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HESI CAT| Comprehensive Q&A For
Certification Success 2026
A young client who has just lost her first job comes to the mental health clinic
very upset and says, "I just start crying without any reason and without any
warning." How should the nurse respond initially?
1
"Do you know what makes you cry?"
2
"Most of us need to cry from time to time."
3
"Crying unexpectedly can be very upsetting."
4
"Are you having any other problems at this time?" - correct-answer - 3
The response "Crying unexpectedly can be very upsetting" identifies the client's
feelings. Asking, "Do you know what makes you cry?" is an unrealistic question;
the cause of anxiety may not be known. "Most of us need to cry from time to
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time" moves the focus away from the client. "Are you having any other problems
at this time?" disregards the client's comment; it is a direct question that may
impede communication.
A client is admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of severe anxiety. What
should the nurse's plan of care for a client with an anxiety disorder include?
1
Promoting the suppression of anger by the client
2
Supporting the verbalization of feelings by the client
3
Encouraging the client to limit anxiety-related behaviors
4
Restricting the involvement of the client's family during the acute phase - correct-
answer - 2
Freedom to ventilate feelings serves as a safety valve to reduce anxiety. The
suppression of anger may increase the client's anxiety. Encouraging the client to
limit anxiety-related behaviors is not therapeutic; it may increase the anxiety that
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the client is feeling. Restricting the involvement of the client's family during the
acute phase may or may not be helpful; the client's family may provide support to
the client.
Windows in the recreation room of the adolescent psychiatric unit have been
broken on numerous occasions. After a group discussion one of the adolescents
confides that another adolescent client broke them. What should the nurse do
when using an assertive intervention instead of aggressive confrontation?
1
Confront the adolescent openly in the group, using a controlled voice and
maintaining direct eye contact.
2
Knock on the door of the adolescent's room and ask whether the adolescent
would come out to talk about the situation.
3
Approach the adolescent when the client is alone and, after making direct eye
contact, inquire about the involvement in these incidents.
4
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Use a trusting approach toward the adolescent and imply that the staff doubts
the adolescent's involvement but requests a denial for the record. - correct-
answer - 3
A private confrontation with presentation of reported facts allows verification; a
calm, direct manner is most assertive. Confronting the adolescent openly in the
group, using a controlled voice and maintaining direct eye contact, is aggressive
confrontation, not assertive intervention. Knocking on the door of the
adolescent's room and asking whether the adolescent would come out to talk
about the situation places control in the hands of the client rather than the nurse,
and this may lead to aggressive confrontation. Using a trusting approach toward
the adolescent and implying that the staff doubts the adolescent's involvement
but requests a denial for the record is not assertive intervention; it is
manipulation and is not truthful.
A 6-year-old child with autism is nonverbal and makes limited eye contact. What
should the nurse do initially to promote social interaction?
1
Encourage the child to sing songs with the nurse.
HESI CAT| Comprehensive Q&A For
Certification Success 2026
A young client who has just lost her first job comes to the mental health clinic
very upset and says, "I just start crying without any reason and without any
warning." How should the nurse respond initially?
1
"Do you know what makes you cry?"
2
"Most of us need to cry from time to time."
3
"Crying unexpectedly can be very upsetting."
4
"Are you having any other problems at this time?" - correct-answer - 3
The response "Crying unexpectedly can be very upsetting" identifies the client's
feelings. Asking, "Do you know what makes you cry?" is an unrealistic question;
the cause of anxiety may not be known. "Most of us need to cry from time to
,2|Page
time" moves the focus away from the client. "Are you having any other problems
at this time?" disregards the client's comment; it is a direct question that may
impede communication.
A client is admitted to the hospital with the diagnosis of severe anxiety. What
should the nurse's plan of care for a client with an anxiety disorder include?
1
Promoting the suppression of anger by the client
2
Supporting the verbalization of feelings by the client
3
Encouraging the client to limit anxiety-related behaviors
4
Restricting the involvement of the client's family during the acute phase - correct-
answer - 2
Freedom to ventilate feelings serves as a safety valve to reduce anxiety. The
suppression of anger may increase the client's anxiety. Encouraging the client to
limit anxiety-related behaviors is not therapeutic; it may increase the anxiety that
,3|Page
the client is feeling. Restricting the involvement of the client's family during the
acute phase may or may not be helpful; the client's family may provide support to
the client.
Windows in the recreation room of the adolescent psychiatric unit have been
broken on numerous occasions. After a group discussion one of the adolescents
confides that another adolescent client broke them. What should the nurse do
when using an assertive intervention instead of aggressive confrontation?
1
Confront the adolescent openly in the group, using a controlled voice and
maintaining direct eye contact.
2
Knock on the door of the adolescent's room and ask whether the adolescent
would come out to talk about the situation.
3
Approach the adolescent when the client is alone and, after making direct eye
contact, inquire about the involvement in these incidents.
4
, 4|Page
Use a trusting approach toward the adolescent and imply that the staff doubts
the adolescent's involvement but requests a denial for the record. - correct-
answer - 3
A private confrontation with presentation of reported facts allows verification; a
calm, direct manner is most assertive. Confronting the adolescent openly in the
group, using a controlled voice and maintaining direct eye contact, is aggressive
confrontation, not assertive intervention. Knocking on the door of the
adolescent's room and asking whether the adolescent would come out to talk
about the situation places control in the hands of the client rather than the nurse,
and this may lead to aggressive confrontation. Using a trusting approach toward
the adolescent and implying that the staff doubts the adolescent's involvement
but requests a denial for the record is not assertive intervention; it is
manipulation and is not truthful.
A 6-year-old child with autism is nonverbal and makes limited eye contact. What
should the nurse do initially to promote social interaction?
1
Encourage the child to sing songs with the nurse.
