ATI MENTAL HEALTH ROCTORED EXAM WITH NGN 2026
Comprehensive ReviewQuestions with Correct Answers &
Explanations | Graded A+ download instant
pdf,Mental Health Ati Exam .
1. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who is newly
diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) "Your mood will improve within 2 to 3 days of taking the prescribed
medication."
B) "You may experience a period of feeling worse before you feel better on
your medication."
C) "It is best to stop your medication if you experience sexual dysfunction."
D) "You should expect to see results from therapy within a week of starting
treatment."
B) "You may experience a period of feeling worse before you feel better
on your medication."
Rationale: Antidepressant medications, particularly SSRIs, often take several
weeks to show full therapeutic effects. Clients may experience an initial
increase in anxiety or worsening of symptoms before improvement occurs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?
A) Encourage the client to discuss their fears in detail.
B) Guide the client to focus on their breathing.
C) Reassure the client that they are not in danger.
D) Leave the client alone to recover.
B) Guide the client to focus on their breathing.
Rationale: Breathing techniques help calm the sympathetic nervous system
,and reduce the symptoms of a panic attack. Encouraging the client to focus
on slow, deep breaths can be helpful.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client is
speaking in fragmented sentences and using neologisms. Which of the
following symptoms is the client displaying?
A) Alogia
B) Avolition
C) Tangential thinking
D) Clang associations
C) Tangential thinking
Rationale: Tangential thinking refers to speaking in a manner that veers off
topic and leads to fragmented or incomplete thoughts. Neologisms are made-
up words that can also be associated with this pattern of thinking.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has bipolar disorder and is currently
experiencing a manic episode. Which of the following is the priority
nursing intervention?
A) Set limits on inappropriate behavior.
B) Encourage the client to take a nap.
C) Provide a high-calorie snack.
D) Offer the client a calming activity, such as reading.
A) Set limits on inappropriate behavior.
Rationale: During a manic episode, the client may exhibit impulsivity and
poor judgment. It is important to set clear, consistent limits to prevent
harmful behaviors, such as excessive spending or risky sexual behavior.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) for severe depression. Which of the following should the
nurse include in the post-procedure care plan?
A) Maintain the client in a side-lying position.
B) Administer a benzodiazepine before the procedure.
C) Monitor for a decrease in blood pressure.
D) Provide the client with high-protein foods immediately after the
procedure.
A) Maintain the client in a side-lying position.
Rationale: The side-lying position is preferred after ECT to prevent
aspiration in case the client vomits due to the effects of anesthesia. Blood
pressure may increase temporarily post-ECT, so monitoring is necessary, but
the priority is airway protection.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and is exhibiting hypervigilance. Which of the following is the
nurse's best response?
A) "There is no reason to feel so anxious; everything is fine."
B) "I understand that you feel on edge. Let's talk about what happened."
C) "I can see you're feeling anxious. Let's work on grounding techniques to
help you focus."
D) "You're safe here. There is no need to be so on guard."
C) "I can see you're feeling anxious. Let's work on grounding techniques
to help you focus."
Rationale: Grounding techniques help the client focus on the present moment
and manage anxiety. Hypervigilance is a symptom of PTSD, and using
grounding strategies can help reduce distress.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a history of alcohol use disorder who
is undergoing detoxification. Which of the following medications should
, the nurse anticipate administering to prevent alcohol withdrawal
symptoms?
A) Lorazepam
B) Clonidine
C) Haloperidol
D) Disulfiram
A) Lorazepam
Rationale: Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, is commonly used during alcohol
detoxification to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and
agitation. It helps calm the central nervous system.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). Which of the following strategies is the most appropriate for the
nurse to implement?
A) Encourage the client to resist the urge to perform compulsions.
B) Redirect the client’s attention when compulsions occur.
C) Allow the client to perform compulsions for a limited amount of time.
D) Ignore the compulsive behavior to avoid reinforcing it.
C) Allow the client to perform compulsions for a limited amount of time.
Rationale: It is important to allow the client to perform their compulsions,
but limiting the time spent on the behavior is necessary to reduce the intensity
of OCD symptoms. Gradual exposure can help reduce the need for
compulsions.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs). Which of the following statements by the client
indicates the need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this medication with food."
B) "It will take several weeks before I start to feel better."
