E K A T E R · H TL A E H L A T N E M
✧ ATI Nursing Education
A
★
Assessment Technologies Institute — Ascend Learning
EST. 1998
E D U C AT I N G T O M O R R O W ' S N U R S E S
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam — Retake Guide
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W W I T H V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS · 7 0 P RACT I C E Q U E ST I O N S
INSTITUTION ATI Nursing Education (Ascend EXAM TYPE Mental Health Proctored Exam —
Learning) Retake
PROGRAM Registered Nurse (RN) / Practical ACADEMIC YEAR
Nurse (PN)
TOTAL QUESTIONS 70 Questions COURSE TITLE Mental Health Nursing
FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the HQ Leawood, Kansas
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content spans psychiatric disorders, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, crisis
intervention, and legal/ethical concepts.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for NCLEX preparation.
▸ All content reflects current psychiatric-mental health nursing standards.
, SECTION I — CHILDHOOD DISORDERS, PERSONALITY
Questions 1 – 15
DISORDERS & CRISIS INTERVENTION
1. A nurse is caring for a school-aged child who has conduct disorder and is being physically
aggressive toward other children in the unit. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Place the child in seclusion
B. Use therapeutic hold technique
C. Apply wrist restraints
D. Administer risperidone
CORRECT ANSWER A — Place the child in seclusion
RATIONALE When a child with conduct disorder is physically aggressive and poses an
immediate danger to others, seclusion (removing the child from the environment
to a safe, monitored space) is the least restrictive intervention to first de-escalate
the situation. The priority is safety of all patients. Restraints and therapeutic
holds are more restrictive and used only when seclusion is ineffective. Medication
may be used adjunctively but is not the first-line intervention. The nurse must
always use the least restrictive measure first per the Patient Bill of Rights.
,2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Which of the
following diagnostic procedures should the nurse anticipate the provider will order
during the medical evaluation?
A. Chest X-ray
B. ECG
C. Coagulation studies
D. Liver function test
CORRECT ANSWER B — ECG
RATIONALE Bulimia nervosa involves purging behaviors (vomiting, laxative/diuretic misuse)
that cause electrolyte imbalances — particularly hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can
cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. An ECG is essential to evaluate
cardiac status and detect conduction abnormalities (prolonged QT, T-wave
changes). Electrolyte levels (potassium, sodium, chloride) and renal function
should also be assessed. Chest X-ray, coagulation studies, and liver function tests
are not the priority diagnostic tests for bulimia-related complications.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who exhibits excessive compliance, passivity, and self-denial.
The nurse should recognize that these findings are associated with which of the following
personality disorders?
A. Dependent
B. Paranoid
C. Borderline
D. Histrionic
CORRECT ANSWER A — Dependent
RATIONALE Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive need to be taken
care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. Key features include
excessive compliance, passivity, self-denial, difficulty making decisions without
excessive reassurance, fear of abandonment, and going to excessive lengths to
obtain nurturance. Paranoid PD involves distrust/suspiciousness. Borderline PD
involves instability in relationships, self-image, and affect. Histrionic PD involves
excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a client who is involuntarily admitted for major depressive disorder
and refuses to take prescribed antianxiety medication. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Inform the client that he does not have the right to refuse medication
B. Administer the medication via IM injection
C. Offer the client the medication at the next scheduled dose time
D. Implement consequences until the client takes the medication
CORRECT ANSWER C — Offer the client the medication at the next scheduled dose time
RATIONALE Even involuntarily admitted clients retain the right to refuse treatment unless
they are an imminent danger to self or others or a court order for treatment
exists. The nurse should respect the refusal, document it, and offer the
medication again at the next scheduled time. Forcing medication or
administering it covertly violates the client's rights. The nurse should explore the
reasons for refusal and educate the client about benefits. Only in an emergency
(imminent danger) can medication be administered without consent.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department who states she was beaten and
sexually assaulted by her partner. After a rapid assessment, which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to take next?
A. Conduct a pregnancy test
B. Request mental health consultation
C. Provide a trained advocate to stay with the client
D. Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STIs
CORRECT ANSWER D — Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STIs
RATIONALE After rapid assessment and stabilization, the priority is addressing immediate
medical needs — STI prophylaxis (antibiotics for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis,
and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated) should be offered as soon as
possible. Pregnancy testing and emergency contraception are also medical
priorities. A trained advocate (SANE nurse or victim advocate) should be provided
for support. Mental health consultation is important but not the immediate next
step. All interventions should occur, but medical prophylaxis is time-sensitive.
