HESI PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH TEST
BANK 2025 ACTUAL EXAM 300 REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
S
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist with accurate documentation later. Which
statement is most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and allows the client speak at normal pace. -
ANSWER****A
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a
depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which comparison of the client's
behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others. - ANSWER****B
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a victim of
intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
,D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children - ANSWER****B C D
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at
the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The two trade places, and the nurse
demonstrate the client's behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.) - ANSWER****B
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, and declines activities. Which nursing problem
has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem. - ANSWER****C
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the client
discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should also be discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia). - ANSWER****B
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy between the client's verbal and
nonverbal communication. What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages.
,D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one. - ANSWER****A
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice, saying "My
roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he loses his temper one
more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that the client is using which
defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting. - ANSWER****B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is complaining of
excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which
intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ANSWER****A
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using disulfiram
(Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user. - ANSWER****B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly stopping his
prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is most important for the RN to
ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
, C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear? - ANSWER****D
On admission to a residential care facility, an elderly female client tells the nurse that she enjoys
cooking, quilting, and watching television. Twenty-fours after admission, the nurse notes that the client
is withdrawn and isolated. It is best for the nurse to encourage this client to become involved in which
activity?
A) Clean the unit kitchen cabinets.
B) Participate in a group quilting project.
C) Watch television in the activity room.
D) Bake a cake for a resident's birthday. - ANSWER****B
A male adolescent is admitted with bipolar disorder after being released from jail for assault with a
deadly weapon. When the nurse asks the teen to identify his reason for the assault, he replies, "Because
he made me mad!" Which goal is best for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care? The client will
A) outline methods for managing anger.
B) control impulsive actions toward self and others.
C) verbalize feelings when anger occurs.
D) recognize consequences for behaviors exhibited. - ANSWER****B
A 35-year-old male client who has been hospitalized for two weeks for chronic paranoia continues to
state that someone is trying to steal his clothing. Which action should the nurse implement?
A) Encourage the client to actively participate in assigned activities on the unit.
B) Place a lock on the client's closet.
C) Ignore the client's paranoid ideation to extinguish these behaviors.
D) Explain to the client that his suspicions are false. - ANSWER****A
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful and
states, "I just feel so nervous all of the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I haven't been
able to sleep at night and have hardly eaten for the past 3 or 4 days." The nurse should initiate a referral
based on which assessment?
BANK 2025 ACTUAL EXAM 300 REAL
EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES
S
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist with accurate documentation later. Which
statement is most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and allows the client speak at normal pace. -
ANSWER****A
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a
depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which comparison of the client's
behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others. - ANSWER****B
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a victim of
intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
,D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children - ANSWER****B C D
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at
the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The two trade places, and the nurse
demonstrate the client's behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.) - ANSWER****B
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, and declines activities. Which nursing problem
has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem. - ANSWER****C
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the client
discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should also be discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia). - ANSWER****B
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the admission
assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy between the client's verbal and
nonverbal communication. What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages.
,D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one. - ANSWER****A
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice, saying "My
roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he loses his temper one
more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that the client is using which
defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting. - ANSWER****B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is complaining of
excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which
intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ANSWER****A
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using disulfiram
(Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user. - ANSWER****B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly stopping his
prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is most important for the RN to
ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
, C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear? - ANSWER****D
On admission to a residential care facility, an elderly female client tells the nurse that she enjoys
cooking, quilting, and watching television. Twenty-fours after admission, the nurse notes that the client
is withdrawn and isolated. It is best for the nurse to encourage this client to become involved in which
activity?
A) Clean the unit kitchen cabinets.
B) Participate in a group quilting project.
C) Watch television in the activity room.
D) Bake a cake for a resident's birthday. - ANSWER****B
A male adolescent is admitted with bipolar disorder after being released from jail for assault with a
deadly weapon. When the nurse asks the teen to identify his reason for the assault, he replies, "Because
he made me mad!" Which goal is best for the nurse to include in the client's plan of care? The client will
A) outline methods for managing anger.
B) control impulsive actions toward self and others.
C) verbalize feelings when anger occurs.
D) recognize consequences for behaviors exhibited. - ANSWER****B
A 35-year-old male client who has been hospitalized for two weeks for chronic paranoia continues to
state that someone is trying to steal his clothing. Which action should the nurse implement?
A) Encourage the client to actively participate in assigned activities on the unit.
B) Place a lock on the client's closet.
C) Ignore the client's paranoid ideation to extinguish these behaviors.
D) Explain to the client that his suspicions are false. - ANSWER****A
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful and
states, "I just feel so nervous all of the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I haven't been
able to sleep at night and have hardly eaten for the past 3 or 4 days." The nurse should initiate a referral
based on which assessment?
