2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam 4
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+ Guaranteed
Pass
While walking down the hall a female client with schizophrenia stops and stands rigidly. When
asked what she is doing, she replies slowly, "I'm standing here because Jesus told me to."
What is the best response by the nurse?
1
"Come to your room for a while; you'll feel better."
2
"What you heard was in your head; it was your imagination."
3
"Jesus wouldn't tell you to stand in the hall; he wants you to behave reasonably."
A+ TEST BANK 1
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
4
"I didn't hear anyone talking; come with me to the community room."
4The response "I didn't hear anyone talking; come with me to the community room." points
out reality without focusing on the hallucination and provides a reality-based diversion.
Although the response "Come to your room for a while; you'll feel better" might be a reality-
based diversion, it provides false reassurance because the client may or may not feel better.
The response "What you heard was in your head; it was your imagination" minimizes what the
client is experiencing and may be perceived as demeaning. The response "Jesus wouldn't tell
you to stand in the hall; he wants you to behave reasonably" is accusatory and demeaning; it
implies that the client is unreasonable at a time when the client needs to be accepted and
supported.
A client is brought by ambulance to the emergency department. The client's signs and
symptoms are indicative of opioid overdose. What should the nurse expect the practitioner to
prescribe?
1
Methadone
2
Epinephrine
3
Amphetamine
4
Naloxone
4This drug is an opioid antagonist that displaces opioids from receptors in the brain, reversing
respiratory depression. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that causes central nervous system
depression; it will accelerate the effects of the overdose. Epinephrine will have no effect on
respiratory depression stemming from of an overdose of a narcotic. Amphetamine is a
stimulant, not an opioid antagonist.
A+ TEST BANK 2
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
A nurse is evaluating the medication regimens of clients to determine whether the
therapeutic levels have been achieved. For which medication should the nurse review the
client's serum blood level?
1
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
2
Sertraline (Zoloft)
3
Lorazepam (Ativan)
4
Valproic acid (Depakene
4Valproic acid (Depakene) must reach a therapeutic level to be effective, and the serum level
must be monitored to ensure that it remains in the therapeutic range rather than the toxic
range. The serum drug level is not monitored with lorazepam (Ativan) or olanzapine
(Zyprexa).
A practitioner prescribes haloperidol (Haldol) 10 mg by mouth twice a day for a client who is
also receiving phenytoin (Dilantin) for control of epilepsy. When planning the client's care, the
nurse considers that anticonvulsants may interact with haloperidol to:
1
Mask its therapeutic effect.
2
Interfere with its absorption.
3
Enhance its rate of metabolism.
4
Potentiate its central nervous system depressant effect.
4Antiseizure medications and haloperidol (Haldol) exert a synergistic central nervous system
depressant effect. The effect is potentiated, not masked. Anticonvulsants do not affect the
absorption of haloperidol. Anticonvulsants do not affect the metabolism of haloperidol.`
A+ TEST BANK 3
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
On the psychiatric unit a client has been receiving high doses of haloperidol (Haldol) for 2
weeks. The client says, "I just can't sit still, and I feel jittery." Which side effect does the nurse
suspect that the client is experiencing?
1
Torticollis
2
Tardive dyskinesia
3
Parkinsonian syndrome
4
Akathisia
4
Akathisia, a side effect of haloperidol (Haldol), develops early in therapy and is characterized
by restlessness and agitation. Torticollis is characterized by a stiff neck (wry neck). Tardive
dyskinesia is characterized by gross involuntary movements of the extremities, tongue, and
facial muscles that develop after prolonged therapy. Pseudoparkinsonism is characterized by
motor retardation, rigidity, and tremors; the reaction resembles Parkinson's syndrome but
usually responds to decreasing the dose, the administration of an antidyskinetic medication,
or discontinuation of the haloperidol.
Lithium carbonate 600 mg by mouth three times a day is prescribed for a client. The nurse
concludes that the teaching about its side effects is understood when the client says that she
will call her primary health care provider immediately if she notices any:
1
Difficulty urinating
2
Sensitivity to bright light or sun
3
Sexual dysfunction or breast enlargement
4
Fine hand tremor or slurred speech
4
A+ TEST BANK 4
2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam 4
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+ Guaranteed
Pass
While walking down the hall a female client with schizophrenia stops and stands rigidly. When
asked what she is doing, she replies slowly, "I'm standing here because Jesus told me to."
