EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam 1 Prep – Correctly
Answers Questions with Rationales
Chamberlain
|GRADED A+| (EXAM READY)
(Solved) SCORE A
The parents of a 14-year-old boy bring their son to the hospital. He is lethargic, but responsive. The
mother states, "I think he took some of my pain pills." During initial assessment of the teenager, what
information is most important for the nurse to obtain from the parents?
A. If he has seemed depressed recently.
B. If a drug overdose has ever occurred before.
A+ TEST BANK 1
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
C. If he might have taken any other drugs.
D. If he has a desire to quit taking drugs –
Correct Answer :C. If he might have taken any other drugs.
Rationale: Knowledge of all substances taken will guide further treatment, such as administration of
antagonists, so obtaining this information has the highest priority.
The nurse should hold the next scheduled dose of a child's haldoperidol (Haldol) based on which
assessment findings?
A. Dizziness when standing.
B. Shuffling gait and hand tremors.
C. Urinary retention.
D. Fever of 102 F –
Correct Answer :D. Fever of 102 F
Rationale: A fever may indicate neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal
complication of antipsychotics. The healthcare provider should be contacted before administering the
next dose of Haldol.
A 65-year-old female complains to the nurse that recently she has been hearing voices. What question
should the nurse ask this client first?
A. "Do you have problems with hallucinations?"
B. "Are you ever alone when you hear the voices?"
C. "Has anyone in your family had hearing problems?"
D. "Do you see things that others cannot see?" –
Correct Answer :B. "Are you ever alone when you hear the voices?"
A+ TEST BANK 2
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
Rationale: Determining if the client is alone when she hears voices will assist in differentiating between
hallucination and hearing loss; this is especially important in the aging population. If the client is
experiencing hallucination, the voices will be real to her.
The charge nurse is collaborating with the nursing staff about the plan of care for a client who is very
depressed. What is the most important intervention to implement during the first 48 hours after the
client's admission to the unit?
A. Monitor appetite and observe intake at meals.
B. Maintain safety in the client's milieu.
C. Provide ongoing, supportive contact.
D. Encourage participation in activities. –
Correct Answer :B. Maintain safety in the client's milieu.
Rationale: The most important reason for closely observing a depressed client immediately after
admission is to maintain safety, since suicide is a risk with depression.
Within several days of hospitalization, a client is repeatedly washing the top of the same table.. which
intervention is best for the nurse to implement to help the client cope with anxiety related to this
behavior?
A. Administer a prescribed PRN antianxiety medication.
B. Assist the client to identify stimuli that precipitates the ritualistic activity.
C. Allow time for the ritualistic behavior, then redirect the client to other activities.
D. Teach the client relaxation and thought stopping techniques. –
Correct Answer :C. Allow time for the ritualistic behavior, then redirect the client to other activities.
Rationale: Initially, the nurse should allow time for the ritual to prevent anxiety.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
A female client with depression attends groups and states that she sometimes misses her medication
appointment because she feels very anxious about riding the bus. Which statement is the nurse's best
response?
A. "Can your case manager take to you to your appointment?"
B. "Take your medication for anxiety before you ride the bus."
C. "Let's talk about what happens when you feel very anxious."
D. "What are some ways that you can cope with your anxiety?" –
Correct Answer :D. "What are some ways that you can cope with your anxiety?"
Rationale: The best response is to explore ways for the client to cope with anxiety.
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful and
states, "I just feel so nervous all the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I haven't been
able to sleep at night and hardly eaten for the past 3 to 4 days." The nurse should initiate a referral
based on which assessment?
A. Altered thought processes
B. Moderate levels of anxiety.
C. Inadequate social support.
D. Altered health maintenance. –
Correct Answer :B. Moderate levels of anxiety.
Rationale: The nurse should initiate a referral based on anxiety levels and feelings of nervousness that
interfere with sleep, appetite, and the inability to solve problems.
