ATI Mental Health | Week 7 Study Guide (Crisis, Suicide & Safety)
2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who just lost their home in a wildfire. The nurse
should identify this as which type of crisis?
A. Maturational crisis
B. Situational crisis
C. Adventitious crisis
D. Internal crisis
Answer: C
Rationale: An adventitious crisis is a disaster or event of opportunity that is not part of
everyday life, such as a natural disaster like a wildfire.
2. Which of the following is the primary goal of crisis intervention?
A. To return the client to at least the pre-crisis level of functioning
B. To identify the underlying cause of long-term personality issues
C. To encourage the client to explore childhood traumas
D. To provide long-term psychotherapy and medication management
Answer: A
Rationale: The immediate goal of crisis intervention is to assist the client in returning to
the pre-crisis level of functioning.
,3. A client reports severe anxiety after their spouse unexpectedly filed for
divorce. The nurse should categorize this as which type of crisis?
A. Situational crisis
B. Maturational crisis
C. Adventitious crisis
D. Societal crisis
Answer: A
Rationale: A situational crisis arises from an external source that is often unanticipated,
such as a divorce or loss of a job.
4. A nurse is caring for a client in Phase 2 of a crisis. What characterizes this
phase?
A. The client’s previous coping mechanisms fail, and anxiety increases.
B. The client experiences panic-level anxiety and cognitive impairment.
C. The client attempts trial-and-error solutions to solve the problem.
D. The client uses defense mechanisms to lower anxiety.
Answer: A
Rationale: In Phase 2, the previous problem-solving techniques fail, and anxiety continues
to rise, leading to a state of great discomfort.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in Phase 3 of a crisis. Which of the following
should the nurse expect?
A. The client reaches out for help and uses trial-and-error to resolve the crisis.
B. The client experiences a complete psychological breakdown.
C. The client is in a state of calm and acceptance.
D. The client refuses all forms of intervention.
Answer: A
Rationale: In Phase 3, the client may use trial-and-error methods to resolve the crisis or
use new coping skills.
, 6. What is the typical duration of a crisis state?
A. 1 to 2 days
B. 4 to 6 weeks
C. 6 to 12 months
D. 2 to 3 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Crises are self-limiting and typically last 4 to 6 weeks.
7. A client is being admitted for suicidal ideation. Which of the following is the
priority nursing assessment?
A. Asking the client if they have a specific plan for suicide
B. Identifying the client’s past coping mechanisms
C. Assessing the client’s support system
D. Determining the client’s spiritual beliefs regarding death
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority is safety; the nurse must determine the lethality and specificity of
the client’s suicide plan.
8. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which of the following clients is at
the highest risk?
A. A married woman with a young child
B. An adolescent with many friends and active social life
C. A young adult who is active in their church community
D. An older adult male who is widowed and lives alone
Answer: D
Rationale: Older adult males who are socially isolated and have suffered a loss (widowed)
are statistically at the highest risk for completed suicide.
2026/2027 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is assessing a client who just lost their home in a wildfire. The nurse
should identify this as which type of crisis?
A. Maturational crisis
B. Situational crisis
C. Adventitious crisis
D. Internal crisis
Answer: C
Rationale: An adventitious crisis is a disaster or event of opportunity that is not part of
everyday life, such as a natural disaster like a wildfire.
2. Which of the following is the primary goal of crisis intervention?
A. To return the client to at least the pre-crisis level of functioning
B. To identify the underlying cause of long-term personality issues
C. To encourage the client to explore childhood traumas
D. To provide long-term psychotherapy and medication management
Answer: A
Rationale: The immediate goal of crisis intervention is to assist the client in returning to
the pre-crisis level of functioning.
,3. A client reports severe anxiety after their spouse unexpectedly filed for
divorce. The nurse should categorize this as which type of crisis?
A. Situational crisis
B. Maturational crisis
C. Adventitious crisis
D. Societal crisis
Answer: A
Rationale: A situational crisis arises from an external source that is often unanticipated,
such as a divorce or loss of a job.
4. A nurse is caring for a client in Phase 2 of a crisis. What characterizes this
phase?
A. The client’s previous coping mechanisms fail, and anxiety increases.
B. The client experiences panic-level anxiety and cognitive impairment.
C. The client attempts trial-and-error solutions to solve the problem.
D. The client uses defense mechanisms to lower anxiety.
Answer: A
Rationale: In Phase 2, the previous problem-solving techniques fail, and anxiety continues
to rise, leading to a state of great discomfort.
5. A nurse is caring for a client in Phase 3 of a crisis. Which of the following
should the nurse expect?
A. The client reaches out for help and uses trial-and-error to resolve the crisis.
B. The client experiences a complete psychological breakdown.
C. The client is in a state of calm and acceptance.
D. The client refuses all forms of intervention.
Answer: A
Rationale: In Phase 3, the client may use trial-and-error methods to resolve the crisis or
use new coping skills.
, 6. What is the typical duration of a crisis state?
A. 1 to 2 days
B. 4 to 6 weeks
C. 6 to 12 months
D. 2 to 3 years
Answer: B
Rationale: Crises are self-limiting and typically last 4 to 6 weeks.
7. A client is being admitted for suicidal ideation. Which of the following is the
priority nursing assessment?
A. Asking the client if they have a specific plan for suicide
B. Identifying the client’s past coping mechanisms
C. Assessing the client’s support system
D. Determining the client’s spiritual beliefs regarding death
Answer: A
Rationale: The priority is safety; the nurse must determine the lethality and specificity of
the client’s suicide plan.
8. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which of the following clients is at
the highest risk?
A. A married woman with a young child
B. An adolescent with many friends and active social life
C. A young adult who is active in their church community
D. An older adult male who is widowed and lives alone
Answer: D
Rationale: Older adult males who are socially isolated and have suffered a loss (widowed)
are statistically at the highest risk for completed suicide.
