HESI MENTAL HEALTH EVALUATION EXAM 2026
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔The mother of a child who is brought to the clinic unconscious is hysterical, yelling,
becoming increasingly agitated, and throws her bottle of water on the floor. Which
response should the practical nurse make?
A. Use an authoritative approach to confront her to control her behaviors
B. Inform her that this behavior is unacceptable in the clinic
C. Call for security officers to assist her from the premises
D. Step aside and reassure the mother that the staff is present to help - ✔✔D. Step
aside and reassure the mother that the staff is present to help
rationale:
The client is exhibiting excessive agitation, which has a potential for violence. To ensure
a safe environment, the PN should maintain a distance that avoids the client's physical
reach and reassure her that the staff are here to help (D). The mother is distressed and
is not likely to be receptive to verbal instructions, which may further agitate her (A and
B). Calling a show of force (C) may only increase her agitation and her child needs her
presence while care is provided.
✔✔The mother of a young child involved in the motor vehicle collision is in the family
room when she is told that her child has died as a result of the injuries. She screams,
"You killed my child!" and starts to pace. What is the best action for the practical nurse
to implement at this time?
A. Assure the mother that the child received the best possible care
B. Show sympathy and offer her a locket of the child's hair
C. Place an arm around the mother to hold and comforts her
D. Remain with the mother and sit quietly in the room near the door - ✔✔D. Remain
with the mother and sit quietly in the room near the door
rationale:
The mother is experiencing shock and disbelief to her child's unexpected death, which
can be manifested by a parent's initial reaction to project blame and anger. The
mother's response may be a pre-warning sign of agitation and acting out or violent
behavior, so the safest action is to remain with the mother in a quiet presence in the
room (D) near the door as she works through this stage. At this stage, (A,B, or C) are
unlikely to be effective until the mother has calmed down
✔✔A debilitated, older female client with Alzheimer's disease who is admitted to the
hospital is bewildered and begins to kick and push away an unlicensed assistive
personal (UAP). What action should the practical nurse take?
A. Orient the client to time, person, and place
B. Remind the client that the staff members are available to help her
C. Place soft restraints on the client to prevent injury
, D. Ask a person who is unfamiliar to the client to sit at the bedside - ✔✔D. Ask a person
who is unfamiliar to the client to sit at the bedside
rationale:
Clients with Alzheimer's disease are unable to engage in self care and have difficulty
adapting to new environments and information. A familiar person (D) can provide
comfort and distraction and can ease the client's transition to the hospital. The client is
not able to understand or retain reorientation or teaching (A and B). Alternative
measures, such as distraction, should be used before restraints (C), which often
increase anxiety and combativeness.
✔✔Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement for a male client who
is actively hallucinating?
A. Use an authoritative stand to confront the client
B. Ask for permission before touching the client
C. Inform the client that no one else is in the room
D. Place the client in soft restraints if he is violent - ✔✔B. Ask for permission before
touching the client
rationale:
A client who is hallucinating should be asked his permission before being touched (B)
because the client may misinterpret the touch as part of the hallucination and react
physically to the stimuli. Authoritative posturing is not indicated with a client who is
agitated or has altered perceptions of the environment (A). Although reality validation
should be given, the client's ability to understand reality during an active hallucination
may cause more anxiety and agitation (C). Restraints are used to protect the client and
others from injury, so alternative means, such as a secured room, should be tried before
applying physical restraint (D).
✔✔A women arrives at the clinic with multiple bruises. The practical nurse (PN) who
has carried for her on previous similar visits is concerned about her safety. Which
question should the PN ask the client to determine if she is a victim of domestic
violence?
A. How are things in your home life?
B. Why do you stay in your situation?
C. What did you do that caused your partner to hit you?
D. Do you feel it is healthy to remain a battered victim? - ✔✔A. How are things in your
home life?
rationale:
A general question be used to initiate the assessment and questions that imply
judgement or blame should be avoided (A). Why questions (B), and terms that imply
domestic violence, such as battered (C), which often carry a negative stigma, can be
misinterpreted by the victim (D) and should be avoided.
