Q.1 What is the primary goal of crisis intervention in psychiatric nursing?
To solve long-term mental health issues
To provide immediate support and stabilize the client
To prescribe medication for anxiety
To conduct psychotherapy sessions over several months
Explanation - Crisis intervention focuses on immediate stabilization, safety, and coping, not long-term therapy or medication alone.
Correct answer is: To provide immediate support and stabilize the client
Q.2 Which of the following is a key component of effective crisis counseling?
Ignoring the client’s emotional expression
Active listening and empathy
Setting strict rules immediately
Avoiding discussion of feelings
Explanation - Active listening and empathy help clients feel understood, which is essential in crisis intervention.
Correct answer is: Active listening and empathy
Q.3 A client shows signs of extreme agitation and threatens self-harm. The nurse's first priority is:
Providing psychoeducation
Ensuring client safety
Exploring long-term therapy options
Scheduling follow-up counseling
Explanation - Safety is always the first priority in crisis situations involving self-harm or violence.
Correct answer is: Ensuring client safety
Q.4 Which model is commonly used in crisis intervention nursing?
Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory
Roberts’ Seven-Stage Model
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Freud’s Psychoanalytic Theory
Explanation - Roberts’ Seven-Stage Model is specifically designed for structured crisis intervention.
Correct answer is: Roberts’ Seven-Stage Model
Q.5 During a crisis, a client refuses to talk. The nurse should:
Force the client to speak
Leave the client alone immediately
Provide a supportive presence and allow time
Call security to intervene
Explanation - Providing a calm, supportive environment encourages the client to express feelings voluntarily.
Correct answer is: Provide a supportive presence and allow time
Q.6 Which factor increases vulnerability to crises?
Strong social support
Effective coping skills
Recent major life stressors
Stable employment
Explanation - Stressful events such as loss, trauma, or sudden change can trigger crises in vulnerable individuals.
Correct answer is: Recent major life stressors
Q.7 A client experiencing a panic attack needs the nurse to first:
Teach long-term coping strategies
Administer medications immediately
Help the client regain control through grounding techniques
Ignore the symptoms to avoid reinforcement
Explanation - Grounding techniques help clients regain control and reduce acute panic symptoms in crisis situations.
Correct answer is: Help the client regain control through grounding techniques
Q.8 Which is a barrier to effective crisis counseling?
Active listening
Nurse’s personal biases
Empathy
Validation of feelings
Explanation - Personal biases can interfere with objectivity and reduce the effectiveness of crisis counseling.
Correct answer is: Nurse’s personal biases
Q.9 When documenting a crisis intervention session, the nurse should include:
Personal opinions about the client
Client’s statements, observed behavior, interventions, and response
Only the interventions performed
Future predictions without client input
Explanation - Accurate documentation ensures continuity of care and legal accountability.
Correct answer is: Client’s statements, observed behavior, interventions, and response
Q.10 Which is an appropriate short-term goal for a client in crisis?
Complete resolution of all mental health issues
Identify immediate coping strategies and stabilize emotions
Develop lifelong career plans
Establish long-term relationships
Explanation - Crisis intervention focuses on short-term stabilization and coping, not long-term goals.
Correct answer is: Identify immediate coping strategies and stabilize emotions
Q.11 Which of the following indicates a successful crisis intervention?
Client remains in denial
Client demonstrates improved coping and problem-solving
Client becomes dependent on the nurse
Client avoids all social interactions
Explanation - Success is measured by the client’s ability to cope and return to baseline functioning.
Correct answer is: Client demonstrates improved coping and problem-solving
Q.12 A nurse uses de-escalation techniques when a client becomes aggressive. Which is an example?
Arguing with the client
Using a calm voice and open body posture
Ignoring safety protocols
Yelling to gain control
Explanation - De-escalation involves non-confrontational communication to reduce agitation.
Correct answer is: Using a calm voice and open body posture
Q.13 Which is a therapeutic response in crisis counseling?
"You shouldn’t feel that way."
"I understand this is very difficult for you."
"Stop worrying and move on."
"I don’t have time for your feelings now."
Explanation - Therapeutic responses validate feelings and build rapport during crises.
Correct answer is: "I understand this is very difficult for you."
