HESI MENTAL HEALTH CORE EXAM TEST QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A client diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia states, "My psychiatrist is out to get
me. Im sad that the voice is telling me to stop him." What symptom is the client
exhibiting and what is the nurses legal responsibility related to this symptom?
A. Magical thinking; administer an antipsychotic medication.
B. Persecutory delusions; orient the client to reality.
C. Command hallucinations; warn the psychiatrist.
D. Altered thought processes; call an emergency treatment team meeting. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Command hallucinations; warn the psychiatrist.
✔✔Which statement should indicate to a nurse that an individual is experiencing a
delusion?
A. Theres an alien growing in my liver.
B. I see my dead husband everywhere I go.
C. The IRS may audit my taxes.
D. Im not going to eat my food. It smells like brimstone. - ✔✔Answer:
A. Theres an alien growing in my liver.
(A delusion is a false belief. Seeing something or hearing something that is not real is a
hallucination)
✔✔A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is slow to respond and appears to be listening
to unseen others. Which medication should a nurse expect a physician to order to
address this type of symptom?
A. Haloperidol (Haldol) to address the negative symptom.
B. Clonazepam (Klonopin) to address the positive symptom.
C. Risperidone (Risperdal) to address the positive symptom.
D. Clozapine (Clozaril) to address the negative symptom. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Risperidone (Risperdal) to address the positive symptom.
(Risperdal is a antipsychotic that would be given for a pt who is in psychosis, this pt is
exhibiting positive symptoms. Positive symptoms are symptoms that the pt has that they
should not have such as seeing things that are not there. Negative symptoms are the pt
not having things that they should be having such as facial expression.)
✔✔A client is diagnosed with schizophrenia. A physician orders haloperidol (Haldol) 50
mg bid, benztropine (Cogentin) 1 mg pro, and zolpidem (Ambien) 10 mg HS. Which
client behavior would warrant the nurse to administer benztropine?
A. Tactile hallucinations
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Restlessness and muscle rigidity
D. Reports of hearing disturbing voices - ✔✔Answer:
C. Restlessness and muscle rigidity
(Tardive dyskinesia would be because antipsychotic medications)
, ✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a flat affect, paranoid delusions,
anhedonia, anergia, neologisms, and echolalia. Which statement correctly differentiates
the client's positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
A. Paranoid delusions, anhedonia, and anergia are positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
B. Paranoid delusions, neologisms, and echolalia are positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
C. Paranoid delusions, anergia, and echolalia are negative symptoms of schizophrenia .
D. Paranoid delusions, flat affect, and anhedonia are negative symptoms of
schizophrenia. - ✔✔Answer:
B. Paranoid delusions, neologisms, and echolalia are positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
✔✔A 60 year old client diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia presents in an emergency
department with uncontrollable tongue movements, stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing.
Which medical diagnosis and treatment should a nurse anticipate when planning care
for this client?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications.
B. Agranulocytosis treated by administration of clozapine (Clozaril).
C. Extrapyramidal symptoms treated by administration of benztropine (Cogentin).
D. Tardive dyskinesia treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications. - ✔✔Answer:
D. Tardive dyskinesia treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications.
(happens after pt has chronically taken antipsychotic medications. When prescribing
antipsychotics, you want to start low and gradually increase dose because of this.
Question clues: "Chronic schizophrenia", "uncontrollable tongue movements, stiff neck,
difficulty swallowing")
✔✔After taking chlorpromazine (Thorazine) for 1 month, a client presents to an
emergency department with severe muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and a temp of 105F
(40.5C). Which medical diagnosis and treatment should a nurse anticipate when
planning care for this client?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing Thorazine and
administering dantrolene (Dantrium).
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by increasing thorazine dosage and
administering an anti anxiety medication.
C. Distonia treated by administering trihexyphenidyl (Artane).
D. Dystonia treated by administering bromocriptine (Parlodel). - ✔✔Answer:
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing Thorazine and
administering dantrolene (Dantrium).
(dantrolene (Dantrium) is a muscle relaxant).
✔✔A client diagnosed with schizophrenia takes an antipsychotic agent daily. Which
assessment finding should a nurse address first?
A. Respirations of 22 beats/minute
B. Weight gain of 8 pounds in 2 months
C. Temperature of 104 F (40C)
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A client diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia states, "My psychiatrist is out to get
me. Im sad that the voice is telling me to stop him." What symptom is the client
exhibiting and what is the nurses legal responsibility related to this symptom?
