ATI Mental Health Proctored
Exam(10 Versions)(Latest,
2021-2022)(VERIFIED)
SECTION 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Q1–12)
1. A nurse is using the DSM-5 to diagnose a client. Which statement best describes the purpose
of the DSM-5?
A. It provides a standardized framework for psychiatric diagnosis.
B. It outlines nursing interventions for each disorder.
C. It determines reimbursement for inpatient care.
D. It replaces the need for a mental status exam.
A. It provides a standardized framework for psychiatric diagnosis.
The DSM-5 is a classification system for psychiatric disorders used by providers; it does not
direct nursing interventions or reimbursement.
2. Which client statement indicates the highest immediate risk requiring nurse intervention?
A. "I feel like no one would notice if I disappeared."
B. "I have a plan to take all my pills tonight at 9 p.m."
C. "I'm so anxious I can't eat."
D. "I hear a voice telling me I'm worthless."
B. "I have a plan to take all my pills tonight at 9 p.m."
A specific plan, means, and timeframe indicates imminent risk. This requires immediate
safety interventions (1:1 observation, removing means, notifying provider).
3. A nurse is assessing a client's judgment. Which question best evaluates this?
A. "What day of the week is it?"
B. "What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?"
C. "Can you repeat these three words?"
D. "Do you know why you're here?"
, B. "What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?"
Judgment is assessed by asking about hypothetical problem-solving. Orientation is assessed
with A and D; memory with C.
4. SATA A nurse is performing a mental status exam. Which components should be
included? (Select all that apply.)
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Mood and affect
C. Serum potassium level
D. Thought process and content
E. Cognitive function
F. Insurance status
A, B, D, E
The MSE includes appearance, behavior, mood, affect, thought process/content, cognition,
and insight/judgment. Labs and insurance are not part of the MSE.
5. A client is admitted involuntarily. Which statement by the nurse is accurate?
A. "You may leave whenever you choose."
B. "You have the right to refuse all medications without consequence."
C. "You are being admitted because you pose a danger to yourself or others."
D. "Involuntary admission means you lose all your rights."
C. "You are being admitted because you pose a danger to yourself or others."
Involuntary admission requires imminent danger to self/others or grave disability. Clients
retain rights except those specifically restricted.
6. Which finding indicates a client is experiencing anosognosia?
A. The client denies having a mental illness despite clear symptoms.
B. The client is unable to speak.
C. The client has a flat affect.
D. The client repeats the nurse's words.
A. The client denies having a mental illness despite clear symptoms.
Anosognosia is lack of insight into one's own illness, common in schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.
,7. A nurse is documenting a client's affect. Which term best describes a client who laughs while
discussing the death of a parent?
A. Flat
B. Labile
C. Inappropriate
D. Blunted
C. Inappropriate
Inappropriate affect is an emotional response incongruent with the content. Labile = rapidly
shifting; flat = absent; blunted = reduced intensity.
8. Which nursing action best demonstrates autonomy?
A. Telling the client which treatment is best.
B. Supporting the client's right to refuse a medication after education.
C. Restraining a client who refuses medications.
D. Making decisions for a client who is confused.
B. Supporting the client's right to refuse a medication after education.
Autonomy respects the client's right to make informed decisions about their care.
9. A nurse is caring for a client on a locked unit. Which is a priority when applying restraints?
A. Apply restraints as a first-line intervention.
B. Obtain a provider's order within 1 hour of application in an emergency.
C. Check the client every 4 hours.
D. Remove restraints only at shift change.
B. Obtain a provider's order within 1 hour of application in an emergency.
In an emergency, restraints may be applied before the order, but the provider must be
notified and an order obtained within 1 hour. Clients must be monitored per policy (typically
every 15 min).
10. Which statement about confidentiality is correct?
A. The nurse may discuss the client with anyone who asks.
B. The nurse may share information with the treatment team on a need-to-know basis.
, C. HIPAA does not apply to psychiatric care.
D. Family members always have a right to the client's records.
B. The nurse may share information with the treatment team on a need-to-know basis.
Confidentiality allows disclosure for treatment, payment, and operations. Family access
requires client consent unless emergency.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's insight. Which statement indicates good insight?
A. "I don't have a problem; everyone else does."
B. "I know I have bipolar disorder and I need to take my lithium."
C. "The voices make me do things."
D. "I'm here because the police brought me."
B. "I know I have bipolar disorder and I need to take my lithium."
Insight is awareness of one's illness and need for treatment.
12. Which nurse statement reflects beneficence?
A. "I will respect your decision to refuse."
B. "I will act in your best interest and promote your well-being."
C. "I will treat all clients fairly."
D. "I will keep your information private."
B. "I will act in your best interest and promote your well-being."
Beneficence = doing good. Autonomy = respect decisions; justice = fairness; confidentiality =
privacy.
SECTION 2: Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Q13–24)
13. A client says, "I'm so worthless. Nobody cares." Which is the most therapeutic response?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way."
B. "Why do you think that?"
C. "You're feeling worthless and that no one cares. Tell me more."
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
C. "You're feeling worthless and that no one cares. Tell me more."
Restating and reflecting feelings validates the client and encourages exploration. "Why"
questions can feel confrontational.
