Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Certification 177 Questions with Verified Answers
According to traditional definitions of mental
health, which of the
... [Show More] following would the nurse
be most likely to describe as mentally healthy?
a. Jerry Jones, a Vietnam veteran with no
family ties, who has been unemployed for 10
years
b. Tom Sarris, a CEO, who spends 14 hours at
work each day and is too tired to do anything
with his family on weekends
c. George Connors, a shoe salesman who
delights in playing affectionately with his
children but has been unable to hold a
steady job since they were born
d. Sam Thomas, a restaurateur who loves his
work, but sets limits on the hours he spends
there in order to enjoy his family and friends - CORRECT ANSWER d. Sam Thomas, a restaurateur who loves his
work, but sets limits on the hours he spends
there in order to enjoy his family and friends
Which of the following would be described as
a component of mental health according to
Johnson?
a. Refusing to be involved in any relationship
that limits independence
b. Absence of anxiety under any circumstances
c. Dependence on friends and family to assist
with crises
d. Ignoring cues from the environment when
deciding what to do - CORRECT ANSWER c. Dependence on friends and family to assist
with crises
In helping a client change, the nurse should:
a. Encourage the client to move rapidly to
avoid delay
b. Realize that the problems the client is facing
will make him or her eager to change
c. Encourage feelings of hope
d. Understand that change is a natural process
that never involves anxiety and fear - CORRECT ANSWER c. Encourage feelings of hope
In facilitating change the nurse should:
a. Avoid deliberate goal-directed activity since
this will inhibit the process
b. Restrict clients to few choices to avoid overwhelming
them
c. Give up if resistance is encountered
d. Form a helping relationship and collaborate
with clients - CORRECT ANSWER d. Form a helping relationship and collaborate
with clients
John Korman is a 36-year-old male recently admitted to a psychiatric unit. The nurse taking his history observes that his speech is slurred, and he states that he cannot remember where
he has been for the past 12 hours, but the police who brought him in stated that he was arrested driving the wrong way on a one-way street. Which of the following items on the mental status exam would the nurse NOT mark
"impaired"?
a. Behavior
b. Judgment
c. Memory
d. Affect - CORRECT ANSWER d. Affect
Which of the following is NOT necessary for the
nurse to make a spiritual assessment?
a. Assure that the client has a religious
affiliation.
b. Determine if client believes in a higher
power.
c. Evaluate the client's relationship to others.
d. Determine the client's philosophy of life. - CORRECT ANSWER a. Assure that the client has a religious
affiliation.
Which of the following interventions would be
labeled as an independent nursing intervention
on a psychiatric unit?
a. Giving medications
b. Making discharge plans
c. Deciding privileges
d. Assuring safety - CORRECT ANSWER d. Assuring safety
The staff of a day treatment program have
determined that all clients must participate in a
group outing to a local museum because all of
the staff want to see the exhibit. Two women
clients in the group voice their opposition to
visiting the museum because they do not wish
to risk being identified as psychiatric clients by
others in the community. The staff refuse to
listen to their concerns and insist that they go
on the trip, but do not describe any particular
reason. Which adjective describes the type of
goal planning evident in this situation?
a. Specific
b. Individualized
c. Collaborative
d. Authoritarian - CORRECT ANSWER d. Authoritarian
Which of the following behaviors would indicate
a good client response to a nursing action?
a. The client's body is noticeably less tense and
he or she has stopped pacing.
b. The client stops interacting with others on
the unit.
c. The client states "If I don't do what people
want they won't like me."
d. The client refuses to listen to feedback from
other members of the community. - CORRECT ANSWER a. The client's body is noticeably less tense and
he or she has stopped pacing.
