NU473 HESI Psychiatric/Mental Health Practice Exam - 75 Questions and
Answers
The nurse should include which interventions in the plan o Permit rest periods as needed.
of care for a severely depressed client with o Speaking slowly and simply.
neurovegetative symptoms? (Select all that apply.) o Place the client on suicide precautions.
o Permit rest periods as needed. o Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
o Speaking slowly and simply. · Neurovegetative symptoms that accompany the mood disorder of depression
o Place the client on suicide precautions. include physiological disruptions, such as anorexia, constipation, sleep
o Observe and encourage food and fluid intake. disturbance, and psychomotor retardation. The client's plan of care should include
o Encourage vigorous exercise and long walks on the measures that promote the client's comfort and well-being, such as rest, nutrition,
unit. suicide precautions, and simple communications. Vigorous exercise and
long walks are not indicated for clients in a neurovegetative state.
Which diet selection by a client who is depressed and o Roast beef, baked potato with butter, and iced tea.
taking the MAO inhibitor tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate) · Foods with tyramine interact with MAOI antidepressant, such as Parnate, and
can indicates to the nurse that the client understands the cause a hypertensive crisis that is life-threatening. Roast beef, potatoes,
butter, and dietary restrictions imposed by this medication regimen? tea do not contain tyramine. The other selections contain
tyramine and should be
o Hamburger, French fries, and chocolate milkshake. avoided by the client who is taking Parnate.
o Liver and onions, broccoli, and decaffeinated coffee.
o Pepperoni and cheese pizza, tossed salad, and a soft
drink.
o Roast beef, baked potato with butter, and iced tea.
,An older male client in the intensive care unit who has o Cluster care so brief periods of rest can be scheduled during the day.
been oriented suddenly becomes disoriented and fearful. · The critical care environment confronts clients with an environment which is
Assessment of vital signs and other physical stressful and heightened by treatment modalities that may prove to be lifesaving.
parameters reveal no significant change and the nurse These stressors can result in isolation or sensory overload that leads to confusion.
formulates the client's problem as confusion related to The best intervention is to cluster care to provide the client with uninterrupted
ICU psychosis. rest periods. The other actions may not be possible.
Which intervention is most important for the nurse
implement?
o Move all machines away from the client's
immediate area.
o Attempt to allay the client's fears by explaining
the etiology of confusion.
o Cluster care so brief periods of rest can be
scheduled during the day.
o Extend visitation times for family and friends.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a o Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is
medical diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. During the hearing.
admission procedure, the client looks up and states, "No, · Further assessment is indicated and the nurse should obtain information about
it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you what the client believes the voices are telling him--they may be telling him to kill
did." What action is best for the nurse to take? himself or the nurse. The other actions are not indicated.
o Reassure the client by telling him that his fear of
the admission procedure is to be expected.
o Tell the client that no one is accusing him of murder
and remind him that the hospital is a safe place.
o Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking
the client what he is hearing.
o Ignore the behavior and make no response at all to
his delusional statements.
The nurse is assessing a client's intelligence. Which factor o Intelligence is influenced by social and cultural beliefs.
should the nurse remember during this part of the · Social and cultural beliefs have significant impact on intelligence. The other
mental status exam? factors do not necessarily suggest limited intelligence.
o Acute psychiatric illnesses impair intelligence.
o Intelligence is influenced by social and cultural beliefs.
o Poor concentration skills suggests limited intelligence.
o The inability to think abstractly indicates
limited intelligence.
A young adult male client, diagnosed with paranoid o Ask one nurse to spend time with the client daily.
schizophrenia, believes that world is trying to poison him. · A client with paranoid schizophrenia has difficulty with trust and developing
What intervention should the nurse include in this client's a trusting relationships, the plan of care should include providing one nurse to
plan of care? spend time with the client daily, which is likely to be therapeutic for this client. The
o Remind the client that his suspicions are not true. other actions are too stressful for the client and not indicated.
o Ask one nurse to spend time with the client daily.
o Encourage the client to participate in group activities.
o Assign the client to a room closest to the activity room.
The nurse is assessing a client who is admitted with a o A negative view of self and the future.
diagnosis of depression. Which findings is characteristic of · Negative self-image and feelings of hopelessness about the future are specific
depression? findings in depression. The other findings are not the underlying manifestations in
o Grandiose ideation. depression.
o Self-destructive thoughts.
o Suspiciousness of others.
o A negative view of self and the future.
, The nurse is taking a history for a female client who is o "Black-out" after one drink last night on a date.
requesting a routine female exam. Which assessment · A "black-out" typically occurs after ingestion of alcohol beverages that the client
finding requires follow-up? has no recall of experiences or one's behavior and is indicative of high blood
o Menstruation onset at age 9. alcohol levels. The client's experience of a "black-out" after one drink is
o Contraceptive method includes condoms only. suspicious of the client receiving a "date rape" drug, such as flunitrazepam
o Menstrual cycle occurs every 35 days. ("Rohypnol"), and needs additional follow-up. The other findings do not need
o "Black-out" after one drink last night on a date. follow-up at this time.
