HESI MENTAL HEALTH 2026 TEST PAPER QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A client is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which nursing diagnosis
should a nurse assign to this client to address a behavioral symptom of this disorder?
A. Altered communication r/t feelings of worthlessness AEB anhedonia.
B. Social isolation r/t poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room.
C. Altered thought processes r/t hopelessness AEB persecutory delusion.
D. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements r/t high anxiety AEB anorexia. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Social isolation r/t poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room.
(KEY: question asked for BEHAVIORAL symptom.)
✔✔A client diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features hears voices
commanding self-harm. A nurse is unable to elicit a contract for safety. What should be
the nurse's priority intervention at this time?
A. Obtaining an order for locked seclusion until client is no longer suicidal.
B. conducting 15-minute checks to ensure safety.
C. Placing the client on one-to-one observation while continuing to monitor suicidal
ideations.
D. Encouraging client to express feelings related to suicide. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Placing the client on one-to-one observation while continuing to monitor suicidal
ideations.
(Command hallucinations are the first clue, pt is refusing to sign a safety contract, that
pt needs to be on one-on-one and continue to monitor)
✔✔The nurse assesses a client suspected of having major depressive disorder. Which
client symptom would eliminate this diagnosis?
A. The client is disheveled and malodorous.
B. The client refuses to interact with others.
C. The client is unable to feel any pleasure.
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors. -
✔✔Answer:
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors.
✔✔A client with a history of suicide attempts has been taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1
month. The client suddenly presents with a bright affect, rates mood at 9/10, and is
much more communicative. Which action should be the nurse's priority at this time?
A. give the client off-unit privileges as positive reinforcement.
B. Encourage the client to share mood improvement in group.
C. Increase the level of this client's suicide precautions.
D. Request that the psychiatrist reevaluate the current medication protocol. -
✔✔Answer:
C. Increase the level of this client's suicide precautions.
, (No miraculous healing occurs, in 4 wks pt will not recieve effects from medication. They
may have come up with a fool proof suicide plan. Pay attention to time frame that
question gives you such as "1 month")
✔✔What is the rationale for a nurse to perform a full physical health assessment on a
client admitted with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. The attention during the assessment is beneficial in decreasing social isolation.
B. Depression can generate somatic symptoms that can mask actual physical disorders.
C. Physical health complications are likely to arise form antidepressant therapy.
D. Depressed clients avoid addressing physical health and ignore medical problems. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Depression can generate somatic symptoms that can mask actual physical disorders.
(Concept of this question is a popular mental health question.)
✔✔A nurse is planning care for a child who is experiencing depression. Which
medication is approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents?
A. Paroxetine (Paxil)
B. Sertraline (Zoloft)
C. Citalopram (Celexa)
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac) - ✔✔Answer:
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
(Famous HESI, NCLEX question. SSRI is first line treatment for depression)
✔✔A nurse recently admitted a client to an inpatient unit after a suicide attempt. A
health-care provider orders amitriptyline (Elavil) for the client. Which intervention,
related to this medication, should be initiated to maintain this client's safety upon
discharge?
A. Provide a 6-month supply of Elavil to ensure long-term compliance.
B. Provide a 1-wk supply of Elavil with refills contingent on follow-up appointments.
C. Provide pill dispenser as a memory aid.
D. Provide education regarding the avoidance of foods containing tyramine. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Provide a 1-wk supply of Elavil with refills contingent on follow-up appointments.
(followup is good for assessment, don't want to give enough supply for them to take all
at once and overdose.)
✔✔A client who has been taking fluvoxamine (Luvox) without improvement asks a
nurse "I heard about something called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Cant my
doctor add that to my medications?" Which is an appropriate nursing response?
A. "This combination of drugs can lead to delirium tremens."
B. "A combination of an MAOI and Luvox can lead to a life-threatening hypertensive
crisis."
C. "Thats a good idea. There have been good results with the combination of these two
drugs."
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A client is diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Which nursing diagnosis
should a nurse assign to this client to address a behavioral symptom of this disorder?
