2026 ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
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."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remot
e, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is a
ppropriate to 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 medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
,Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. Wh
en conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
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.
ATI RN Mental Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
*B.c Identifyc thec client'sc perceptionc ofc herc mentalc healthc status.*
A.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
B.c Assessmentc isc thec priorityc actionc whenc takingc thec nursingc processc approach.c Identifyingc thec clien
t'sc perceptionc ofc herc mentalc healthc statusc providesc importantc informationc aboutc thec client'sc psycho
socialc history.
C.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
D.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Ac nursec isc toldc duringc change-of-
shiſtc reportc thatc ac clientc isc stuporous.c Whenc assessingc thec client,c whichc ofc thec followingc isc anc exp
e
ctedc finding?
,c
A.c Thec clientc arousesc brieflyc inc responsec toc ac sternalc rib.
B.c Thec clientc hasc ac Glasgowc Comac Scalec scorec lessc thanc 7.
C.c Thec clientc exhibitsc decorticatec rigidity.
D.c Thec clientc isc alertc butc disorientedc toc timec andc place.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
*A.c Thec clientc arousesc brieflyc inc responsec toc ac sternalc rib.*
A.c Ac clientc whoc isc stuporousc requiresc vigorousc orc painfulc stimulic toc elicitc ac response.
B.c <7c onc GCSc indicatesc comatose,c notc stuporous,c levelc ofc consciousness.
C.c Abnormalc posturingc =c comatose.
D.c Stuporousc /=c alert.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Ac nursec isc planningc ac peerc groupc discussionc aboutc thec Diagnosticc andc Statisticalc Manualc ofc Menta
l
Disorders,
5 ).c Whichc 5th c Edition
ofc the c (DSM-
c following c isc appropriatec toc includec inc thec discussion?c (SATA)
A.c Thec DSM-5c isc usedc toc identifyc mentalc healthc disorders.
B.c Thec DSM-5c establishesc diagnosticc criteria.
C.c Thec DSM-5c indicatesc recommendedc pharmacologicalc treatment.
D.c Thec DSM-5c assistsc nursesc inc planningc care.
E.c Thec DSM-5c indicatesc expectedc assessmentc findings.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
A,c B,c D,c E.
,c
Thec DSM-
5 isc usedc asc ac diagnosticc tool,c establishesc diagnosticc criteria,c usedc byc nursesc toc plan,c implement,c a
dc nevaluatec care,c andc identifiesc expectedc findingsc forc mentalc healthc disorders.
Itc doesc notc indicatec pharmacologicalc treatment.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Whichc ofc thec followingc isc anc examplec ofc ac clientc whoc requiresc emergencyc admissionc toc ac mentalc
h
ealthc facility?
A.c Ac clientc withc schizophreniac whoc hasc frequentc hallucinations.
B.c Ac clientc withc symptomsc ofc depressionc whoc attemptedc suicidec ac yearc ago.
C.c Ac clientc withc borderlinec personalityc disorderc whoc assaultedc ac homelessc manc withc ac metalc rod
.
D.c Ac clientc withc bipolarc disorderc whoc pacesc quicklyc downc thec sidewalkc whilec talkingc toc himself.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 2c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
C.c Ac clientc withc borderlinec personalityc disorderc whoc assaultedc ac homelessc manc withc ac metalc rod
.
Hallucinations,c depression,c and/orc pacingc doesc notc constitutec clearc reasonc forc emergencyc commitm
ent.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 2c Applicationc Exercises
Ac clientc tellsc ac studentc nurse,c "Don'tc tellc anyone,c butc Ic hidc ac sharpc knifec underc myc mattressc inc or
d
erc toc protectc myselfc fromc myc roommate,c whoc isc alwaysc yellingc atc mec andc threateningc me."c Which
ofc thec followingc actionsc shouldc thec nursec take?
A.c Keepc thec client'sc communicationc confidential,c butc talkc toc thec clientc daily,c usingc therapeuticc com
municationc toc convincec himc toc admitc toc holdingc thec knife.
B.c Keepc thec client'sc communicationc confidential,c butc watchc thec clientc andc hisc roommatec closely.
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
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."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remot
e, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is a
ppropriate to 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 medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
,Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. Wh
en conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
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.
