Real Hesi Mental Health Practice Exam 1
Adaptive Quizzing Latest Questions and Correct
Answers with Rationales/ EAQ HESI Mental
Health Exam Prep – Correctly Answers
Questions with Rationales
The nurse is leading a "current events group" with chronic psychiatric clients. One group member
states, "Clara Barton was my nurse during my last hospitalization. She was a very mean nurse and
wasn't nice to me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A) Clara Barton was not your nurse.
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B) What did she do to you that was so mean?
C) I didn't know that Clara Barton was a nurse.
D) Clara Barton started the American Red Cross. –
Correct Answer :(D) presents the reality of the situation (the individual is not nice) in relation to
American culture. The fact that Clara Barton is not a nurse should be addressed on an individual basis.
Since this is group therapy, the nurse would be illustrating the concept of universality. (A) is likely to
promote defensiveness. (B and C) would support the delusion.
Correct Answer(s): D
Which statement about contemporary mental health nursing practice is accurate?
A) There is one approved theoretical framework for psychiatric nursing practice.
B) Psychiatric nursing has yet to be recognized as a core mental health discipline.
C) Contemporary practice of psychiatric nursing is primarily focused on inpatient care.
D) The psychiatric nursing client may be an individual, family, group, organization, or community. –
Correct Answer :Mental health nursing is not only concerned with one-on-one interactions. Psychiatric
stressors can impact and be reflected in the overall direction, activities, and responses involving
families, groups, and entire communities (D). (A, B, and C) are incorrect statements about the status
of mental health nursing.
Correct Answer(s): D
A 40-year-old male client diagnosed with schizophrenia and alcohol dependence has not had any
visitors or phone calls since admission. He reports he has no family that cares about him and was living
on the streets prior to this admission. According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development,
which stage is the client in at this time?
A) Isolation.
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B) Stagnation.
C) Despair.
D) Role confusion. –
Correct Answer :The client is in Erikson's "Generativity vs. Stagnation" stage (age 24 to 45), and
meeting the task includes maintaining intimate relationships and moving toward developing a family
(B). (A) occurs in young adulthood (age 18 to 25), (C) occurs in maturity (age 45 to death), and (D)
occurs in adolescence (age 12 to 20). These are all stages that occur if individuals are not successfully
coping with their psychosocial developmental stage.
Correct Answer(s): B
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a medical diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
During the admission procedure, the client looks up and states, "No, it's not MY fault. You can't blame
me. I didn't kill him, you did." What action is best for the nurse to take?
A) Reassure the client by telling him that his fear of the admission procedure is to be expected.
B) Tell the client that no one is accusing him of murder and remind him that the hospital is a safe place.
C) Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is hearing.
D) Ignore the behavior and make no response at all to his delusional statements. –
Correct Answer :Further assessment is indicated (C). The nurse should obtain information about what
the client believes the voices are telling him--they may be telling him to kill the nurse! (A) is telling the
client how he feels (fearful). The nurse should leave communications open and seek more
information. (B) is arguing with the client's delusion, and the nurse should never argue with a client's
hallucinations or delusions, also (B) is possibly offering false reassurance. (D) is avoiding the situation
and the client's needs.
Correct Answer(s): C
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A 27-year-old female client is admitted to the psychiatric hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder,
manic phase. She is demanding and active. Which intervention should the nurse include in this client's
plan of care?
A) Schedule her to attend various group activities.
B) Reinforce her ability to make her own decisions.
C) Encourage her to identify feelings of anger.
D) Provide a structured environment with little stimuli. –
Correct Answer :Clients in the manic phase of a bipolar disorder require decreased stimuli and a
structured environment (D). Plan noncompetitive activities that can be carried out alone. (A) is
contraindicated; stimuli should be reduced as much as possible. Impulsive decision-making is
characteristic of clients with bipolar disorder. To prevent future complications, the nurse should
monitor these clients' decisions and assist them in the decision-making process (B). (C) is more often
associated with depression than with bipolar disorder.
Correct Answer(s): D
A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that he was Jesus Christ, but now he
knows he is not. Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A) Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?
B) I think you're getting well.
C) Others have had similar thoughts when under stress.
D) Why did you think you were Jesus Christ? –
Correct Answer :(C) offers support by assuring the client that others have suffered as he has (also the
principle on which Alcoholics Anonymous acts). (A) is belittling. (B) is making an inappropriate
judgment. You may have narrowed your choices to (C and D). However, you should eliminate (D)
because it is a "why" question, and the client does not know why!
Correct Answer(s): C
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