ISPN & CGFNS Mental Health Assessment in Psychiatric Nursing

Question 1

Which component of the Mental Status Examination (MSE) evaluates whether a patient knows the current date, location, and their own identity?

Accepted Answer

Orientation

Answer

Affect

Answer

Thought content

Answer

Insight

Question 2

During a psychiatric nursing assessment, which question best screens for suicidal ideation?

Accepted Answer

'Have you had any thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life?'

Answer

'Are you feeling happy today?'

Answer

'Do you take any prescription medications?'

Answer

'How long have you been in the hospital?'

Question 3

What does 'flat affect' indicate in a psychiatric mental status examination?

Accepted Answer

A marked reduction or absence of emotional expressiveness

Answer

Rapid and dramatic mood shifts

Answer

An elevated and expansive emotional state

Answer

Inappropriately happy mood in a sad situation

Question 4

Which rating scale is commonly used by psychiatric nurses to assess depression severity?

Accepted Answer

Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)

Answer

Glasgow Coma Scale

Answer

Morse Fall Scale

Answer

Braden Scale for Pressure Sores

Question 5

In a psychiatric assessment, 'flight of ideas' is best described as which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Rapid, loosely connected thoughts that jump from topic to topic

Answer

Slow, deliberate thought processing

Answer

A fixed false belief held despite evidence to the contrary

Answer

Hearing voices that others cannot hear

Question 6

Which nursing assessment finding would most concern a psychiatric nurse evaluating a patient for command hallucinations?

Accepted Answer

The patient reports hearing a voice telling them to hurt themselves or others

Answer

The patient reports mild anxiety about hospitalization

Answer

The patient refuses to eat breakfast

Answer

The patient sleeps more than 10 hours per night