HESI RN Exit Exam Version 5 –
2026 Latest Update: Complete
160 Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales (Verified
Answers – Already Graded A+)
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
1. The nurse has just admitted a client with severe
depression. From which focus should the nurse
identify a priority nursing diagnosis?
A. Nutrition
B. Elimination
C. Activity
D. Safety
Ans: D. Safety
Rationale: Safety is the priority nursing diagnosis for a
client with severe depression because of the risk for self-
harm or suicide.
2. The nurse is reviewing a depressed client's history
from an earlier admission. Documentation of
anhedonia is noted. The nurse understands that this
finding refers to:
A. Reports of difficulty falling and staying asleep
B. Expression of persistent suicidal thoughts
C. Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures
D. Reduced sensory input
Ans: C. Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures
Rationale: Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure
from activities usually found enjoyable.
3. While assessing a client in an outpatient facility
with a panic disorder, the nurse completes a thorough
health history and physical exam. Which finding is
most significant for this client?
1
,A. Compulsive behavior
B. Sense of impending doom
C. Fear of flying
D. Predictable episodes
Ans: B. Sense of impending doom
Rationale: A sense of impending doom is a hallmark
symptom of panic disorder.
4. A client was admitted to the psychiatric unit after
complaining to her friends and family that neighbors
have bugged her home in order to hear all of her
business. She remains aloof from other clients, paces
the floor, and believes that the hospital is a house of
torture. Nursing interventions for the client should
appropriately focus on efforts to:
A. Convince the client that the hospital staff is trying to help
B. Help the client to enter into group recreational activities
C. Provide positive experiences to slowly build trust
D. Encourage the client to express feelings
Ans: C. Provide positive experiences to slowly build trust
Rationale: The client is exhibiting paranoid delusions.
Building trust through positive, consistent experiences is the
priority.
5. On admission to the psychiatric unit, the client is
trembling and appears fearful. The nurse's initial
response should be to:
A. Give the client orientation materials and review the unit
rules and regulations
B. Introduce him/herself and accompany the client to the
client's room
C. Take the client to the day room and introduce her to the
other clients
D. Ask the nursing assistant to get the client's vital signs and
complete the admission search
Ans: B. Introduce him/herself and accompany the client to
the client's room
Rationale: This response provides a calm, supportive
introduction and reduces anxiety by orienting the client to
the environment gradually.
2
,6. A 16-year-old client is admitted to a psychiatric unit
with a diagnosis of attempted suicide. The nurse is
aware that the most frequent cause for suicide in
adolescents is:
A. Progressive failure to adapt
B. Feelings of anger or hostility
C. Reunion wish or fantasy
D. Feelings of alienation or isolation
Ans: D. Feelings of alienation or isolation
Rationale: Feelings of alienation and isolation are the most
common factors associated with adolescent suicide.
7. A client with schizophrenia is receiving Haloperidol
(Haldol) 5 mg t.i.d. The client's family is alarmed and
calls the clinic when "his eyes rolled upward." The
nurse recognizes this as what type of side effect?
A. Oculogyric crisis
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Nystagmus
D. Dysphagia
Ans: A. Oculogyric crisis
Rationale: Oculogyric crisis is an acute dystonic reaction
characterized by involuntary upward deviation of the eyes,
commonly caused by antipsychotic medications.
8. A client complained of nausea, a metallic taste in
her mouth, and fine hand tremors 2 hours after her
first dose of lithium carbonate (Lithane). What is the
nurse's best explanation of these findings?
A. These side effects are common and should subside in a
few days
B. The client is probably having an allergic reaction and
should discontinue the drug
C. Taking the lithium on an empty stomach should decrease
these symptoms
D. Decreasing dietary intake of sodium and fluids should
minimize the side effects
3
, Ans: A. These side effects are common and should subside
in a few days
Rationale: Nausea, metallic taste, and fine hand tremors
are common early side effects of lithium that typically
subside with continued use.
9. A priority goal of involuntary hospitalization of the
severely mentally ill client is:
A. Re-orientation to reality
B. Elimination of symptoms
C. Protection from harm to self or others
D. Return to independent functioning
Ans: C. Protection from harm to self or others
Rationale: The primary goal of involuntary hospitalization is
safety—protecting the client and others from harm.
10. Which response by the nurse would best assist
the chemically impaired client to deal with issues of
guilt?
A. "Addiction usually causes people to feel guilty. Don't
worry, it is a typical response due to your drinking behavior."
B. "What have you done that you feel most guilty about and
what steps can you begin to take to help you lessen this
guilt?"
C. "Don't focus on your guilty feelings. These feelings will
only lead you to drinking and taking drugs."
D. "You've caused a great deal of pain to your family and
close friends, so it will take time to undo all the things you've
done."
Ans: B. "What have you done that you feel most guilty about
and what steps can you begin to take to help you lessen this
guilt?"
Rationale: This response encourages the client to explore
feelings and identify constructive steps, which is therapeutic.
11. A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident.
Which statement used by the client would indicate to
the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of
"suppression"?
