ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS PROCTOR
RETAKE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Foundations
Therapeutic Communication and the Nurse-Client Relationship
Mood Disorders and Suicide Prevention
Anxiety, Trauma, and Stressor-Related Disorders
Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia
Personality and Eating Disorders
Psychopharmacology and Medication Management
Crisis Intervention and Safety
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Cultural Competence and Special Populations
Introduction
The ATI Mental Health CMS Proctor Retake Examination assesses
the nursing student's mastery of psychiatric-mental health nursing
concepts, clinical judgment, and application of the nursing
process to clients with mental health disorders. This
comprehensive NGN-aligned assessment evaluates knowledge
across therapeutic communication, psychopharmacology, crisis
intervention, legal/ethical principles, and cultural competence.
Questions incorporate multiple-choice and Next Generation
,NCLEX (NGN) style formats requiring clinical decision-making,
prioritization, and evidence-based practice. Emphasis is placed on
safety, therapeutic relationships, and holistic care for diverse
populations. Successful completion demonstrates readiness to
practice as a registered nurse in mental health settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–70
Question 1
A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy
program to help him overcome his anxiety. Using systematic
desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to
continue positive results, the client should participate in which of
the following?
A. Biofeedback
B. Therapist modeling
C. Frequent pacing
D. Positive reinforcement
🟢 A. Biofeedback
🔴 RATIONALE: Biofeedback helps the client recognize
physiological responses to anxiety and learn voluntary control
over these responses, reinforcing the progress made through
systematic desensitization. This allows the client to continue
managing anxiety independently. Therapist modeling involves the
therapist demonstrating the behavior, which is not the next step
for maintaining progress. Frequent pacing does not address the
underlying anxiety. Positive reinforcement is a general behavioral
technique but does not specifically address physiological anxiety
responses .
,Question 2
A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client's
partner 8 months ago. Which of the following client statements
indicates maladaptive grieving?
A. "I am so sorry for the times I was angry with my partner."
B. "I like looking at his personal items in the closet."
C. "I find myself thinking about my partner often."
D. "I still don't feel up to returning to work."
🟢 D. "I still don't feel up to returning to work."
🔴 RATIONALE: Maladaptive grieving is characterized by an
inability to perform activities of daily living beyond the expected
grieving period (typically 6-12 months). Not returning to work
after 8 months indicates the client is stuck in the grieving process
and unable to resume normal functioning. Expressing regret
about past anger, looking at personal items, and thinking about
the partner often are normal grief responses .
Question 3
A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a client
who has schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol. Which of the
following clinical findings is the nurse's priority?
A. Headache
B. Insomnia
C. Urinary hesitancy
D. High fever
🟢 D. High fever
🔴 RATIONALE: High fever may indicate neuroleptic malignant
syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening complication of antipsychotic
, medications. NMS requires immediate medical intervention. Using
the ABCs and safety priority framework, this finding takes
precedence over the other options. Headache, insomnia, and
urinary hesitancy are common side effects but are not
immediately life-threatening .
Question 4
A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive compulsive
disorder. Which of the following recommendations should the
nurse include in the client's plan of care?
A. Reality Orientation therapy
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Thought Stopping
D. Validation Therapy
🟢 C. Thought Stopping
🔴 RATIONALE: Thought stopping is a behavioral technique
where the client says "stop" when compulsive behaviors arise and
substitutes the thought with a positive one. This is an effective
intervention for OCD to interrupt the cycle of obsessive thoughts
and compulsive behaviors. Reality orientation is used for
confusion; operant conditioning uses rewards/punishments;
validation therapy is used for dementia .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of bipolar
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Provide in-depth explanation of nursing expectations
B. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
C. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral
D. Allow the client to set limits for his behavior
RETAKE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A
| INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
Core Domains
Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Foundations
Therapeutic Communication and the Nurse-Client Relationship
Mood Disorders and Suicide Prevention
Anxiety, Trauma, and Stressor-Related Disorders
Psychotic Disorders and Schizophrenia
Personality and Eating Disorders
Psychopharmacology and Medication Management
Crisis Intervention and Safety
Legal and Ethical Considerations
Cultural Competence and Special Populations
Introduction
The ATI Mental Health CMS Proctor Retake Examination assesses
the nursing student's mastery of psychiatric-mental health nursing
concepts, clinical judgment, and application of the nursing
process to clients with mental health disorders. This
comprehensive NGN-aligned assessment evaluates knowledge
across therapeutic communication, psychopharmacology, crisis
intervention, legal/ethical principles, and cultural competence.
Questions incorporate multiple-choice and Next Generation
,NCLEX (NGN) style formats requiring clinical decision-making,
prioritization, and evidence-based practice. Emphasis is placed on
safety, therapeutic relationships, and holistic care for diverse
populations. Successful completion demonstrates readiness to
practice as a registered nurse in mental health settings.
SECTION ONE: QUESTIONS 1–70
Question 1
A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy
program to help him overcome his anxiety. Using systematic
desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to
continue positive results, the client should participate in which of
the following?
A. Biofeedback
B. Therapist modeling
C. Frequent pacing
D. Positive reinforcement
🟢 A. Biofeedback
🔴 RATIONALE: Biofeedback helps the client recognize
physiological responses to anxiety and learn voluntary control
over these responses, reinforcing the progress made through
systematic desensitization. This allows the client to continue
managing anxiety independently. Therapist modeling involves the
therapist demonstrating the behavior, which is not the next step
for maintaining progress. Frequent pacing does not address the
underlying anxiety. Positive reinforcement is a general behavioral
technique but does not specifically address physiological anxiety
responses .
,Question 2
A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client's
partner 8 months ago. Which of the following client statements
indicates maladaptive grieving?
A. "I am so sorry for the times I was angry with my partner."
B. "I like looking at his personal items in the closet."
C. "I find myself thinking about my partner often."
D. "I still don't feel up to returning to work."
🟢 D. "I still don't feel up to returning to work."
🔴 RATIONALE: Maladaptive grieving is characterized by an
inability to perform activities of daily living beyond the expected
grieving period (typically 6-12 months). Not returning to work
after 8 months indicates the client is stuck in the grieving process
and unable to resume normal functioning. Expressing regret
about past anger, looking at personal items, and thinking about
the partner often are normal grief responses .
Question 3
A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a client
who has schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol. Which of the
following clinical findings is the nurse's priority?
A. Headache
B. Insomnia
C. Urinary hesitancy
D. High fever
🟢 D. High fever
🔴 RATIONALE: High fever may indicate neuroleptic malignant
syndrome (NMS), a life-threatening complication of antipsychotic
, medications. NMS requires immediate medical intervention. Using
the ABCs and safety priority framework, this finding takes
precedence over the other options. Headache, insomnia, and
urinary hesitancy are common side effects but are not
immediately life-threatening .
Question 4
A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive compulsive
disorder. Which of the following recommendations should the
nurse include in the client's plan of care?
A. Reality Orientation therapy
B. Operant Conditioning
C. Thought Stopping
D. Validation Therapy
🟢 C. Thought Stopping
🔴 RATIONALE: Thought stopping is a behavioral technique
where the client says "stop" when compulsive behaviors arise and
substitutes the thought with a positive one. This is an effective
intervention for OCD to interrupt the cycle of obsessive thoughts
and compulsive behaviors. Reality orientation is used for
confusion; operant conditioning uses rewards/punishments;
validation therapy is used for dementia .
Question 5
A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of bipolar
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Provide in-depth explanation of nursing expectations
B. Encourage the client to participate in group activities
C. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral
D. Allow the client to set limits for his behavior
