MENTAL HEALTH NURSING CONTENT POST TEST – HURST QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | COMPLETE HURST MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
An adolescent is admitted to the psychiatric unit following a repeat suicide attempt. What is the nurse's
priority action? - correct answer ✔✔4. Assign a staff member to stay with the client.
Rationale
4. CORRECT. The client is newly admitted following a repeat suicide attempt and therefore safety is the
priority issue. The client should not be left alone, even when using the bathroom, until the primary
healthcare provider determines the risk of suicide has abated.
The nurse is developing the plan of care for a client admitted for the treatment of mania. Which
interventions should the nurse include? - correct answer ✔✔1. Give one cigarette to client at a time.
3. Have finger foods available at mealtime.
4. Give high calorie fluids between meals.
Rationale
1., 3., & 4. Correct: We need to protect this client from hazards in their environment. They have no
control or awareness of these hazards. If they smoke, only give the client one or two cigarettes at a time,
or the client will light a whole pack at once. Finger foods should be provided because the cleint is too
busy to stop and eat. They are also too busy to drink, so they can become dehydrated. This is why we
provide high calorie fluids for them throughout the day.
A client has responded positively to a series of electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) but reports concerns
about on-going memory loss. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse? - correct answer
✔✔4. "You seem very concerned about your memory."
Rationale
4. CORRECT. The nurse/client relationship is collaborative and nonjudgmental with the goal of facilitating
the client's emotional growth. Open-ended statements or questions encourage the client to express
feelings and continue verbalizing. This comment by the nurse is open-ended and acknowledges the
client's concerns.
Which signs/symptoms does the nurse expect to see in a client diagnosed with schizophrenia? - correct
answer ✔✔1. Auditory hallucinations
2. Grandiose delusions
3. Religious preaching all the time.
4. Flat affect
Rationale
1., 2., 3., & 4. Correct: Auditory hallucinations are commonly experienced by the client diagnosed with
schizophrenia. Delusions of grandiosity like believing they are a famous person or religious figure is a
false fixed belief experienced by the client. If the client is in the acute phase of schizophrenia, the person
may be overwhelmed by anxiety and is not able to distinguish thoughts from reality. It is thought that
delusions may develop to cope with the anxiety. Religiosity is common. The client may carry a bible all of
the time and preach to everyone all of the time. The client may have an inappropriate affect, a flat affect,
or a blunted affect.
ANSWERS | COMPLETE HURST MENTAL HEALTH NCLEX STUDY GUIDE 2026/2027
An adolescent is admitted to the psychiatric unit following a repeat suicide attempt. What is the nurse's
priority action? - correct answer ✔✔4. Assign a staff member to stay with the client.
Rationale
4. CORRECT. The client is newly admitted following a repeat suicide attempt and therefore safety is the
priority issue. The client should not be left alone, even when using the bathroom, until the primary
healthcare provider determines the risk of suicide has abated.
The nurse is developing the plan of care for a client admitted for the treatment of mania. Which
interventions should the nurse include? - correct answer ✔✔1. Give one cigarette to client at a time.
3. Have finger foods available at mealtime.
4. Give high calorie fluids between meals.
Rationale
1., 3., & 4. Correct: We need to protect this client from hazards in their environment. They have no
control or awareness of these hazards. If they smoke, only give the client one or two cigarettes at a time,
or the client will light a whole pack at once. Finger foods should be provided because the cleint is too
busy to stop and eat. They are also too busy to drink, so they can become dehydrated. This is why we
provide high calorie fluids for them throughout the day.
A client has responded positively to a series of electroconvulsive treatments (ECT) but reports concerns
about on-going memory loss. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse? - correct answer
✔✔4. "You seem very concerned about your memory."
Rationale
4. CORRECT. The nurse/client relationship is collaborative and nonjudgmental with the goal of facilitating
the client's emotional growth. Open-ended statements or questions encourage the client to express
feelings and continue verbalizing. This comment by the nurse is open-ended and acknowledges the
client's concerns.
Which signs/symptoms does the nurse expect to see in a client diagnosed with schizophrenia? - correct
answer ✔✔1. Auditory hallucinations
2. Grandiose delusions
3. Religious preaching all the time.
4. Flat affect
Rationale
1., 2., 3., & 4. Correct: Auditory hallucinations are commonly experienced by the client diagnosed with
schizophrenia. Delusions of grandiosity like believing they are a famous person or religious figure is a
false fixed belief experienced by the client. If the client is in the acute phase of schizophrenia, the person
may be overwhelmed by anxiety and is not able to distinguish thoughts from reality. It is thought that
delusions may develop to cope with the anxiety. Religiosity is common. The client may carry a bible all of
the time and preach to everyone all of the time. The client may have an inappropriate affect, a flat affect,
or a blunted affect.