✧ ATI Nursing Education
A
★
Assessment Technologies Institute — Ascend Learning
EST. 1998
E D U C AT I N G T O M O R R O W ' S N U R S E S
ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam — Retake Guide
CO M P R E H E N S I V E R E V I E W W I T H V E R I F I E D A N S W E RS · 7 0 P RACT I C E Q U E ST I O N S
INSTITUTION ATI Nursing Education (Ascend EXAM TYPE Mental Health Proctored Exam —
Learning) Retake
PROGRAM Registered Nurse (RN) / Practical ACADEMIC YEAR
Nurse (PN)
TOTAL QUESTIONS 70 Questions COURSE TITLE Mental Health Nursing
FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the HQ Leawood, Kansas
Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Content spans psychiatric disorders, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, crisis
intervention, and legal/ethical concepts.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for NCLEX preparation.
▸ All content reflects current psychiatric-mental health nursing standards.
, SECTION I — CHILDHOOD DISORDERS, PERSONALITY
Questions 1 – 15
DISORDERS & CRISIS INTERVENTION
1. A nurse is caring for a school-aged child who has conduct disorder and is being physically
aggressive toward other children in the unit. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take first?
A. Place the child in seclusion
B. Use therapeutic hold technique
C. Apply wrist restraints
D. Administer risperidone
CORRECT ANSWER A — Place the child in seclusion
RATIONALE When a child with conduct disorder is physically aggressive and poses an
immediate danger to others, seclusion (removing the child from the environment
to a safe, monitored space) is the least restrictive intervention to first de-escalate
the situation. The priority is safety of all patients. Restraints and therapeutic
holds are more restrictive and used only when seclusion is ineffective. Medication
may be used adjunctively but is not the first-line intervention. The nurse must
always use the least restrictive measure first per the Patient Bill of Rights.
,2. A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Which of the
following diagnostic procedures should the nurse anticipate the provider will order
during the medical evaluation?
A. Chest X-ray
B. ECG
C. Coagulation studies
D. Liver function test
CORRECT ANSWER B — ECG
RATIONALE Bulimia nervosa involves purging behaviors (vomiting, laxative/diuretic misuse)
that cause electrolyte imbalances — particularly hypokalemia. Hypokalemia can
cause life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias. An ECG is essential to evaluate
cardiac status and detect conduction abnormalities (prolonged QT, T-wave
changes). Electrolyte levels (potassium, sodium, chloride) and renal function
should also be assessed. Chest X-ray, coagulation studies, and liver function tests
are not the priority diagnostic tests for bulimia-related complications.
3. A nurse is caring for a client who exhibits excessive compliance, passivity, and self-denial.
The nurse should recognize that these findings are associated with which of the following
personality disorders?
A. Dependent
B. Paranoid
C. Borderline
D. Histrionic
CORRECT ANSWER A — Dependent
RATIONALE Dependent personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive need to be taken
care of, leading to submissive and clinging behavior. Key features include
excessive compliance, passivity, self-denial, difficulty making decisions without
excessive reassurance, fear of abandonment, and going to excessive lengths to
obtain nurturance. Paranoid PD involves distrust/suspiciousness. Borderline PD
involves instability in relationships, self-image, and affect. Histrionic PD involves
excessive emotionality and attention-seeking behavior.
, 4. A nurse is caring for a client who is involuntarily admitted for major depressive disorder
and refuses to take prescribed antianxiety medication. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take?
A. Inform the client that he does not have the right to refuse medication
B. Administer the medication via IM injection
C. Offer the client the medication at the next scheduled dose time
D. Implement consequences until the client takes the medication
CORRECT ANSWER C — Offer the client the medication at the next scheduled dose time
RATIONALE Even involuntarily admitted clients retain the right to refuse treatment unless
they are an imminent danger to self or others or a court order for treatment
exists. The nurse should respect the refusal, document it, and offer the
medication again at the next scheduled time. Forcing medication or
administering it covertly violates the client's rights. The nurse should explore the
reasons for refusal and educate the client about benefits. Only in an emergency
(imminent danger) can medication be administered without consent.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department who states she was beaten and
sexually assaulted by her partner. After a rapid assessment, which of the following actions
should the nurse plan to take next?
A. Conduct a pregnancy test
B. Request mental health consultation
C. Provide a trained advocate to stay with the client
D. Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STIs
CORRECT ANSWER D — Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STIs
RATIONALE After rapid assessment and stabilization, the priority is addressing immediate
medical needs — STI prophylaxis (antibiotics for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis,
and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis if indicated) should be offered as soon as
possible. Pregnancy testing and emergency contraception are also medical
priorities. A trained advocate (SANE nurse or victim advocate) should be provided
for support. Mental health consultation is important but not the immediate next
step. All interventions should occur, but medical prophylaxis is time-sensitive.
