ATI MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE EXAM
GUIDE
A client with paranoid personality disorder is admitted to a psychiatric facility.
Which remark by the nurse would best establish rapport and encourage the client
to confide in the nurse?
A) "I get upset once in a while, too."
B) "I know just how you feel. I'd feel the same way in your situation."
C) "I worry, too, when I think people are talking about me."
D) "At times, it's normal not to trust anyone."
Sharing a benign, nonthreatening, personal fact or feeling helps the nurse establish
rapport and encourages the client to confide in the nurse. The nurse can't know how the
client feels. Telling the client otherwise, as in option B, would justify the suspicions of a
paranoid client; furthermore, the client relies on the nurse to interpret reality. Option C is
incorrect because it focuses on the nurse's feelings, not the client's. Option D wouldn't
help establish rapport or encourage the clientto confide in the nurse.
A client with paranoid schizophrenia repeatedly uses profanity during an activity
therapysession. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A) "Your behavior won't be tolerated. Go to your room immediately."
B) "You're just doing this to get back at me for making you come to therapy."
C) "Your cursing is interrupting the activity. Take time out in your room for 10
minutes."
D) "I'm disappointed in you. You can't control yourself even for a few minutes."
The nurse should set limits on client behavior to ensure a comfortable environment for
all clients. The nurse should accept hostile or quarrelsome client outbursts within limits
,without becoming personally offended, as in option A. Option B is incorrect because it
implies that the client's actions reflect feelings toward the staff instead of the client's
own misery. Judgmental remarks, such as option D, may decrease the client's self-
esteem.
The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia. Which of the following
outcomes is the least desirable?
A) The client spends more time by himself
B) The client doesn't engage in delusional thinking
C) The client doesn't harm himself or others
D) The client demonstrates ability to meet his own self-care needs
The client with schizophrenia is commonly socially isolated and withdrawn; therefore,
having the client spend more time by himself wouldn't be a desirable outcome. Rather, a
desirable outcome would specify that the client spend more time with other clients and
staff on the unit. Delusions are false personal beliefs. Reducing or eliminating
delusional thinking using talking therapy and antipsychotic medications would be a
desirable outcome. Protecting the client and others from harm is a desirable client
outcome achieved by close observation, removing any dangerous objects, and
administering medications. Because the client with schizophrenia may have difficulty
meeting his or her own self-care needs, fostering the ability to perform self-care
independently is a desirable client outcome.
The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired verbal communication for
a clientwith schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis,
which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A) Helping the client to participate in social
interactions B) Establishing a one-on-one
,relationship with the client
C) Establishing alternative forms of communication
D) Allowing the client to decide when he wants to participate in verbal
communicationwith the nurse
By establishing a one-on-one relationship, the nurse helps the client learn how to interact with
people in new situations. The other options are appropriate but should take place only after
the nurse-client relationship is established.
Since admission 4 days ago, a client has refused to take a shower, stating,
"There are poison crystals hidden in the showerhead. They'll kill me if I take a
shower." Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Dismantling the showerhead and showing the client that there is nothing in it
B) Explaining that other clients are complaining about the client's body odor
C) Asking a security officer to assist in giving the client a shower
D) Accepting these fears and allowing the client to take a sponge bath
, By acknowledging the client's fears, the nurse can arrange to meet the client's hygiene
needs in another way. Because these fears are real to the client, providing a
demonstration of reality (as in option A) wouldn't be effective at this time. Options B and
C would violate the client's rights byshaming or embarrassing the client.
Drug therapy with thioridazine (Mellaril) shouldn't exceed a daily dose of 800 mg to prevent
which adverse reaction?
A) Hypertension
B) Respiratory arrest
C) Tourette
Syndrome D) Retinal
pigmentation
Retinal pigmentation may occur if the thioridazine dosage exceeds 800 mg per day. The other
options don't occur as a result of exceeding this dose.
How soon after chlorpromazine (Thorazine) administration should the nurse expect to see a
client's delusional thoughts and hallucinations eliminated?
A) Several minutes
B) Several hours
C) Several days
D) Several
weeks
GUIDE
A client with paranoid personality disorder is admitted to a psychiatric facility.
