HESI MENTAL HEALTH 2025/2026
QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A man who has been admitted numerous times for alcohol detoxification is found
wandering in the street and is unable to identify himself or his home address. He is
manifesting ataxia, nystagmus, and confusion and has a blood alcohol level (BAL)
of 0.29%. Which prescribed medication should the practical nurse (PN) administer
to prevent Korsakoff's psychosis?
A. Thiamine
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Glucose solution
D. Haloperidol (Haldol) - ANSWER-A. Thiamine
Rationale:
A BAL greater than 0.20% depresses the entire motor area of brain causing the
client to stagger, lose conscious control of reason, and react in an unpredictable
manner. The client's confusion and alcohol tolerance causing Wernicke's
encephalopathy places the client at risk for Korsakoff's psychosis, a form of
amnesia characterized by loss of short-term memory and precipitated by acute
abstinence. Thiamine deficiency causes Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndromes, so
thiamine (B) should be administered. (B,C,D) may be indicated during withdrawal
but do not prevent alcoholic encephalopathies.
An older client who is hospitalized with pneumonia becomes disoriented and
confused 2 days after admission. Which factor should the practical nurse (PN)
identify to differentiate that the client is experiencing delirium, not dementia?
,A. impaired memory
B. clear awareness of surrounding
C. unrelated to specific cause
D. acute onset of symptoms - ANSWER-D. acute onset of symptoms
rationale:
Delirium has an acute onset (D) characterized by a reduced level of consciousness,
not (B), disturbed sleep-wake patterns, disorientation and perceptual problems, and
is often associated with drug cumulative effects, a medical condition, or
hospitalization, not (C). Dementia has a slow, insidious onset of symptoms, which
include impaired memory (A) with loss of abstract thinking, judgment, language
and motor skills and is often not reversible.
Which finding should the practical nurse (PN) report immediately when talking
with a new mother who is diagnosed with postpartum depression with psychotic
features?
A. thoughts of harming her infant
B. personal hygiene
C. outbursts of anger
D. disinterest in her husband - ANSWER-A. thoughts of harming her infant
rationale:
thoughts of harming her infant (A) is consistent with postpartum depression and
should be reported immediately. Although (B,C,D) may occur in postpartum
depression, the major concern is the potential of harm to herself or to her infant.
,During a prenatal visit, a client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells
the practical nurse (PN) that she is using cocaine. What information about cocaine
is most important for the PN to provide the client?
A. CNS stimulants increase fetal heart rate and intrauterine movement
B. Eat foods high in iron and protein if a decrease in appetite occurs
C. Counseling should be sought to learn alternative coping behaviors
D. Cocaine can cause miscarriage or premature onset of labor - ANSWER-D.
Cocaine can cause miscarriage or premature onset of labor
rationale:
Cocaine, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, use during pregnancy (D)
increases the risk of uterine tonicity and preterm labor, which can result in
miscarriage (D), abruptio placentae, and stillbirth. Although the client should
understand other factors about cocaine use in pregnancy (A,B,C), the most
important information is the risk of premature birth.
Which part of the client's plan of care is the practical nurse (PN) implementing
when plans are used to increase a male client's participation in his own care and
social environment?
A. client autonomy
B. the therapeutic community
C. the nurse-client relationship
D. the multidisciplinary mental health team - ANSWER-B. the therapeutic
community
rationale:
, a therapeutic community (B) provides ways to increase a client's utilization of the
social environment by providing therapeutic milieu but do not best describe the
client's engagement in therapeutic experiences.
A practical nurse (PN) is interacting with a female client who is discussing her
divorce as a stressor. What areas should be explored with the client to gather the
most relevant information?
A. affective responses
B. social responses
C. physiological responses
D. biopsychosocial responses - ANSWER-D. biopsychosocial responses
rationale:
Appraisal of a stressor is the processing and comprehension of stressful situations
that takes place on many levels, specifically cognitive, affective, physiological,
behavioral, and social (D). Limiting the client's self analysis (A,B,C) may omit an
important variable that needs further intervention.
The practical nurse (PN) is inquiring about coping strategies with a male client
who is admitted for alcohol abuse. The client tells the PN that his job skills and
communication skills are his best assets and support. Which additional information
should the PN obtain about maladaptive mechanisms?
