ATI CMS Mental Health Exam Review 2026: Comprehensive Mental Health Nursing Questions, Answers, Rationales & Clinical Judgment Preparation

ATI CMS EXAM REVIEW - MENTAL HEALTH
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ATI CMS Mental Health Exam Review 2026: Comprehensive Mental Health Nursing

Questions, Answers, Rationales & Clinical Judgment Preparatio



Introduction:

Prepare for the ATI CMS Mental Health exam with focused review material covering

essential psychiatric nursing concepts, clinical judgment, patient safety, therapeutic

communication, medications, and priority interventions.

Question and answer

1. BENEFICENCE√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ do what is best for the patient

*do good*
2. FIDELITY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ keep your promises

loyalty/faithfulness
3. JUSTICE√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ provide fairness in care and allocation of resources
4. NONMALEFICENCE√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ do no harm
5. VERACITY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ tell the truth
6. PATIENT RIGHTS - REFUSAL OF TREATMENT√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ even patients
who are involuntarily admitted have the right to refuse treatment
7. PATIENT RIGHTS - CONFIDENTIALITY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ HIPAA states that
health information cannot be released
without patient's permission

client's right to privacy continues even after death
8. CONFIDENTIALITY - NURSING ACTIONS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ if someone calls to
get an update, suggest they reach out to the patient's family

if you overhear a conversation in a public space, take action to stop the violation




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9. PATIENT RIGHTS - MANDATORY REPORTING√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ nurses are
required to report suspicion of abuse

warn/protect third parties who are at risk for harm
10. INFORMED CONSENT - PROVIDER RESPONSIBILITIES√√CORRECT ANSWER√√
communicate purpose of procedure

provide a complete description of procedure in patient's primary language (use

interpreter if needed) explain risks vs. benefits

describe other options to treat condition
11. INFORMED CONSENT - NURSE/RN RESPONSIBILITIES√√CORRECT ANSWER√√
make sure provider gave patient appropriate information regarding procedure
ensure that patient is competent to give informed

consent have patient sign consent document

notify provider if patient has more questions or doesn't understand information provided
12. RESTRAINTS - TYPES√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ *Physical*
- vest - belt
- mitten

*Chemical*
- sedative Rx
- antipsychotic Rx
21. RESTRAINTS - ALTERNATIVES√√CORRECT ANSWER√√

provide verbal interventions diversions

calm/quiet environment
22. RESTRAINTS - PRESCRIPTIONS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√

*MUST BE IN WRITING* prescription must be rewritten every 24

hours

in an emergency situation, a nurse may use restraints, but must obtain a written prescription
per facility policy (usually within 15-30 minutes)


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23. RESTRAINTS - TIME LIMITS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√
*Adults*
4 hours

*Ages 9 - 17*
2 hours

*Ages 8 and Under*
1 hour
24. RESTRAINTS - DOCUMENTATION√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ complete every 15-30
minutes

*include the following√√CORRECT ANSWER√√*
- precipitating event
- alternative interventions attempted
- time treatment began
- medication(s) administered
- patient assessment (current behavior, VS, pain)
- patient care provided (food, toileting)
25. RESTRAINTS - DISCONTINUATION√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ restraints can be
discontinued when patient can follow nurse's directions
26. UNINTENTIONAL TORTS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ *Negligence*
forgetting to set bed alarm for a fall risk patient

*Malpractice*
medication error that harms patient
27. INTENTIONAL TORTS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ *Assault*
nurse threatens patient

*Battery*
- nurse hits patient
- gives Rx against patient's will

*False Imprisonment*
- nurse inappropriately restrains a patient
- nurse administers a chemical restraint (Rx)
28. INTRAPERSONAL COMMUNICATION√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ self-talk


, ATI CMS EXAM REVIEW - MENTAL HEALTH
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thinking thoughts, but not verbalizing them
29. INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ one-on-one
communication with another person
30. OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ promotes interactive
discussion
*example*
"tell me more..."
31. CLOSED-ENDED QUESTIONS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ used to obtain specific data

use sparingly as it can block communication

*example"
questions that can be answered with a "yes"
or "no" 32. RESTATING√√CORRECT
ANSWER√√ repeat the patient's exact
words
33. REFLECTING√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ return focus back to the patient
34. PARAPHRASING√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ restate patient's feelings to confirm
understanding of what patient is saying
35. EXPLORING√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ gathering more information about something
that patient mentioned
36. GENERAL LEADS√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ allows patient to guide discussion
37. PRESENTING REALITY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ communicate what is actually

happening dispel hallucinations/delusions/disbeliefs

38. OFFERING SELF√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ limited self-disclosure by nurse

return focus to the patient ASAP
39. THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION - WRONG WAY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ asking

"why" questions offering your opinion giving false reassurance giving advice changing the

subject

minimizing the patient's feelings
40. THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION - RIGHT WAY√√CORRECT ANSWER√√ asking

open-ended questions maintaining eye contact to convey interest