HESI RN Mental Health Exit Exam –
Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationales 2026/2027 | A+ Graded |
Verified | Instant Download
A nurse performed these actions while caring for patients in an inpatient psychiatric
setting. Which action violated patients' rights?
A. Prohibited a patient from using the telephone
B. In patient's presence, opened a package mailed to patient
C. Remained within arm's length of patient with homicidal ideation
D. Permitted a patient with psychosis to refuse oral psychotropic medication. -
ANSWER//A. Prohibited a patient from using telephone
A psychiatric nurse discusses rules of the therapeutic milieu and patient's rights with a
newly admitted patient. Which rights should be included? (Select all that apply)
The right to:
A. Have visitors
B. confidentiality
C. A private Room
D. complain about inadequate care
E. select the nurse assigned to their care - ANSWER//A. Have visitors
B. Confidentiality
D. Complain about inadequate care
A nurse prepares to administer a scheduled injection of haloperidol to a patient with
schizophrenia. As the nurse swabs the site, the patient shouts, "Stop! I don't want to
take that medicine anymore. I hate the side effects." Select the nurse's best action.
A. Assemble other stuff for a show of force and proceed with injection, using restrains if
necessary.
B. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell me more
about the side effects you've been having."
C. Proceed with the injection but explain to the patient that here are medications that
will help reduce the unpleasant side effects.
,D. Say to the patient, "Since i've already drawn the medication in the syringe, I'm
required to give it, but let's talk to the doctor about delaying next month's dose." -
ANSWER//B. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell
me more about the side effects you've been having."
An Adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "i'm going to
kill my father, but you can't tell anyone." Select the nurse's best response
A. "you are right. Federal law requires me to keep clinical information private."
B. "I Am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
C. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
D. "You should share this thought with your psychiatrist." - ANSWER//B. "I Am obligated
to share that information with the treatment team."
A voluntary hospitalized patient tells the nurse, "Get me the forms for discharge. I want
to leave now." Select the nurse's best response.
A. "I Will get the form for you right now and bring them to your room."
B. "Since you signed your consent for treatment, you may leave if you desire."
C. "I will get them for you, but let's talk about your decision to leave treatment."
D. "I cannot give you those forms without your healthcare provider's permission." -
ANSWER//C. "I will get them for you, but lets talk about your decision to leave
treatment."
Which individual diagnosed with mental illness needs psychiatric hospitalization the
most? An individual:
A. Who has a panic attack after her child gets lost in a shopping mall.
B. With visions of demons emerging from cemetery plots throughout the community
C. Who takes 38 acetaminophen tablets after the person's stock portfolio becomes
worthless.
D. Diagnosed with major depression who stops taking prescribed antidepressant
medication - ANSWER//C. Who take 38 acetaminophen tablets after the person's stock
portfolio becomes worthless
,During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship can the nurse anticipate that
identified patient issues will be explored and resolved?
A. Preorientation
B. Orientation
C. Working
D. Termination - ANSWER//C. Working
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. The nurse may expert an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
A. Conduct mental health assessments.
B. Prescribed psychotropic medication
C. Established therapeutic relationships.
D. Individualize nursing care plans. - ANSWER//B. Prescribed psychotropic medication
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was
achieved? A patient:
A. Sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands
B. Behaves without considering the consequences of personal action
C. Aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
D. Seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life. -
ANSWER//A. Sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands
A nurse uses Maslow's Hierarchy of needs to plan care for a patient with mental illness.
Which problem will receive priority?
A. Refuses to eat or bathe
B. Reports feelings of alienation from family
C. Is reluctant to participate in unti social activities.
D. Is unaware of medication action and side effects - ANSWER//A. Refuses to eat or
bathe
Inpatient hospitalization for persons with mental illness is generally reserved for patients
who:
A. Present a clear danger to self or others
B. are noncompliant with medication at home
C. Have limited support system in the community.
, D. Develop new symptoms during the course of an illness - ANSWER//A. Present a
clear danger to self or others
A nurse inspects an inpatient psychiatric unit and finds that exits are free of
obstructions, no one is smoking, and the janitor's close is locked. These observations
relate to:
A. Coordinating care of patients
B. Management of milieu safety
C. Management of interpersonal climate
D. Use of therapeutic intervention strategies - ANSWER//B. Management of milieu
safety.
An adolescent client is admitted to an acute care unity following an attempt to commit
suicide. He hasn't said a word to anyone. Which of the following interventions should
the nurse plan to implement first?
A. Arrange one-to-one observation of the client.
B. Encourage the client to interact with peers
C. Teach the client about medication for depression.
D. Obtain a medical history from the client and family. - ANSWER//A. Arrange one-to
one observation of the client.
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
B. The client has a Glasgow coma scale score less than 5
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place - ANSWER//A. The client arouses
briefly in response to a sternal rub
Which statement about diagnosis of a mental disorder is true?
A. The symptoms of each disorder are common among all cultures.
B. Culture may cause variation in symptoms for each clinical disorder.
C. All mental disorders listed in the DSM-5 seen in all other cultures
Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationales 2026/2027 | A+ Graded |
Verified | Instant Download
A nurse performed these actions while caring for patients in an inpatient psychiatric
setting. Which action violated patients' rights?
