MENTAL HEALTH HESI RN TEST BANK NEWEST 2025
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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. Report the client's
serum lithium level to the HCP.
After assertiveness training, a formerly passive client appropriately confronts a peer in group
therapy. The group leader states, "I'm so proud of you for being assertive. You are so good!"
Which communication technique has the leader employed?
A. The nontherapeutic technique of giving approval
B. The nontherapeutic technique of interpreting
C. The therapeutic technique of presenting reality
D. The therapeutic technique of making observations - answer-:A. The nontherapeutic
technique of giving approval
Select the nursing interventions for a hospitalized client with mania who is exhibiting
manipulative behavior. Select all that apply.
A) Communicate expected behaviors to the client
,B) Ensure that the client knows that he or she is not in charge of the nursing unit
C) Assist the client in identifying ways of setting limits on personal behaviors
D) Follow through about the consequences of behavior in a non punitive manner
E) Enforce rules and inform the client that he or she will not be allowed to attend therapy
groups
F) Be clear with the client regarding the consequences of exceeding limits that have been set
regarding behavior - answer-:A) Communicate expected behaviors to the client
C) Assist the client in identifying ways of setting limits on personal behaviors
D) Follow through about the consequences of behavior in a non punitive manner
F) Be clear with the client regarding the consequences of exceeding limits that have been set
regarding behavior
A nurse determines that the wife of an alcoholic client is benefitting from attending an Al-Anon
group when the nurse hears the wife say:
A) "I no longer feel that I deserve the beatings my husband inflicts on me."
B) "My attendance at the meetings has helped me to see that I provoke my husbands violence."
C) "I enjoy attending the meetings because they get me out of the house and away from my
husband."
D) "I can tolerate my husband's destructive behaviors now that I know they are common with
alcoholics." - answer-:A) "I no longer feel that I deserve the beatings my husband inflicts on
me."
A nurse is reviewing the assessment data of a client admitted to the mental health unit. The
nurse notes that the admission nurse documented that the client is experiencing anxiety as a
result of a situational crisis. The nurse determines that this type of crisis is caused by:
A) Witnessing a murder
B) The death of a loved one
C) A fire that destroyed the client's home
D) A recent rape episode experienced by the client - answer-:B) The death of a loved one
,A nurse is conducting an initial assessment on a client in crisis. When assessing the client's
perception of the precipitating event that lead to the crisis, the appropriate question to ask is:
A) "With whom do you live?"
B) "Who is available to help you?"
C) "What leads you to seek help now?"
D) "What do you usually do to feel better?" - answer-:C) "What leads you to seek help now?"
A moderatley depressed client who was hospitalized 2 days ago suddenly begins smiling and
reporting that the crisis is over. The client says to a nurse "I'm finally cured." The nurse
interprets this behavior as a cue to modify the treatment plan by:
A) Suggesting a reduction of medication
B) Allowing increased "in-room" activities
C) Increasing the level of suicide precautions
D) Allowing the client off-unit privileges as needed - answer-:C) Increasing the level of suicide
precautions
An emergency department nurse is caring for an adult client who is a victim of family violence.
Which priority instruction would be included in the discharge instructions?
A) Information regarding shelters
B) Instructions regarding calling the police
C) Instructions regarding self-defense classes
D) Explaining the importance of leaving the violent situation - answer-:A) Information regarding
shelters
A female victim of sexual assault is being seen in the crisis center. The client states that she still
feels "as though the rape just happened yesterday," even though it has been a few months since
the incident. The appropriate nursing response is which of the following?
, A) "You need to try and be realistic. The rape did not just occur."
B) "It will take some time to get over these feelings about your rape."
C) "Tell me more about the incident that causes you to feel like the rape just occurred."
D) "What do you think that you can do to alleviate some of your fears about being raped
again?" - answer-:C) "Tell me more about the incident that causes you to feel like the rape just
occurred."
A nurse is preparing to care for a dying client, and several family members are at the client'
bedside. Select the therapeutic techniques that the nurse would use when communicating with
the family. Select all that apply.
A) Discourage reminiscing
B) Make decisions for the family
C) Encourage expression of feelings, concerns, and fears
D) Explain everything that is happening to all family members
E) Touch and hold the client's or family member's hands if appropriate
F) Be honest and let the client and family know that they will not be abandoned by the nurse -
answer-:C) Encourage expression of feelings, concerns, and fears
E) Touch and hold the client's or family member's hands if appropriate
F) Be honest and let the client and family know that they will not be abandoned by the nurse
A client's medication sheet contains a prescription for sertraline (Zoloft). To ensure safe
administration of the medication, a nurse would administer the dose:
A) On an empty stomach
B) At the same time each evening
C) Evenly spaced around the clock
D) As needed when the client complains of depression - answer-:B) At the same time each
evening
ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
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. Report the client's
serum lithium level to the HCP.