The nurse is preparing to administer phenelzine o My mouth feels like cotton.
sulfate ( Nardil) to a client on the psychiatric unit. · A dry mouth is an anticholinergic response that is an expected side effect
Which side of MAO inhibitors, such as phenelzine sulfate (Nardil). The other subjective
effect reported by the client is related to administration of reports are not related to this medication.
this drug?
o My mouth feels like cotton.
o That stuff gives me indigestion.
o This pill gives me diarrhea.
o My urine looks pink.
An adult female client is admitted to the psychiatric o Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, manic phase. · Clients in the manic phase of a bipolar disorder require decreased stimuli and
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should a structured environment. Planning noncompetitive activities that can be carried
the nurse include in this client's plan of care? out alone help to reduce stimuli. Impulsive decision-making is characteristic of
o Schedule her to attend various group activities. clients with bipolar disorder and require the nurse to intervene when a client is
o Reinforce her ability to make her own decisions. making decisions. Anger is often repressed during depression, not mania.
o Encourage her to identify feelings of anger.
o Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
The nurse is conducting discharge teaching for a o Only my belief in God can help me.
client with schizophrenia who plans to live in a group · The most frequent cause of increased symptoms in clients who are psychotic is
home. Which statement is most indicative of the need noncompliance with the medication regimen. If the client believes that "God
for careful follow-up after discharge? alone" can help, which may be a delusion and not faith-based, the client may
o Crickets are a good source of protein. discontinue the prescribed medication. The other client statements do not pose
o I have not heard any voices for a week. the greatest threat to the client's prognosis.
o Only my belief in God can help me.
o Sometimes I have a hard time sitting still.
An adult female client is admitted to the psychiatric unit o Agoraphobia.
for evaluation. Her husband states that she has been · Agoraphobia is the fear of crowds or being in an open place. The other anxiety
reluctant to leave home for the last six months. The client and phobic conditions are not manifested by a fear of leaving a protected
has not gone to work for a month and has been environment, such as home.
terminated from her job. She has not left the house since
that time. Which condition is this client likely manifesting?
o Claustrophobia.
o Acrophobia.
o Agoraphobia.
o Post-traumatic stress disorder.
Answers
The nurse should include which interventions in the plan o Permit rest periods as needed.
of care for a severely depressed client with o Speaking slowly and simply.
neurovegetative symptoms? (Select all that apply.) o Place the client on suicide precautions.
o Permit rest periods as needed. o Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
o Speaking slowly and simply. · Neurovegetative symptoms that accompany the mood disorder of depression
o Place the client on suicide precautions. include physiological disruptions, such as anorexia, constipation, sleep
o Observe and encourage food and fluid intake. disturbance, and psychomotor retardation. The client's plan of care should include
o Encourage vigorous exercise and long walks on the measures that promote the client's comfort and well-being, such as rest, nutrition,
unit. suicide precautions, and simple communications. Vigorous exercise and
long walks are not indicated for clients in a neurovegetative state.
Which diet selection by a client who is depressed and o Roast beef, baked potato with butter, and iced tea.
taking the MAO inhibitor tranylcypromine sulfate (Parnate) · Foods with tyramine interact with MAOI antidepressant, such as Parnate, and
can indicates to the nurse that the client understands the cause a hypertensive crisis that is life-threatening. Roast beef, potatoes,
butter, and dietary restrictions imposed by this medication regimen? tea do not contain tyramine. The other selections contain
tyramine and should be
o Hamburger, French fries, and chocolate milkshake. avoided by the client who is taking Parnate.
o Liver and onions, broccoli, and decaffeinated coffee.
o Pepperoni and cheese pizza, tossed salad, and a soft
drink.
o Roast beef, baked potato with butter, and iced tea.
,An older male client in the intensive care unit who has o Cluster care so brief periods of rest can be scheduled during the day.
been oriented suddenly becomes disoriented and fearful. · The critical care environment confronts clients with an environment which is
Assessment of vital signs and other physical stressful and heightened by treatment modalities that may prove to be lifesaving.
parameters reveal no significant change and the nurse These stressors can result in isolation or sensory overload that leads to confusion.
formulates the client's problem as confusion related to The best intervention is to cluster care to provide the client with uninterrupted
ICU psychosis. rest periods. The other actions may not be possible.