A. Altered communication r/t feelings of worthlessness AEB anhedonia.
B. Social isolation r/t poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room.
C. Altered thought processes r/t hopelessness AEB persecutory delusion.
D. Altered nutrition: less than body requirements r/t high anxiety AEB anorexia. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Social isolation r/t poor self-esteem AEB secluding self in room.
(KEY: question asked for BEHAVIORAL symptom.)
✔✔A client diagnosed with major depression with psychotic features hears voices
commanding self-harm. A nurse is unable to elicit a contract for safety. What should be
the nurse's priority intervention at this time?
A. Obtaining an order for locked seclusion until client is no longer suicidal.
B. conducting 15-minute checks to ensure safety.
C. Placing the client on one-to-one observation while continuing to monitor suicidal
ideations.
D. Encouraging client to express feelings related to suicide. - ✔✔Answer:
C. Placing the client on one-to-one observation while continuing to monitor suicidal
ideations.
(Command hallucinations are the first clue, pt is refusing to sign a safety contract, that
pt needs to be on one-on-one and continue to monitor)
✔✔The nurse assesses a client suspected of having major depressive disorder. Which
client symptom would eliminate this diagnosis?
A. The client is disheveled and malodorous.
B. The client refuses to interact with others.
C. The client is unable to feel any pleasure.
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors. -
✔✔Answer:
D. The client has maxed-out charge cards and exhibits promiscuous behaviors.
✔✔A client with a history of suicide attempts has been taking fluoxetine (Prozac) for 1
month. The client suddenly presents with a bright affect, rates mood at 9/10, and is
much more communicative. Which action should be the nurse's priority at this time?
A. give the client off-unit privileges as positive reinforcement.
B. Encourage the client to share mood improvement in group.
C. Increase the level of this client's suicide precautions.
D. Request that the psychiatrist reevaluate the current medication protocol. -
✔✔Answer:
C. Increase the level of this client's suicide precautions.
, (No miraculous healing occurs, in 4 wks pt will not recieve effects from medication. They
may have come up with a fool proof suicide plan. Pay attention to time frame that
question gives you such as "1 month")
✔✔What is the rationale for a nurse to perform a full physical health assessment on a
client admitted with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder?
A. The attention during the assessment is beneficial in decreasing social isolation.
B. Depression can generate somatic symptoms that can mask actual physical disorders.
C. Physical health complications are likely to arise form antidepressant therapy.
D. Depressed clients avoid addressing physical health and ignore medical problems. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Depression can generate somatic symptoms that can mask actual physical disorders.
(Concept of this question is a popular mental health question.)
✔✔A nurse is planning care for a child who is experiencing depression. Which
medication is approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression in children and
adolescents?
A. Paroxetine (Paxil)
B. Sertraline (Zoloft)
C. Citalopram (Celexa)
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac) - ✔✔Answer:
D. Fluoxetine (Prozac)
(Famous HESI, NCLEX question. SSRI is first line treatment for depression)
✔✔A nurse recently admitted a client to an inpatient unit after a suicide attempt. A
health-care provider orders amitriptyline (Elavil) for the client. Which intervention,
related to this medication, should be initiated to maintain this client's safety upon
discharge?
A. Provide a 6-month supply of Elavil to ensure long-term compliance.
B. Provide a 1-wk supply of Elavil with refills contingent on follow-up appointments.
C. Provide pill dispenser as a memory aid.
D. Provide education regarding the avoidance of foods containing tyramine. -
✔✔Answer:
B. Provide a 1-wk supply of Elavil with refills contingent on follow-up appointments.
(followup is good for assessment, don't want to give enough supply for them to take all
at once and overdose.)
✔✔A client who has been taking fluvoxamine (Luvox) without improvement asks a
nurse "I heard about something called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Cant my
doctor add that to my medications?" Which is an appropriate nursing response?
A. "This combination of drugs can lead to delirium tremens."
B. "A combination of an MAOI and Luvox can lead to a life-threatening hypertensive
crisis."
C. "Thats a good idea. There have been good results with the combination of these two
drugs."
