Chapter 1: Practicing the Science and Art of Psychiatric Nursing
Test Bank

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Which outcome, focused on recovery, would be expected in the plan of care for a patient living in the community with serious and persistent mental illness? Within 3 months, the patient will:
a.
deny suicidal ideation.
b.
report a sense of well-being.
c.
take medications as prescribed.
d.
attend clinic appointments on time.

ANS: B
Recovery emphasizes managing symptoms, reducing psychosocial disability, and improving role performance. The goal of recovery is to empower the individual with mental illness to achieve a sense of meaning and satisfaction in life and to function at the highest possible level of wellness. The
Classic tenets of practice should change as research findings provide evidence for change.

DIF: Cognitive Level: Analysis REF: Pages: 3-4 TOP: Nursing Process: Evaluation
MSC: NCLEX: Health Promotion and Maintenance

7. Two nursing students discuss career plans after graduation. One student wants to enter psychiatric nursing. The other student asks, “Why would you want to be a psychiatric nurse? All they do is talk. You’ll lose your skills.” Select the best response by the student interested in psychiatric nursing.
a.
“Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-patient ratios must be better because of the nature of patients’ problems.”
b.
“Psychiatric nurses use complex communication skills, as well as critical thinking, to solve multidimensional problems. I’m challenged by those situations.”
c.
“I think I’ll be good in the mental health field. I do not like clinical rotations in school, so I don’t want to continue them after I graduate.”
d.
“Psychiatric nurses don’t have to deal with as much pain and suffering as medical surgical nurses. That appeals to me.”

ANS: B
The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical surgical nursing, although substantial overlap does exist. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help patients with medical and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Nurse-patient ratios and