. Attending
c. Advocacy
d. Evidence-based practice
CORRECT ANSWER:- C
Feedback :->>>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
clients understand their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes
politicalactivity, 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, theletter-writing campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of clients who are
unable to articulate their own needs.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension) REF: Page 1-26
TOPIC: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.‖
CORRECT ANSWER:- C
Feedback :->>>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 maybe 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) TOPIC: Nursing Process: Assessment
MSC:Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental
illness? The client
a. reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
b. reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
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, 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 ANSWER:- B
Feedback :->>>The correct response describes a mood alteration, which reflects mental
illness. The distracters describe behaviors that are mentally healthy or within the usual
scope of human experience.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2 to 4 TOPIC: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
6. Which finding best indicates that the goal “Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior‖ was
achieved for an adult client? The client
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.
CORRECT ANSWER:- A
Feedback :->>>The correct response describes an adaptive, healthy behavior. The
distracters describemaladaptive behaviors.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-2 to 4 TOPIC: Nursing Process:
EvaluationMSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity
7. A caregiver encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new client‘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. The ANA‟s Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
c. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
d. A behavioral health reference manual
CORRECT ANSWER:- C
Feedback :->>>The DSM-V gives the criteria used to diagnose each mental disorder. It is the
official guideline for diagnosing psychiatric disorders. The distracters may not contain
diagnostic criteria for a psychiatric illness.
PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
REF: Pages 1-18, 19 TOPIC: Nursing Process:
Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment
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