Question 1

Which statement shows a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?

Accepted Answer

A)  "You must have been very upset when you tried to hurt yourself." 
B)  "It makes me sad to see you going through such a difficult experience." 
C)  "If you tell me what is troubling you, I can help you solve your problems." 
D)  "Suicide is a drastic solution to a problem that may not be such a serious matter." 
A)  "You must have been very upset when you tried to hurt yourself." 
B)  "It makes me sad to see you going through such a difficult experience." 
C)  "If you tell me what is troubling you, I can help you solve your problems." 
D)  "Suicide is a drastic solution to a problem that may not be such a serious matter."

Question 2

A novice psychiatric nurse has a parent with bipolar disorder. This nurse angrily recalls feelings of embarrassment about the parent's behaviour in the community. Select the best ways for this nurse to cope with these feelings.

Accepted Answer

A)  Seek ways to use the understanding gained from childhood to help patients cope with their own illnesses. 
B)  Recognize that these feelings are unhealthy. The nurse should try to suppress them when working with patients. 
C)  Recognize that psychiatric nursing is not an appropriate career choice. Explore other nursing specialties. 
D)  The nurse should begin new patient relationships by saying, "My own parent had mental illness, so I accept it without stigma." 
E)  Recognize that the feelings may add sensitivity to the nurse's practice, but supervision is important. 
A)  Seek ways to use the understanding gained from childhood to help patients cope with their own illnesses. 
B)  Recognize that these feelings are unhealthy. The nurse should try to suppress them when working with patients. 
C)  Recognize that psychiatric nursing is not an appropriate career choice. Explore other nursing specialties. 
D)  The nurse should begin new patient relationships by saying, "My own parent had mental illness, so I accept it without stigma." 
E)  Recognize that the feelings may add sensitivity to the nurse's practice, but supervision is important.

Question 3

Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship has been successful when the nurse does which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other patients before discharge. 
B)  Gives the patient a personal telephone number and permission to call after discharge. 
C)  Discusses with the patient changes that happened during the relationship and evaluates outcomes. 
D)  Offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation three times a week after discharge. 
A)  Avoids upsetting the patient by shifting focus to other patients before discharge. 
B)  Gives the patient a personal telephone number and permission to call after discharge. 
C)  Discusses with the patient changes that happened during the relationship and evaluates outcomes. 
D)  Offers to meet the patient for coffee and conversation three times a week after discharge.

Question 4

A patient says, "I've done a lot of cheating and manipulating in my relationships." Select a nonjudgemental response by the nurse.

Accepted Answer

A)  "How do you feel about that?" 
B)  "I am glad that you realize this." 
C)  "That's not a good way to behave." 
D)  "Have you outgrown that type of behaviour?" 
A)  "How do you feel about that?" 
B)  "I am glad that you realize this." 
C)  "That's not a good way to behave." 
D)  "Have you outgrown that type of behaviour?"

Question 5

After several therapeutic encounters with a patient who recently attempted suicide, which occurrence should cause the nurse to consider the possibility of counter-transference?

Accepted Answer

A)  The patient's reactions toward the nurse seem realistic and appropriate. 
B)  The patient states, "Talking to you feels like talking to my parents." 
C)  The nurse feels unusually happy when the patient's mood begins to lift. 
D)  The nurse develops a trusting relationship with the patient. 
A)  The patient's reactions toward the nurse seem realistic and appropriate. 
B)  The patient states, "Talking to you feels like talking to my parents." 
C)  The nurse feels unusually happy when the patient's mood begins to lift. 
D)  The nurse develops a trusting relationship with the patient.

Question 6

Which descriptors exemplify consistency regarding nurse-patient relationships?

Accepted Answer

A)  Encouraging a patient to share initial impressions of staff 
B)  Having the same nurse care for a patient on a daily basis 
C)  Providing a schedule of daily activities to a patient 
D)  Setting a time for regular sessions with a patient 
E)  Offering solutions to a patient's problems 
A)  Encouraging a patient to share initial impressions of staff 
B)  Having the same nurse care for a patient on a daily basis 
C)  Providing a schedule of daily activities to a patient 
D)  Setting a time for regular sessions with a patient 
E)  Offering solutions to a patient's problems

Question 7

Which issues should a nurse address during the first interview with a patient with a psychiatric disorder?

