ATI Mental Health Nursing Practice
Examination 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. 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 a list of three objects immediately after hearing
them
B. Instruct the client to count backward by 7 starting from 100
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event or personal past
experience
D. Have the client write a complete sentence about any topic
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event or personal past
experience
Rationale: Remote memory involves recalling past events and experiences
stored over a long period. Asking a client to repeat a list of objects
immediately assesses immediate memory, not remote memory. Counting
backward by 7 assesses cognitive ability and concentration, while writing a
sentence assesses language ability. Recalling a significant historical event or
personal past experience directly evaluates remote memory function, which is
a key component of the mental status examination in psychiatric nursing.
,2. 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 the
therapeutic communication technique of 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.
B. You are having difficulty sleeping?
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client has
said using similar or identical words to convey understanding and encourage
further exploration. Option B restates the client's concern about sleep
difficulty. Option A uses a "why" question, which is nontherapeutic and can
make the client feel defensive. Option C demonstrates the technique of
clarification or exploring. Option D demonstrates empathy, which is a
different therapeutic technique. Restating validates the client's message
without adding interpretation.
3. 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
C. Denial
Rationale: Denial is the defense mechanism in which a person refuses to
acknowledge the reality of a painful or threatening situation, attributing
symptoms to a less serious cause. The client is refusing to accept the cancer
diagnosis by attributing the symptoms to a bad cold. Rationalization involves
creating logical explanations for unacceptable behavior. Repression is the
,unconscious exclusion of unpleasant experiences from conscious awareness.
Displacement redirects emotions from the original source to a safer substitute
target.
4. A psychiatric-mental health nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship
with a client. During which phase of the nurse-client relationship should the
nurse primarily focus on establishing trust and setting the framework for the
relationship?
A. Working phase
B. Orientation phase
C. Termination phase
D. Pre-interaction phase
B. Orientation phase
Rationale: The orientation phase is the first phase of the nurse-client
relationship, where the primary focus is on establishing trust, rapport, and
setting the contractual framework for the relationship. During this phase, the
nurse and client get acquainted, boundaries are established, and expectations
are clarified. The working phase focuses on problem-solving and achieving
goals. The termination phase focuses on summarizing progress and saying
goodbye. The pre-interaction phase occurs before meeting the client and
involves self-examination by the nurse.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I was attacked last year, but I
honestly cannot remember any of the details." Which defense mechanism is
the client using?
A. Suppression
B. Repression
C. Denial
D. Projection
, B. Repression
Rationale: Repression is the unconscious exclusion of unpleasant or painful
experiences, feelings, or impulses from conscious awareness. The client's
inability to remember details of a traumatic event indicates repression.
Suppression is the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Denial involves refusing to acknowledge reality. Projection involves
attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who states, "The
government installed a microchip in my brain to control my thoughts." Which
response by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic technique of presenting
reality while maintaining empathy?
A. "That sounds frightening. I know the microchip is not real, but tell me more
about what you are experiencing."
B. "There is no microchip in your brain. That is just your illness talking."
C. "Have you discussed this delusion with your psychiatrist yet?"
D. "Many people with schizophrenia have similar thoughts about being
controlled."
A. "That sounds frightening. I know the microchip is not real, but tell me
more about what you are experiencing."
Rationale: This response validates the client's emotional experience ("sounds
frightening") while gently presenting reality ("the microchip is not real") and
encouraging further expression. Option B directly challenges and dismisses
the delusion, damaging trust. Option C deflects the conversation and suggests
the client should discuss it elsewhere. Option D normalizes the delusion
without presenting reality, potentially reinforcing the false belief.
7. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder who
states, "I don't see the point in living anymore." Which action should the
nurse prioritize?
Examination 100 Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified Answers)
Plus Rationales 2026 Q&A Instant
Download Pdf
1. 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 a list of three objects immediately after hearing
them
B. Instruct the client to count backward by 7 starting from 100
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event or personal past
experience
D. Have the client write a complete sentence about any topic
C. Ask the client to recall a significant historical event or personal past
experience
Rationale: Remote memory involves recalling past events and experiences
stored over a long period. Asking a client to repeat a list of objects
immediately assesses immediate memory, not remote memory. Counting
backward by 7 assesses cognitive ability and concentration, while writing a
sentence assesses language ability. Recalling a significant historical event or
personal past experience directly evaluates remote memory function, which is
a key component of the mental status examination in psychiatric nursing.
,2. 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 the
therapeutic communication technique of 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.
B. You are having difficulty sleeping?
Rationale: Restating involves repeating the main idea of what the client has
said using similar or identical words to convey understanding and encourage
further exploration. Option B restates the client's concern about sleep
difficulty. Option A uses a "why" question, which is nontherapeutic and can
make the client feel defensive. Option C demonstrates the technique of
clarification or exploring. Option D demonstrates empathy, which is a
different therapeutic technique. Restating validates the client's message
without adding interpretation.
3. 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
C. Denial
Rationale: Denial is the defense mechanism in which a person refuses to
acknowledge the reality of a painful or threatening situation, attributing
symptoms to a less serious cause. The client is refusing to accept the cancer
diagnosis by attributing the symptoms to a bad cold. Rationalization involves
creating logical explanations for unacceptable behavior. Repression is the
,unconscious exclusion of unpleasant experiences from conscious awareness.
Displacement redirects emotions from the original source to a safer substitute
target.
4. A psychiatric-mental health nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship
with a client. During which phase of the nurse-client relationship should the
nurse primarily focus on establishing trust and setting the framework for the
relationship?
A. Working phase
B. Orientation phase
C. Termination phase
D. Pre-interaction phase
B. Orientation phase
Rationale: The orientation phase is the first phase of the nurse-client
relationship, where the primary focus is on establishing trust, rapport, and
setting the contractual framework for the relationship. During this phase, the
nurse and client get acquainted, boundaries are established, and expectations
are clarified. The working phase focuses on problem-solving and achieving
goals. The termination phase focuses on summarizing progress and saying
goodbye. The pre-interaction phase occurs before meeting the client and
involves self-examination by the nurse.
5. A nurse is caring for a client who states, "I was attacked last year, but I
honestly cannot remember any of the details." Which defense mechanism is
the client using?
A. Suppression
B. Repression
C. Denial
D. Projection
, B. Repression
Rationale: Repression is the unconscious exclusion of unpleasant or painful
experiences, feelings, or impulses from conscious awareness. The client's
inability to remember details of a traumatic event indicates repression.
Suppression is the conscious exclusion of unacceptable thoughts or feelings.
Denial involves refusing to acknowledge reality. Projection involves
attributing one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.
6. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia who states, "The
government installed a microchip in my brain to control my thoughts." Which
response by the nurse demonstrates the therapeutic technique of presenting
reality while maintaining empathy?
A. "That sounds frightening. I know the microchip is not real, but tell me more
about what you are experiencing."
B. "There is no microchip in your brain. That is just your illness talking."
C. "Have you discussed this delusion with your psychiatrist yet?"
D. "Many people with schizophrenia have similar thoughts about being
controlled."
A. "That sounds frightening. I know the microchip is not real, but tell me
more about what you are experiencing."
Rationale: This response validates the client's emotional experience ("sounds
frightening") while gently presenting reality ("the microchip is not real") and
encouraging further expression. Option B directly challenges and dismisses
the delusion, damaging trust. Option C deflects the conversation and suggests
the client should discuss it elsewhere. Option D normalizes the delusion
without presenting reality, potentially reinforcing the false belief.
7. A nurse is caring for a client diagnosed with major depressive disorder who
states, "I don't see the point in living anymore." Which action should the
nurse prioritize?