What is the best response by the nurse?
1
"Come to your room for a while; you'll feel better."
2
"What you heard was in your head; it was your imagination."
3
"Jesus wouldn't tell you to stand in the hall; he wants you to behave reasonably."
A+ TEST BANK 1
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
4
"I didn't hear anyone talking; come with me to the community room."
4The response "I didn't hear anyone talking; come with me to the community room." points
out reality without focusing on the hallucination and provides a reality-based diversion.
Although the response "Come to your room for a while; you'll feel better" might be a reality-
based diversion, it provides false reassurance because the client may or may not feel better.
The response "What you heard was in your head; it was your imagination" minimizes what the
client is experiencing and may be perceived as demeaning. The response "Jesus wouldn't tell
you to stand in the hall; he wants you to behave reasonably" is accusatory and demeaning; it
implies that the client is unreasonable at a time when the client needs to be accepted and
supported.
A client is brought by ambulance to the emergency department. The client's signs and
symptoms are indicative of opioid overdose. What should the nurse expect the practitioner to
prescribe?
1
Methadone
2
Epinephrine
3
Amphetamine
4
Naloxone
4This drug is an opioid antagonist that displaces opioids from receptors in the brain, reversing
respiratory depression. Methadone is a synthetic opioid that causes central nervous system
depression; it will accelerate the effects of the overdose. Epinephrine will have no effect on
respiratory depression stemming from of an overdose of a narcotic. Amphetamine is a
stimulant, not an opioid antagonist.
A+ TEST BANK 2
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
A nurse is evaluating the medication regimens of clients to determine whether the
therapeutic levels have been achieved. For which medication should the nurse review the
client's serum blood level?
1
Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
2
Sertraline (Zoloft)
3
Lorazepam (Ativan)
4
Valproic acid (Depakene
4Valproic acid (Depakene) must reach a therapeutic level to be effective, and the serum level
must be monitored to ensure that it remains in the therapeutic range rather than the toxic
range. The serum drug level is not monitored with lorazepam (Ativan) or olanzapine
(Zyprexa).
A practitioner prescribes haloperidol (Haldol) 10 mg by mouth twice a day for a client who is
also receiving phenytoin (Dilantin) for control of epilepsy. When planning the client's care, the
nurse considers that anticonvulsants may interact with haloperidol to:
1
Mask its therapeutic effect.
2
Interfere with its absorption.
3
Enhance its rate of metabolism.
4
Potentiate its central nervous system depressant effect.
4Antiseizure medications and haloperidol (Haldol) exert a synergistic central nervous system
depressant effect. The effect is potentiated, not masked. Anticonvulsants do not affect the
absorption of haloperidol. Anticonvulsants do not affect the metabolism of haloperidol.`
A+ TEST BANK 3
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
On the psychiatric unit a client has been receiving high doses of haloperidol (Haldol) for 2
weeks. The client says, "I just can't sit still, and I feel jittery." Which side effect does the nurse
suspect that the client is experiencing?
1
Torticollis
2
Tardive dyskinesia
3
Parkinsonian syndrome
4
Akathisia
4
Akathisia, a side effect of haloperidol (Haldol), develops early in therapy and is characterized
by restlessness and agitation. Torticollis is characterized by a stiff neck (wry neck). Tardive
dyskinesia is characterized by gross involuntary movements of the extremities, tongue, and
facial muscles that develop after prolonged therapy. Pseudoparkinsonism is characterized by
motor retardation, rigidity, and tremors; the reaction resembles Parkinson's syndrome but
usually responds to decreasing the dose, the administration of an antidyskinetic medication,
or discontinuation of the haloperidol.
Lithium carbonate 600 mg by mouth three times a day is prescribed for a client. The nurse
concludes that the teaching about its side effects is understood when the client says that she
will call her primary health care provider immediately if she notices any:
1
Difficulty urinating
2
Sensitivity to bright light or sun
3
Sexual dysfunction or breast enlargement
4
Fine hand tremor or slurred speech
4
A+ TEST BANK 4
