Test bank Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric
Mental Health Nursing, 8th Edition by Margaret
Jordan Halter
, 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 anadvanced 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 andclinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on
prescribing medication. The nurseprepared 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 clinicalnursing skills.” Select the best response by the
mental health nurse.
, a. “Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties.
Nurse-to-
patientratios 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
monitoringequipment 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 withmedical 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:
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 nurses write letters to
their elected representatives in opposition tothe 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, publicspeaking, 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`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: Psycho-social 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.”
