ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1 2019 PROCTORED
- ATI REVISION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Q1–Q20)
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which
of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify the most recent presidents."
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses cognitive ability and concentration.
Observing facial expression assesses affect. Writing a sentence assesses language ability.
Repeating a list of objects immediately assesses immediate memory, not remote memory.
Identifying recent presidents assesses general knowledge, not abstract thinking.
2. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions are biologically based and include monitoring
for medication side effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral intervention. Teaching
coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention. Assessing comorbid conditions is part of
holistic assessment, not a specific psychobiological intervention.
,3. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client
interview. Which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of their mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about their current mental health disorder.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority during an initial interview is to collect data about the client's
perception of their health status. Coordinating care, including family, and teaching are
important but secondary to assessment.
4. A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A stuporous client requires vigorous stimulation (such as a sternal rub) to
arouse briefly. A Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7 indicates coma. Decorticate rigidity
indicates severe neurological damage. Being alert but disoriented describes confusion, not
stupor.
5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following
information is appropriate to include? (Select all that apply.)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
Correct Answers: B, D, E
, Rationale: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists in planning care, and indicates
expected assessment findings. It does not include client education handouts or recommend
pharmacological treatment.
6. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination on a newly admitted client. Which
technique should the nurse use to assess the client's remote memory?
A. Ask the client to repeat three objects immediately.
B. Instruct the client to count backward by 7 from 100.
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event.
D. Have the client write a complete sentence.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Remote memory involves recalling past events stored over a long period.
Recalling a historical event or personal past experience directly evaluates remote memory.
Repeating objects assesses immediate memory. Counting backward assesses concentration.
Writing a sentence assesses language.
7. During a therapeutic interaction, a client states, "I just can't sleep at night. I keep tossing
and turning." Which response by the nurse demonstrates restating?
A. "Why do you think you're having trouble sleeping?"
B. "You are having difficulty sleeping?"
C. "Tell me more about what's been happening at night."
D. "I understand how frustrating that must be for you."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client said to convey
understanding. Option A uses a non-therapeutic "why" question. Option C demonstrates
exploring. Option D demonstrates empathy.
8. A client diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse, "It's just a bad cold. The tests are probably
wrong." Which defense mechanism is the client using?
A. Rationalization
B. Repression
, C. Denial
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Denial is refusing to acknowledge the reality of a painful situation.
Rationalization involves creating logical explanations. Repression is unconscious exclusion of
unpleasant experiences. Displacement redirects emotions to a safer target.
9. During which phase of the nurse-client relationship should the nurse primarily focus on
establishing trust and setting the framework?
A. Working phase
B. Orientation phase
C. Termination phase
D. Pre-interaction phase
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The orientation phase is the first phase where trust, rapport, and the
contractual framework are established. The working phase focuses on problem-solving. The
termination phase focuses on summarizing progress. The pre-interaction phase occurs before
meeting the client.
10. A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who has schizophrenia. The
client states, "The voices are telling me to leave the hospital." Which response demonstrates
clarification?
A. "I understand that you are hearing voices."
B. "Are you saying that the voices want you to leave the hospital right now?"
C. "You should not listen to those voices because they are not real."
D. "Why do you think the voices are telling you to leave?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clarification asks the client to verify what they mean. Option A uses
restatement. Option C is non-therapeutic because it challenges the client's experience. Option
D uses a "why" question, which can sound judgmental.
- ATI REVISION QUESTIONS and ANSWERS
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Q1–Q20)
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which
of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify the most recent presidents."
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses cognitive ability and concentration.
Observing facial expression assesses affect. Writing a sentence assesses language ability.
Repeating a list of objects immediately assesses immediate memory, not remote memory.
Identifying recent presidents assesses general knowledge, not abstract thinking.
2. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions are biologically based and include monitoring
for medication side effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral intervention. Teaching
coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention. Assessing comorbid conditions is part of
holistic assessment, not a specific psychobiological intervention.
,3. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client
interview. Which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of their mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about their current mental health disorder.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The priority during an initial interview is to collect data about the client's
perception of their health status. Coordinating care, including family, and teaching are
important but secondary to assessment.
4. A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A stuporous client requires vigorous stimulation (such as a sternal rub) to
arouse briefly. A Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7 indicates coma. Decorticate rigidity
indicates severe neurological damage. Being alert but disoriented describes confusion, not
stupor.
5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following
information is appropriate to include? (Select all that apply.)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for mental health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
Correct Answers: B, D, E
, Rationale: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists in planning care, and indicates
expected assessment findings. It does not include client education handouts or recommend
pharmacological treatment.
6. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination on a newly admitted client. Which
technique should the nurse use to assess the client's remote memory?
A. Ask the client to repeat three objects immediately.
B. Instruct the client to count backward by 7 from 100.
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event.
D. Have the client write a complete sentence.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Remote memory involves recalling past events stored over a long period.
Recalling a historical event or personal past experience directly evaluates remote memory.
Repeating objects assesses immediate memory. Counting backward assesses concentration.
Writing a sentence assesses language.
7. During a therapeutic interaction, a client states, "I just can't sleep at night. I keep tossing
and turning." Which response by the nurse demonstrates restating?
A. "Why do you think you're having trouble sleeping?"
B. "You are having difficulty sleeping?"
C. "Tell me more about what's been happening at night."
D. "I understand how frustrating that must be for you."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client said to convey
understanding. Option A uses a non-therapeutic "why" question. Option C demonstrates
exploring. Option D demonstrates empathy.
8. A client diagnosed with cancer tells the nurse, "It's just a bad cold. The tests are probably
wrong." Which defense mechanism is the client using?
A. Rationalization
B. Repression
, C. Denial
D. Displacement
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Denial is refusing to acknowledge the reality of a painful situation.
Rationalization involves creating logical explanations. Repression is unconscious exclusion of
unpleasant experiences. Displacement redirects emotions to a safer target.
9. During which phase of the nurse-client relationship should the nurse primarily focus on
establishing trust and setting the framework?
A. Working phase
B. Orientation phase
C. Termination phase
D. Pre-interaction phase
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The orientation phase is the first phase where trust, rapport, and the
contractual framework are established. The working phase focuses on problem-solving. The
termination phase focuses on summarizing progress. The pre-interaction phase occurs before
meeting the client.
10. A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who has schizophrenia. The
client states, "The voices are telling me to leave the hospital." Which response demonstrates
clarification?
A. "I understand that you are hearing voices."
B. "Are you saying that the voices want you to leave the hospital right now?"
C. "You should not listen to those voices because they are not real."
D. "Why do you think the voices are telling you to leave?"
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clarification asks the client to verify what they mean. Option A uses
restatement. Option C is non-therapeutic because it challenges the client's experience. Option
D uses a "why" question, which can sound judgmental.
