2026/2027
Gmail:
ATI Mental Health CMS Exam
Questions and Answers| Verified
A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an
intentional overdose of opioids. The client state, "I feel so alone. No
one can help me." Which of the following responses by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are
receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." Ans: D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-
vehicle crash. The client is crying inconsolably. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. Ans: C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer.
Shortly after the client receives the diagnosis, the nurse enters the
client's room and the client begins yelling, "I have received terrible
care here and no one cares about me." The nurse should recognize that
the client is demonstrating which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
, 2026/2027
Gmail:
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection Ans: B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states,
"My internal organs have turned to stone." The nurse should
document this finding as which of the following types of delusions?
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose Ans: A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult
son who states that his father recently died. The client repeatedly
yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about your father!" The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the
following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation Ans: A
A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and
recently started taking an antidepressant. The nurse should identify
which of the following client statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances
anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like
being with other people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
, 2026/2027
Gmail:
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." Ans:
C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving
care following an involuntary admission. The client states, "I'm not
taking any more medication." Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot
refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical
record. Ans: D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated
and pacing rapidly. The client looks at the nurse and says, "Back off.
Leave me alone." Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is
unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what
is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you
to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control
yourself." Ans: C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new
diagnosis of a terminal brain tumor. The nurse should expect the
parents to experience which of the following stages of grief first?
Gmail:
ATI Mental Health CMS Exam
Questions and Answers| Verified
A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an
intentional overdose of opioids. The client state, "I feel so alone. No
one can help me." Which of the following responses by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are
receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." Ans: D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-
vehicle crash. The client is crying inconsolably. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. Ans: C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer.
Shortly after the client receives the diagnosis, the nurse enters the
client's room and the client begins yelling, "I have received terrible
care here and no one cares about me." The nurse should recognize that
the client is demonstrating which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
, 2026/2027
Gmail:
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection Ans: B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states,
"My internal organs have turned to stone." The nurse should
document this finding as which of the following types of delusions?
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose Ans: A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult
son who states that his father recently died. The client repeatedly
yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about your father!" The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the
following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation Ans: A
A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and
recently started taking an antidepressant. The nurse should identify
which of the following client statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances
anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like
being with other people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
, 2026/2027
Gmail:
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." Ans:
C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving
care following an involuntary admission. The client states, "I'm not
taking any more medication." Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot
refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical
record. Ans: D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated
and pacing rapidly. The client looks at the nurse and says, "Back off.
Leave me alone." Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is
unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what
is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you
to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control
yourself." Ans: C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new
diagnosis of a terminal brain tumor. The nurse should expect the
parents to experience which of the following stages of grief first?
