RN exams mental health practice questions, set 10

RN exams · mental health

RN exams mental health practice questions set 10

You choose the therapeutic response, the safety priority, and the cue that means the patient is getting worse. Five of the 15 questions include the correct answer and rationale. The other ten keep answers in the study hub. Continue with the RN exams exam guide or more RN exams practice questions.

Five mental health questions with answers

Cover the key. Write the first action. Then open the rationale and name why the other choices fail.

Question 1

A nurse is demonstrating behaviors that the treatment team is attempting to get the patient to develop. The nurse is integrating which theory?

  1. A. Erikson’s model of psychosocial development
  2. B. Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory
  3. C. Skinner’s operant conditioning
  4. D. Freud’s psychoanalytic model
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory

The correct answer is B: Albert Bandura's social cognitive theory. The nurse is integrating this theory by demonstrating behaviors for the patient to develop through observational learning and modeling. Bandura's theory emphasizes that individuals learn by observing others and imitating their behaviors. The treatment team is likely using this approach to encourage the patient to adopt positive behaviors by showcasing them through the nurse's actions. Incorrect Choices: A: Erikson’s model of psychosocial development - This theory focuses on stages of psychosocial development and identity formation, not on observational learning or modeling. C: Skinner’s operant conditioning - This theory revolves around reinforcement and punishment to shape behavior, which is different from the observational learning emphasized in the scenario. D: Freud’s psychoanalytic model - This theory is based on unconscious processes and early childhood experiences, not on observational learning and modeling as seen in the nurse's behavior.

Question 2

A Native American client is admitted to an emergency department (ED) with an ulcerated toe secondary to uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. The client refuses to talk to a physician unless a shaman is present. Which nursing intervention is most appropriate?

  1. A. Assist the client in contacting a shaman of his choice.
  2. B. Explain to the client that voodoo medicine will not heal the ulcerated toe.
  3. C. Ask the client to explain what the shaman can do that the physician cannot.
  4. D. Inform the client that refusing treatment is a clients right.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Assist the client in contacting a shaman of his choice.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: 1. Cultural Competence: In respecting the client's cultural beliefs and practices, it is essential to honor the request for a shaman's presence. 2. Collaboration: By assisting the client in contacting a shaman, the nurse promotes collaboration between traditional healing methods and medical interventions. 3. Trust Building: Respecting the client's request fosters trust and rapport, which are crucial for effective communication and care. 4. Patient-Centered Care: This approach aligns with the principle of patient-centered care, where the client's preferences and values are prioritized. Summary of Other Choices: B: This choice is dismissive and disrespectful of the client's beliefs, potentially causing harm by undermining trust and rapport. C: This choice puts the client on the defensive and does not address the immediate need for a shaman's presence. D: This choice fails to address the client's request and focuses on the right to refuse treatment, which is not the immediate concern in

Question 3

A patient experiencing primary insomnia asks the nurse, I take a nap during the day. Doesn't that make up for a lost night's sleep? Select the nurse's best reply.

  1. A. Circadian drives give daytime naps a structure different from nighttime sleep.
  2. B. The body clock operates on a 24-hour cycle, making nap effectiveness unpredictable.
  3. C. It is a matter of habit and expectation. We expect to be more refreshed from a night's sleep.
  4. D. Sleep restores homeostasis but works more efficiently when aided by melatonin secreted at night.
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Circadian drives give daytime naps a structure different from nighttime sleep.

Correct Answer: A Rationale: 1. Circadian drives refer to the body's internal clock regulating sleep-wake cycles. 2. Daytime naps disrupt this cycle, affecting the quality of nighttime sleep. 3. Nighttime sleep is essential for complete restorative functions like deep sleep stages. 4. Daytime naps may not provide the same physiological benefits as nighttime sleep. 5. Thus, the nurse's response highlights the structural differences between daytime naps and nighttime sleep, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing nighttime sleep for optimal rest and restoration. Summary: - Option B: While the body clock operates on a 24-hour cycle, it doesn't address the structural differences in sleep quality between daytime naps and nighttime sleep. - Option C: Habit and expectation are factors, but the physiological differences between daytime naps and nighttime sleep are more crucial. - Option D: While melatonin aids sleep, the focus here is on the structural differences between daytime naps and nighttime sleep.