A. family support
B. self indulgence
C. financial security
D. daily stressors - ANSWER-B. self indulgence
QUESTION AND CORRECT ANSWERS
A man who has been admitted numerous times for alcohol detoxification is found
wandering in the street and is unable to identify himself or his home address. He is
manifesting ataxia, nystagmus, and confusion and has a blood alcohol level (BAL)
of 0.29%. Which prescribed medication should the practical nurse (PN) administer
to prevent Korsakoff's psychosis?
A. Thiamine
B. Benzodiazepines
C. Glucose solution
D. Haloperidol (Haldol) - ANSWER-A. Thiamine
Rationale:
A BAL greater than 0.20% depresses the entire motor area of brain causing the
client to stagger, lose conscious control of reason, and react in an unpredictable
manner. The client's confusion and alcohol tolerance causing Wernicke's
encephalopathy places the client at risk for Korsakoff's psychosis, a form of
amnesia characterized by loss of short-term memory and precipitated by acute
abstinence. Thiamine deficiency causes Wernicke-Korsakoff's syndromes, so
thiamine (B) should be administered. (B,C,D) may be indicated during withdrawal
but do not prevent alcoholic encephalopathies.
An older client who is hospitalized with pneumonia becomes disoriented and
confused 2 days after admission. Which factor should the practical nurse (PN)
identify to differentiate that the client is experiencing delirium, not dementia?
,A. impaired memory
B. clear awareness of surrounding
C. unrelated to specific cause
D. acute onset of symptoms - ANSWER-D. acute onset of symptoms
rationale:
Delirium has an acute onset (D) characterized by a reduced level of consciousness,
not (B), disturbed sleep-wake patterns, disorientation and perceptual problems, and
is often associated with drug cumulative effects, a medical condition, or
hospitalization, not (C). Dementia has a slow, insidious onset of symptoms, which
include impaired memory (A) with loss of abstract thinking, judgment, language
and motor skills and is often not reversible.
Which finding should the practical nurse (PN) report immediately when talking
with a new mother who is diagnosed with postpartum depression with psychotic
features?
A. thoughts of harming her infant
B. personal hygiene
C. outbursts of anger
D. disinterest in her husband - ANSWER-A. thoughts of harming her infant
rationale:
thoughts of harming her infant (A) is consistent with postpartum depression and
should be reported immediately. Although (B,C,D) may occur in postpartum
depression, the major concern is the potential of harm to herself or to her infant.
,During a prenatal visit, a client who is in the second trimester of pregnancy tells
the practical nurse (PN) that she is using cocaine. What information about cocaine
is most important for the PN to provide the client?
A. CNS stimulants increase fetal heart rate and intrauterine movement
B. Eat foods high in iron and protein if a decrease in appetite occurs
C. Counseling should be sought to learn alternative coping behaviors
D. Cocaine can cause miscarriage or premature onset of labor - ANSWER-D.
Cocaine can cause miscarriage or premature onset of labor
rationale:
Cocaine, a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, use during pregnancy (D)
increases the risk of uterine tonicity and preterm labor, which can result in
miscarriage (D), abruptio placentae, and stillbirth. Although the client should
understand other factors about cocaine use in pregnancy (A,B,C), the most
important information is the risk of premature birth.
Which part of the client's plan of care is the practical nurse (PN) implementing
when plans are used to increase a male client's participation in his own care and
social environment?
A. client autonomy
B. the therapeutic community
C. the nurse-client relationship
D. the multidisciplinary mental health team - ANSWER-B. the therapeutic
community
rationale:
, a therapeutic community (B) provides ways to increase a client's utilization of the
social environment by providing therapeutic milieu but do not best describe the
client's engagement in therapeutic experiences.
A practical nurse (PN) is interacting with a female client who is discussing her
divorce as a stressor. What areas should be explored with the client to gather the
most relevant information?
A. affective responses
B. social responses
C. physiological responses
D. biopsychosocial responses - ANSWER-D. biopsychosocial responses
rationale:
Appraisal of a stressor is the processing and comprehension of stressful situations
that takes place on many levels, specifically cognitive, affective, physiological,
behavioral, and social (D). Limiting the client's self analysis (A,B,C) may omit an
important variable that needs further intervention.
The practical nurse (PN) is inquiring about coping strategies with a male client
who is admitted for alcohol abuse. The client tells the PN that his job skills and
communication skills are his best assets and support. Which additional information
should the PN obtain about maladaptive mechanisms?
A. family support
B. self indulgence
C. financial security
D. daily stressors - ANSWER-B. self indulgence
