HESI RN MENTAL HEALTH ACTUAL EXAM
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ An adolescent male client is hospitalized after he threatened a
teacher at school. He admits feeling angry because his mother
tricked him and brought him to the hospital. The client states that
when his mother visits, he plans to get his belongings from her, but
he is not going to talk to her. Which activity is most important for the
nurse to complete before the mother arrives?
A. Assess the client's self-esteem needs.
B. Determine the client's expectations fortreatment.
C. Discuss methods for clearly communicating.
D. Identify ways to develop support systems.
Answer: C. Discuss methods for clearly communicating.
◉ A client with borderline personality disorder tells the nurse, "You
are the best nurse on the unit! The other nurses don't care about me
the way you do." Which response is best for the nurse to provide this
client?
a.) "I am not the best nurse. All the nurses are good."
b.) "The other nurses and I are here to help you get better"
,c.) "You don't think the other nurses care about you?"
d.) "I do care about you as a person but nothing more."
Answer: b.) "The other nurses and I are here to help you get better"
◉ An older man with a hx of falls at home tells the clinic nurse that
his son, who was incarcerated last year for assault and battery, has
become abusive since his release from prison. Which intervention is
most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Tell the client to call Adult Protective Services if his son's abuse
continues.
B. Refer the client to a program for victims of domestic violence
C. Verify the client's report by determining if there is physical
evidence of abuse
D. Assist the client in developing an emergency safety plan
Answer: C. Verify the client's report by determining if there is
physical evidence of abuse
◉ A young female client is admitted to the emergency room because
she was raped that evening by her date. How should the nurse
record the client's chief complaint in the medical record?
a.) Client reported that she had sexual relations against her will.
b.) Client claims that she was forced to participate in sexual
intercourse.
c.) Client has been sexually assaulted.
,d.) Client states, "my date raped me tonight."
Answer: d.) Client states, "my date raped me tonight."
◉ A female client with obsessive compulsive disorder complains
that she is feels "driven" to check the locks on her front door at..
Which response is best for the nurse toprovide?
A. have you had a bad experience related to unlocked doors?
B. What are your thoughts when you are checking the locks?
C. feelings of being drive to do something are related to anxiety
D. repeating the same behavior helps you to diminish your anxiety
Answer: D. repeating the same behavior helps you to diminish your
anxiety
◉ What is the most important goal for a client with major
depression who has been receiving an antidepressant medication for
two weeks?
A. ventilate feelings of sadness
B. eats three meals a day
C. participates in group meetings
D. does not attempt to commit suicide
Answer: D. does not attempt to commit suicide
, ◉ After meeting with a healthcare provider, a client who is
diagnosed with bipolar disorder is screaming and stomping. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. instruct the client to reduce the volume of his voice
B. administer a PRN sedative by injection
C. accompany the client to a quiet area of the unit
D. encourage the client to attend a support group
Answer: C. accompany the client to a quiet area of the unit
◉ A client with depression is not attentive to personal hygiene, uses
television watching as a means of escape from...inability to enjoy the
things that once gave them pleasure. Which coping strategy should
the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Relax and reduce the amount of effort to solve the
problem
B. Recall methods that were most successful in the past
C. reach out to family and friends about feelings of abandonment
D. turn to other activities to take one's mind off of the issues
Answer: B. Recall methods that were most successful in the past
◉ A young male who was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder
takes lithium carbonate daily. He is graduating...he tells the school
nurse that wants to live away from home for college. What
information is most important for...family?
PAPER 2026 COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ An adolescent male client is hospitalized after he threatened a
teacher at school. He admits feeling angry because his mother
tricked him and brought him to the hospital. The client states that
when his mother visits, he plans to get his belongings from her, but
he is not going to talk to her. Which activity is most important for the
nurse to complete before the mother arrives?
A. Assess the client's self-esteem needs.
B. Determine the client's expectations fortreatment.
C. Discuss methods for clearly communicating.
D. Identify ways to develop support systems.
Answer: C. Discuss methods for clearly communicating.
◉ A client with borderline personality disorder tells the nurse, "You
are the best nurse on the unit! The other nurses don't care about me
the way you do." Which response is best for the nurse to provide this
client?
a.) "I am not the best nurse. All the nurses are good."
b.) "The other nurses and I are here to help you get better"
,c.) "You don't think the other nurses care about you?"
d.) "I do care about you as a person but nothing more."
Answer: b.) "The other nurses and I are here to help you get better"
◉ An older man with a hx of falls at home tells the clinic nurse that
his son, who was incarcerated last year for assault and battery, has
become abusive since his release from prison. Which intervention is
most important for the nurse to implement?
A. Tell the client to call Adult Protective Services if his son's abuse
continues.
B. Refer the client to a program for victims of domestic violence
C. Verify the client's report by determining if there is physical
evidence of abuse
D. Assist the client in developing an emergency safety plan
Answer: C. Verify the client's report by determining if there is
physical evidence of abuse
◉ A young female client is admitted to the emergency room because
she was raped that evening by her date. How should the nurse
record the client's chief complaint in the medical record?
a.) Client reported that she had sexual relations against her will.
b.) Client claims that she was forced to participate in sexual
intercourse.
c.) Client has been sexually assaulted.
,d.) Client states, "my date raped me tonight."
Answer: d.) Client states, "my date raped me tonight."
◉ A female client with obsessive compulsive disorder complains
that she is feels "driven" to check the locks on her front door at..
Which response is best for the nurse toprovide?
A. have you had a bad experience related to unlocked doors?
B. What are your thoughts when you are checking the locks?
C. feelings of being drive to do something are related to anxiety
D. repeating the same behavior helps you to diminish your anxiety
Answer: D. repeating the same behavior helps you to diminish your
anxiety
◉ What is the most important goal for a client with major
depression who has been receiving an antidepressant medication for
two weeks?
A. ventilate feelings of sadness
B. eats three meals a day
C. participates in group meetings
D. does not attempt to commit suicide
Answer: D. does not attempt to commit suicide
, ◉ After meeting with a healthcare provider, a client who is
diagnosed with bipolar disorder is screaming and stomping. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. instruct the client to reduce the volume of his voice
B. administer a PRN sedative by injection
C. accompany the client to a quiet area of the unit
D. encourage the client to attend a support group
Answer: C. accompany the client to a quiet area of the unit
◉ A client with depression is not attentive to personal hygiene, uses
television watching as a means of escape from...inability to enjoy the
things that once gave them pleasure. Which coping strategy should
the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Relax and reduce the amount of effort to solve the
problem
B. Recall methods that were most successful in the past
C. reach out to family and friends about feelings of abandonment
D. turn to other activities to take one's mind off of the issues
Answer: B. Recall methods that were most successful in the past
◉ A young male who was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder
takes lithium carbonate daily. He is graduating...he tells the school
nurse that wants to live away from home for college. What
information is most important for...family?
