HESI RN MENTAL HEALTH NGN FORMAT Exam
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, declines activities and refuses meals. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity
B. Social isolation
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
D. Low self-esteem - answer>>>C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
A male client approaches the nurse with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice saying, "My
roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he loses his temper one
more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The nurse recognizes that the client is using which
defense mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Rationalization
D. Splitting - answer>>>B. Projection
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior. Which action by the
MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - answer>>>A. Is attempting to physically restrain the
patient.
A client with bulimia and depression who is taking phenelzine (Nardil) 90 mg daily is admitted to an
acute care hospital for uncontrolled hypertension. What dietary choices should the RN instruct the
client to avoid?
A. Pan-seared catfish
,B. Deep fried shrimp
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Beef trips with gravy - answer>>>C. Pepperoni pizza
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. While interviewing the client, the nurse nots a discrepancy between the client's verbal and
nonverbal communication. What action should the nurse take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one - answer>>>A. Pay close
attention and document the nonverbal messages
During an annual physical by the occupational nurse working in a corporate clinic, a male employee tells
the nurse that his high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He further explains that he often
gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has considered "getting even" with other drivers,
how should the nurse respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation"
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively"
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation"
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry" - answer>>>D. "It sounds as if
there are many situations that make you feel angry"
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the therapist, and the
nurse is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts for negative ones
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd - answer>>>B. Establish trust by
providing a calm, safe environment
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of chronic
schizophrenia and medication adjustment of risperidone (Risperdal). When the client walks to the
,nurse's station in a literally contracted position, he states that something has made his body contort
into a monster. What action should the nurse take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thiordazine (mellaril)
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him for somatic complaints
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia - answer>>>D.
Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in the
hallway. When a PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the medication and defiantly sits on the
floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Transport the client to the seclusion room
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members
C. Take other client in the area to the client lounge
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain client - answer>>>C. Take other client in the area to the
client lounge
A male hospital employee is pushed out of the way by a female employee because of an oncoming
gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the female employee. Both employees
are referred for counseling with the staff psychiatric nurse. Which factor in the pushed employee's
history is most related to the reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman
B. Tortured animals as a child
C. Was physically abused by his mother
D. Hates to be touched by anyone - answer>>>C. Was physically abused by his mother
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with moderate
depression? (Select all that apply)
A. Ask the client what his long-term goals are
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy
, E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns - answer>>>C. Include the client in
determining treatment protocol
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy
A client who is admitted to the mental health unit reports shortness of breath and dizziness. The client
tells the nurse, "I feel like I am going to die," which nursing problem should the nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance
B. Moderate anxiety
C. Altered thoughts
D. Social isolation - answer>>>B. Moderate anxiety
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a
depressed affect. While the client taking the antidepressant, which comparison of the client's behavior
before and after taking the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity
D. The interactions he has with others - answer>>>B. The emotional quality of his attitude
The LPN/LVN calls security and has physical restraints applied when a client who was admitted
voluntarily becomes both physically and verbally abusive while demanding to be discharged from the
hospital. Which represents the possible legal ramifications for the nurse associated with these
interventions? (Select all that apply)
A. Libel
B. Battery
C. Assault
D. Slander
E. False Imprisonment - answer>>>B. Battery
C. Assault
E. False Imprisonment
2025–2026 Accurate Real Exam Questions and
Verified Correct Answers JUST RELEASED
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, declines activities and refuses meals. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity
B. Social isolation
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
D. Low self-esteem - answer>>>C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
A male client approaches the nurse with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice saying, "My
roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he loses his temper one
more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The nurse recognizes that the client is using which
defense mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Rationalization
D. Splitting - answer>>>B. Projection
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior. Which action by the
MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - answer>>>A. Is attempting to physically restrain the
patient.
A client with bulimia and depression who is taking phenelzine (Nardil) 90 mg daily is admitted to an
acute care hospital for uncontrolled hypertension. What dietary choices should the RN instruct the
client to avoid?
A. Pan-seared catfish
,B. Deep fried shrimp
C. Pepperoni pizza
D. Beef trips with gravy - answer>>>C. Pepperoni pizza
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. While interviewing the client, the nurse nots a discrepancy between the client's verbal and
nonverbal communication. What action should the nurse take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one - answer>>>A. Pay close
attention and document the nonverbal messages
During an annual physical by the occupational nurse working in a corporate clinic, a male employee tells
the nurse that his high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He further explains that he often
gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has considered "getting even" with other drivers,
how should the nurse respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation"
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively"
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation"
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry" - answer>>>D. "It sounds as if
there are many situations that make you feel angry"
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the therapist, and the
nurse is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts for negative ones
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd - answer>>>B. Establish trust by
providing a calm, safe environment
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of chronic
schizophrenia and medication adjustment of risperidone (Risperdal). When the client walks to the
,nurse's station in a literally contracted position, he states that something has made his body contort
into a monster. What action should the nurse take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thiordazine (mellaril)
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him for somatic complaints
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia - answer>>>D.
Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in the
hallway. When a PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the medication and defiantly sits on the
floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the nurse implement first?
A. Transport the client to the seclusion room
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members
C. Take other client in the area to the client lounge
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain client - answer>>>C. Take other client in the area to the
client lounge
A male hospital employee is pushed out of the way by a female employee because of an oncoming
gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the female employee. Both employees
are referred for counseling with the staff psychiatric nurse. Which factor in the pushed employee's
history is most related to the reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman
B. Tortured animals as a child
C. Was physically abused by his mother
D. Hates to be touched by anyone - answer>>>C. Was physically abused by his mother
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with moderate
depression? (Select all that apply)
A. Ask the client what his long-term goals are
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy
, E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns - answer>>>C. Include the client in
determining treatment protocol
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy
A client who is admitted to the mental health unit reports shortness of breath and dizziness. The client
tells the nurse, "I feel like I am going to die," which nursing problem should the nurse include in this
client's plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance
B. Moderate anxiety
C. Altered thoughts
D. Social isolation - answer>>>B. Moderate anxiety
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a
depressed affect. While the client taking the antidepressant, which comparison of the client's behavior
before and after taking the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity
D. The interactions he has with others - answer>>>B. The emotional quality of his attitude
The LPN/LVN calls security and has physical restraints applied when a client who was admitted
voluntarily becomes both physically and verbally abusive while demanding to be discharged from the
hospital. Which represents the possible legal ramifications for the nurse associated with these
interventions? (Select all that apply)
A. Libel
B. Battery
C. Assault
D. Slander
E. False Imprisonment - answer>>>B. Battery
C. Assault
E. False Imprisonment