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔The mother of a child who is brought to the clinic unconscious is hysterical, yelling,
becoming increasingly agitated, and throws her bottle of water on the floor. Which
response should the practical nurse make?
A. Use an authoritative approach to confront her to control her behaviors
B. Inform her that this behavior is unacceptable in the clinic
C. Call for security officers to assist her from the premises
D. Step aside and reassure the mother that the staff is present to help - ✔✔D. Step
aside and reassure the mother that the staff is present to help
rationale:
The client is exhibiting excessive agitation, which has a potential for violence. To ensure
a safe environment, the PN should maintain a distance that avoids the client's physical
reach and reassure her that the staff are here to help (D). The mother is distressed and
is not likely to be receptive to verbal instructions, which may further agitate her (A and
B). Calling a show of force (C) may only increase her agitation and her child needs her
presence while care is provided.
✔✔The mother of a young child involved in the motor vehicle collision is in the family
room when she is told that her child has died as a result of the injuries. She screams,
"You killed my child!" and starts to pace. What is the best action for the practical nurse
to implement at this time?
A. Assure the mother that the child received the best possible care
B. Show sympathy and offer her a locket of the child's hair
C. Place an arm around the mother to hold and comforts her
D. Remain with the mother and sit quietly in the room near the door - ✔✔D. Remain
with the mother and sit quietly in the room near the door
rationale:
The mother is experiencing shock and disbelief to her child's unexpected death, which
can be manifested by a parent's initial reaction to project blame and anger. The
mother's response may be a pre-warning sign of agitation and acting out or violent
behavior, so the safest action is to remain with the mother in a quiet presence in the
room (D) near the door as she works through this stage. At this stage, (A,B, or C) are
unlikely to be effective until the mother has calmed down
✔✔A debilitated, older female client with Alzheimer's disease who is admitted to the
hospital is bewildered and begins to kick and push away an unlicensed assistive
personal (UAP). What action should the practical nurse take?
A. Orient the client to time, person, and place
B. Remind the client that the staff members are available to help her
C. Place soft restraints on the client to prevent injury
, D. Ask a person who is unfamiliar to the client to sit at the bedside - ✔✔D. Ask a person
who is unfamiliar to the client to sit at the bedside
rationale:
Clients with Alzheimer's disease are unable to engage in self care and have difficulty
adapting to new environments and information. A familiar person (D) can provide
comfort and distraction and can ease the client's transition to the hospital. The client is
not able to understand or retain reorientation or teaching (A and B). Alternative
measures, such as distraction, should be used before restraints (C), which often
increase anxiety and combativeness.
✔✔Which intervention should the practical nurse (PN) implement for a male client who
is actively hallucinating?
A. Use an authoritative stand to confront the client
B. Ask for permission before touching the client
C. Inform the client that no one else is in the room
D. Place the client in soft restraints if he is violent - ✔✔B. Ask for permission before
touching the client
rationale:
A client who is hallucinating should be asked his permission before being touched (B)
because the client may misinterpret the touch as part of the hallucination and react
physically to the stimuli. Authoritative posturing is not indicated with a client who is
agitated or has altered perceptions of the environment (A). Although reality validation
should be given, the client's ability to understand reality during an active hallucination
may cause more anxiety and agitation (C). Restraints are used to protect the client and
others from injury, so alternative means, such as a secured room, should be tried before
applying physical restraint (D).
✔✔A women arrives at the clinic with multiple bruises. The practical nurse (PN) who
has carried for her on previous similar visits is concerned about her safety. Which
question should the PN ask the client to determine if she is a victim of domestic
violence?
A. How are things in your home life?
B. Why do you stay in your situation?
C. What did you do that caused your partner to hit you?
D. Do you feel it is healthy to remain a battered victim? - ✔✔A. How are things in your
home life?
rationale:
A general question be used to initiate the assessment and questions that imply
judgement or blame should be avoided (A). Why questions (B), and terms that imply
domestic violence, such as battered (C), which often carry a negative stigma, can be
misinterpreted by the victim (D) and should be avoided.
