HESI RN MENTAL HEALTH EXAM SCRIPT
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a
patient was admitted to the mental health unit involuntarily. Based
on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which
intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental
illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the
admission was needed.
Answer: A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
◉ The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the
nurse-patient relationship. The nurse prepares to implement which
nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes
,Answer: B. Making appropriate referrals
◉ The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a
neighbor in a local grocery store. The neighbors ask the nurse, "How
is Mary doing? She is my best friend and is seen at your clinic every
week." Which is the most appropriate nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is
improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and
deserves her privacy."
Answer: A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
◉ The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the
following as therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that
apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
C. Asking the patient "Why?"
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
F. Giving advice and approval or disapproval
Answer: A. Restating
, B. Listening
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
◉ Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this
nurse-client interaction?
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with my wife, or I take
it out of the kids."
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk about this physical
violence."
A. Encouraging comparison
B. Exploring
C. Formulating a plan of action
D. Making observations
Answer: D. Making observations
◉ Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this
nurse-client interaction?
Client: "My father spanked me often."
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian."
A. Restatement
B. Offering general leads
C. Focusing
2026 COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED SOLUTIONS
◉ When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a
patient was admitted to the mental health unit involuntarily. Based
on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which
intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental
illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the
admission was needed.
Answer: A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
◉ The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the
nurse-patient relationship. The nurse prepares to implement which
nursing task that is most appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes
,Answer: B. Making appropriate referrals
◉ The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a
neighbor in a local grocery store. The neighbors ask the nurse, "How
is Mary doing? She is my best friend and is seen at your clinic every
week." Which is the most appropriate nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is
improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and
deserves her privacy."
Answer: A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
◉ The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the
following as therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that
apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
C. Asking the patient "Why?"
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
F. Giving advice and approval or disapproval
Answer: A. Restating
, B. Listening
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
◉ Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this
nurse-client interaction?
Client: "When I get angry, I get into a fistfight with my wife, or I take
it out of the kids."
Nurse: "I notice that you are smiling as you talk about this physical
violence."
A. Encouraging comparison
B. Exploring
C. Formulating a plan of action
D. Making observations
Answer: D. Making observations
◉ Which therapeutic communication technique is being used in this
nurse-client interaction?
Client: "My father spanked me often."
Nurse: "Your father was a harsh disciplinarian."
A. Restatement
B. Offering general leads
C. Focusing