Exam(10 Versions)(Latest,
2021-2022)(VERIFIED)
SECTION 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Q1–12)
1. A nurse is using the DSM-5 to diagnose a client. Which statement best describes the purpose
of the DSM-5?
A. It provides a standardized framework for psychiatric diagnosis.
B. It outlines nursing interventions for each disorder.
C. It determines reimbursement for inpatient care.
D. It replaces the need for a mental status exam.
A. It provides a standardized framework for psychiatric diagnosis.
The DSM-5 is a classification system for psychiatric disorders used by providers; it does not
direct nursing interventions or reimbursement.
2. Which client statement indicates the highest immediate risk requiring nurse intervention?
A. "I feel like no one would notice if I disappeared."
B. "I have a plan to take all my pills tonight at 9 p.m."
C. "I'm so anxious I can't eat."
D. "I hear a voice telling me I'm worthless."
B. "I have a plan to take all my pills tonight at 9 p.m."
A specific plan, means, and timeframe indicates imminent risk. This requires immediate
safety interventions (1:1 observation, removing means, notifying provider).
3. A nurse is assessing a client's judgment. Which question best evaluates this?
A. "What day of the week is it?"
B. "What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?"
C. "Can you repeat these three words?"
D. "Do you know why you're here?"
, B. "What would you do if you found a wallet on the street?"
Judgment is assessed by asking about hypothetical problem-solving. Orientation is assessed
with A and D; memory with C.
4. SATA A nurse is performing a mental status exam. Which components should be
included? (Select all that apply.)
A. Appearance and behavior
B. Mood and affect
C. Serum potassium level
D. Thought process and content
E. Cognitive function
F. Insurance status
A, B, D, E
The MSE includes appearance, behavior, mood, affect, thought process/content, cognition,
and insight/judgment. Labs and insurance are not part of the MSE.
5. A client is admitted involuntarily. Which statement by the nurse is accurate?
A. "You may leave whenever you choose."
B. "You have the right to refuse all medications without consequence."
C. "You are being admitted because you pose a danger to yourself or others."
D. "Involuntary admission means you lose all your rights."
C. "You are being admitted because you pose a danger to yourself or others."
Involuntary admission requires imminent danger to self/others or grave disability. Clients
retain rights except those specifically restricted.
6. Which finding indicates a client is experiencing anosognosia?
A. The client denies having a mental illness despite clear symptoms.
B. The client is unable to speak.
C. The client has a flat affect.
D. The client repeats the nurse's words.
A. The client denies having a mental illness despite clear symptoms.
Anosognosia is lack of insight into one's own illness, common in schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder.
,7. A nurse is documenting a client's affect. Which term best describes a client who laughs while
discussing the death of a parent?
A. Flat
B. Labile
C. Inappropriate
D. Blunted
C. Inappropriate
Inappropriate affect is an emotional response incongruent with the content. Labile = rapidly
shifting; flat = absent; blunted = reduced intensity.
8. Which nursing action best demonstrates autonomy?
A. Telling the client which treatment is best.
B. Supporting the client's right to refuse a medication after education.
C. Restraining a client who refuses medications.
D. Making decisions for a client who is confused.
B. Supporting the client's right to refuse a medication after education.
Autonomy respects the client's right to make informed decisions about their care.
9. A nurse is caring for a client on a locked unit. Which is a priority when applying restraints?
A. Apply restraints as a first-line intervention.
B. Obtain a provider's order within 1 hour of application in an emergency.
C. Check the client every 4 hours.
D. Remove restraints only at shift change.
B. Obtain a provider's order within 1 hour of application in an emergency.
In an emergency, restraints may be applied before the order, but the provider must be
notified and an order obtained within 1 hour. Clients must be monitored per policy (typically
every 15 min).
10. Which statement about confidentiality is correct?
A. The nurse may discuss the client with anyone who asks.
B. The nurse may share information with the treatment team on a need-to-know basis.
, C. HIPAA does not apply to psychiatric care.
D. Family members always have a right to the client's records.
B. The nurse may share information with the treatment team on a need-to-know basis.
Confidentiality allows disclosure for treatment, payment, and operations. Family access
requires client consent unless emergency.
11. A nurse is assessing a client's insight. Which statement indicates good insight?
A. "I don't have a problem; everyone else does."
B. "I know I have bipolar disorder and I need to take my lithium."
C. "The voices make me do things."
D. "I'm here because the police brought me."
B. "I know I have bipolar disorder and I need to take my lithium."
Insight is awareness of one's illness and need for treatment.
12. Which nurse statement reflects beneficence?
A. "I will respect your decision to refuse."
B. "I will act in your best interest and promote your well-being."
C. "I will treat all clients fairly."
D. "I will keep your information private."
B. "I will act in your best interest and promote your well-being."
Beneficence = doing good. Autonomy = respect decisions; justice = fairness; confidentiality =
privacy.
SECTION 2: Therapeutic Communication & Relationships (Q13–24)
13. A client says, "I'm so worthless. Nobody cares." Which is the most therapeutic response?
A. "You shouldn't feel that way."
B. "Why do you think that?"
C. "You're feeling worthless and that no one cares. Tell me more."
D. "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
C. "You're feeling worthless and that no one cares. Tell me more."
Restating and reflecting feelings validates the client and encourages exploration. "Why"
questions can feel confrontational.
