HESI Module 3: Mental Health Concepts
1. The mother of a 3-year-old child tells the nurse that her child hit her
doll after the mother scolded her for picking the neighbors' flowers.Which
defensemechanism used by the child does the nurse identify in the
mother's report?
Answer: Displacement
2. A client says to the nurse, "I've been following my diet and taking my
med-ication. What else do you want to talk about today?" Which response
would be most helpful during the working phase of the therapeutic
alliance?
Answer: "Somepeople have added exercise to diet and medication therapy
and gotten positive results. Do you think that this would work for you?
3. As the nurse prepares to interview a client being admitted to the
mental health unit, the client says, "I asked my family to bring me in
here to talk to someone, but now I don't know where to begin." Which
response by the nursewould be most helpful?
Answer: "Perhaps you can start by sharing some of your most recent
,concerns."
4. During a mental health intake interview, a young adult client who lives
with his family rent free says, "I'm tired of not being able to offer my
friends a beer just because my folks don't believe in taking a drink
socially." Which nursingresponse would be therapeutic?
Answer: "It seems that your parents expect you to followtheir rules when
you live under their roof."
5. A nurse is participating in a care planning conference regarding care
for aclient whose spouse recently died. The registered nurse formulates a
nurs- ing diagnosis of dysfunctional grieving. Which priority
intervention does thenurse expect to see incorporated into the plan?
Answer: Determining the client's risk forviolence toward self and others
6. A client in the mental health unit tells the nurse, "My husband makes
all thedecisions about money, but I'm the one who's making the money
now, not him. He needs to back off, but he's always directing every
decision we make."Which nursing response would be the most
therapeutic?
, Answer: "How do you feel themoney decisions could best be handled in
your household?"
7. A nurse is attending a care planning conference for a client who
recently received a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
and is expe- riencing difficulty adjusting to the illness. The nurse should
question whichplanned intervention for this client?
Answer: Discouraging social networking to preventthe spread of infection
8. How does a client who has lost a spouse show that she is successfully
completing the tasks of mourning? Select all that apply?
Answer: Reporting that sleepingalone was hard at first
Purchasing a smaller car she is comfortable driving
, Heard explaining to family that illness "took" her husband
Heard explaining to family that illness took her husband
9. A nurse is caring for a 15-year-old girl who has been hospitalized on
the mental health unit for bipolar disorder. The client tells the nurse that
she hadher hair styled just like her young math teacher, whom she
admires.The nurserecognizes that the client is using which defense
mechanism?
Answer: Identification
10. A mental health home care nurse says to the client, "Do you feel ready
totry attending a group session at the clinic?" The client shakes his head.
Whichnursing statement would be therapeutic?
Answer: "You seem to be saying no. Would youtell me more about your
reluctance?"
11. A single parent whose son was suspended from school for carrying a
gun into the school says to the nurse, "I know he has no dad, but I've
brought him up to know better, and anyway, where did he get the stupid
1. The mother of a 3-year-old child tells the nurse that her child hit her
doll after the mother scolded her for picking the neighbors' flowers.Which
defensemechanism used by the child does the nurse identify in the
mother's report?
Answer: Displacement
2. A client says to the nurse, "I've been following my diet and taking my
med-ication. What else do you want to talk about today?" Which response
would be most helpful during the working phase of the therapeutic
alliance?
Answer: "Somepeople have added exercise to diet and medication therapy
and gotten positive results. Do you think that this would work for you?
3. As the nurse prepares to interview a client being admitted to the
mental health unit, the client says, "I asked my family to bring me in
here to talk to someone, but now I don't know where to begin." Which
response by the nursewould be most helpful?
Answer: "Perhaps you can start by sharing some of your most recent
,concerns."
4. During a mental health intake interview, a young adult client who lives
with his family rent free says, "I'm tired of not being able to offer my
friends a beer just because my folks don't believe in taking a drink
socially." Which nursingresponse would be therapeutic?
Answer: "It seems that your parents expect you to followtheir rules when
you live under their roof."
5. A nurse is participating in a care planning conference regarding care
for aclient whose spouse recently died. The registered nurse formulates a
nurs- ing diagnosis of dysfunctional grieving. Which priority
intervention does thenurse expect to see incorporated into the plan?
Answer: Determining the client's risk forviolence toward self and others
6. A client in the mental health unit tells the nurse, "My husband makes
all thedecisions about money, but I'm the one who's making the money
now, not him. He needs to back off, but he's always directing every
decision we make."Which nursing response would be the most
therapeutic?
, Answer: "How do you feel themoney decisions could best be handled in
your household?"
7. A nurse is attending a care planning conference for a client who
recently received a diagnosis of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
and is expe- riencing difficulty adjusting to the illness. The nurse should
question whichplanned intervention for this client?
Answer: Discouraging social networking to preventthe spread of infection
8. How does a client who has lost a spouse show that she is successfully
completing the tasks of mourning? Select all that apply?
Answer: Reporting that sleepingalone was hard at first
Purchasing a smaller car she is comfortable driving
, Heard explaining to family that illness "took" her husband
Heard explaining to family that illness took her husband
9. A nurse is caring for a 15-year-old girl who has been hospitalized on
the mental health unit for bipolar disorder. The client tells the nurse that
she hadher hair styled just like her young math teacher, whom she
admires.The nurserecognizes that the client is using which defense
mechanism?
Answer: Identification
10. A mental health home care nurse says to the client, "Do you feel ready
totry attending a group session at the clinic?" The client shakes his head.
Whichnursing statement would be therapeutic?
Answer: "You seem to be saying no. Would youtell me more about your
reluctance?"
11. A single parent whose son was suspended from school for carrying a
gun into the school says to the nurse, "I know he has no dad, but I've
brought him up to know better, and anyway, where did he get the stupid