Comprehensive ReviewQuestions with Correct Answers &
Explanations | Graded A+ download instant
pdf,Mental Health Ati Exam .
1. A nurse is providing discharge instructions to a client who is newly
diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A) "Your mood will improve within 2 to 3 days of taking the prescribed
medication."
B) "You may experience a period of feeling worse before you feel better on
your medication."
C) "It is best to stop your medication if you experience sexual dysfunction."
D) "You should expect to see results from therapy within a week of starting
treatment."
B) "You may experience a period of feeling worse before you feel better
on your medication."
Rationale: Antidepressant medications, particularly SSRIs, often take several
weeks to show full therapeutic effects. Clients may experience an initial
increase in anxiety or worsening of symptoms before improvement occurs.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement?
A) Encourage the client to discuss their fears in detail.
B) Guide the client to focus on their breathing.
C) Reassure the client that they are not in danger.
D) Leave the client alone to recover.
B) Guide the client to focus on their breathing.
Rationale: Breathing techniques help calm the sympathetic nervous system
,and reduce the symptoms of a panic attack. Encouraging the client to focus
on slow, deep breaths can be helpful.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client is
speaking in fragmented sentences and using neologisms. Which of the
following symptoms is the client displaying?
A) Alogia
B) Avolition
C) Tangential thinking
D) Clang associations
C) Tangential thinking
Rationale: Tangential thinking refers to speaking in a manner that veers off
topic and leads to fragmented or incomplete thoughts. Neologisms are made-
up words that can also be associated with this pattern of thinking.
4. A nurse is assessing a client who has bipolar disorder and is currently
experiencing a manic episode. Which of the following is the priority
nursing intervention?
A) Set limits on inappropriate behavior.
B) Encourage the client to take a nap.
C) Provide a high-calorie snack.
D) Offer the client a calming activity, such as reading.
A) Set limits on inappropriate behavior.
Rationale: During a manic episode, the client may exhibit impulsivity and
poor judgment. It is important to set clear, consistent limits to prevent
harmful behaviors, such as excessive spending or risky sexual behavior.
,5. A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT) for severe depression. Which of the following should the
nurse include in the post-procedure care plan?
A) Maintain the client in a side-lying position.
B) Administer a benzodiazepine before the procedure.
C) Monitor for a decrease in blood pressure.
D) Provide the client with high-protein foods immediately after the
procedure.
A) Maintain the client in a side-lying position.
Rationale: The side-lying position is preferred after ECT to prevent
aspiration in case the client vomits due to the effects of anesthesia. Blood
pressure may increase temporarily post-ECT, so monitoring is necessary, but
the priority is airway protection.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and is exhibiting hypervigilance. Which of the following is the
nurse's best response?
A) "There is no reason to feel so anxious; everything is fine."
B) "I understand that you feel on edge. Let's talk about what happened."
C) "I can see you're feeling anxious. Let's work on grounding techniques to
help you focus."
D) "You're safe here. There is no need to be so on guard."
C) "I can see you're feeling anxious. Let's work on grounding techniques
to help you focus."
Rationale: Grounding techniques help the client focus on the present moment
and manage anxiety. Hypervigilance is a symptom of PTSD, and using
grounding strategies can help reduce distress.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with a history of alcohol use disorder who
is undergoing detoxification. Which of the following medications should
, the nurse anticipate administering to prevent alcohol withdrawal
symptoms?
A) Lorazepam
B) Clonidine
C) Haloperidol
D) Disulfiram
A) Lorazepam
Rationale: Lorazepam, a benzodiazepine, is commonly used during alcohol
detoxification to prevent withdrawal symptoms such as seizures and
agitation. It helps calm the central nervous system.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD). Which of the following strategies is the most appropriate for the
nurse to implement?
A) Encourage the client to resist the urge to perform compulsions.
B) Redirect the client’s attention when compulsions occur.
C) Allow the client to perform compulsions for a limited amount of time.
D) Ignore the compulsive behavior to avoid reinforcing it.
C) Allow the client to perform compulsions for a limited amount of time.
Rationale: It is important to allow the client to perform their compulsions,
but limiting the time spent on the behavior is necessary to reduce the intensity
of OCD symptoms. Gradual exposure can help reduce the need for
compulsions.
9. A nurse is teaching a client about selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs). Which of the following statements by the client
indicates the need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this medication with food."
B) "It will take several weeks before I start to feel better."
