Test bank For Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing 9th Edition

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Test Bank Complete Varcarolis' Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing A

Clinical 9th Edition

Chapter 01: Mental Health and Mental Illness Halter: Varcarolis’ Foundations of

Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach, 9th Edition

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. The scope of practiced for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?

a. Conducting a mental health assessment.

b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.

c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.

d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.

ANS: B

In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners

and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The

nurse 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) TOP: Nursing Process:

Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment

2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses “lose all their clinical

nursing skills.” Select the best response by the mental health nurse.

a. “Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-toclient

ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients’ 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 monitoring

equipment 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 clients

with medical as well as mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these

nurses must have. Nurse–client 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) TOP: Nursing Process:

Implementation MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment

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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

to the 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 clients understand

their rights or make decisions. On a community scale, advocacy includes political activity,

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, the

letterwriting campaign advocates for that cause on behalf of clients who are unable to

articulate their own needs.

PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)

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

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.”

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)

TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

5. Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a client may be experiencing a mental

illness?

a. reporting occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.

b. reporting a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.

c. being able to describe the difference between “as if” and “for real.”

d. experiencing difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.

ANS: B

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)

TOP: 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?

a. being willing to work towards achieving ideals and meeting demands.

b. behaving without considering the consequences of personal actions.

c. aggressively meeting personal needs without considering the rights of others.

d. seeking help from others to avoid assuming responsibility for major areas of own

life.

ANS: A

Mental health is a state of well-being in which individuals reach their own potential, cope

with the normal stresses of life, work productively, and contribute to the community. Mental

health provides people with the capacity for rational thinking, communication skills, learning,

emotional growth, resilience, and self-esteem. The correct response describes an adaptive,

healthy behavior. The distracters describe maladaptive behaviors.

PTS: 1 DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)

TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation MSC: Client Needs: Psychosocial Integrity

7. A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new client’s admission form.

Which resource should the nurse 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

ANS: C

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: Understand (Comprehension)

TOP: Nursing Process: Assessment MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment

8. A nurse wants to find a description of diagnostic criteria for anxiety disorders. Which

resource would have the most complete information?

a. Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC)

b. DSM-V

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