ATI RN Mental Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
*B.c Identifyc thec client'sc perceptionc ofc herc mentalc healthc status.*
A.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
B.c Assessmentc isc thec priorityc actionc whenc takingc thec nursingc processc approach.c Identifyingc thec clien
t'sc perceptionc ofc herc mentalc healthc statusc providesc importantc informationc aboutc thec client'sc psycho
socialc history.
C.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
D.c Appropriate,c butc notc highestc priority.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Ac nursec isc toldc duringc change-of-
shiſtc reportc thatc ac clientc isc stuporous.c Whenc assessingc thec client,c whichc ofc thec followingc isc anc exp
e
ctedc finding?
,c
A.c Thec clientc arousesc brieflyc inc responsec toc ac sternalc rib.
B.c Thec clientc hasc ac Glasgowc Comac Scalec scorec lessc thanc 7.
C.c Thec clientc exhibitsc decorticatec rigidity.
D.c Thec clientc isc alertc butc disorientedc toc timec andc place.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
*A.c Thec clientc arousesc brieflyc inc responsec toc ac sternalc rib.*
A.c Ac clientc whoc isc stuporousc requiresc vigorousc orc painfulc stimulic toc elicitc ac response.
B.c <7c onc GCSc indicatesc comatose,c notc stuporous,c levelc ofc consciousness.
C.c Abnormalc posturingc =c comatose.
D.c Stuporousc /=c alert.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Ac nursec isc planningc ac peerc groupc discussionc aboutc thec Diagnosticc andc Statisticalc Manualc ofc Menta
l
Disorders,
5 ).c Whichc 5th c Edition
ofc the c (DSM-
c following c isc appropriatec toc includec inc thec discussion?c (SATA)
A.c Thec DSM-5c isc usedc toc identifyc mentalc healthc disorders.
B.c Thec DSM-5c establishesc diagnosticc criteria.
C.c Thec DSM-5c indicatesc recommendedc pharmacologicalc treatment.
D.c Thec DSM-5c assistsc nursesc inc planningc care.
E.c Thec DSM-5c indicatesc expectedc assessmentc findings.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
A,c B,c D,c E.
,c
Thec DSM-
5 isc usedc asc ac diagnosticc tool,c establishesc diagnosticc criteria,c usedc byc nursesc toc plan,c implement,c a
dc nevaluatec care,c andc identifiesc expectedc findingsc forc mentalc healthc disorders.
Itc doesc notc indicatec pharmacologicalc treatment.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 1c Applicationc Exercises
Whichc ofc thec followingc isc anc examplec ofc ac clientc whoc requiresc emergencyc admissionc toc ac mentalc
h
ealthc facility?
A.c Ac clientc withc schizophreniac whoc hasc frequentc hallucinations.
B.c Ac clientc withc symptomsc ofc depressionc whoc attemptedc suicidec ac yearc ago.
C.c Ac clientc withc borderlinec personalityc disorderc whoc assaultedc ac homelessc manc withc ac metalc rod
.
D.c Ac clientc withc bipolarc disorderc whoc pacesc quicklyc downc thec sidewalkc whilec talkingc toc himself.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 2c Applicationc Exercisesc -c CORRECTc ANSWERc -
C.c Ac clientc withc borderlinec personalityc disorderc whoc assaultedc ac homelessc manc withc ac metalc rod
.
Hallucinations,c depression,c and/orc pacingc doesc notc constitutec clearc reasonc forc emergencyc commitm
ent.
ATIc RNc Mentalc Healthc Nursingc Modulesc Ch.c 2c Applicationc Exercises
Ac clientc tellsc ac studentc nurse,c "Don'tc tellc anyone,c butc Ic hidc ac sharpc knifec underc myc mattressc inc or
d
erc toc protectc myselfc fromc myc roommate,c whoc isc alwaysc yellingc atc mec andc threateningc me."c Which
ofc thec followingc actionsc shouldc thec nursec take?
A.c Keepc thec client'sc communicationc confidential,c butc talkc toc thec clientc daily,c usingc therapeuticc com
municationc toc convincec himc toc admitc toc holdingc thec knife.
B.c Keepc thec client'sc communicationc confidential,c butc watchc thec clientc andc hisc roommatec closely.
