ATI RN Mental Health with NGN/ Knowledge test
Questions with Correct Answers/ Updated 2024-
2025.
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objec - ANSWER - D. "To assess
remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remote,
memory.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is
appropriate to include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ANSWER - D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
pg. 1
,A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. When
conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ANSWER - *B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.*
A. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
B. Assessment is the priority action when taking the nursing process approach. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial
history.
C. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
D. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the client, which
of the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
ANSWER - *A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.*
A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B. <7 on GCS indicates comatose, not stuporous, level of consciousness.
C. Abnormal posturing = comatose.
D. Stuporous /= alert.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). Which of the following is appropriate to include in the discussion? (SATA)
pg. 2
,A. The DSM-5 is used to identify mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
ANSWER - A, B, D, E.
The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool, establishes diagnostic criteria, used by nurses to plan, implement,
and evaluate care, and identifies expected findings for mental health disorders.
It does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
Which of the following is an example of a client who requires emergency admission to a mental health
facility?
A. A client with schizophrenia who has frequent hallucinations.
B. A client with symptoms of depression who attempted suicide a year ago.
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
D. A client with bipolar disorder who paces quickly down the sidewalk while talking to himself.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Ex - ANSWER - C. A client with borderline
personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Hallucinations, depression, and/or pacing does not constitute clear reason for emergency commitment.
A client tells a student nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to holding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
C. - ANSWER - C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others.
pg. 3
, The information cannot be kept confidential and the client must be informed that this will be reported to
the health care staff.
• This is a serious safety issue that must be reported to the staff. Using the principle of veracity, the
student tells this client truthfully what must be done regarding the issue.
A nurse decides to put a client who has psychosis in seclusion overnight because the unit is very
shortstaffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. This is an example of:
A. beneficence.
B. a tort.
C. a facility policy.
D. justice.
ANSWER - B. a tort.
Beneficence: doing good for a client.
Tort: a civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights.
If a policy, the facility would be in violation of federal and state statute, and the nurse could be held
responsible.
Justice: action involving the fair and equal treatment of clients.
A nurse is caring for a client in restraints. Which of the following statements are appropriate
documentation? (SATA)
A. " Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel."
pg. 4
Questions with Correct Answers/ Updated 2024-
2025.
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objec - ANSWER - D. "To assess
remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remote,
memory.
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is
appropriate to include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ANSWER - D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
pg. 1
,A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. When
conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ANSWER - *B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.*
A. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
B. Assessment is the priority action when taking the nursing process approach. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information about the client's psychosocial
history.
C. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
D. Appropriate, but not highest priority.
A nurse is told during change-of-shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the client, which
of the following is an expected finding?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.
B. The client has a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
ANSWER - *A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rib.*
A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response.
B. <7 on GCS indicates comatose, not stuporous, level of consciousness.
C. Abnormal posturing = comatose.
D. Stuporous /= alert.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). Which of the following is appropriate to include in the discussion? (SATA)
pg. 2
,A. The DSM-5 is used to identify mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings.
ANSWER - A, B, D, E.
The DSM-5 is used as a diagnostic tool, establishes diagnostic criteria, used by nurses to plan, implement,
and evaluate care, and identifies expected findings for mental health disorders.
It does not indicate pharmacological treatment.
Which of the following is an example of a client who requires emergency admission to a mental health
facility?
A. A client with schizophrenia who has frequent hallucinations.
B. A client with symptoms of depression who attempted suicide a year ago.
C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
D. A client with bipolar disorder who paces quickly down the sidewalk while talking to himself.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 2 Application Ex - ANSWER - C. A client with borderline
personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Hallucinations, depression, and/or pacing does not constitute clear reason for emergency commitment.
A client tells a student nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the
following actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to holding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
C. - ANSWER - C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others.
pg. 3
, The information cannot be kept confidential and the client must be informed that this will be reported to
the health care staff.
• This is a serious safety issue that must be reported to the staff. Using the principle of veracity, the
student tells this client truthfully what must be done regarding the issue.
A nurse decides to put a client who has psychosis in seclusion overnight because the unit is very
shortstaffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. This is an example of:
A. beneficence.
B. a tort.
C. a facility policy.
D. justice.
ANSWER - B. a tort.
Beneficence: doing good for a client.
Tort: a civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights.
If a policy, the facility would be in violation of federal and state statute, and the nurse could be held
responsible.
Justice: action involving the fair and equal treatment of clients.
A nurse is caring for a client in restraints. Which of the following statements are appropriate
documentation? (SATA)
A. " Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel."
pg. 4
