ATI Engage Mental Health RN:
Foundations of Mental Health Nursing -
Client and Mental Health Team Member
Safety: Legal & Ethical Considerations
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the nurse’s primary responsibility when a client expresses intent to harm themselves?
✔✔ Ensure the client's safety by initiating suicide precautions and notifying the healthcare
provider.
What should a nurse do if a client threatens to harm someone else?
✔✔ Report the threat immediately to the provider and the appropriate authorities following the
duty to warn principle.
What is the nurse's ethical duty when a client refuses psychiatric medication but is not a danger
to self or others?
✔✔ Respect the client's autonomy and document the refusal appropriately.
When can a nurse legally administer medication to a mental health client without their consent?
1
,✔✔ When the client is a danger to self or others and an emergency order is in place.
What action should the nurse take if a client voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility requests
discharge?
✔✔ Notify the provider immediately and assess the client’s safety before initiating discharge
procedures.
What legal document allows a client to designate a healthcare decision-maker during mental
health treatment?
✔✔ Psychiatric advance directive
What is the first step a nurse should take when witnessing verbal abuse from a staff member
toward a client?
✔✔ Report the behavior to the charge nurse or supervisor following facility policy.
What should the nurse do if a client reveals they were abused but asks the nurse to keep it a
secret?
✔✔ Explain the duty to report and notify the appropriate authorities.
2
, What ethical principle is the nurse applying by keeping a mental health client’s personal health
information confidential?
✔✔ Fidelity
What legal issue is involved when a nurse uses restraints on a client without proper
documentation or justification?
✔✔ False imprisonment
What must a nurse document after using seclusion or restraints on a client?
✔✔ The behavior leading to restraint, alternative actions attempted, and continuous assessments.
When is it appropriate for a nurse to breach confidentiality in mental health care?
✔✔ When there is a clear threat of harm to self or others.
What is the nurse’s legal obligation if a client with schizophrenia reports physical abuse by a
caregiver?
✔✔ Report the suspected abuse according to state-mandated reporting laws.
3
Foundations of Mental Health Nursing -
Client and Mental Health Team Member
Safety: Legal & Ethical Considerations
Questions and Answers | Latest Version
| 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the nurse’s primary responsibility when a client expresses intent to harm themselves?
✔✔ Ensure the client's safety by initiating suicide precautions and notifying the healthcare
provider.
What should a nurse do if a client threatens to harm someone else?
✔✔ Report the threat immediately to the provider and the appropriate authorities following the
duty to warn principle.
What is the nurse's ethical duty when a client refuses psychiatric medication but is not a danger
to self or others?
✔✔ Respect the client's autonomy and document the refusal appropriately.
When can a nurse legally administer medication to a mental health client without their consent?
1
,✔✔ When the client is a danger to self or others and an emergency order is in place.
What action should the nurse take if a client voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric facility requests
discharge?
✔✔ Notify the provider immediately and assess the client’s safety before initiating discharge
procedures.
What legal document allows a client to designate a healthcare decision-maker during mental
health treatment?
✔✔ Psychiatric advance directive
What is the first step a nurse should take when witnessing verbal abuse from a staff member
toward a client?
✔✔ Report the behavior to the charge nurse or supervisor following facility policy.
What should the nurse do if a client reveals they were abused but asks the nurse to keep it a
secret?
✔✔ Explain the duty to report and notify the appropriate authorities.
2
, What ethical principle is the nurse applying by keeping a mental health client’s personal health
information confidential?
✔✔ Fidelity
What legal issue is involved when a nurse uses restraints on a client without proper
documentation or justification?
✔✔ False imprisonment
What must a nurse document after using seclusion or restraints on a client?
✔✔ The behavior leading to restraint, alternative actions attempted, and continuous assessments.
When is it appropriate for a nurse to breach confidentiality in mental health care?
✔✔ When there is a clear threat of harm to self or others.
What is the nurse’s legal obligation if a client with schizophrenia reports physical abuse by a
caregiver?
✔✔ Report the suspected abuse according to state-mandated reporting laws.
3