After assertiveness training, a formerly passive client appropriately confronts a peer in group
therapy. The group leader states, "I'm so proud of you for being assertive. You are so good!"
Which communication technique has the leader employed?
A. The nontherapeutic technique of giving approval
B. The nontherapeutic technique of interpreting
C. The therapeutic technique of presenting reality
D. The therapeutic technique of making observations - answer-:A. The nontherapeutic
technique of giving approval
Select the nursing interventions for a hospitalized client with mania who is exhibiting
manipulative behavior. Select all that apply.
A) Communicate expected behaviors to the client
,B) Ensure that the client knows that he or she is not in charge of the nursing unit
C) Assist the client in identifying ways of setting limits on personal behaviors
D) Follow through about the consequences of behavior in a non punitive manner
E) Enforce rules and inform the client that he or she will not be allowed to attend therapy
groups
F) Be clear with the client regarding the consequences of exceeding limits that have been set
regarding behavior - answer-:A) Communicate expected behaviors to the client
C) Assist the client in identifying ways of setting limits on personal behaviors
D) Follow through about the consequences of behavior in a non punitive manner
F) Be clear with the client regarding the consequences of exceeding limits that have been set
regarding behavior
A nurse determines that the wife of an alcoholic client is benefitting from attending an Al-Anon
group when the nurse hears the wife say:
A) "I no longer feel that I deserve the beatings my husband inflicts on me."
B) "My attendance at the meetings has helped me to see that I provoke my husbands violence."
C) "I enjoy attending the meetings because they get me out of the house and away from my
husband."
D) "I can tolerate my husband's destructive behaviors now that I know they are common with
alcoholics." - answer-:A) "I no longer feel that I deserve the beatings my husband inflicts on
me."
A nurse is reviewing the assessment data of a client admitted to the mental health unit. The
nurse notes that the admission nurse documented that the client is experiencing anxiety as a
result of a situational crisis. The nurse determines that this type of crisis is caused by:
A) Witnessing a murder
B) The death of a loved one
C) A fire that destroyed the client's home
D) A recent rape episode experienced by the client - answer-:B) The death of a loved one
,A nurse is conducting an initial assessment on a client in crisis. When assessing the client's
perception of the precipitating event that lead to the crisis, the appropriate question to ask is:
A) "With whom do you live?"
B) "Who is available to help you?"
C) "What leads you to seek help now?"
D) "What do you usually do to feel better?" - answer-:C) "What leads you to seek help now?"
A moderatley depressed client who was hospitalized 2 days ago suddenly begins smiling and
reporting that the crisis is over. The client says to a nurse "I'm finally cured." The nurse
interprets this behavior as a cue to modify the treatment plan by:
A) Suggesting a reduction of medication
B) Allowing increased "in-room" activities
C) Increasing the level of suicide precautions
D) Allowing the client off-unit privileges as needed - answer-:C) Increasing the level of suicide
precautions
An emergency department nurse is caring for an adult client who is a victim of family violence.
Which priority instruction would be included in the discharge instructions?
A) Information regarding shelters
B) Instructions regarding calling the police
C) Instructions regarding self-defense classes
D) Explaining the importance of leaving the violent situation - answer-:A) Information regarding
shelters
A female victim of sexual assault is being seen in the crisis center. The client states that she still
feels "as though the rape just happened yesterday," even though it has been a few months since
the incident. The appropriate nursing response is which of the following?
, A) "You need to try and be realistic. The rape did not just occur."
B) "It will take some time to get over these feelings about your rape."
C) "Tell me more about the incident that causes you to feel like the rape just occurred."
D) "What do you think that you can do to alleviate some of your fears about being raped
again?" - answer-:C) "Tell me more about the incident that causes you to feel like the rape just
occurred."
A nurse is preparing to care for a dying client, and several family members are at the client'
bedside. Select the therapeutic techniques that the nurse would use when communicating with
the family. Select all that apply.
A) Discourage reminiscing
B) Make decisions for the family
C) Encourage expression of feelings, concerns, and fears
D) Explain everything that is happening to all family members
E) Touch and hold the client's or family member's hands if appropriate
F) Be honest and let the client and family know that they will not be abandoned by the nurse -
answer-:C) Encourage expression of feelings, concerns, and fears
E) Touch and hold the client's or family member's hands if appropriate
F) Be honest and let the client and family know that they will not be abandoned by the nurse
A client's medication sheet contains a prescription for sertraline (Zoloft). To ensure safe
administration of the medication, a nurse would administer the dose:
A) On an empty stomach
B) At the same time each evening
C) Evenly spaced around the clock
D) As needed when the client complains of depression - answer-:B) At the same time each
evening
