ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
UPDATE 2026 RATED A+
QUESTIONA 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 7.
C) The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D) The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. - answer-A
QUESTIONA nurse is planning a peer group 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.
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. - answer-B, D, E
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.
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. - answer-A, B, C
QUESTIONA 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. -
answer-D
QUESTIONA nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is
preparing to conduct an 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 -
answer-B
QUESTIONA nurse in an emergency mental health facility is
caring for a group of clients. The nurse should identify that which
of the following clients requires a temporary emergency
admission?
A) A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
, B) A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted
suicide a year ago.
C) A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted
a homeless man with a metal rod.
D) A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the
room while talking to himself. - answer-C
QUESTIONA nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-
staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The
nurse's actions are an example of which of the following torts?
A) Invasion of privacy
B) False imprisonment
C) Assault
D) Battery - answer-B
QUESTIONA client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a
sharp knife under my mattress in order to protect myself from my
roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me."
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the
client daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to
admit to hiding the knife.
B) Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the
client and his roommate closely.
C) Tell the client that this must be reported to the healthcare team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D) Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform
the client of the intention to do so. - answer-D
QUESTIONA nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical
restraints. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include in the documentation? (Select all that apply)
A) Client ate most of his breakfast
B) Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr
UPDATE 2026 RATED A+
QUESTIONA 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 7.
C) The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D) The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. - answer-A
QUESTIONA nurse is planning a peer group 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.
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. - answer-B, D, E
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.
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. - answer-A, B, C
QUESTIONA 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. -
answer-D
QUESTIONA nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is
preparing to conduct an 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 -
answer-B
QUESTIONA nurse in an emergency mental health facility is
caring for a group of clients. The nurse should identify that which
of the following clients requires a temporary emergency
admission?
A) A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
, B) A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted
suicide a year ago.
C) A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted
a homeless man with a metal rod.
D) A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the
room while talking to himself. - answer-C
QUESTIONA nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is very short-
staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The
nurse's actions are an example of which of the following torts?
A) Invasion of privacy
B) False imprisonment
C) Assault
D) Battery - answer-B
QUESTIONA client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a
sharp knife under my mattress in order to protect myself from my
roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me."
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A) Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the
client daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to
admit to hiding the knife.
B) Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the
client and his roommate closely.
C) Tell the client that this must be reported to the healthcare team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D) Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform
the client of the intention to do so. - answer-D
QUESTIONA nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical
restraints. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include in the documentation? (Select all that apply)
A) Client ate most of his breakfast
B) Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr
