ATI MH Final exam comprehensive set of questions and
answers with latest update 2026.
A nurse is assessing a client who recently used cocaine. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Polyphagia
B. Hypertension
C. Decreased temperature
D. Depressed mood - ANSWER: B. Hypertension
Cocaine is a stimulant that increases blood pressure. It also increases heart rate,
body temperature, energy levels, and metabolism.
A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report?
A. A client who is taking clozapine and has a WBC count of 7,500/mm3
B. A client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
C. A client who is taking valproate and has a platelet count of 150,000/mm3
D. A client who is taking lithium and has a lithium level of 1.2 mEq/L - ANSWER: B. A
client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant medication that is used as a mood stabilizer. The
nurse should identify that a rash is a potentially life-threatening adverse effect of
the medication and report this finding immediately.
A nurse on a MH unit is admitting a client who is anxious and tells the nurse, "I hear
voices telling me what to do." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Tell the client that the voices do not really exist.
B. Touch the client to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
,C. Instruct the client to go to a quiet room when the voices start talking.
D. Ask the client what the voices are saying. - ANSWER: D. Ask the client what the
voices are saying.
It is important for the nurse to ask the client directly about the hallucinations to
determine if the client or others are at risk for injury.
A nurse is communicating with a client in an inpatient MH facility. Which of the
following actions by the nurse demonstrates the use of active listening?
A. Offering self
B. Use of silence
C. Attention to body language
D. Reflection of feelings - ANSWER: C. Attention to body language
Use of active listening involves identifying verbal and nonverbal communication by
the client, which includes attention to body language.
A client who has paranoid schizophrenia is attending a treatment planning
conference with a family member. During the discussion of the medication
adherence portion of the plan, a nurse notices that the family member seems
distracted. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Call the family member to the side to inquire if they have questions or concerns
about the treatment plan.
B. Advise the family member that this treatment plan has been developed
specifically for the client to follow.
C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions about the
treatment plan.
D. Document that the family member does not support the medication treatment
plan. - ANSWER: C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions
about the treatment plan.
,This action involves the family member and allows them a venue to communicate
about the client's medication treatment plan.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing psychosis.
The nurse should identify that which of the following findings indicates a potential
psychiatric emergency?
A. The client is exhibiting echolalia.
B. The client reports command hallucinations.
C. The client reports loss of motivation.
D. The client is exhibiting blunted affect. - ANSWER: B. The client reports command
hallucinations.
The nurse should identify that command hallucinations can indicate a potential
psychiatric emergency for a client who has schizophrenia. Command hallucinations
can direct the client to harm themselves or others.
A nurse is reviewing the electronic medical record of a client who has
schizophrenia and is taking clozapine. Which of the following findings is the priority
for the nurse to notify the provider?
A. The client's chart indicates a 1.36-kg (3-lb) weight gain in 1 month.
B. The client reports an inability to breathe easily.
C. The client's laboratory results indicate a fasting blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL.
D. The client reports having recently started smoking cigarettes. - ANSWER: B. The
client reports an inability to breathe easily.
Serious adverse effects, such as heart failure, myocarditis, and pulmonary
embolism are associated with clozapine. When using the greatest risk framework,
the nurse should identify that the greatest risk to the client is dyspnea, which is a
manifestation of respiratory or cardiac alterations, and should be reported to the
provider.
, A nurse in a community health center is counseling a family of two parents and two
children. Which of the following statements by a family member indicates
manipulative behavior?
A. "If you do my homework for me, I won't bother you for the rest of the day."
B. "Mom is always upset."
C. "It's not the children's fault. It's mine."
D. "It's your fault that we're having problems as a family." - ANSWER: A. "If you do
my homework for me, I won't bother you for the rest of the day."
This is an example of manipulative behavior. It is an example of manipulation when
the family member uses a behavior to get what they desire rather than directly
asking for what they want.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and began taking a
conventional anti psychotic medication yesterday. Which of the following findings
indicates the nurse should administer benztropine 2 mg IM?
A. Shuffling gait
B. Hypotension
C. Decreased WBC count
D. Blurred vision - ANSWER: A. Shuffling gait
Benztropine is used to treat parkinsonism manifestations, such as shuffling gait.
A nurse is delegating client care tasks to a licensed practical nurse and an assistive
personnel. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign the the LPN?
A. Obtain the weight of a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing mania.
B. Assess the nutritional intake of a client who has anorexia nervosa and has
refused to eat for the past 2 days.
C. Monitor the cardiovascular status of a client who is experiencing serotonin
syndrome.
answers with latest update 2026.
