Psychiatric ATI Exam Latest Update 2026|2027|A
Comprehensive Review Of 200 Practice
Questions with Answers and Rationales |Pass
Guaranteed
Introduction
This comprehensive question bank is a continuation of the Psychiatric ATI Exam
preparation material, providing an additional 200 unique multiple-choice practice
questions designed to test knowledge application in clinical scenarios. The
questions cover essential psychiatric-mental health nursing concepts including
therapeutic communication, psychopharmacology, legal and ethical considerations,
mental health disorders, therapeutic relationships, defense mechanisms, anxiety
disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, crisis intervention, and more.
Each question includes four multiple-choice options (A, B, C, D) with the Correct
Answer and a detailed rationale to enhance understanding and clinical reasoning
skills. The questions are designed to mirror the format and difficulty level of the
actual Psychiatric ATI exam, preparing nursing students for success in their
psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.
These questions are unique and do not duplicate the content from the first set of
600 questions. They are organized to facilitate comprehensive review and targeted
study of key psychiatric nursing concepts.
Multichoice questions
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed haloperidol for
schizophrenia. The client reports muscle rigidity, fever, and altered mental
status. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
,A. Administer the next scheduled dose of haloperidol
B. Document the findings and continue to monitor
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider immediately
D. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client is exhibiting manifestations of neuroleptic malignant
syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening complication of antipsychotic medications.
Manifestations include muscle rigidity, fever, altered mental status, autonomic
instability, and elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. The nurse should
hold the medication and notify the provider immediately as this is a medical
emergency requiring urgent intervention.
2. A nurse is teaching a client who has been prescribed fluoxetine for
depression. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime to help me sleep."
B. "I might experience increased anxiety during the first few weeks of treatment."
C. "I can stop taking this medication as soon as I feel better."
D. "I should avoid eating aged cheese while taking this medication."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients taking SSRIs such as fluoxetine may experience increased
anxiety, agitation, or restlessness during the initial weeks of treatment before
therapeutic effects are fully realized. The nurse should inform the client about this
potential adverse effect. Clients should not stop the medication abruptly due to the
risk of discontinuation syndrome. Aged cheese restrictions apply to MAOIs, not
SSRIs. Fluoxetine is typically taken in the morning to avoid insomnia.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed clozapine. Which of
the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor most closely?
,A. Serum potassium level
B. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
C. Serum creatinine level
D. Liver function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause life-threatening agranulocytosis, which is a severe
decrease in white blood cell count, specifically neutrophils. The nurse should
monitor the client's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) closely. Clients typically
require weekly ANC monitoring for the first 6 months of treatment, then every 2
weeks for the next 6 months, and then monthly thereafter.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed lithium and reports
experiencing fine hand tremors. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Hold the medication and notify the provider immediately
B. Document the finding as an expected adverse effect
C. Request an increase in the medication dose
D. Administer a PRN antianxiety medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fine hand tremors are an expected adverse effect of lithium therapy that
occurs at therapeutic levels. The nurse should document this finding and continue
to monitor the client. Fine tremors typically occur at therapeutic levels (0.8-1.4
mEq/L), while coarse tremors may indicate toxicity. The nurse should reassure the
client that this is an expected effect and may diminish over time.
5. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed valproic acid for
bipolar disorder. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor?
A. Serum lithium level
B. Serum valproic acid level and liver function tests
, C. Serum potassium level
D. Thyroid function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Valproic acid requires monitoring of serum drug levels (therapeutic
range: 50-125 mcg/mL) and liver function tests because hepatotoxicity is a
potential adverse effect. The nurse should also monitor for other adverse effects
such as thrombocytopenia, pancreatitis, and weight gain. Regular monitoring helps
ensure therapeutic effectiveness and prevents toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client who has been prescribed lamotrigine for bipolar
disorder. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A. "You should report any rash immediately to your provider."
B. "This medication will take effect within 24 hours."
C. "You can safely stop this medication if you feel better."
D. "This medication is safe to take during pregnancy."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lamotrigine carries a black box warning for serious skin rashes,
including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Clients
should report any rash immediately. The medication requires gradual titration to
minimize rash risk. Clients should not stop the medication abruptly. Lamotrigine is
a pregnancy category C medication and should be used with caution during
pregnancy.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed aripiprazole for
schizophrenia. The client reports feeling restless and unable to sit still. Which
of the following terms describes this adverse effect?
