ANCC Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing 2

Question 1

What is the primary purpose of milieu therapy in an inpatient psychiatric unit?

Accepted Answer

To use the therapeutic environment to promote healing and social skills

Answer

Milieu therapy uses the entire treatment environment — including peers, staff, and activities — as a therapeutic tool.

Question 2

A patient with borderline personality disorder is engaging in splitting behavior. How should the nursing staff respond?

Accepted Answer

Maintain consistent communication and unified team responses

Answer

Consistent team communication prevents the patient from manipulating staff through idealization and devaluation dynamics.

Question 3

Which symptom cluster is most characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

Intrusion, avoidance, negative cognitions, hyperarousal

Answer

PTSD is defined by four symptom clusters: intrusion symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognition/mood, and hyperarousal.

Question 4

A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment. Which factor is most strongly associated with completed suicide?

Accepted Answer

Previous suicide attempt

Answer

A previous suicide attempt is the single strongest predictor of a future completed suicide.

Question 5

Which antipsychotic medication requires mandatory REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) enrollment due to risk of agranulocytosis?

Accepted Answer

Clozapine

Answer

Clozapine requires REMS enrollment with mandatory absolute neutrophil count monitoring due to its risk of life-threatening agranulocytosis.

ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Test