A+ TEST BANK 4
EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam 1 Prep – Correctly
Answers Questions with Rationales
Chamberlain
|GRADED A+| (EXAM READY)
(Solved) SCORE A
The parents of a 14-year-old boy bring their son to the hospital. He is lethargic, but responsive. The
mother states, "I think he took some of my pain pills." During initial assessment of the teenager, what
information is most important for the nurse to obtain from the parents?
A. If he has seemed depressed recently.
B. If a drug overdose has ever occurred before.
A+ TEST BANK 1
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
C. If he might have taken any other drugs.
D. If he has a desire to quit taking drugs –
Correct Answer :C. If he might have taken any other drugs.
Rationale: Knowledge of all substances taken will guide further treatment, such as administration of
antagonists, so obtaining this information has the highest priority.
The nurse should hold the next scheduled dose of a child's haldoperidol (Haldol) based on which
assessment findings?
A. Dizziness when standing.
B. Shuffling gait and hand tremors.
C. Urinary retention.
D. Fever of 102 F –
Correct Answer :D. Fever of 102 F
Rationale: A fever may indicate neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), a potentially fatal
complication of antipsychotics. The healthcare provider should be contacted before administering the
next dose of Haldol.
A 65-year-old female complains to the nurse that recently she has been hearing voices. What question
should the nurse ask this client first?
A. "Do you have problems with hallucinations?"
B. "Are you ever alone when you hear the voices?"
C. "Has anyone in your family had hearing problems?"
D. "Do you see things that others cannot see?" –
Correct Answer :B. "Are you ever alone when you hear the voices?"
A+ TEST BANK 2
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
Rationale: Determining if the client is alone when she hears voices will assist in differentiating between
hallucination and hearing loss; this is especially important in the aging population. If the client is
experiencing hallucination, the voices will be real to her.
The charge nurse is collaborating with the nursing staff about the plan of care for a client who is very
depressed. What is the most important intervention to implement during the first 48 hours after the
client's admission to the unit?
A. Monitor appetite and observe intake at meals.
B. Maintain safety in the client's milieu.
C. Provide ongoing, supportive contact.
D. Encourage participation in activities. –
Correct Answer :B. Maintain safety in the client's milieu.
Rationale: The most important reason for closely observing a depressed client immediately after
admission is to maintain safety, since suicide is a risk with depression.
Within several days of hospitalization, a client is repeatedly washing the top of the same table.. which
intervention is best for the nurse to implement to help the client cope with anxiety related to this
behavior?
A. Administer a prescribed PRN antianxiety medication.
B. Assist the client to identify stimuli that precipitates the ritualistic activity.
C. Allow time for the ritualistic behavior, then redirect the client to other activities.
D. Teach the client relaxation and thought stopping techniques. –
Correct Answer :C. Allow time for the ritualistic behavior, then redirect the client to other activities.
Rationale: Initially, the nurse should allow time for the ritual to prevent anxiety.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, EAQ HESI Mental Health Exam
A female client with depression attends groups and states that she sometimes misses her medication
appointment because she feels very anxious about riding the bus. Which statement is the nurse's best
response?
A. "Can your case manager take to you to your appointment?"
B. "Take your medication for anxiety before you ride the bus."
C. "Let's talk about what happens when you feel very anxious."
D. "What are some ways that you can cope with your anxiety?" –
Correct Answer :D. "What are some ways that you can cope with your anxiety?"
Rationale: The best response is to explore ways for the client to cope with anxiety.
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful and
states, "I just feel so nervous all the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I haven't been
able to sleep at night and hardly eaten for the past 3 to 4 days." The nurse should initiate a referral
based on which assessment?
A. Altered thought processes
B. Moderate levels of anxiety.
C. Inadequate social support.
D. Altered health maintenance. –
Correct Answer :B. Moderate levels of anxiety.
Rationale: The nurse should initiate a referral based on anxiety levels and feelings of nervousness that
interfere with sleep, appetite, and the inability to solve problems.
A+ TEST BANK 4
