ATI Nursing Education
H M · I TA
ATI ★ Mental Health Proctored Examination
★
EST. 1998
HELPING STUDENTS MASTER THE BUSINESS OF LEARNING
ATI Mental Health Proctored Examination
CO M P R E H E N S I V E N U RS I N G M E N TA L H E A LT H A SS E SS M E N T & P H A R M ACO LO G Y
INSTITUTION ATI Nursing Education PROGRAM Registered Nursing (RN)
EXAM Mental Health Proctored ACADEMIC YEAR
Examination
EXAM TYPE Proctored Examination — Verified TOTAL QUESTIONS 51 Questions
Answers
CONTENT AREAS Mental Health Disorders, FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Psychopharmacology, Single Best Answer
Therapeutic Communication
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: Substance use disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety
disorders, Alzheimer's disease, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, legal/ethical issues.
▸ All content aligns with ATI Mental Health Proctored Examination blueprint.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive NCLEX review.
SECTION I — MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED
Questions 1 – 51
EXAMINATION
,1. A nurse is caring for a client who has cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol use disorder.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Acrocyanosis
B. Arrhythmias
C. Ascites
D. Weight gain
CORRECT ANSWER C — Ascites
RATIONALE Ascites — the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity — is a classic finding in
cirrhosis due to portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia. It causes abdominal
distention, weight gain from fluid (not adipose tissue), and can lead to
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Acrocyanosis is not associated with cirrhosis.
Arrhythmias may occur but are not the hallmark finding. Weight gain in cirrhosis
is typically fluid-related ascites, not true weight gain.
2. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has binge-eating disorder. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Abdominal pain
C. Restricted caloric intake
D. Frequent use of laxatives
CORRECT ANSWER B — Abdominal pain
RATIONALE Binge-eating disorder involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period
with a sense of loss of control, WITHOUT compensatory behaviors (purging,
laxatives, excessive exercise). Abdominal pain/discomfort is common after binges
due to gastric distention. Amenorrhea is associated with anorexia nervosa.
Restricted caloric intake characterizes anorexia, not binge-eating. Laxative use is
characteristic of bulimia nervosa (purging type).
, 3. A nurse is collecting admission data for a client who has anorexia nervosa. The client has
lost 11.4 kg (25 lb.) over the past month and currently weighs 38.6 kg (85 lb.). The nurse
should expect which finding?
A. Flushed extremities
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Loose stools
D. Amenorrhea
CORRECT ANSWER D — Amenorrhea
RATIONALE Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) is a DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for
anorexia nervosa and results from hypothalamic suppression due to severe
malnutrition and low body fat. Other expected findings include hypothermia with
cool, cyanotic extremities (not flushed), hypokalemia (not hyperkalemia) from
vomiting/laxative use, and constipation (not loose stools) due to decreased intake
and slowed GI motility.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder. Following withdrawal, which
medication should the nurse expect to administer during maintenance?
A. Methadone
B. Disulfiram
C. Chlordiazepoxide
D. Naloxone
CORRECT ANSWER B — Disulfiram
RATIONALE Disulfiram (Antabuse) is used for MAINTENANCE of alcohol abstinence AFTER
detoxification. It causes an unpleasant reaction (flushing, nausea, vomiting,
headache) when alcohol is consumed, creating a deterrent. Methadone is for
opioid maintenance. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) is a benzodiazepine used during
ACUTE alcohol withdrawal, not maintenance. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose.
H M · I TA
ATI ★ Mental Health Proctored Examination
★
EST. 1998
HELPING STUDENTS MASTER THE BUSINESS OF LEARNING
ATI Mental Health Proctored Examination
CO M P R E H E N S I V E N U RS I N G M E N TA L H E A LT H A SS E SS M E N T & P H A R M ACO LO G Y
INSTITUTION ATI Nursing Education PROGRAM Registered Nursing (RN)
EXAM Mental Health Proctored ACADEMIC YEAR
Examination
EXAM TYPE Proctored Examination — Verified TOTAL QUESTIONS 51 Questions
Answers
CONTENT AREAS Mental Health Disorders, FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Psychopharmacology, Single Best Answer
Therapeutic Communication
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Topics: Substance use disorders, eating disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety
disorders, Alzheimer's disease, psychopharmacology, therapeutic communication, legal/ethical issues.
▸ All content aligns with ATI Mental Health Proctored Examination blueprint.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for comprehensive NCLEX review.
SECTION I — MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED
Questions 1 – 51
EXAMINATION
,1. A nurse is caring for a client who has cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol use disorder.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Acrocyanosis
B. Arrhythmias
C. Ascites
D. Weight gain
CORRECT ANSWER C — Ascites
RATIONALE Ascites — the accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity — is a classic finding in
cirrhosis due to portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia. It causes abdominal
distention, weight gain from fluid (not adipose tissue), and can lead to
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Acrocyanosis is not associated with cirrhosis.
Arrhythmias may occur but are not the hallmark finding. Weight gain in cirrhosis
is typically fluid-related ascites, not true weight gain.
2. A nurse is collecting data from a client who has binge-eating disorder. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Amenorrhea
B. Abdominal pain
C. Restricted caloric intake
D. Frequent use of laxatives
CORRECT ANSWER B — Abdominal pain
RATIONALE Binge-eating disorder involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period
with a sense of loss of control, WITHOUT compensatory behaviors (purging,
laxatives, excessive exercise). Abdominal pain/discomfort is common after binges
due to gastric distention. Amenorrhea is associated with anorexia nervosa.
Restricted caloric intake characterizes anorexia, not binge-eating. Laxative use is
characteristic of bulimia nervosa (purging type).
, 3. A nurse is collecting admission data for a client who has anorexia nervosa. The client has
lost 11.4 kg (25 lb.) over the past month and currently weighs 38.6 kg (85 lb.). The nurse
should expect which finding?
A. Flushed extremities
B. Hyperkalemia
C. Loose stools
D. Amenorrhea
CORRECT ANSWER D — Amenorrhea
RATIONALE Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) is a DSM-5 diagnostic criterion for
anorexia nervosa and results from hypothalamic suppression due to severe
malnutrition and low body fat. Other expected findings include hypothermia with
cool, cyanotic extremities (not flushed), hypokalemia (not hyperkalemia) from
vomiting/laxative use, and constipation (not loose stools) due to decreased intake
and slowed GI motility.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder. Following withdrawal, which
medication should the nurse expect to administer during maintenance?
A. Methadone
B. Disulfiram
C. Chlordiazepoxide
D. Naloxone
CORRECT ANSWER B — Disulfiram
RATIONALE Disulfiram (Antabuse) is used for MAINTENANCE of alcohol abstinence AFTER
detoxification. It causes an unpleasant reaction (flushing, nausea, vomiting,
headache) when alcohol is consumed, creating a deterrent. Methadone is for
opioid maintenance. Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) is a benzodiazepine used during
ACUTE alcohol withdrawal, not maintenance. Naloxone reverses opioid overdose.