Question 4

A staff nurse on a psychiatric unit knows that patients often have trouble sleeping because of their psychiatric conditions. Which of the following would reflect a psychiatric nursing intervention to appropriately address this problem?

  1. A. Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages
  2. B. Involving patients in a volleyball game immediately before bedtime
  3. C. Enforcing the rule that all patients be in bed with lights out by 10:30 PM
  4. D. Encouraging patients to take short naps in the afternoons
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: A — Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages

Correct Answer: A: Limiting amounts of evening snacks and beverages Rationale: 1. Limiting evening snacks and beverages can help regulate patients' sleep patterns by reducing stimulants that may interfere with sleep. 2. Nutrition plays a role in sleep quality, and avoiding heavy meals close to bedtime can promote better sleep. 3. This intervention addresses a common issue in psychiatric patients without imposing strict rules or physical activity. 4. It focuses on a holistic approach to improving sleep quality by considering dietary factors. Summary: B: Involving patients in a volleyball game immediately before bedtime - This choice is incorrect as vigorous physical activity before bedtime can be stimulating and may disrupt sleep. C: Enforcing the rule that all patients be in bed with lights out by 10:30 PM - This choice is incorrect as it is too rigid and may not address the underlying causes of sleep disturbances. D: Encouraging patients to take short naps in the afternoons - This choice is incorrect as daytime

Question 5

A Gulf War veteran has been homeless since being discharged from military service. He is now diagnosed with schizophrenia. The nurse practitioner recognizes that assertive community treatment (ACT) is a good option for this patient since ACT provides:

  1. A. Psychiatric home care
  2. B. Care for hard-to-engage, seriously ill patients
  3. C. Outpatient community mental health center care
  4. D. A comprehensive emergency service model
Show answer and rationale

Correct answer: B — Care for hard-to-engage, seriously ill patients

The correct answer is B: Care for hard-to-engage, seriously ill patients. ACT is an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach designed for individuals with severe mental illnesses who have difficulty engaging with traditional mental health services. It offers intensive, team-based support to address the complex needs of this population, including housing, medication management, and social support. This approach is particularly beneficial for homeless individuals with schizophrenia, as it provides ongoing, personalized care to help them stabilize and reintegrate into the community. Incorrect choices: A: Psychiatric home care - ACT is not limited to home care but involves a comprehensive, community-based approach. C: Outpatient community mental health center care - While ACT involves community-based care, it is more intensive and individualized than standard outpatient services. D: A comprehensive emergency service model - ACT is focused on providing ongoing, long-term support rather than emergency services.

Keep going past these 15 questions

Missed-question review, longer banks, and the rest of 20,000+ nursing practice questions open when you start studying.

Ten more RN exams mental health questions

Stems and choices stay public so you can still reason. Correct answers and full rationales unlock with the rest of the bank.

Question 6

A patient had a venous thrombosis 3 weeks ago and is now taking warfarin. When visiting the laboratory to have a prothrombin time drawn, the patient reports drinking ginseng tea to stimulate the immune system. Which nursing diagnosis applies?

  1. A. Impaired memory related to neurological changes
  2. B. Deficient knowledge related to potentially harmful drug interactions
  3. C. Ineffective denial related to mismanagement of therapeutic regime
  4. D. Effective management of the therapeutic regime related to augmentation of anti-coagulant therapy
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 7

A nurse is caring for a client recovering from an acute myocardial infarction. Which following intervention should the nurse include in the point of care?

