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ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam
2026 Latest Questions and Answers
(100% Expert Answers) A+
The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes
and attending to a normal tone of voice and speech. What is the level of
consciousness? [ Ans: ] Alert
The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls
asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Lethargic
The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or
rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to
respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Stuporous
The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What
is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Comatose
© 2026
How to test a client's immediate memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to repeat
a series of numbers or a list of objects
How to test a client's recent memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to recall
recent events, such as visitors from the current day, or the purpose of
the current mental health appointment or admission
How to test a client's remote memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to state a fact
from his past that is verifiable, such as his birth date or his mother's
maiden name
How to assess a client's ability to calculate [ Ans: ] Ask the client to count
backward from 100 in sevens
How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly [ Ans: ] Ask the client
to interpret something complex such as, "A bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush."
,2
Glasgow coma scale [ Ans: ] Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a
client's level of consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the
client is awake and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less
indicates that the client is in a coma
Serious mental illness [ Ans: ] Includes disorders classified as severe and
persistent mental illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can
be chronic or recurrent
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward
by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
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D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to
identify our most recent presidents." [ Ans: ] A. Counting backward by
sevens is an appropriate technique to assess a client's cognitive ability.
B. Observing a client's facial expression is appropriate when assessing
affect.
C. Writing a sentence is an indication of language ability.
Remote language is tested by asking the client to state a fact from his
past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by
asking the client to interpret something.
,3
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications. [ Ans: ] D.
Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
Systematic desensitization is cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping
mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching. Assessing for comorbid
conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an
© 2026
initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder. [ Ans: ] B.
Assessment is the priority action. Identifying the client's perception of
her mental health status provides important information about the
client's psychosocial history.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
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B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. [ Ans: ] A. A client
who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B & C occur with comatose patients.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of
the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health
disorders.
© 2026
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have mental
health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders. [ Ans: ] B, D, & E. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria,
assists nurses in planning care, and identifies expected findings for
mental health disorders.
The DSM-5 does not contain client education handouts or recommended
pharmacological treatment.
Beneficence [ Ans: ] The quality of doing good, can be described as
charity
Autonomy [ Ans: ] The client's right to make their own decisions
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam
2026 Latest Questions and Answers
(100% Expert Answers) A+
The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes
and attending to a normal tone of voice and speech. What is the level of
consciousness? [ Ans: ] Alert
The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls
asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Lethargic
The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or
rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to
respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Stuporous
The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What
is the level of consciousness? [ Ans: ] Comatose
© 2026
How to test a client's immediate memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to repeat
a series of numbers or a list of objects
How to test a client's recent memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to recall
recent events, such as visitors from the current day, or the purpose of
the current mental health appointment or admission
How to test a client's remote memory [ Ans: ] Ask the client to state a fact
from his past that is verifiable, such as his birth date or his mother's
maiden name
How to assess a client's ability to calculate [ Ans: ] Ask the client to count
backward from 100 in sevens
How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly [ Ans: ] Ask the client
to interpret something complex such as, "A bird in the hand is worth two
in the bush."
,2
Glasgow coma scale [ Ans: ] Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a
client's level of consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the
client is awake and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less
indicates that the client is in a coma
Serious mental illness [ Ans: ] Includes disorders classified as severe and
persistent mental illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can
be chronic or recurrent
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward
by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
© 2026
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of
objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to
identify our most recent presidents." [ Ans: ] A. Counting backward by
sevens is an appropriate technique to assess a client's cognitive ability.
B. Observing a client's facial expression is appropriate when assessing
affect.
C. Writing a sentence is an indication of language ability.
Remote language is tested by asking the client to state a fact from his
past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by
asking the client to interpret something.
,3
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications. [ Ans: ] D.
Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
Systematic desensitization is cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping
mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching. Assessing for comorbid
conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an
© 2026
initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder. [ Ans: ] B.
Assessment is the priority action. Identifying the client's perception of
her mental health status provides important information about the
client's psychosocial history.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
, 4
B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. [ Ans: ] A. A client
who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B & C occur with comatose patients.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of
the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health
disorders.
© 2026
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have mental
health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders. [ Ans: ] B, D, & E. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria,
assists nurses in planning care, and identifies expected findings for
mental health disorders.
The DSM-5 does not contain client education handouts or recommended
pharmacological treatment.
Beneficence [ Ans: ] The quality of doing good, can be described as
charity
Autonomy [ Ans: ] The client's right to make their own decisions
