All Free Mental Health Nursing MCQs with Answers
Every Mental Health Nursing question in the bank, across all chapters, each with the correct answer and a written explanation. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
320 questions · page 2 of 16
- A. Ask the child to describe feelings through play or drawing
- B. Require the child to answer every question without help
- C. Focus only on physical symptoms reported by the parents
- D. Avoid discussing frightening experiences during assessment
Explanation: Play and drawing can help a child communicate thoughts and feelings in an age-appropriate way.
Correct answer: Ask the child to describe feelings through play or drawing- A. Provide a clear explanation and visual preparation for the change
- B. Use loud verbal instructions to gain the child's attention
- C. Remove all familiar objects from the child's environment
- D. Change activities frequently to improve adaptability
Explanation: Children with autism often benefit from predictable routines, simple explanations, and visual schedules.
Correct answer: Provide a clear explanation and visual preparation for the change- A. Break tasks into short steps with brief planned breaks
- B. Allow the child to choose any time and place for work
- C. Give several instructions at the same time to save time
- D. Remove all recreational activities until homework is complete
Explanation: Short tasks, one instruction at a time, and planned breaks improve attention and task completion.
Correct answer: Break tasks into short steps with brief planned breaks- A. Practise slow breathing and identify the feeling without judgment
- B. Tell the child to stop thinking about the frightening situation
- C. Advise the child to avoid all activities that cause nervousness
- D. Explain that strong feelings should be kept private from adults
Explanation: Slow breathing and naming emotions can reduce physiological arousal and build coping skills.
Correct answer: Practise slow breathing and identify the feeling without judgment- A. Reduce noise and maintain a consistent evening routine
- B. Keep the patient awake all night to prevent daytime sleep
- C. Move the patient to a different room each evening
- D. Use physical restraints whenever agitation begins
Explanation: A calm environment, adequate lighting, and a consistent routine may reduce late-day confusion and agitation.
Correct answer: Reduce noise and maintain a consistent evening routine- A. The patient reports memory difficulty and gives up during testing
- B. The patient gradually loses orientation over several years
- C. The patient has impaired recognition of familiar family members
- D. The patient shows progressive difficulty managing personal care
Explanation: A person with depression may report memory problems and make little effort during testing, sometimes called depressive pseudodementia.
Correct answer: The patient reports memory difficulty and gives up during testing- A. Assess airway, breathing, circulation, and immediate safety risks
- B. Ask the patient to explain the reason for leaving the bed
- C. Place the patient in a dark room to reduce stimulation
- D. Administer a sedative before completing any assessment
Explanation: Delirium is an acute medical emergency, so the nurse first assesses physiological stability and protects the patient from immediate harm.
Correct answer: Assess airway, breathing, circulation, and immediate safety risks- A. Assess decision-making ability for the specific choice being made
- B. Assume the patient lacks capacity for every decision
- C. Allow the family to make all decisions without patient input
- D. Withhold information because the patient may become confused
Explanation: Decision-making capacity is assessed for a particular decision and may vary with its complexity and the patient's condition.
Correct answer: Assess decision-making ability for the specific choice being made- A. Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life?
- B. Do you think your family understands your medical problems?
- C. Are you satisfied with the activities available on the ward?
- D. Have you felt tired since your appetite became poor?
Explanation: A direct, clear question about self-harm or suicide is necessary to identify immediate risk and does not create suicidal thoughts.
Correct answer: Have you had thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life?- A. Use short sentences, allow extra time, and confirm the meaning
- B. Correct every incorrect word before continuing the conversation
- C. Speak to the family member instead of addressing the patient
- D. Raise the voice and repeat the same sentence rapidly
Explanation: Short statements, patience, and checking understanding support communication while preserving dignity.
Correct answer: Use short sentences, allow extra time, and confirm the meaning- A. Symptoms occur only during mathematics lessons
- B. Symptoms occur in more than one setting
- C. Symptoms began after a recent family move
- D. Symptoms occur only when the child is tired
Explanation: ADHD symptoms should be persistent and present in more than one setting, such as home and school.
Correct answer: Symptoms occur in more than one setting- A. Expose the child to noise until the reaction stops
- B. Reduce unnecessary noise and provide a quiet area
- C. Ask the parents to leave during noisy procedures
- D. Use louder speech so the child follows instructions
Explanation: Many children with autism have sensory sensitivities, so reducing noise and offering a quiet space can prevent distress.
Correct answer: Reduce unnecessary noise and provide a quiet area- A. The child's preferred television programmes
- B. The child's thoughts about self-harm or death
- C. The child's usual number of daily snacks
- D. The child's favourite school subject
Explanation: Persistent depressive symptoms and functional decline require direct assessment of suicidal thoughts, plans, and access to means.
Correct answer: The child's thoughts about self-harm or death- A. Use complex explanations to test understanding
- B. Speak at eye level using simple concrete words
- C. Ask the parent to answer every question
- D. Promise that no procedure will cause discomfort
Explanation: Simple, concrete language at the child's eye level supports understanding and trust.
Correct answer: Speak at eye level using simple concrete words- A. A gradual decline in memory over two years
- B. Stable difficulty recalling familiar information
- C. Acute onset with fluctuating awareness
- D. Progressive loss of language over many months
Explanation: Delirium usually develops rapidly and fluctuates, with impaired attention and awareness.
Correct answer: Acute onset with fluctuating awareness- A. Choose all clothing without asking the patient
- B. Offer two simple choices and allow time to decide
- C. Ask several family members to make the decision
- D. Explain that the patient can no longer make choices
Explanation: Offering limited, clear choices supports autonomy while reducing cognitive demand.
Correct answer: Offer two simple choices and allow time to decide- A. Document the change as expected dementia
- B. Assess airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness
- C. Encourage the patient to sleep without further assessment
- D. Begin memory-training activities immediately
Explanation: Sudden altered consciousness after a medicine may indicate delirium or excessive sedation and requires an immediate safety and ABC…
Correct answer: Assess airway, breathing, circulation, and level of consciousness- A. Normal aging commonly causes loss of personal identity
- B. Normal aging may slow recall but preserves daily functioning
- C. Normal aging causes frequent disorientation to familiar places
- D. Normal aging prevents learning any new information
Explanation: Older adults may take longer to recall information, but orientation, identity, and usual daily function are generally preserved.
Correct answer: Normal aging may slow recall but preserves daily functioning- A. The patient's preferred room temperature
- B. Weight, nutrition, medicines, and physical health
- C. The patient's favourite type of exercise
- D. The number of visitors during the week
Explanation: Late-life depression may occur with medical illness, poor nutrition, and medicine effects, so these factors should be assessed together.
Correct answer: Weight, nutrition, medicines, and physical health- A. Leave the patient alone to promote privacy
- B. Ask the patient to promise not to act
- C. Remain with the patient and initiate urgent safety measures
- D. Suggest that the patient discuss the plan at the next appointment
Explanation: A specific plan, time, and access to means indicate immediate suicide risk, so the nurse must stay with the patient and obtain urgent…
Correct answer: Remain with the patient and initiate urgent safety measures