Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Practice Test

The primary focus of early psychiatric reforms in Canada was on:

1. Improving medication management

2. Expanding hospital facilities

3. Developing outpatient services

4. Enhancing nursing education

The correct answer is: Expanding hospital facilities

The primary focus of early psychiatric reforms in Canada centered around expanding hospital facilities. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there was a significant societal push to address the needs of individuals with mental illness, which was largely initiated through the establishment of larger and more specialized institutions. This approach was based on the belief that institutionalization in structured environments would provide better care and treatment than what existed in a more fragmented system. During this period, the emphasis was on creating comprehensive hospital systems to house patients, which included more space, improved living conditions, and greater availability of therapeutic programs within these facilities. Such expansions aimed to address the rising demand for mental health care as awareness of mental health issues grew. While medication management, outpatient services, and nursing education have since become essential components of psychiatric care, those developments evolved later as the field progressed and the focus shifted toward community-based solutions and improving healthcare training. The initial reforms, however, primarily revolved around providing adequate inpatient care through improved hospital infrastructure.