NCLEX RN MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING

NCLEX RN MENTAL HEALTH AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSING

LATEST 2023 REAL EXAM 300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT

ANSWERS|AGRADE

• The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which

behavior by the client indicates ineffective coping?

• Neglecting personal grooming
• Looking at old snapshots of family
• Participating in a senior citizens' program
• Visiting their spouse's grave once a month

• Neglecting personal grooming

• A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the

nurse, "I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response demonstrates therapeutic communication?

• "You have everything to live for."
• "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
• "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
• "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"

• "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"

• When the mental health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept at

all the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication response to this client?

• "I see."
• "Really?"
• "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
• "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too."

• "You're having difficulty sleeping?"

• A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being

poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?

• Using open-ended questions and silence
• Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
• Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
• Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition

• Using open-ended questions and silence 1 / 4

• A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours

at the locked exit door shouting, "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong here." What defense mechanism is the client implementing?

• Denial
• Projection
• Regression
• Rationalization

• Denial

• A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish

my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?

• "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
• "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
• "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
• "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."

• "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"

• On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was

voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?

• Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
• Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
• An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
• A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.

• A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.

• When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a client was admitted to

the mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which intervention for this client?

• Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
• Assist in completing an application for admission.
• Supply the client with written information about their mental illness.
• Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was

needed.

• Monitor closely for harm to self or others.

• The nurse is preparing a client for the termination phase of the nurse-client relationship.

The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?

• Planning short-term goals
• Making appropriate referrals 2 / 4

• Developing realistic solutions
• Identifying expected outcomes

• Making appropriate referrals

• The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which as being therapeutic communication

techniques? Select all that apply.

• Restating
• Listening
• Asking the client, "Why?"
• Maintaining neutral responses
• Providing acknowledgment and feedback
• Giving advice and approval or disapproval

• Restating

• Listening

• Maintaining neutral responses

• Providing acknowledgment and feedback

• A client being seen in the emergency department immediately after being sexually

assaulted appears calm and controlled. The nurse analyzes this behavior as indicating which defense mechanism?

• Denial
• Projection
• Rationalization
• Intellectualization

• Denial

• A client's unresolved feelings related to loss would be most likely observed during which

phase of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship?

• Trusting
• Working
• Orientation
• Termination

• Termination

• The nurse is working with a client who despite making a heroic effort was unable to

rescue a neighbor trapped in a house fire. Which client-focused action should the nurse engage in during the working phase of the nurse-client relationship?

• Exploring the client's ability to function
• Exploring the client's potential for self-harm 3 / 4

• Inquiring about the client's perception or appraisal of why the rescue was unsuccessful
• Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive

coping

• Inquiring about and examining the client's feelings for any that may block adaptive

coping

• The nurse employed in a mental health unit of a hospital is the leader of a group

psychotherapy session. What is the nurse's role during the termination stage of group development?

• Acknowledging that the group has identified goals
• Encouraging the accomplishment of the group's work
• Acknowledging the contributions of each group member
• Encouraging members to become acquainted with one another

• Acknowledging the contributions of each group member

• Which are characteristics of the termination stage of group development? Select all that

apply.

• The group evaluates the experience.
• The real work of the group is accomplished.
• Group interaction involves superficial conversation.
• Group members become acquainted with each other.
• Some structuring of group norms, roles, and responsibilities takes place.
• The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending separation.

• The group evaluates the experience.

• The group explores members' feelings about the group and the impending

separation.

• When a client is admitted to an inpatient mental health unit with the diagnosis of anorexia

nervosa, a cognitive behavioral approach is used as part of the treatment plan. The nurse understands that which is the purpose of this approach?

• Providing a supportive environment
• Examining intrapsychic conflicts and past issues
• Emphasizing social interaction with clients who withdraw
• Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs

• Helping the client to examine dysfunctional thoughts and beliefs

• The nurse understands that which best describes Gestalt therapy?
• It emphasizes self-expression, self-exploration, and self-awareness in the present.
• It promotes the individual's comfort in the group, which then transfers to other

relationships.

• The therapist focuses on how irrational beliefs and thoughts contribute to
• / 4