A. Prohibited a patient from using the telephone
B. In patient's presence, opened a package mailed to patient
C. Remained within arm's length of patient with homicidal ideation
D. Permitted a patient with psychosis to refuse oral psychotropic medication. -
ANSWER//A. Prohibited a patient from using telephone
A psychiatric nurse discusses rules of the therapeutic milieu and patient's rights with a
newly admitted patient. Which rights should be included? (Select all that apply)
The right to:
A. Have visitors
B. confidentiality
C. A private Room
D. complain about inadequate care
E. select the nurse assigned to their care - ANSWER//A. Have visitors
B. Confidentiality
D. Complain about inadequate care
A nurse prepares to administer a scheduled injection of haloperidol to a patient with
schizophrenia. As the nurse swabs the site, the patient shouts, "Stop! I don't want to
take that medicine anymore. I hate the side effects." Select the nurse's best action.
A. Assemble other stuff for a show of force and proceed with injection, using restrains if
necessary.
B. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell me more
about the side effects you've been having."
C. Proceed with the injection but explain to the patient that here are medications that
will help reduce the unpleasant side effects.
,D. Say to the patient, "Since i've already drawn the medication in the syringe, I'm
required to give it, but let's talk to the doctor about delaying next month's dose." -
ANSWER//B. Stop the medication administration procedure and say to the patient, "Tell
me more about the side effects you've been having."
An Adolescent hospitalized after a violent physical outburst tells the nurse, "i'm going to
kill my father, but you can't tell anyone." Select the nurse's best response
A. "you are right. Federal law requires me to keep clinical information private."
B. "I Am obligated to share that information with the treatment team."
C. "Those kinds of thoughts will make your hospitalization longer."
D. "You should share this thought with your psychiatrist." - ANSWER//B. "I Am obligated
to share that information with the treatment team."
A voluntary hospitalized patient tells the nurse, "Get me the forms for discharge. I want
to leave now." Select the nurse's best response.
A. "I Will get the form for you right now and bring them to your room."
B. "Since you signed your consent for treatment, you may leave if you desire."
C. "I will get them for you, but let's talk about your decision to leave treatment."
D. "I cannot give you those forms without your healthcare provider's permission." -
ANSWER//C. "I will get them for you, but lets talk about your decision to leave
treatment."
Which individual diagnosed with mental illness needs psychiatric hospitalization the
most? An individual:
A. Who has a panic attack after her child gets lost in a shopping mall.
B. With visions of demons emerging from cemetery plots throughout the community
C. Who takes 38 acetaminophen tablets after the person's stock portfolio becomes
worthless.
D. Diagnosed with major depression who stops taking prescribed antidepressant
medication - ANSWER//C. Who take 38 acetaminophen tablets after the person's stock
portfolio becomes worthless
,During which phase of the nurse-patient relationship can the nurse anticipate that
identified patient issues will be explored and resolved?
A. Preorientation
B. Orientation
C. Working
D. Termination - ANSWER//C. Working
A staff nurse completes orientation to a psychiatric unit. The nurse may expert an
advanced practice nurse to perform which additional intervention?
A. Conduct mental health assessments.
B. Prescribed psychotropic medication
C. Established therapeutic relationships.
D. Individualize nursing care plans. - ANSWER//B. Prescribed psychotropic medication
Which finding best indicates that the goal "Demonstrate mentally healthy behavior" was
achieved? A patient:
A. Sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands
B. Behaves without considering the consequences of personal action
C. Aggressively meets own needs without considering the rights of others.
D. Seeks help from others when assuming responsibility for major areas of own life. -
ANSWER//A. Sees self as capable of achieving ideals and meeting demands
A nurse uses Maslow's Hierarchy of needs to plan care for a patient with mental illness.
Which problem will receive priority?
A. Refuses to eat or bathe
B. Reports feelings of alienation from family
C. Is reluctant to participate in unti social activities.
D. Is unaware of medication action and side effects - ANSWER//A. Refuses to eat or
bathe
Inpatient hospitalization for persons with mental illness is generally reserved for patients
who:
A. Present a clear danger to self or others
B. are noncompliant with medication at home
C. Have limited support system in the community.
, D. Develop new symptoms during the course of an illness - ANSWER//A. Present a
clear danger to self or others
A nurse inspects an inpatient psychiatric unit and finds that exits are free of
obstructions, no one is smoking, and the janitor's close is locked. These observations
relate to:
A. Coordinating care of patients
B. Management of milieu safety
C. Management of interpersonal climate
D. Use of therapeutic intervention strategies - ANSWER//B. Management of milieu
safety.
An adolescent client is admitted to an acute care unity following an attempt to commit
suicide. He hasn't said a word to anyone. Which of the following interventions should
the nurse plan to implement first?
A. Arrange one-to-one observation of the client.
B. Encourage the client to interact with peers
C. Teach the client about medication for depression.
D. Obtain a medical history from the client and family. - ANSWER//A. Arrange one-to
one observation of the client.
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
B. The client has a Glasgow coma scale score less than 5
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place - ANSWER//A. The client arouses
briefly in response to a sternal rub
Which statement about diagnosis of a mental disorder is true?
A. The symptoms of each disorder are common among all cultures.
B. Culture may cause variation in symptoms for each clinical disorder.
C. All mental disorders listed in the DSM-5 seen in all other cultures