A. Magical thinking; administer an antipsychotic medication.
B. Persecutory delusions; orient the client to reality.
C. Command hallucinations; warn the psychiatrist.
D. Altered thought processes; call an emergency treatment team meeting. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Command hallucinations; warn the psychiatrist.
✔✔Which statement should indicate to a nurse that an individual is experiencing a
delusion?
A. Theres an alien growing in my liver.
B. I see my dead husband everywhere I go.
C. The IRS may audit my taxes.
D. Im not going to eat my food. It smells like brimstone. - ✔✔Answer:
A. Theres an alien growing in my liver.
(A delusion is a false belief. Seeing something or hearing something that is not real is a
hallucination)
✔✔A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is slow to respond and appears to be listening
to unseen others. Which medication should a nurse expect a physician to order to
address this type of symptom?
A. Haloperidol (Haldol) to address the negative symptom.
B. Clonazepam (Klonopin) to address the positive symptom.
C. Risperidone (Risperdal) to address the positive symptom.
D. Clozapine (Clozaril) to address the negative symptom. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Risperidone (Risperdal) to address the positive symptom.
(Risperdal is a antipsychotic that would be given for a pt who is in psychosis, this pt is
exhibiting positive symptoms. Positive symptoms are symptoms that the pt has that they
should not have such as seeing things that are not there. Negative symptoms are the pt
not having things that they should be having such as facial expression.)
✔✔A client is diagnosed with schizophrenia. A physician orders haloperidol (Haldol) 50
mg bid, benztropine (Cogentin) 1 mg pro, and zolpidem (Ambien) 10 mg HS. Which
client behavior would warrant the nurse to administer benztropine?
A. Tactile hallucinations
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Restlessness and muscle rigidity
D. Reports of hearing disturbing voices - ✔✔Answer:
C. Restlessness and muscle rigidity
(Tardive dyskinesia would be because antipsychotic medications)
, ✔✔A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a flat affect, paranoid delusions,
anhedonia, anergia, neologisms, and echolalia. Which statement correctly differentiates
the client's positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
A. Paranoid delusions, anhedonia, and anergia are positive symptoms of schizophrenia.
B. Paranoid delusions, neologisms, and echolalia are positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
C. Paranoid delusions, anergia, and echolalia are negative symptoms of schizophrenia .
D. Paranoid delusions, flat affect, and anhedonia are negative symptoms of
schizophrenia. - ✔✔Answer:
B. Paranoid delusions, neologisms, and echolalia are positive symptoms of
schizophrenia.
✔✔A 60 year old client diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia presents in an emergency
department with uncontrollable tongue movements, stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing.
Which medical diagnosis and treatment should a nurse anticipate when planning care
for this client?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications.
B. Agranulocytosis treated by administration of clozapine (Clozaril).
C. Extrapyramidal symptoms treated by administration of benztropine (Cogentin).
D. Tardive dyskinesia treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications. - ✔✔Answer:
D. Tardive dyskinesia treated by discontinuing antipsychotic medications.
(happens after pt has chronically taken antipsychotic medications. When prescribing
antipsychotics, you want to start low and gradually increase dose because of this.
Question clues: "Chronic schizophrenia", "uncontrollable tongue movements, stiff neck,
difficulty swallowing")
✔✔After taking chlorpromazine (Thorazine) for 1 month, a client presents to an
emergency department with severe muscle rigidity, tachycardia, and a temp of 105F
(40.5C). Which medical diagnosis and treatment should a nurse anticipate when
planning care for this client?
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing Thorazine and
administering dantrolene (Dantrium).
B. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by increasing thorazine dosage and
administering an anti anxiety medication.
C. Distonia treated by administering trihexyphenidyl (Artane).
D. Dystonia treated by administering bromocriptine (Parlodel). - ✔✔Answer:
A. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome treated by discontinuing Thorazine and
administering dantrolene (Dantrium).
(dantrolene (Dantrium) is a muscle relaxant).
✔✔A client diagnosed with schizophrenia takes an antipsychotic agent daily. Which
assessment finding should a nurse address first?
A. Respirations of 22 beats/minute
B. Weight gain of 8 pounds in 2 months
C. Temperature of 104 F (40C)
