HESI RN Mental Health EXAM 2024-2025 QUESTIONS
and ANSWERS
A LPN/LVN employed in a mental health unit of a hospital is the leader of a group
psychotherapy session. The nurse's role in the termination stage of group development is to:
A. Encourage problem solving
B. Encourage accomplishment of the group's work
C. Acknowledge the contributions of each group member
D. Encourage members to become acquainted with one another - ANSWER>>C. Acknowledge
the contributions of each group member
A male client with delirium becomes disoriented and confused in his room at night. The best
initial nursing intervention is to:
A. Move the client next to the nurse's station
B. Use an indirect light source and turn off the television
C. Keep the television and a soft light on during the night
D. Play soft music during the night and maintain a well-lit room - ANSWER>>B. Use an indirect
light source and turn off the television
A client is admitted to a medical nursing unit with a diagnosis of acute blindness, many tests are
performed, and there seems to be no organic reason why this client cannot see. The client
became blind after witnessing a hit-and-run car accident, when a family of three was killed. A
LPN/LVN suspects that the client may be experiencing:
A. Psychosis
B. Repression
C. Conversion Disorder
D. Dissociative Disorder - ANSWER>>C. Conversion Disorder
A manic client announces to everyone in the day room that a stripper is coming to perform this
evening. When a nurse firmly state that this is inappropriate and will not happen, the client
becomes verbally abusive and threatens physical violence to the nurse. Based on the analysis of
the situation, the LPN/LVN determines that the appropriate action would be to:
A. Orient the client to time, person, and place
B. Tell the client that behavior is inappropriate.
C. Escort the manic client to her room with assistance
,D. Tell the client that smoking privileges are revoked for 24 hours - ANSWER>>C. Escort the
manic client to her room with assistance
A LPN/LVN observes that a client is pacing, agitated, and presenting aggressive gestures. The
client's speech pattern is rapid and affect is belligerent. Based on these observations, the
nurse's immediate priority of care is to:
A. Provide safety for the client and other clients on the unit
B. Provide the clients on the unit with a sense of comfort and safety
C. Assist the staff in caring for the client in a controlled environment
D. Offer the client a less stimulated area to calm down and gain control - ANSWER>>A. Provide
safety for the client and other clients on the unit
A patient with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died! I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response
demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You have everything to live for."
B. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
C. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
D. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - ANSWER>>D. "You've been feeling like a
failure for a while?"
When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept
the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication
response to this patient?
A. "I see."
B. "Really?"
C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - ANSWER>>C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is has been poisoned.
Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
,C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ANSWER>>A. Using open-
ended questions and silence
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at
the locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong
here." What defense mechanism is the patient implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ANSWER>>A. Denial
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the
one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
D. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis." -
ANSWER>>C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary. Based on this
information, the nurse anticipates which patient's behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - ANSWER>>D. A
willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for the treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released
from the hospital. Which action should the nurse take initially?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
, C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - ANSWER>>A.
Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a patient was admitted to the
mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide
which intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was needed. -
ANSWER>>A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship.
The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes - ANSWER>>B. Making appropriate referrals
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a neighbor in a local grocery store.
The neighbors ask the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best friend and is seen at your
clinic every week." Which is the most appropriate nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and deserves her privacy." -
ANSWER>>A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the following as therapeutic
communication techniques? (Select all that apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
and ANSWERS
A LPN/LVN employed in a mental health unit of a hospital is the leader of a group
psychotherapy session. The nurse's role in the termination stage of group development is to:
A. Encourage problem solving
B. Encourage accomplishment of the group's work
C. Acknowledge the contributions of each group member
D. Encourage members to become acquainted with one another - ANSWER>>C. Acknowledge
the contributions of each group member
A male client with delirium becomes disoriented and confused in his room at night. The best
initial nursing intervention is to:
A. Move the client next to the nurse's station
B. Use an indirect light source and turn off the television
C. Keep the television and a soft light on during the night
D. Play soft music during the night and maintain a well-lit room - ANSWER>>B. Use an indirect
light source and turn off the television
A client is admitted to a medical nursing unit with a diagnosis of acute blindness, many tests are
performed, and there seems to be no organic reason why this client cannot see. The client
became blind after witnessing a hit-and-run car accident, when a family of three was killed. A
LPN/LVN suspects that the client may be experiencing:
A. Psychosis
B. Repression
C. Conversion Disorder
D. Dissociative Disorder - ANSWER>>C. Conversion Disorder
A manic client announces to everyone in the day room that a stripper is coming to perform this
evening. When a nurse firmly state that this is inappropriate and will not happen, the client
becomes verbally abusive and threatens physical violence to the nurse. Based on the analysis of
the situation, the LPN/LVN determines that the appropriate action would be to:
A. Orient the client to time, person, and place
B. Tell the client that behavior is inappropriate.
C. Escort the manic client to her room with assistance
,D. Tell the client that smoking privileges are revoked for 24 hours - ANSWER>>C. Escort the
manic client to her room with assistance
A LPN/LVN observes that a client is pacing, agitated, and presenting aggressive gestures. The
client's speech pattern is rapid and affect is belligerent. Based on these observations, the
nurse's immediate priority of care is to:
A. Provide safety for the client and other clients on the unit
B. Provide the clients on the unit with a sense of comfort and safety
C. Assist the staff in caring for the client in a controlled environment
D. Offer the client a less stimulated area to calm down and gain control - ANSWER>>A. Provide
safety for the client and other clients on the unit
A patient with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I
should have died! I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response
demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. "You have everything to live for."
B. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
C. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
D. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - ANSWER>>D. "You've been feeling like a
failure for a while?"
When the community health nurse visits a patient at home, the patient states, "I haven't slept
the last couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication
response to this patient?
A. "I see."
B. "Really?"
C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
D. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - ANSWER>>C. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is has been poisoned.
Which communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
,C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ANSWER>>A. Using open-
ended questions and silence
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at
the locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong
here." What defense mechanism is the patient implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ANSWER>>A. Denial
A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I wish my
family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the
one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
D. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis." -
ANSWER>>C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary. Based on this
information, the nurse anticipates which patient's behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - ANSWER>>D. A
willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for the treatment of an anxiety disorder demands to be released
from the hospital. Which action should the nurse take initially?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
, C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. - ANSWER>>A.
Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a patient was admitted to the
mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide
which intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was needed. -
ANSWER>>A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient relationship.
The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes - ANSWER>>B. Making appropriate referrals
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a neighbor in a local grocery store.
The neighbors ask the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best friend and is seen at your
clinic every week." Which is the most appropriate nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and deserves her privacy." -
ANSWER>>A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the following as therapeutic
communication techniques? (Select all that apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