  1. A. Draw a troponin level every four hours
  2. B. Performance EKG every 12 hours
  3. C. Plant oxygen tent fell over minutes via rebreather mask
  4. D. Obtain a cardiac rehabilitation consult
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 8

During an assessment of an 80-year-old patient, the nurse notices the following: an inability to identify vibrations at her ankle and to identify the position of her big toe, a slower and more deliberate gait, and a slightly impaired tactile sensation. All other neurologic findings are normal. The nurse should interpret that these findings indicate:

  1. A. CN dysfunction.
  2. B. Lesion in the cerebral cortex.
  3. C. Normal changes attributable to aging.
  4. D. Demyelination of nerves attributable to a lesion.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 9

Which is the goal of the cognitive-behavioral theory model according to Beck and Ellis?

  1. A. Developing satisfactory relationships, maturity, and relative freedom from anxiety.
  2. B. Substituting rational for irrational beliefs and eliminating self-defeating behaviors.
  3. C. Facing reality and developing standards for behaving responsibly.
  4. D. Reducing bodily tensions and managing stress by biofeedback and relaxation training.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 10

A nurse is working as part of a community disaster response team. When responding to a community disaster, the nurse integrates understanding of individuals'responses, anticipating which of the following?

  1. A. People can become aggressive and violent when their basic needs are threatened.
  2. B. People involved in the disaster will always put the welfare of others before their own.
  3. C. Losses incurred during the disaster have little, if any, long-term effect on victims.
  4. D. The psychological distress associated with disasters is felt immediately.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 11

Which one of the following statements is most accurate regarding the cohesiveness of a group in group therapy?

  1. A. It is commonly present in the first meeting of the group.
  2. B. It is necessary for the group to have maximum cohesiveness, the more the better.
  3. C. Group cohesiveness is the degree to which members think alike and many things are left unspoken.
  4. D. Cohesiveness is a desirable group characteristic that is associated with positive group outcomes.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 12

Which one of the following statements is most accurate regarding the cohesiveness of a group in group therapy?

  1. A. It is commonly present in the first meeting of the group.
  2. B. It is necessary for the group to have maximum cohesiveness, the more the better.
  3. C. Group cohesiveness is the degree to which members think alike and many things are left unspoken.
  4. D. Cohesiveness is a desirable group characteristic that is associated with positive group outcomes.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 13

To establish rapport with a 10-year-old child who is hospitalized in a psychiatric setting, which statement by the nurse would be most appropriate?

  1. A. Let's compare your situation to that of Cinderella's in the fairy tale.
  2. B. I'm going to use the DECA tool to measure your self-control and initiative.
  3. C. Let's have you draw a picture of yourself.
  4. D. Would you like to play a game of checkers with me?
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 14

A Gulf War veteran has been homeless since being discharged from military service. He is now diagnosed with schizophrenia. The nurse practitioner recognizes that assertive community treatment (ACT) is a good option for this patient since ACT provides:

  1. A. Psychiatric home care
  2. B. Care for hard-to-engage, seriously ill patients
  3. C. Outpatient community mental health center care
  4. D. A comprehensive emergency service model
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

Question 15

During admission to the psychiatric unit, a female client is extremely anxious and states that she is worried about the sun coming up the next day. What intervention is most important for the RN to implement during the admission process?

  1. A. Assist the client in developing alternative coping skills.
  2. B. Remain calm and use a matter-of-fact approach.
  3. C. Ask the client why she is so anxious.
  4. D. Administer a PRN sedative to help relieve her anxiety.
Answer and rationale unlock in the Nursier study hub. Unlock answers

About these RN exams mental health questions

RN exams mental health practice questions, set 10 for nursing students in the United States. Fifteen items. Five include answers and rationales in American English.

No. Nursier is independent practice. Register through the official path named on the RN exams exam guide.

The first five questions already include the rationale. Start full practice to unlock the remaining keys, missed-question review, and the rest of the bank.

Keep going past these 15 questions

Missed-question review, longer banks, and the rest of 20,000+ nursing practice questions open when you start studying.