Test bank Varcarolis’ Foundations of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing 9th Edition

1. The scope of practice for an advanced nurse practitioner would include which intervention?

• a. Conducting a mental health assessment.
• b. Prescribing psychotropic medication.
• c. Establishing a therapeutic relationship.
• d. Individualizing a nursing care plan.

Answer: B

In most states, prescriptive privileges are granted to master’s-prepared nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists who have taken special courses on prescribing medication. The nurse prepared at the basic level is permitted to perform mental health assessments, establish relationships, and provide individualized care planning.

PTS: 1   DIF: Cognitive Level: Understand (Comprehension)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation   MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment

2. A nursing student expresses concerns that mental health nurses “lose all their clinical nursing skills.” Select the best response by the mental health nurse.

• a. “Psychiatric nurses practice in safer environments than other specialties. Nurse-to-client ratios must be better because of the nature of the clients’ 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.”

Answer: B

The practice of psychiatric nursing requires a different set of skills than medical–surgical nursing, though there is substantial overlap. Psychiatric nurses must be able to help clients with both medical and mental health problems, reflecting the holistic perspective these nurses must have. Psychiatric nursing involves clinical practice, not just documentation, and psychosocial pain is as real as physical pain.

PTS: 1   DIF: Cognitive Level: Apply (Application)
TOP: Nursing Process: Implementation   MSC: Client Needs: Safe, Effective Care Environment