A nurse is assessing a client who recently used cocaine. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Polyphagia
B. Hypertension
C. Decreased temperature
D. Depressed mood - ANSWER: B. Hypertension
Cocaine is a stimulant that increases blood pressure. It also increases heart rate,
body temperature, energy levels, and metabolism.
A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following findings should the
nurse report?
A. A client who is taking clozapine and has a WBC count of 7,500/mm3
B. A client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
C. A client who is taking valproate and has a platelet count of 150,000/mm3
D. A client who is taking lithium and has a lithium level of 1.2 mEq/L - ANSWER: B. A
client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant medication that is used as a mood stabilizer. The
nurse should identify that a rash is a potentially life-threatening adverse effect of
the medication and report this finding immediately.
A nurse on a MH unit is admitting a client who is anxious and tells the nurse, "I hear
voices telling me what to do." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Tell the client that the voices do not really exist.
B. Touch the client to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
,C. Instruct the client to go to a quiet room when the voices start talking.
D. Ask the client what the voices are saying. - ANSWER: D. Ask the client what the
voices are saying.
It is important for the nurse to ask the client directly about the hallucinations to
determine if the client or others are at risk for injury.
A nurse is communicating with a client in an inpatient MH facility. Which of the
following actions by the nurse demonstrates the use of active listening?
A. Offering self
B. Use of silence
C. Attention to body language
D. Reflection of feelings - ANSWER: C. Attention to body language
Use of active listening involves identifying verbal and nonverbal communication by
the client, which includes attention to body language.
A client who has paranoid schizophrenia is attending a treatment planning
conference with a family member. During the discussion of the medication
adherence portion of the plan, a nurse notices that the family member seems
distracted. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Call the family member to the side to inquire if they have questions or concerns
about the treatment plan.
B. Advise the family member that this treatment plan has been developed
specifically for the client to follow.
C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions about the
treatment plan.
D. Document that the family member does not support the medication treatment
plan. - ANSWER: C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions
about the treatment plan.
,This action involves the family member and allows them a venue to communicate
about the client's medication treatment plan.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing psychosis.
The nurse should identify that which of the following findings indicates a potential
psychiatric emergency?
A. The client is exhibiting echolalia.
B. The client reports command hallucinations.
C. The client reports loss of motivation.
D. The client is exhibiting blunted affect. - ANSWER: B. The client reports command
hallucinations.
The nurse should identify that command hallucinations can indicate a potential
psychiatric emergency for a client who has schizophrenia. Command hallucinations
can direct the client to harm themselves or others.
A nurse is reviewing the electronic medical record of a client who has
schizophrenia and is taking clozapine. Which of the following findings is the priority
for the nurse to notify the provider?
A. The client's chart indicates a 1.36-kg (3-lb) weight gain in 1 month.
B. The client reports an inability to breathe easily.
C. The client's laboratory results indicate a fasting blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL.
D. The client reports having recently started smoking cigarettes. - ANSWER: B. The
client reports an inability to breathe easily.
Serious adverse effects, such as heart failure, myocarditis, and pulmonary
embolism are associated with clozapine. When using the greatest risk framework,
the nurse should identify that the greatest risk to the client is dyspnea, which is a
manifestation of respiratory or cardiac alterations, and should be reported to the
provider.
, A nurse in a community health center is counseling a family of two parents and two
children. Which of the following statements by a family member indicates
manipulative behavior?
A. "If you do my homework for me, I won't bother you for the rest of the day."
B. "Mom is always upset."
C. "It's not the children's fault. It's mine."
D. "It's your fault that we're having problems as a family." - ANSWER: A. "If you do
my homework for me, I won't bother you for the rest of the day."
This is an example of manipulative behavior. It is an example of manipulation when
the family member uses a behavior to get what they desire rather than directly
asking for what they want.
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and began taking a
conventional anti psychotic medication yesterday. Which of the following findings
indicates the nurse should administer benztropine 2 mg IM?
A. Shuffling gait
B. Hypotension
C. Decreased WBC count
D. Blurred vision - ANSWER: A. Shuffling gait
Benztropine is used to treat parkinsonism manifestations, such as shuffling gait.
A nurse is delegating client care tasks to a licensed practical nurse and an assistive
personnel. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign the the LPN?
A. Obtain the weight of a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing mania.
B. Assess the nutritional intake of a client who has anorexia nervosa and has
refused to eat for the past 2 days.
C. Monitor the cardiovascular status of a client who is experiencing serotonin
syndrome.