A nurse brings a client the Clozapine medication that she has been taking. The client does not look well and complains of a sore throat. The nurse notes that her temperature is elevated and concludes that the client has an upper respiratory infection. After giving the client the medication, she states that she will ask the
doctor for a PRN aspirin order. The doctor orders a CBC and determines that the client has agranulocytosis. At which step of the nursing process did this nurse's problem begin?
a. Diagnosis
b. Planning
c. Intervention
d. Revision of plan - CORRECT ANSWER b. Planning
Which of the following is NOT true of the Resolution
or Termination phase of the nurse-client
relationship?
a. Preliminaries for this phase are introduced in
the Orientation phase.
b. Talk about the impending separation should
be avoided so that the client does not decompensate.
c. The client should be encouraged to review his progress and goals.
d. The nurse should model appropriate expression of feelings. - CORRECT ANSWER b. Talk about the impending separation should
be avoided so that the client does not decompensate.
Which of the following statements would the
nurse NOT make in negotiating a contract with
the client within the nurse-client relationship?
a. "I would like to meet with you on a once a
week basis while we are trying to resolve this
crisis."
b. "We need about 10 sessions to work on this
problem."
c. "I have malpractice insurance in case there is
any problem."
d. "We will not be exploring your past, but only
looking at things that are going on now." - CORRECT ANSWER c. "I have malpractice insurance in case there is
any problem."
In a session with the nurse, the client begins
to whine about his inability to complete his
assigned task from the previous session. The
nurse responds by scolding him for his failure.
This is an example of:
a. Transference
b. Counter-transference
c. Transference and Counter-transference
d. Goal setting - CORRECT ANSWER c. Transference and Counter-transference
Sarah has been at least 10 minutes late for each
of her previous sessions. Today she arrives 20
minutes late. The nurse should:
a. Express anger towards Sarah.
b. Confront Sarah firmly and set limits on her
behavior.
c. Discuss terminating their sessions if she continues
this
d. Comment on her observations and assist
Sarah to understand her behavior. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Comment on her observations and assist
Sarah to understand her behavior.
Jim, a 14-year-old client, is discussing his drug
abuse problem with his nurse. When she asks
him to clarify the types of substances he routinely
uses, he responds by saying "How about
you, have you ever used marijuana?" How
should the nurse respond?
a. "That's none of your business, Jim, now let's
get back to your problem."
b. "Why, yes I have, but I was older and more
responsible."
c. "As you recall, Jim, we agreed to work on
your problems with drugs in our sessions. I
wonder what concerns you about whether I
have used drugs."
d. "That's an inappropriate question. I don't
have to answer that and wonder why you'd
even ask it." - CORRECT ANSWER c. "As you recall, Jim, we agreed to work on
your problems with drugs in our sessions. I
wonder what concerns you about whether I
have used drugs."
According to the Communication Process, at the
end of the feedback loop, the sender becomes
the receiver.
a. True
a. False - CORRECT ANSWER a. True
Which of the following statements is true concerning
communication?
a. Some behavior is random and does not communicate
a message.
b. The message sent by the sender is obvious
and does not have to be interpreted by the
receiver.
c. The main goal of communication is
understanding.
d. The only real form of communication is the
verbal message, either written or spoken. - CORRECT ANSWER c. The main goal of communication is
understanding.
Sobbing and grunting would be forms of what
kind of nonverbal messages?
a. Kinesics
b. Paralanguage
c. Proxemics
d. Appearance - CORRECT ANSWER b. Paralanguage
Terry Barr is describing to the nurse that he sees
himself as extremely patient and laid back. As
he speaks, he drums his fingers on the arm of
the chair. What can the nurse infer from this
communication?
a. Terry is obviously lying and trying to fool the
nurse.
b. Terry's verbal and nonverbal communications
are not congruent.
c. Terry is in touch with his feelings and
expressing them openly and honestly.
d. Terry's culture is interfering with his ability to
communicate. - CORRECT ANSWER b. Terry's verbal and nonverbal communications
are not congruent.
