Deck 1: Mental Health and Mental Illness

Question 1

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) classifies which of the following?

A) Deviant behaviours
B) Present disability or distress
C) People with mental disorders
D) Mental disorders people have

Answer 1

Mental disorders people have

Question 2

Which of the following represents an outcome domain of the Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOS)?

A) Mental health
B) Perceived health
C) Chronic illness
D) Mental illness

Answer 2

Perceived health

Question 3

A nurse is part of a multidisciplinary team working with groups of depressed patients. Half the patients receive supportive interventions and antidepressant medication. The other half receives only medication. The team measures outcomes for each group. Which type of study is evident?

A) Incidence
B) Prevalence
C) Co-morbidity
D) Clinical epidemiology

Answer 3

Clinical epidemiology

Question 4

When a nursing student expresses concerns about how mental health nurses "lose all their nursing skills," which of the following is the best response by the mental health nurse?

A) "Psychiatric nurses practise in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios 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 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."

Question 5

Which assessment finding most clearly indicates that a patient may be experiencing a mental illness?

A) The patient reports occasional sleeplessness and anxiety.
B) The patient reports a consistently sad, discouraged, and hopeless mood.
C) The patient is able to describe the difference between "as if" and "for real."
D) The patient perceives difficulty making a decision about whether to change jobs.

Question 6

A visitor at a community health fair asks the nurse, "What is the most prevalent mental disorder in Canada?" Select the nurse's best response.

A) Schizophrenia
B) Bipolar disorder
C) Generalized anxiety disorder
D) Major depression

Question 7

The spouse of a patient diagnosed with schizophrenia says, "I don't understand how events from childhood have anything to do with this disabling illness." Which response by the nurse will best help the spouse understand the cause of this disorder?

A) "Psychological stress is the basis of most mental disorders."
B) "This illness results from developmental factors rather than stress."
C) "Research suggests that this condition more likely has a biological basis."
D) "It must be frustrating for you that your spouse is sick so much of the time."

Question 8

Which disorder is a culture-bound syndrome?

A) Epilepsy
B) Schizophrenia
C) Running amok
D) Major depression

Question 9

Complete this analogy. NANDA: clinical judgement: NIC: _________________

A) Patient outcomes
B) Nursing actions
C) Diagnoses
D) Symptoms

Question 10

A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following would the nurse expect as an advanced practice intervention?

A) Conduct mental health assessments
B) Prescribe psychotropic medication
C) Establish therapeutic relationships
D) Individualize nursing care plans

Question 11

A category 5 tornado occurred in a community of 400 people, resulting in destruction of many homes and businesses. In the 2 years after this disaster, 140 individuals were diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which term best applies to these newly diagnosed cases?

A) Prevalence
B) Co-morbidity
C) Incidence
D) Clinical epidemiology

Question 12

A college student said, "Most of the time I'm happy and feel good about myself. I have learned that what I get out of something is proportional to the effort I put into it." According to the Epp classification, which quadrant outcome should the nurse select?

A) Optimal mental health with mental illness
B) Poor mental health with mental illness
C) Optimal mental health without mental illness
D) Poor mental health without mental illness

Question 13

Which individual is demonstrating the highest level of resilience?

A) One who is able to repress stressors.
B) One who becomes depressed after the death of a spouse.
C) One who lives in a shelter for two years after his or her home is destroyed by fire.
D) One who takes a temporary job after loss of a permanent job.

Question 14

When a new bill introduced in Parliament reduces funding for care of people with mental illness, a group of people with mild mental illness write letters to their elected representatives in opposition to the legislation for all people with mental illness. Which role does this action portray?

A) Recovery
B) Self-care
C) Advocacy
D) Social action

Question 15

A patient's relationships are intense and unstable. The patient initially idealizes the significant other and then devalues him or her, resulting in frequent feelings of emptiness. This patient will benefit from interventions to develop which aspect of mental health?

A) Effectiveness in work
B) Communication skills
C) Productive activities
D) Fulfilling relationships

Question 16

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) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
C) The ANA's Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice
D) International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10)

Question 17

A nurse encounters an unfamiliar psychiatric disorder on a new patient'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) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)
C) A behavioural health reference manual
D) NurseOne online

Question 18

Which belief will best support a nurse's efforts to provide patient advocacy during a multidisciplinary patient care planning session?

A) All mental illnesses are culturally determined.
B) Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are cross-cultural disorders.
C) Symptoms of mental disorders are unchanged from culture to culture.
D) Assessment findings in mental disorders reflect a person's cultural patterns.

Question 19

Which of the following has been identified as a significant trend that will affect the future of psychiatric mental health nursing in Canada?

A) Decrease in the aging population
B) Increase in cultural diversity
C) Role of the advanced-practice nurse
D) Shortage of physicians in rural and urban areas

Question 20

Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrates mentally healthy behaviour" was achieved?

A) A patient sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands.
B) A patient behaves without considering the consequences of personal actions.
C) A patient aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
D) A patient seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life.

Question 21

Select the best response for the nurse who receives a question from another health professional seeking to understand the difference between a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) diagnosis and a nursing diagnosis.

A) "There is no functional difference between the two. Both identify human disorders."
B) "The DSM-5 diagnosis disregards culture, whereas the nursing diagnosis takes culture into account."
C) "The DSM-5 diagnosis describes causes of disorders, whereas a nursing diagnosis does not explore etiology."
D) "The DSM-5 diagnosis guides medical treatment, whereas the nursing diagnosis offers a framework for identifying interventions for issues a patient is experiencing."

Question 22

Which findings are signs of a person who is mentally healthy? Select all that apply.

A) Says, "I have some weaknesses, but I feel I'm important to my family and friends."
B) Adheres strictly to religious beliefs of parents and family of origin
C) Spends all holidays alone watching old movies on television
D) Considers past experiences when deciding about the future
E) Experiences feelings of conflict related to changing jobs

Question 23

An experienced nurse says to a new graduate, "When you've practiced as long as I have, you instantly know how to take care of psychotic patients." What information should the new graduate consider when analyzing this comment? Select all that apply.

A) The experienced nurse may need to be reminded of the importance of standardized classifications.
B) New research findings should be integrated continuously into a nurse's practice to provide the most effective care.
C) Experience provides mental health nurses with the essential tools and skills needed for effective professional practice.
D) Experienced psychiatric nurses have learned the best ways to care for mentally ill patients through trial and error.
E) An intuitive sense of patients' needs guides effective psychiatric nurses.

Question 24

A patient in the emergency department says, "Voices say someone is stalking me. They want to kill me because I developed a cure for cancer. I have a knife and will stab anyone who is a threat." Which aspects of the patient's mental health have the greatest and most immediate concern to the nurse? Select all that apply.

A) Happiness
B) Appraisal of reality
C) Control over behaviour
D) Effectiveness in work
E) Healthy self-concept

Question 25

Most psychiatric disorders are the result of which of the following?

A) Childhood trauma
B) Adverse life events
C) Multiple defective genes
D) Chronic medical conditions

Question 26

Which nursing intervention below is part of the scope of an advanced-practice psychiatric mental health nurse only?

A) Coordination of care
B) Health teaching
C) Milieu therapy
D) Psychotherapy