ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 1 2019
PROCTORED - ATI REVISION QUESTIONS
and ANSWERS
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION & THE NURSE-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has just been admitted to the psychiatric unit with severe
anxiety. Which of the following statements by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic
technique of offering self?
A. "I will stay with you while you are feeling anxious."
B. "Why do you feel anxious right now?"
C. "You shouldn't feel anxious; you are safe here."
D. "Let's review your admission paperwork together."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Offering self means making oneself available to the client without expecting
anything in return, demonstrating genuine interest and presence. Option B is probing, C is giving
false reassurance/discounting feelings, and D changes the subject away from the client's
emotional state.
2. A client tells the nurse, "I don't want to talk about my divorce. It's too painful." Which of the
following responses by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You need to talk about it to move forward."
B. "I understand. We can talk about something else."
C. "Why is it too painful to discuss?"
D. "Let's talk about your children instead."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Respecting the client's refusal to discuss a topic demonstrates respect and allows
the client to maintain control. Option A is confrontational, C is probing/pressuring, and D
minimizes the client's stated need and redirects prematurely.
,3. A nurse is using the technique of reflection. Which statement best illustrates this technique?
A. "You feel angry because your family forgot your birthday."
B. "Tell me more about your childhood."
C. "I noticed you were pacing in the hallway."
D. "Everything will be fine soon."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflection involves restating the client's feelings and thoughts back to the client
to show understanding and encourage further expression. B is an open-ended question, C is
making an observation, and D is false reassurance.
4. A client states, "I'm a failure. I can't do anything right." Which of the following is the most
therapeutic nurse response?
A. "That's not true; you're successful in many ways."
B. "You feel like a failure right now."
C. "Why do you think you're a failure?"
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restating the client's feeling (reflection/restating) acknowledges the emotion
without arguing or minimizing. A is disagreeing and giving false reassurance, C is probing when
the client is vulnerable, and D is minimizing/universalizing.
5. Which of the following are components of the orientation (introductory) phase of the nurse-
client relationship? Select all that apply.
A. Establishing trust and rapport
B. Setting goals and boundaries
C. Evaluating goal attainment
D. Clarifying the nurse's and client's roles
E. Identifying the client's strengths and limitations
F. Terminating the relationship
Correct Answers: A, B, D, E
Rationale: The orientation phase includes establishing trust, setting goals and boundaries,
,clarifying roles, and assessing strengths/limitations. Evaluation (C) and termination (F) occur in
the working and termination phases, respectively.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks a different language than the nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to communicate effectively?
A. Ask a family member to interpret.
B. Use a trained medical interpreter.
C. Speak loudly and slowly in English.
D. Use gestures and pictures only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter ensures accurate, confidential communication.
Family members may misinterpret or filter information, speaking loudly does not improve
comprehension, and gestures alone are inadequate for complex mental health assessment.
7. Which of the following statements by the nurse represents the nontherapeutic technique of
giving advice?
A. "What do you think you should do about your job?"
B. "You should quit your job if it's causing you stress."
C. "Tell me how your job makes you feel."
D. "It sounds like your job is a source of stress."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Giving advice tells the client what to do, fostering dependency and removing
autonomy. A and C encourage client problem-solving, and D is reflection/restating.
8. A nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client who has borderline personality
disorder. Which of the following actions is most important?
A. Setting consistent, firm limits
B. Avoiding all confrontation
C. Sharing personal information to build trust
D. Allowing the client to set all rules
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clients with borderline personality disorder benefit from consistent, firm limits to
, reduce manipulation and provide structure. Avoiding confrontation reinforces maladaptive
behavior, self-disclosure should be limited, and the client should not control unit rules.
9. A client says, "The voices are telling me to hurt myself." Which of the following responses by
the nurse is priority?
A. "The voices aren't real; ignore them."
B. "Tell me what the voices are saying."
C. "I will stay with you and ensure your safety."
D. "Let's go to group therapy now."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Safety is the priority when a client expresses command hallucinations to self-
harm. The nurse must stay with the client, ensure safety, and notify the provider. A dismisses
the experience, B delays safety intervention, and D ignores the acute risk.
10. Which of the following nurse statements demonstrates the therapeutic technique of
silence?
A. "I'm going to sit with you quietly for a few minutes."
B. "You need to talk about your feelings."
C. "Why are you so quiet?"
D. "Let me tell you about my day."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Silence gives the client time to think and reflect and communicates the nurse's
presence without pressure. B pressures the client, C is probing, and D shifts focus to the nurse.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is manipulative and attempts to split staff. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Confront the client in front of other clients.
B. Discuss the behavior in a staff meeting and maintain consistent limits.
C. Ignore the behavior completely.
D. Transfer the client to another unit.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is managed by consistent communication among staff, setting limits, and
PROCTORED - ATI REVISION QUESTIONS
and ANSWERS
SECTION 1: THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION & THE NURSE-CLIENT RELATIONSHIP
1. A nurse is caring for a client who has just been admitted to the psychiatric unit with severe
anxiety. Which of the following statements by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic
technique of offering self?
