PSYCHIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
NCLEX QUESTIONS 50 QUESTIONS (2026
EDITION CORRECT ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES NCLEX-RN
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING STUDY GUIDE
A male client recently admitted to the hospital with sharp, substernal chest
pain suddenly complains of palpitations. The nurse notes a rise in the
client's arterial blood pressure and a heart rate of 144 beats/minute. On
further questioning, the client admits to having used cocaine recently after
previously denying use of the drug. The nurse concludes that the client is at
high risk for which complication of cocaine use?
A. Coronary artery spasm
B. Bradyarrhythmias
C. Neuribehavioral deficits
D. Panic disorder - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Coronary artery spasm
Rationale: Cocaine use may cause such cardiac complications as coronary
artery spasm, myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, acute heart
failure, endocarditis, and sudden death. Cocaine blocks reuptake of
norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, causing an excess of these
neurotransmitters at postsynaptic receptor sites. Consequently, the drug is
more likely to cause tachyarrhythmias than bradyarrhythmias. Although
neurobehavioral deficits are common in neonates born to cocaine users,
they are rare in adults. As craving for the drug increases, a person who's
addicted to cocaine typically experiences euphoria followed by depression,
not panic disorder.
,A male client is being admitted to the substance abuse unit for alcohol
detoxification. As part of the intake interview, the nurse asks him when he
had his last alcoholic drink. He says that he had his last drink 6 hours
before admission. Based on this response, the nurse should expect early
withdrawal symptoms to:
A. Begin after 7 days
B. Not occur at all because the time period for their occurrence has passed
C. Begin anytime within the next 1-2 days
D. Begin within 2-7 days - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Begin anytime within the
next 1-2 days
Rationale: Acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol may begin 6 hours
after the client has stopped drinking and peak 1-2 days later. Delirium
tremens may occur 2-4 days - even up to 7 days - after the last drink.
The nurse is assigned to care for a client with anorexia nervosa. Initially,
which nursing intervention is most appropriate for this client?
A. Providing one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward
B. Letting the client ears with other clients to create a normal mealtime
atmosphere
C. Trying to persuade the client to eat and thus restore nutritional balance
D. Giving the client as much time to eat as desired - CORRECT ANSWER-A.
Providing one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward
Rationale: Because the client with anorexia nervosa, may discard food or
induce vomiting in the bathroom, the nurse should provide one-on-one
supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward. Option B wouldn't be
therapeutic because other clients may urge the client to eat and give
attention for not eating. Option C would reinforce control issues, which are
central to this client's underlying psychological problem. Instead of giving
, the client unlimited time to eat, as in option D, the nurse should set limits
and let the client know what is expected.
A female client begins to experience alcoholic hallucinosis. The nurse is
aware that the best nursing intervention at this time is:
A. Keeping the client restrained in bed
B. Checking the client's blood pressure every 15 minutes and offering juices
C. Providing a quiet environment and administering medications as needed
and prescribed
D. Restraining the client and measuring blood pressure every 30 minutes -
CORRECT ANSWER-C. Providing a quiet environment and administering
medications as needed and prescribed
Rationale: Manifestations of alcoholic hallucinosis are best treated by
providing a quiet environment to reduce stimulation and administering
prescribed central nervous system depressants in dosages that control
symptom without causing oversedation. Although bed rest is indicated,
restraints are unnecessary unless the client poses a danger to himself or
others. Also, restrains may increase agitation and make the client feel
trapped and helpless when hallucinating. Offering juices is appropriate but
measuring blood pressure every 15 minutes would interrupt the client's
rest. To avoid overstimulating the client, the nurse should check blood
pressure every 2 hours.
The nurse is aware that which assessment finding is most consistent with
early alcohol withdrawal?
