Question: A nurse assesses a newly admitted patient diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which statement is an example of “attending”?
Answer Options: “We all have stress in life. Being in a psychiatric hospital is not the end of the world.” “Tell me why you felt you had to be hospitalized to receive treatment for your depression.” “You will feel better after we get some antidepressant medication started for you.” “I’d like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me.” Correct Answer: “I’d like to sit with you for a while, so you may feel more comfortable talking with me.”
Question: Which characteristic of the website’s address most alerts the nurse that the site may have biased and prejudiced information?
Answer Options: Address ends in “.org.” Address ends in “.com.” Address ends in “.gov.” Address ends in “.net.” Correct Answer: Address ends in “.com.”
Question: A nurse says, “When I was in school, I learned to call upset patients by name to get their attention; however, I read a descriptive research study that says that this approach does not work. I plan to stop calling patients by name.” Which statement is the best appraisal of this nurse’s comment?
Answer Options: One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice. Staff nurses apply new research findings only with the help from clinical nurse specialists. New research findings should be incorporated into clinical algorithms before using them in practice. The nurse misinterpreted the results of the study. Classic tenets of practice do not change. Correct Answer: One descriptive research study rarely provides enough evidence to change practice.
Question: Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, “Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You will lose your skills.” Select the best response by the student interested in psychiatric nursing.
Answer Options: “Psychiatric nurses’ practice in safer environments than other specialties and nurse-to-patient ratios are better because of the nature of patients’ problems.” “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to solve multidimensional problems. I’m challenged by those situations.” “I think I will be good in the mental health field. I do not like surgical rotations in medical-surgical nursing. I will seek out a master’s program after I graduate.” “Medical-surgical nurses are the only real nurses. Anyone can talk and listen to patients.” Correct Answer: “Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to solve multidimensional problems. I’m challenged by those situations.”
Question: Which research evidence would most influence a group of nurses to change their practice?
Answer Options: Expert committee report of recommendations for practice Systematic review of randomized controlled trials Nonexperimental descriptive study Critical pathway Correct Answer: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Question: A bill introduced in Congress would reduce funding for the care of people diagnosed with mental illnesses. A group of nurses write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation. Which role have the nurses fulfilled?
Answer Options: Advocacy Attending Recovery Evidence-based practice Correct Answer: Advocacy
Question: An informal group of patients discusses issues about their health care. Which comment indicates a patient’s perception that his or her nurse is caring?
Answer Options: “My nurse always asks me which type of juice I want to help me swallow my medication.” “My nurse explained my treatment plan to me and asked for my ideas about how to make it better.” “My nurse told me that if I take all the medicines the doctor prescribes, I will get discharged soon.” “My nurse spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I’m not alone.” Correct Answer: “My nurse spends time listening to me talk about my problems. That helps me feel like I’m not alone.”
Question: A patient who immigrated to the United States from Honduras was diagnosed with schizophrenia. The patient took an antipsychotic medication for 3 weeks but showed no improvement. Which resource should the treatment team consult for information on more effective medications for this patient?
Answer Options: Clinical algorithm Clinical pathway Clinical practice guideline International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD) Correct Answer: Clinical algorithm
Question: A team of nurses wants to integrate evidence-based practice into a facility’s clinical pathways. What is the first step they must implement first?
Answer Options: Acquire findings from published literature. Apply the research findings to clinical practice. Assess the outcomes of using new research findings. Identify clinical problems and outcomes that should be changed. Correct Answer: Identify clinical problems and outcomes that should be changed.
Question: A nurse consistently strives to demonstrate caring behaviors during interactions with patients. Which reaction reported by a patient indicates this nurse is most effective?
Answer Options: Feeling less distrustful of others Sensing a connection with others Experiencing only minimal uneasiness about the future Being somewhat encouraged with efforts to improve Correct Answer: Sensing a connection with others
Question: An experienced nurse says to a new graduate, “When you’ve practiced as long as I have, you will instantly know how to take care of psychotic patients.” What is the new graduate’s best analysis of this comment? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Options: The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients’ individuality, which may compromise the integrity of practice. New research findings must be continually integrated into a nurse’s practice to provide the most effective care. Experience provides mental health nurses with the tools and skills needed for effective professional practice. Experienced psychiatric nurses have learned the best ways to care for psychotic patients through trial and error. Effective psychiatric nurses should be continually guided by an intuitive sense of patients’ needs. Correct Answer: The experienced nurse may have lost sight of patients’ individuality, which may compromise the integrity of practice. New research findings must be continually integrated into a nurse’s practice to provide the most effective care.
Question: Which patient statements identify qualities of nursing practice with high therapeutic value? (Select all that apply.)
Answer Options: “The nursing staff helps me keep track of my medications.” “My nurse is willing to go to social activities with me.” “The staff lets me do whatever I choose without interfering.” “My nurses look at me as a whole person with different needs.” Correct Answer: “The nursing staff helps me keep track of my medications.” “My nurses look at me as a whole person with different needs.”
Question: An 86-year-old, previously healthy and independent, falls after an episode of vertigo. Which statement made by this patient best demonstrates resilience?
Answer Options: “I knew this would happen eventually.” “Attending my weekly water aerobics class is too risky.” “I don’t need that silly walker to get around by myself.” “Maybe some physical therapy will help me with my balance.” Correct Answer: “Maybe some physical therapy will help me with my balance.”
Question: Which basic intervention should a psychiatric mental health nurse plan to provide for a patient diagnosed with a mood disorder?
Answer Options: Providing adjunctive care to enhance patient education Conducting stress reduction and health maintenance classes Correct Answer: Conducting stress reduction and health maintenance classes
Question: A patient is admitted to the psychiatric hospital. Which assessment finding best indicates that the patient has a mental illness? The patient:
Answer Options: describes coping and relaxation strategies used when feeling anxious. describes mood as consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless. can perform tasks attempted within the limits of own abilities. reports occasional problems with insomnia. Correct Answer: describes mood as consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless.
Question: The goal for a patient is to increase resiliency. Which outcome should a nurse add to the plan of care to be achieved within 3 days?
Answer Options: Patient describes feelings associated with loss and stress. Patient meets own needs before considering the rights of others. Patient will identify healthy coping behaviors in response to stressful events. Patient will allow others to assume responsibility for major areas of own life. Correct Answer: Patient will identify healthy coping behaviors in response to stressful events.
Question: A nurse at a behavioral health clinic sees an unfamiliar psychiatric diagnosis on a patient’s medical record. Which resource should the nurse consult to discern the criteria used to establish this diagnosis?
Answer Options: Appropriate nursing diagnosis (NANDA-I) NANDA International (NANDA-I) A behavioral health reference manual Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) Correct Answer: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
Question: A nurse must assess several new patients at a community mental health center. Conclusions concerning current functioning should be made on the basis of what factor?
Answer Options: The degree of conformity of the individual to society’s norms. The degree to which an individual appears logical and rational. A continuum from mentally healthy to mentally unhealthy. The rate of their intellectual and emotional growth. Correct Answer: A continuum from mentally healthy to mentally unhealthy.