As they are walking down the hall, the nurse and
client are discussing their favorite movies. This is
an example of:
a. Social communication
b. Therapeutic communication
c. Inappropriate communication
d. Lack of communication - CORRECT ANSWER a. Social communication
Which of the following would be the best
example of an open-ended question?
a. How did you come to be in the hospital?
b. Did your husband bring you over to the
hospital?
c. Who brought you to the hospital?
d. When did you come into the hospital? - CORRECT ANSWER a. How did you come to be in the hospital?
Adrienne has just finished describing how
devastated she was at the recent loss of her
mother. Which of the following responses by
the nurse would NOT be a barrier to therapeutic
communication?
a. "I know how you feel. I lost my mother
recently, too."
b. "Well, it's better to have loved and lost, if
you know what I mean."
c. "When did she die? Of what? Does anyone
else in your family have that problem?"
d. "It sounds like it's been a really tough period
for you." - CORRECT ANSWER d. "It sounds like it's been a really tough period
for you."
Timmy, a 6-year-old, is accompanying his parents
to a family therapy session to deal with his
school phobia. Which of the following behaviors
by the nurse would NOT constitute therapeutic
communication skills with a child?
a. "Let's pick out some toys from the closet
to play with while I talk to your Mom and
Dad."
b. "What do you like best about school, Timmy?
What do you like least?"
c. "Tell me about the picture you drew of your
family."
d. "Is there something that makes you anxious
about going to school, Timmy?'' - CORRECT ANSWER d. "Is there something that makes you anxious
about going to school, Timmy?''
In a peer supervision group a nurse is discussing a recent self-disclosure to a client. The group is most likely to question the appropriateness of the behavior if:
a. The nurse has been using a humanistic theoretical approach.
b. The nurse-client relationship was in the termination phase.
c. The nurse-client relationship was in the working phase.
d. The nurse-client relationship was in the orientation phase. - CORRECT ANSWER d. The nurse-client relationship was in the orientation phase.
Susan, a new graduate, has recently joined the
staff of an inner-city mental health clinic. She is
shocked at some of the parenting behaviors of
her initial client and tells other clinicians that she
thinks her client should know better. How could
her attitude be labeled?
a. Stereotyping
b. Culturally relativistic
c. Ethnocentric
d. Culturally deprived - CORRECT ANSWER c. Ethnocentric
Susan finds herself frustrated when her client
uses some money she receives to buy winter
coats for her nephews instead of saving it to
buy a car so she could commute to a better job.
Susan's client is demonstrating which cultural
values?
a. Present oriented, individualistic
b. Future oriented, individualistic
c. Present oriented, collectivist
d. Future oriented, collectivist - CORRECT ANSWER c. Present oriented, collectivist
A Middle Eastern client comes to the nurses'
station and stands face to face less than a foot
away from the nurse. The nurse should be aware
that:
a. The client is becoming aggressive and trying
to intimidate the nurse.
b. The client has a different sense of personal
space than the predominant American
culture.
c. The client is testing the nurse and needs to
be confronted.
d. The client is being seductive with the nurse. - CORRECT ANSWER b. The client has a different sense of personal
space than the predominant American
culture.
An Asian American client arrives for her first
session with the nurse. She speaks softly and
avoids discussion of her problem directly. The
nurse should:
a. Understand that she has low self-esteem and
suggest that they work on this problem.
b. Realize that this behavior is due to extreme
guilt and shame and indicates a secret that
needs disclosing.
c. Be aware that this is defensive behavior
and probably foreshadows a great deal of
resistance.
d. Understand that this is culturally appropriate
behavior and should be respected and
mirrored. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Understand that this is culturally appropriate behavior and should be respected and mirrored.
In a well-functioning mental health team who is
the most important member?
a. The doctor
b. The nurse
c The psychologist
d. The client - CORRECT ANSWER d. The client
Which of the following characteristics is most
indicative of success in a mental health team?
a. A team leader with a decisive authoritarian
approach
b. A set of firm rules and regulations to cover
most situations that could arise
c. Many diverse philosophies of treatment
d. Open communication - CORRECT ANSWER d. Open communication
The goal of Art therapy and Music therapy is:
a. To assist clients in passing time in the hospital
productively.
b. To teach clients a new skill or hobby.
c. To evaluate clients for possible job training.
d. To stimulate the expression of feelings. - CORRECT ANSWER d. To stimulate the expression of feelings.