Accepted Answer

A)  Trust, congruence, attitudes, and boundaries 
B)  Goals, resistance, unconscious motivations, and diversion 
C)  Relationship parameters, the contract, confidentiality, and termination 
D)  Transference, counter-transference, intimacy, and developing resources 
A)  Trust, congruence, attitudes, and boundaries 
B)  Goals, resistance, unconscious motivations, and diversion 
C)  Relationship parameters, the contract, confidentiality, and termination 
D)  Transference, counter-transference, intimacy, and developing resources

Question 8

A nurse says, "I am the only one who truly understands this patient. Other staff members are too critical." The nurse's statement indicates which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Boundary blurring 
B)  Sexual harassment 
C)  Positive regard 
D)  Advocacy 
A)  Boundary blurring 
B)  Sexual harassment 
C)  Positive regard 
D)  Advocacy

Question 9

A patient says, "Please don't share information about me with the other people." How should the nurse respond?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I will not share information with your family or friends without your permission, but I share information about you with other staff." 
B)  "A therapeutic relationship is just between the nurse and the patient. It is up to you to tell others what you want them to know." 
C)  "It depends on what you choose to tell me. I will be glad to disclose at the end of each session what I will report to others." 
D)  "I cannot tell anyone about you. It will be as though I am talking about my own problems, and we can help each other by keeping it between us." 
A)  "I will not share information with your family or friends without your permission, but I share information about you with other staff." 
B)  "A therapeutic relationship is just between the nurse and the patient. It is up to you to tell others what you want them to know." 
C)  "It depends on what you choose to tell me. I will be glad to disclose at the end of each session what I will report to others." 
D)  "I cannot tell anyone about you. It will be as though I am talking about my own problems, and we can help each other by keeping it between us."

Question 10

A community mental health nurse has worked with a patient for 3 years, but is moving out of the city and terminates the relationship. When a novice nurse begins work with this patient, what is the starting point for the relationship?

Accepted Answer

A)  Begin at the orientation phase. 
B)  Resume the working relationship. 
C)  Initially establish a social relationship. 
D)  Return to the emotional catharsis phase. 
A)  Begin at the orientation phase. 
B)  Resume the working relationship. 
C)  Initially establish a social relationship. 
D)  Return to the emotional catharsis phase.

Exam 9: Therapeutic Relationships

Which statement shows a nurse has empathy for a patient who made a suicide attempt?

A novice psychiatric nurse has a parent with bipolar disorder. This nurse angrily recalls feelings of embarrassment about the parent's behaviour in the community. Select the best ways for this nurse to cope with these feelings.

Termination of a therapeutic nurse-patient relationship has been successful when the nurse does which of the following?

A patient says, "I've done a lot of cheating and manipulating in my relationships." Select a nonjudgemental response by the nurse.

After several therapeutic encounters with a patient who recently attempted suicide, which occurrence should cause the nurse to consider the possibility of counter-transference?

Which descriptors exemplify consistency regarding nurse-patient relationships?

Which issues should a nurse address during the first interview with a patient with a psychiatric disorder?

A nurse says, "I am the only one who truly understands this patient. Other staff members are too critical." The nurse's statement indicates which of the following?

A patient says, "Please don't share information about me with the other people." How should the nurse respond?

A community mental health nurse has worked with a patient for 3 years, but is moving out of the city and terminates the relationship. When a novice nurse begins work with this patient, what is the starting point for the relationship?

Mental Health and Mental Illness

Historical Overview of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Overview of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Care Within Various Settings

Relevant Theories and Therapies for Nursing Practice

Understanding Responses to Stress

The Nursing Process and Standards of Care for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Ethical Responsibilities and Legal Obligations for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Practice

Cultural Considerations for Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing

Communication and the Clinical Interview

Psychotropic Drugs

Anxiety and Related Disorders

Depressive Disorders

Bipolar Disorders

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders

Eating and Feeding Disorders

Neurocognitive Disorders

Psychoactive Substance Use and Treatment

Personality Disorders

Sleepwake Disorders

Crisis and Disaster

Suicide and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Anger, Aggression, and Violence

Interpersonal Violence: Child, Older Adult, and Intimate Partner Abuse

Sexual Assault

Sexuality and Gender

Disorders of Children and Adolescents

Psychosocial Needs of the Older Adult

Living With Recurrent and Persistent Mental Illness

Psychological Needs of Patients With Medical Conditions

Care for the Dying and for Those Who Grieve

Forensic Psychiatric Nursing

Therapeutic Groups

Family Interventions

Integrative and Complimentary Therapies

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