A. "I will stay with you while you are feeling anxious."
B. "Why do you feel anxious right now?"
C. "You shouldn't feel anxious; you are safe here."
D. "Let's review your admission paperwork together."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Offering self means making oneself available to the client without expecting
anything in return, demonstrating genuine interest and presence. Option B is probing, C is giving
false reassurance/discounting feelings, and D changes the subject away from the client's
emotional state.
2. A client tells the nurse, "I don't want to talk about my divorce. It's too painful." Which of the
following responses by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You need to talk about it to move forward."
B. "I understand. We can talk about something else."
C. "Why is it too painful to discuss?"
D. "Let's talk about your children instead."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Respecting the client's refusal to discuss a topic demonstrates respect and allows
the client to maintain control. Option A is confrontational, C is probing/pressuring, and D
minimizes the client's stated need and redirects prematurely.
,3. A nurse is using the technique of reflection. Which statement best illustrates this technique?
A. "You feel angry because your family forgot your birthday."
B. "Tell me more about your childhood."
C. "I noticed you were pacing in the hallway."
D. "Everything will be fine soon."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflection involves restating the client's feelings and thoughts back to the client
to show understanding and encourage further expression. B is an open-ended question, C is
making an observation, and D is false reassurance.
4. A client states, "I'm a failure. I can't do anything right." Which of the following is the most
therapeutic nurse response?
A. "That's not true; you're successful in many ways."
B. "You feel like a failure right now."
C. "Why do you think you're a failure?"
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Restating the client's feeling (reflection/restating) acknowledges the emotion
without arguing or minimizing. A is disagreeing and giving false reassurance, C is probing when
the client is vulnerable, and D is minimizing/universalizing.
5. Which of the following are components of the orientation (introductory) phase of the nurse-
client relationship? Select all that apply.
A. Establishing trust and rapport
B. Setting goals and boundaries
C. Evaluating goal attainment
D. Clarifying the nurse's and client's roles
E. Identifying the client's strengths and limitations
F. Terminating the relationship
Correct Answers: A, B, D, E
Rationale: The orientation phase includes establishing trust, setting goals and boundaries,
,clarifying roles, and assessing strengths/limitations. Evaluation (C) and termination (F) occur in
the working and termination phases, respectively.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who speaks a different language than the nurse. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take to communicate effectively?
A. Ask a family member to interpret.
B. Use a trained medical interpreter.
C. Speak loudly and slowly in English.
D. Use gestures and pictures only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A trained medical interpreter ensures accurate, confidential communication.
Family members may misinterpret or filter information, speaking loudly does not improve
comprehension, and gestures alone are inadequate for complex mental health assessment.
7. Which of the following statements by the nurse represents the nontherapeutic technique of
giving advice?
A. "What do you think you should do about your job?"
B. "You should quit your job if it's causing you stress."
C. "Tell me how your job makes you feel."
D. "It sounds like your job is a source of stress."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Giving advice tells the client what to do, fostering dependency and removing
autonomy. A and C encourage client problem-solving, and D is reflection/restating.
8. A nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client who has borderline personality
disorder. Which of the following actions is most important?
A. Setting consistent, firm limits
B. Avoiding all confrontation
C. Sharing personal information to build trust
D. Allowing the client to set all rules
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Clients with borderline personality disorder benefit from consistent, firm limits to
, reduce manipulation and provide structure. Avoiding confrontation reinforces maladaptive
behavior, self-disclosure should be limited, and the client should not control unit rules.
9. A client says, "The voices are telling me to hurt myself." Which of the following responses by
the nurse is priority?
A. "The voices aren't real; ignore them."
B. "Tell me what the voices are saying."
C. "I will stay with you and ensure your safety."
D. "Let's go to group therapy now."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Safety is the priority when a client expresses command hallucinations to self-
harm. The nurse must stay with the client, ensure safety, and notify the provider. A dismisses
the experience, B delays safety intervention, and D ignores the acute risk.
10. Which of the following nurse statements demonstrates the therapeutic technique of
silence?
A. "I'm going to sit with you quietly for a few minutes."
B. "You need to talk about your feelings."
C. "Why are you so quiet?"
D. "Let me tell you about my day."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Silence gives the client time to think and reflect and communicates the nurse's
presence without pressure. B pressures the client, C is probing, and D shifts focus to the nurse.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is manipulative and attempts to split staff. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Confront the client in front of other clients.
B. Discuss the behavior in a staff meeting and maintain consistent limits.
C. Ignore the behavior completely.
D. Transfer the client to another unit.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Splitting is managed by consistent communication among staff, setting limits, and