Which remark by the nurse would best establish rapport and encourage the client
to confide in the nurse?
A) "I get upset once in a while, too."
B) "I know just how you feel. I'd feel the same way in your situation."
C) "I worry, too, when I think people are talking about me."
D) "At times, it's normal not to trust anyone."
Sharing a benign, nonthreatening, personal fact or feeling helps the nurse establish
rapport and encourages the client to confide in the nurse. The nurse can't know how the
client feels. Telling the client otherwise, as in option B, would justify the suspicions of a
paranoid client; furthermore, the client relies on the nurse to interpret reality. Option C is
incorrect because it focuses on the nurse's feelings, not the client's. Option D wouldn't
help establish rapport or encourage the clientto confide in the nurse.
A client with paranoid schizophrenia repeatedly uses profanity during an activity
therapysession. Which response by the nurse would be most appropriate?
A) "Your behavior won't be tolerated. Go to your room immediately."
B) "You're just doing this to get back at me for making you come to therapy."
C) "Your cursing is interrupting the activity. Take time out in your room for 10
minutes."
D) "I'm disappointed in you. You can't control yourself even for a few minutes."
The nurse should set limits on client behavior to ensure a comfortable environment for
all clients. The nurse should accept hostile or quarrelsome client outbursts within limits
,without becoming personally offended, as in option A. Option B is incorrect because it
implies that the client's actions reflect feelings toward the staff instead of the client's
own misery. Judgmental remarks, such as option D, may decrease the client's self-
esteem.
The nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia. Which of the following
outcomes is the least desirable?
A) The client spends more time by himself
B) The client doesn't engage in delusional thinking
C) The client doesn't harm himself or others
D) The client demonstrates ability to meet his own self-care needs
The client with schizophrenia is commonly socially isolated and withdrawn; therefore,
having the client spend more time by himself wouldn't be a desirable outcome. Rather, a
desirable outcome would specify that the client spend more time with other clients and
staff on the unit. Delusions are false personal beliefs. Reducing or eliminating
delusional thinking using talking therapy and antipsychotic medications would be a
desirable outcome. Protecting the client and others from harm is a desirable client
outcome achieved by close observation, removing any dangerous objects, and
administering medications. Because the client with schizophrenia may have difficulty
meeting his or her own self-care needs, fostering the ability to perform self-care
independently is a desirable client outcome.
The nurse formulates a nursing diagnosis of Impaired verbal communication for
a clientwith schizotypal personality disorder. Based on this nursing diagnosis,
which nursing intervention is most appropriate?
A) Helping the client to participate in social
interactions B) Establishing a one-on-one
,relationship with the client
C) Establishing alternative forms of communication
D) Allowing the client to decide when he wants to participate in verbal
communicationwith the nurse
By establishing a one-on-one relationship, the nurse helps the client learn how to interact with
people in new situations. The other options are appropriate but should take place only after
the nurse-client relationship is established.
Since admission 4 days ago, a client has refused to take a shower, stating,
"There are poison crystals hidden in the showerhead. They'll kill me if I take a
shower." Which nursing action is most appropriate?
A) Dismantling the showerhead and showing the client that there is nothing in it
B) Explaining that other clients are complaining about the client's body odor
C) Asking a security officer to assist in giving the client a shower
D) Accepting these fears and allowing the client to take a sponge bath
, By acknowledging the client's fears, the nurse can arrange to meet the client's hygiene
needs in another way. Because these fears are real to the client, providing a
demonstration of reality (as in option A) wouldn't be effective at this time. Options B and
C would violate the client's rights byshaming or embarrassing the client.
Drug therapy with thioridazine (Mellaril) shouldn't exceed a daily dose of 800 mg to prevent
which adverse reaction?
A) Hypertension
B) Respiratory arrest
C) Tourette
Syndrome D) Retinal
pigmentation
Retinal pigmentation may occur if the thioridazine dosage exceeds 800 mg per day. The other
options don't occur as a result of exceeding this dose.
How soon after chlorpromazine (Thorazine) administration should the nurse expect to see a
client's delusional thoughts and hallucinations eliminated?
A) Several minutes
B) Several hours
C) Several days
D) Several
weeks