Which of the following is not a responsibility of
the generalist nurse?
a. Psychotherapy
b. 24-hour care
c. Milieu management
d. Safety - CORRECT ANSWER a. Psychotherapy
Which of the following is most true about a
psychiatric and mental health advanced practice
nurse who testifies in court on behalf of a child
who has been sexually abused?
a. The nurse is functioning as an advocate for
the child.
b. The nurse is functioning as a case manager
for the child.
c. The nurse is exceeding her capabilities as a
psychiatric and mental health advanced practice
nurse.
d. The nurse is functioning as a Psychiatric
Liaison Nurse. - CORRECT ANSWER a. The nurse is functioning as an advocate for the child.
Of the following advocacy guidelines, which is
true?
a. All clients are in need of advocacy as provided
by the nurse.
b. Joining forces with other groups with similar
goals should be avoided since this leads to a
large group that is difficult to handle.
c. The maximum power possible should be
brought to the task to ensure the maximum
benefit.
d. Patience and persistence are important characteristics
of successful client advocates. - CORRECT ANSWER d. Patience and persistence are important characteristics of successful client advocates.
Jerry Coleman is a 46-year-old client with Bipolar
Disorder who has recently had an exacerbation
of his manic symptoms. He has been referred for
appropriate services to a psychiatric and mental
health advanced practice nurse by his disability
insurance company. What kind of services might
he expect to receive from his case manager?
a. A thorough evaluation of his case and coordination
of all services
b. Referral for medication evaluation and
maintenance
c. Referral for vocational rehabilitation if
necessary
d. Weekly reports to his boss concerning the
details of his disability - CORRECT ANSWER d. Weekly reports to his boss concerning the details of his disability
Sharon Getty has been admitted to a neurological
unit with a complaint of chronic pain. She
has been referred to the psychiatric and mental
health advanced practice nurse who functions as
the Psychiatric Liaison Nurse for that unit. Which
might be a response of the liaison nurse?
a. Discussion with R.N.s on the unit about the
need for them not to talk with the client
about the emotional components of her pain
b. Avoiding talking with the client's family
because they will probably be upset to learn
that they might be contributing to the client's
problems with pain
c. Realizing that individual psychotherapy with
the client is the role of the psychiatrist
d. Referring the client to occupational therapy
if appropriate - CORRECT ANSWER d. Referring the client to occupational therapy if appropriate
Which of the following is NOT true?
a. Milieu therapy implies that all activity is
therapeutic.
b. A therapeutic environment cannot exist
without community meetings.
c. Token communities use privileges to reward
appropriate behavior.
d. The physical environment is an important
part of the milieu. - CORRECT ANSWER b. A therapeutic environment cannot exist
without community meetings.
To which of the following values would the
nurse working within the therapeutic milieu
probably NOT subscribe?
a. The need for accessible team members and
cooperative working relationships
b. Empowerment of clients and staff to make
decisions that affect the group
c. Emphasis on the individual at the expense of
the group
d. Encouragement of risk taking and growth - CORRECT ANSWER c. Emphasis on the individual at the expense of the group
Carmine d'Angelo is a 29-year-old client with a
diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type. When he is denied off-unit privileges at a community
meeting, he becomes hostile and accuses certain
community members of "having it in for me."
What would be the most appropriate response
of the nurse?
a. Ignore the behavior because it is
inappropriate.
b. Confront Mr. D'Angelo with his inappropriate
behavior and put him in seclusion.
c. Meet with him at their usual time and clarify
his misperceptions.
d. Ask the community members that he accused
to have nothing more to do with him. - CORRECT ANSWER c. Meet with him at their usual time and clarify his misperceptions.
