SAUNDERS NCLEX RN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse
"I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for"
2. "Why do you see yourself as this failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed"
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
CORRECT ANSWER
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
Question 2
When the community health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept
at all the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic
communication response to this client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too"
CORRECT ANSWER
1
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, 3. "You're having trouble sleeping?"
Question 3
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned.
Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat.
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition.
CORRECT ANSWER
1. Using open ended questions and silence
Question 4
A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours
at the locked exit door shouting "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't
belong here." What defense mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization
CORRECT ANSWER
1. Denial
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, Question 5
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all,
I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."
CORRECT ANSWER
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Question 6
On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was
voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
CORRECT ANSWER
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
Question 7
A client admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released
from the hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse take immediately?
3
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|ACTUAL QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS|BRAND NEW 2026-2027
UPDATE|GRADED A+
Question 1
A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse
"I should have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for"
2. "Why do you see yourself as this failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed"
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
CORRECT ANSWER
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?"
Question 2
When the community health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept
at all the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic
communication response to this client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too"
CORRECT ANSWER
1
@https://www.stuvia.com/user/thestudyvault
, 3. "You're having trouble sleeping?"
Question 3
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned.
Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat.
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition.
CORRECT ANSWER
1. Using open ended questions and silence
Question 4
A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours
at the locked exit door shouting "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't
belong here." What defense mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization
CORRECT ANSWER
1. Denial
2
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, Question 5
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all,
I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis."
CORRECT ANSWER
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Question 6
On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was
voluntary. Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
CORRECT ANSWER
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
Question 7
A client admitted voluntarily for treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released
from the hospital. Which of the following actions should the nurse take immediately?
3
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