HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 160 CORE
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION REVIEW 2026
◉ Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem
of a male client with modern depression?
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: A D E
◉ 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 laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action
should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine
(Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle
spasms.
,C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic
complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin)
for dystonia.
Answer: D
◉ 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 loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
Answer: A
◉ A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated,
shouting at the staff, and pacing in the hallway. When the 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 RN implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
,Answer: C
◉ A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking
extra antianxiety medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just
want to go to sleep." The RN should plan one-on-one observation of
the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
Answer: D
◉ A male hospital employee is pushed out 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 RN.
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
, ◉ The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has
been hospitalized for several days by court order. The client states, "I
don't need to be here" and tells the RN that she believes the
television talks to her. The RN should document these assessment
findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
Answer: B
◉ A client is admitted to the mental health unit reports shortness of
breath and dizziness. The client tells the RN, "I feel like I'm going to
die". Which nursing problem should the RN include in this client's
plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Alteredthoughts.
D. Social isolation.
Answer: B
◉ A female client who is wearing dirty clothes and has foul body
odor, comes to the clinic reporting feeling scared because she is
being stalked. What action is most important for the RN to take?
A. Offer the client a safe place to relax before interviewing her.
MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND
THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION REVIEW 2026
◉ Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem
of a male client with modern depression?
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: A D E
◉ 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 laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action
should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine
(Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle
spasms.
,C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic
complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin)
for dystonia.
Answer: D
◉ 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 loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
Answer: A
◉ A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated,
shouting at the staff, and pacing in the hallway. When the 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 RN implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
,Answer: C
◉ A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking
extra antianxiety medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just
want to go to sleep." The RN should plan one-on-one observation of
the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
Answer: D
◉ A male hospital employee is pushed out 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 RN.
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
, ◉ The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has
been hospitalized for several days by court order. The client states, "I
don't need to be here" and tells the RN that she believes the
television talks to her. The RN should document these assessment
findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
Answer: B
◉ A client is admitted to the mental health unit reports shortness of
breath and dizziness. The client tells the RN, "I feel like I'm going to
die". Which nursing problem should the RN include in this client's
plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Alteredthoughts.
D. Social isolation.
Answer: B
◉ A female client who is wearing dirty clothes and has foul body
odor, comes to the clinic reporting feeling scared because she is
being stalked. What action is most important for the RN to take?
A. Offer the client a safe place to relax before interviewing her.