What types of things would the nurse NOT work
on with Mr. D'Angelo over the next few sessions?
a. How his thoughts and feelings influence his
behavior
b. Whether or not his behavior at the previous
community meeting achieved his purpose
c. What other coping strategies might be more
effective
d. Who seems to be "most out to get" him - CORRECT ANSWER d. Who seems to be "most out to get" him
In a therapy group, a client makes inappropriate
demands of the psychiatric and mental health
advanced practice nurse who is the group therapist.
The psychiatric and mental health advanced
practice nurse responds assertively and effectively
resolves the problem to the satisfaction of
all concerned. What curative factor, according to
Yalom does this situation exemplify?
a. Altruism
b. Catharsis
c. Interpersonal Learning
d. Universality - CORRECT ANSWER c. Interpersonal Learning
Mrs. C. S. is an extremely shy individual who was
admitted to the hospital with a depressive disorder.
What characteristics of therapy groups will
best serve her needs?
a. The realization that no one else in the group
has anything like the problem she has
b. The fact that two members of the group
are talking constantly without interruption
will protect her from feeling like she must
participate.
c. The experience of being left alone by other
group members will protect her autonomy
and decrease her performance anxiety.
d. The fact that others support one another
in learning to change will encourage her to
take the risks needed to grow. - CORRECT ANSWER d. The fact that others support one another
in learning to change will encourage her to
take the risks needed to grow.
A psychiatric and mental health advanced
practice nurse is called in as a consultant to a
nursing home seeking to enhance the morale of its residents. The psychiatric and mental health
advanced practice nurse decides to begin an
ongoing Resocialization Group since many of
the clients have been pretty much isolated from
others in their previous living situations. How
would such a group be classified?
a. Homogeneous, closed ended
b. Heterogeneous, open ended
c. Open ended, task
d. Closed ended, psychotherapy - CORRECT ANSWER b. Heterogeneous, open ended
Ann and John lose their first child to Sudden
Infant Death Syndrome. They decide to attend a
hospital-sponsored group for people who have
had this experience. What type of group will
they be attending?
a. Teaching group
b. Psychotherapy group
c. Task group
d. Supportive/Therapeutic group - CORRECT ANSWER d. Supportive/Therapeutic group
A psychiatric and mental health advanced practice
nurse working as a group psychotherapist
makes observations about the effective way
members handled a participant who was acting
out in the group. What type of leadership style
does this nurse exhibit?
a. Autocratic
b. Democratic
c. Laissez faire
d. Materialistic - CORRECT ANSWER b. Democratic
After a particularly difficult community meeting,
the staff of a unit sit down and begin to talk
about which clients were seated in close proximity
and who agreed with whom on the issues
that came up. What is the staff discussing?
a. Gossip
b. Rank and Status
c. Group Content
d. Group Process - CORRECT ANSWER d. Group Process
A nursing group has convened to make decisions
about renovation plans for a psychiatric
unit. One of the members is discussing how little
the hospital ever pays attention to input from
nursing staff. Which member role is this participant
exhibiting?
a. Maintenance role
b. Task role
c. Individual role
d. Gatekeeper role - CORRECT ANSWER c. Individual role
A psychiatric and mental health advancedterm-46
practice nurse has had several meetings with a
therapy group. On this particular occasion it is
noted that members seem angry with the nurse each other to see who can refrain from breaking
the silence longest. Which stage of group development
do these behaviors signify?
a. Storming
b. Norming
c. Performing
d. Mourning - CORRECT ANSWER a. Storming
A psychiatric and mental health advanced practice
nurse notes that members of her therapy
group have become most supportive of one
another and very attached to the group. Which
stage of group development do these behaviors
signify?
a. Forming
b. Storming
c. Norming
d. Performing - CORRECT ANSWER c. Norming
Whose responsibility is it to deal with transference
issues in group therapy?
a. The nurse
b. The group members
c. The nurse and the group members
d. The group member who is involved in the
transference - CORRECT ANSWER c. The nurse and the group members [Show Less]