A. Heart rate of 120-140 beats/minute
B. Heart rate of 50-60 beats/minute
C. Blood pressure of 100/70 mmHg
NCLEX QUESTIONS 50 QUESTIONS (2026
EDITION CORRECT ANSWERS AND
DETAILED RATIONALES NCLEX-RN
MENTAL HEALTH NURSING STUDY GUIDE
A male client recently admitted to the hospital with sharp, substernal chest
pain suddenly complains of palpitations. The nurse notes a rise in the
client's arterial blood pressure and a heart rate of 144 beats/minute. On
further questioning, the client admits to having used cocaine recently after
previously denying use of the drug. The nurse concludes that the client is at
high risk for which complication of cocaine use?
A. Coronary artery spasm
B. Bradyarrhythmias
C. Neuribehavioral deficits
D. Panic disorder - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Coronary artery spasm
Rationale: Cocaine use may cause such cardiac complications as coronary
artery spasm, myocardial infarction, dilated cardiomyopathy, acute heart
failure, endocarditis, and sudden death. Cocaine blocks reuptake of
norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine, causing an excess of these
neurotransmitters at postsynaptic receptor sites. Consequently, the drug is
more likely to cause tachyarrhythmias than bradyarrhythmias. Although
neurobehavioral deficits are common in neonates born to cocaine users,
they are rare in adults. As craving for the drug increases, a person who's
addicted to cocaine typically experiences euphoria followed by depression,
not panic disorder.
,A male client is being admitted to the substance abuse unit for alcohol
detoxification. As part of the intake interview, the nurse asks him when he
had his last alcoholic drink. He says that he had his last drink 6 hours
before admission. Based on this response, the nurse should expect early
withdrawal symptoms to:
A. Begin after 7 days
B. Not occur at all because the time period for their occurrence has passed
C. Begin anytime within the next 1-2 days
D. Begin within 2-7 days - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Begin anytime within the
next 1-2 days
Rationale: Acute withdrawal symptoms from alcohol may begin 6 hours
after the client has stopped drinking and peak 1-2 days later. Delirium
tremens may occur 2-4 days - even up to 7 days - after the last drink.
The nurse is assigned to care for a client with anorexia nervosa. Initially,
which nursing intervention is most appropriate for this client?
A. Providing one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward
B. Letting the client ears with other clients to create a normal mealtime
atmosphere
C. Trying to persuade the client to eat and thus restore nutritional balance
D. Giving the client as much time to eat as desired - CORRECT ANSWER-A.
Providing one-on-one supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward
Rationale: Because the client with anorexia nervosa, may discard food or
induce vomiting in the bathroom, the nurse should provide one-on-one
supervision during meals and for 1 hour afterward. Option B wouldn't be
therapeutic because other clients may urge the client to eat and give
attention for not eating. Option C would reinforce control issues, which are
central to this client's underlying psychological problem. Instead of giving
, the client unlimited time to eat, as in option D, the nurse should set limits
and let the client know what is expected.
A female client begins to experience alcoholic hallucinosis. The nurse is
aware that the best nursing intervention at this time is:
A. Keeping the client restrained in bed
B. Checking the client's blood pressure every 15 minutes and offering juices
C. Providing a quiet environment and administering medications as needed
and prescribed
D. Restraining the client and measuring blood pressure every 30 minutes -
CORRECT ANSWER-C. Providing a quiet environment and administering
medications as needed and prescribed
Rationale: Manifestations of alcoholic hallucinosis are best treated by
providing a quiet environment to reduce stimulation and administering
prescribed central nervous system depressants in dosages that control
symptom without causing oversedation. Although bed rest is indicated,
restraints are unnecessary unless the client poses a danger to himself or
others. Also, restrains may increase agitation and make the client feel
trapped and helpless when hallucinating. Offering juices is appropriate but
measuring blood pressure every 15 minutes would interrupt the client's
rest. To avoid overstimulating the client, the nurse should check blood
pressure every 2 hours.
The nurse is aware that which assessment finding is most consistent with
early alcohol withdrawal?
A. Heart rate of 120-140 beats/minute
B. Heart rate of 50-60 beats/minute
C. Blood pressure of 100/70 mmHg