A. Dystonia
B. Akathisia
Comprehensive Review Of 200 Practice
Questions with Answers and Rationales |Pass
Guaranteed
Introduction
This comprehensive question bank is a continuation of the Psychiatric ATI Exam
preparation material, providing an additional 200 unique multiple-choice practice
questions designed to test knowledge application in clinical scenarios. The
questions cover essential psychiatric-mental health nursing concepts including
therapeutic communication, psychopharmacology, legal and ethical considerations,
mental health disorders, therapeutic relationships, defense mechanisms, anxiety
disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, crisis intervention, and more.
Each question includes four multiple-choice options (A, B, C, D) with the Correct
Answer and a detailed rationale to enhance understanding and clinical reasoning
skills. The questions are designed to mirror the format and difficulty level of the
actual Psychiatric ATI exam, preparing nursing students for success in their
psychiatric-mental health nursing practice.
These questions are unique and do not duplicate the content from the first set of
600 questions. They are organized to facilitate comprehensive review and targeted
study of key psychiatric nursing concepts.
Multichoice questions
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed haloperidol for
schizophrenia. The client reports muscle rigidity, fever, and altered mental
status. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
,A. Administer the next scheduled dose of haloperidol
B. Document the findings and continue to monitor
C. Hold the medication and notify the provider immediately
D. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The client is exhibiting manifestations of neuroleptic malignant
syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening complication of antipsychotic medications.
Manifestations include muscle rigidity, fever, altered mental status, autonomic
instability, and elevated creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels. The nurse should
hold the medication and notify the provider immediately as this is a medical
emergency requiring urgent intervention.
2. A nurse is teaching a client who has been prescribed fluoxetine for
depression. Which of the following statements by the client indicates
understanding of the teaching?
A. "I should take this medication at bedtime to help me sleep."
B. "I might experience increased anxiety during the first few weeks of treatment."
C. "I can stop taking this medication as soon as I feel better."
D. "I should avoid eating aged cheese while taking this medication."
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clients taking SSRIs such as fluoxetine may experience increased
anxiety, agitation, or restlessness during the initial weeks of treatment before
therapeutic effects are fully realized. The nurse should inform the client about this
potential adverse effect. Clients should not stop the medication abruptly due to the
risk of discontinuation syndrome. Aged cheese restrictions apply to MAOIs, not
SSRIs. Fluoxetine is typically taken in the morning to avoid insomnia.
3. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed clozapine. Which of
the following laboratory values should the nurse monitor most closely?
,A. Serum potassium level
B. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)
C. Serum creatinine level
D. Liver function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Clozapine can cause life-threatening agranulocytosis, which is a severe
decrease in white blood cell count, specifically neutrophils. The nurse should
monitor the client's absolute neutrophil count (ANC) closely. Clients typically
require weekly ANC monitoring for the first 6 months of treatment, then every 2
weeks for the next 6 months, and then monthly thereafter.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed lithium and reports
experiencing fine hand tremors. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Hold the medication and notify the provider immediately
B. Document the finding as an expected adverse effect
C. Request an increase in the medication dose
D. Administer a PRN antianxiety medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Fine hand tremors are an expected adverse effect of lithium therapy that
occurs at therapeutic levels. The nurse should document this finding and continue
to monitor the client. Fine tremors typically occur at therapeutic levels (0.8-1.4
mEq/L), while coarse tremors may indicate toxicity. The nurse should reassure the
client that this is an expected effect and may diminish over time.
5. A nurse is assessing a client who has been prescribed valproic acid for
bipolar disorder. Which of the following laboratory values should the nurse
monitor?
A. Serum lithium level
B. Serum valproic acid level and liver function tests
, C. Serum potassium level
D. Thyroid function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Valproic acid requires monitoring of serum drug levels (therapeutic
range: 50-125 mcg/mL) and liver function tests because hepatotoxicity is a
potential adverse effect. The nurse should also monitor for other adverse effects
such as thrombocytopenia, pancreatitis, and weight gain. Regular monitoring helps
ensure therapeutic effectiveness and prevents toxicity.
6. A nurse is teaching a client who has been prescribed lamotrigine for bipolar
disorder. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the
teaching?
A. "You should report any rash immediately to your provider."
B. "This medication will take effect within 24 hours."
C. "You can safely stop this medication if you feel better."
D. "This medication is safe to take during pregnancy."
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Lamotrigine carries a black box warning for serious skin rashes,
including Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Clients
should report any rash immediately. The medication requires gradual titration to
minimize rash risk. Clients should not stop the medication abruptly. Lamotrigine is
a pregnancy category C medication and should be used with caution during
pregnancy.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed aripiprazole for
schizophrenia. The client reports feeling restless and unable to sit still. Which
of the following terms describes this adverse effect?
A. Dystonia
B. Akathisia