Q.14 Crisis intervention is most effective when initiated:
Only after several weeks of observation
As soon as possible after the precipitating event
After long-term psychotherapy has begun
Only if medications are administered first
Explanation - Early intervention prevents escalation and promotes faster stabilization.
Correct answer is: As soon as possible after the precipitating event
Q.15 A client who lost a loved one suddenly shows intense grief. The nurse should:
Encourage immediate return to normal activities
Allow expression of grief and provide support
Ignore the grief to prevent dependency
Advise the client to forget the loss quickly
Explanation - Supporting grief expression helps prevent complicated bereavement and aids in coping.
Correct answer is: Allow expression of grief and provide support
Q.16 Which intervention is most appropriate for a client experiencing emotional numbness after trauma?
Encourage social isolation
Facilitate gentle expression of feelings and grounding exercises
Force verbal disclosure immediately
Ignore emotional state
Explanation - Gradual and supportive techniques help clients reconnect with emotions safely.
Correct answer is: Facilitate gentle expression of feelings and grounding exercises
Q.17 Which is a sign that a crisis may be escalating?
Calm behavior
Rapid speech and increased agitation
Compliance with instructions
Sleeping
Explanation - Agitation, rapid speech, and irritability indicate heightened emotional arousal and potential escalation.
Correct answer is: Rapid speech and increased agitation
Q.18 In crisis intervention, cognitive restructuring aims to:
Change maladaptive thinking patterns temporarily
Prescribe antidepressants
Avoid discussing thoughts
Focus on past trauma exclusively
Explanation - Cognitive restructuring helps clients reframe thoughts to cope effectively with immediate stressors.
Correct answer is: Change maladaptive thinking patterns temporarily
Q.19 Which of the following is an essential skill for a psychiatric nurse during crisis counseling?
Ignoring nonverbal cues
Effective communication and empathy
Making decisions without client input
Avoiding emotional connection
Explanation - Empathy and clear communication are critical for building trust and supporting clients in crisis.
Correct answer is: Effective communication and empathy
Q.20 A client threatened suicide but later calms down. The nurse should:
Assume the client is safe and leave
Continue monitoring and assess risk regularly
Promise the client absolute privacy without safety measures
Ignore the previous threat
Explanation - Ongoing risk assessment is crucial as suicidal ideation may fluctuate even after temporary calm.
Correct answer is: Continue monitoring and assess risk regularly
Q.21 Which factor is critical in building rapport during crisis counseling?
Judgmental attitude
Consistency and genuine concern
Avoiding eye contact
Focusing solely on tasks
Explanation - Trust and rapport develop through consistent, nonjudgmental support and genuine empathy.
Correct answer is: Consistency and genuine concern
Q.22 A key difference between counseling and crisis intervention is:
Crisis intervention focuses on short-term stabilization, while counseling addresses long-term development
Counseling is always faster
Crisis intervention ignores emotions
Counseling never involves active listening
Explanation - Crisis intervention is immediate and short-term, while counseling addresses broader personal growth over time.
Correct answer is: Crisis intervention focuses on short-term stabilization, while counseling addresses long-term development
Q.23 Which action helps prevent burnout in nurses providing crisis intervention?
Ignoring self-care to focus on clients
Seeking supervision, peer support, and regular self-care
Handling all cases alone
Avoiding debriefing after critical incidents
Explanation - Supportive strategies help nurses maintain emotional resilience and prevent burnout.
Correct answer is: Seeking supervision, peer support, and regular self-care
Q.24 When a client is in denial after trauma, the nurse should:
Confront the denial aggressively
Provide gentle education and support while respecting the client’s pace
Ignore the denial entirely
Force the client to accept the reality immediately
Explanation - Respectful, gradual support helps clients process trauma without increasing resistance.
Correct answer is: Provide gentle education and support while respecting the client’s pace
Q.25 Which is the MOST important aspect when handling a client who is verbally aggressive?
Maintaining personal safety and calm demeanor
Responding with aggression
Ignoring all threats
Using humor to defuse tension
Explanation - Ensuring safety while remaining calm is crucial to prevent escalation and maintain therapeutic rapport.
Correct answer is: Maintaining personal safety and calm demeanor