4
2026 Latest Update: Complete
160 Questions with Correct
Answers & Rationales (Verified
Answers – Already Graded A+)
Psychiatric & Mental Health Nursing
1. The nurse has just admitted a client with severe
depression. From which focus should the nurse
identify a priority nursing diagnosis?
A. Nutrition
B. Elimination
C. Activity
D. Safety
Ans: D. Safety
Rationale: Safety is the priority nursing diagnosis for a
client with severe depression because of the risk for self-
harm or suicide.
2. The nurse is reviewing a depressed client's history
from an earlier admission. Documentation of
anhedonia is noted. The nurse understands that this
finding refers to:
A. Reports of difficulty falling and staying asleep
B. Expression of persistent suicidal thoughts
C. Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures
D. Reduced sensory input
Ans: C. Lack of enjoyment in usual pleasures
Rationale: Anhedonia is the inability to experience pleasure
from activities usually found enjoyable.
3. While assessing a client in an outpatient facility
with a panic disorder, the nurse completes a thorough
health history and physical exam. Which finding is
most significant for this client?
1
,A. Compulsive behavior
B. Sense of impending doom
C. Fear of flying
D. Predictable episodes
Ans: B. Sense of impending doom
Rationale: A sense of impending doom is a hallmark
symptom of panic disorder.
4. A client was admitted to the psychiatric unit after
complaining to her friends and family that neighbors
have bugged her home in order to hear all of her
business. She remains aloof from other clients, paces
the floor, and believes that the hospital is a house of
torture. Nursing interventions for the client should
appropriately focus on efforts to:
A. Convince the client that the hospital staff is trying to help
B. Help the client to enter into group recreational activities
C. Provide positive experiences to slowly build trust
D. Encourage the client to express feelings
Ans: C. Provide positive experiences to slowly build trust
Rationale: The client is exhibiting paranoid delusions.
Building trust through positive, consistent experiences is the
priority.
5. On admission to the psychiatric unit, the client is
trembling and appears fearful. The nurse's initial
response should be to:
A. Give the client orientation materials and review the unit
rules and regulations
B. Introduce him/herself and accompany the client to the
client's room
C. Take the client to the day room and introduce her to the
other clients
D. Ask the nursing assistant to get the client's vital signs and
complete the admission search
Ans: B. Introduce him/herself and accompany the client to
the client's room
Rationale: This response provides a calm, supportive
introduction and reduces anxiety by orienting the client to
the environment gradually.
2
,6. A 16-year-old client is admitted to a psychiatric unit
with a diagnosis of attempted suicide. The nurse is
aware that the most frequent cause for suicide in
adolescents is:
A. Progressive failure to adapt
B. Feelings of anger or hostility
C. Reunion wish or fantasy
D. Feelings of alienation or isolation
Ans: D. Feelings of alienation or isolation
Rationale: Feelings of alienation and isolation are the most
common factors associated with adolescent suicide.
7. A client with schizophrenia is receiving Haloperidol
(Haldol) 5 mg t.i.d. The client's family is alarmed and
calls the clinic when "his eyes rolled upward." The
nurse recognizes this as what type of side effect?
A. Oculogyric crisis
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Nystagmus
D. Dysphagia
Ans: A. Oculogyric crisis
Rationale: Oculogyric crisis is an acute dystonic reaction
characterized by involuntary upward deviation of the eyes,
commonly caused by antipsychotic medications.
8. A client complained of nausea, a metallic taste in
her mouth, and fine hand tremors 2 hours after her
first dose of lithium carbonate (Lithane). What is the
nurse's best explanation of these findings?
A. These side effects are common and should subside in a
few days
B. The client is probably having an allergic reaction and
should discontinue the drug
C. Taking the lithium on an empty stomach should decrease
these symptoms
D. Decreasing dietary intake of sodium and fluids should
minimize the side effects
3
, Ans: A. These side effects are common and should subside
in a few days
Rationale: Nausea, metallic taste, and fine hand tremors
are common early side effects of lithium that typically
subside with continued use.
9. A priority goal of involuntary hospitalization of the
severely mentally ill client is:
A. Re-orientation to reality
B. Elimination of symptoms
C. Protection from harm to self or others
D. Return to independent functioning
Ans: C. Protection from harm to self or others
Rationale: The primary goal of involuntary hospitalization is
safety—protecting the client and others from harm.
10. Which response by the nurse would best assist
the chemically impaired client to deal with issues of
guilt?
A. "Addiction usually causes people to feel guilty. Don't
worry, it is a typical response due to your drinking behavior."
B. "What have you done that you feel most guilty about and
what steps can you begin to take to help you lessen this
guilt?"
C. "Don't focus on your guilty feelings. These feelings will
only lead you to drinking and taking drugs."
D. "You've caused a great deal of pain to your family and
close friends, so it will take time to undo all the things you've
done."
Ans: B. "What have you done that you feel most guilty about
and what steps can you begin to take to help you lessen this
guilt?"
Rationale: This response encourages the client to explore
feelings and identify constructive steps, which is therapeutic.
11. A 19-year-old client is paralyzed in a car accident.
Which statement used by the client would indicate to
the nurse that the client was using the mechanism of
"suppression"?
4