Which intervention is most important for the nurse
implement?
o Move all machines away from the client's
immediate area.
o Attempt to allay the client's fears by explaining
the etiology of confusion.
o Cluster care so brief periods of rest can be
scheduled during the day.
o Extend visitation times for family and friends.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a o Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is
medical diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. During the hearing.
admission procedure, the client looks up and states, "No, · Further assessment is indicated and the nurse should obtain information about
it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you what the client believes the voices are telling him--they may be telling him to kill
did." What action is best for the nurse to take? himself or the nurse. The other actions are not indicated.
o Reassure the client by telling him that his fear of
the admission procedure is to be expected.
o Tell the client that no one is accusing him of murder
and remind him that the hospital is a safe place.
o Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking
the client what he is hearing.
o Ignore the behavior and make no response at all to
his delusional statements.
The nurse is assessing a client's intelligence. Which factor o Intelligence is influenced by social and cultural beliefs.
should the nurse remember during this part of the · Social and cultural beliefs have significant impact on intelligence. The other
mental status exam? factors do not necessarily suggest limited intelligence.
o Acute psychiatric illnesses impair intelligence.
o Intelligence is influenced by social and cultural beliefs.
o Poor concentration skills suggests limited intelligence.
o The inability to think abstractly indicates
limited intelligence.
A young adult male client, diagnosed with paranoid o Ask one nurse to spend time with the client daily.
schizophrenia, believes that world is trying to poison him. · A client with paranoid schizophrenia has difficulty with trust and developing
What intervention should the nurse include in this client's a trusting relationships, the plan of care should include providing one nurse to
plan of care? spend time with the client daily, which is likely to be therapeutic for this client. The
o Remind the client that his suspicions are not true. other actions are too stressful for the client and not indicated.
o Ask one nurse to spend time with the client daily.
o Encourage the client to participate in group activities.
o Assign the client to a room closest to the activity room.
The nurse is assessing a client who is admitted with a o A negative view of self and the future.
diagnosis of depression. Which findings is characteristic of · Negative self-image and feelings of hopelessness about the future are specific
depression? findings in depression. The other findings are not the underlying manifestations in
o Grandiose ideation. depression.
o Self-destructive thoughts.
o Suspiciousness of others.
o A negative view of self and the future.
, The nurse is taking a history for a female client who is o "Black-out" after one drink last night on a date.
requesting a routine female exam. Which assessment · A "black-out" typically occurs after ingestion of alcohol beverages that the client
finding requires follow-up? has no recall of experiences or one's behavior and is indicative of high blood
o Menstruation onset at age 9. alcohol levels. The client's experience of a "black-out" after one drink is
o Contraceptive method includes condoms only. suspicious of the client receiving a "date rape" drug, such as flunitrazepam
o Menstrual cycle occurs every 35 days. ("Rohypnol"), and needs additional follow-up. The other findings do not need
o "Black-out" after one drink last night on a date. follow-up at this time.
The nurse is preparing to administer phenelzine o My mouth feels like cotton.
sulfate ( Nardil) to a client on the psychiatric unit. · A dry mouth is an anticholinergic response that is an expected side effect
Which side of MAO inhibitors, such as phenelzine sulfate (Nardil). The other subjective
effect reported by the client is related to administration of reports are not related to this medication.
this drug?
o My mouth feels like cotton.
o That stuff gives me indigestion.
o This pill gives me diarrhea.
o My urine looks pink.
An adult female client is admitted to the psychiatric o Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, manic phase. · Clients in the manic phase of a bipolar disorder require decreased stimuli and
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should a structured environment. Planning noncompetitive activities that can be carried
the nurse include in this client's plan of care? out alone help to reduce stimuli. Impulsive decision-making is characteristic of
o Schedule her to attend various group activities. clients with bipolar disorder and require the nurse to intervene when a client is
o Reinforce her ability to make her own decisions. making decisions. Anger is often repressed during depression, not mania.
o Encourage her to identify feelings of anger.
o Provide a structured environment with little stimuli.
The nurse is conducting discharge teaching for a o Only my belief in God can help me.
client with schizophrenia who plans to live in a group · The most frequent cause of increased symptoms in clients who are psychotic is
home. Which statement is most indicative of the need noncompliance with the medication regimen. If the client believes that "God
for careful follow-up after discharge? alone" can help, which may be a delusion and not faith-based, the client may
o Crickets are a good source of protein. discontinue the prescribed medication. The other client statements do not pose
o I have not heard any voices for a week. the greatest threat to the client's prognosis.
o Only my belief in God can help me.
o Sometimes I have a hard time sitting still.
An adult female client is admitted to the psychiatric unit o Agoraphobia.
for evaluation. Her husband states that she has been · Agoraphobia is the fear of crowds or being in an open place. The other anxiety
reluctant to leave home for the last six months. The client and phobic conditions are not manifested by a fear of leaving a protected
has not gone to work for a month and has been environment, such as home.
terminated from her job. She has not left the house since
that time. Which condition is this client likely manifesting?
o Claustrophobia.
o Acrophobia.
o Agoraphobia.
o Post-traumatic stress disorder.
