HESI Mental Health Test Bank
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in mental health nursing?
A. To give direct advice
✔✔B. To build trust and rapport with the client
C. To share personal experiences
D. To control client behavior
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to hurt themselves. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Assess the client for risk of self-harm
B. Distract the client with activities
C. Explain that the voices are not real
D. Notify the family immediately
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for a client experiencing a panic attack?
A. Encourage deep discussions about stressors
1
,✔✔B. Remain with the client and provide a calm presence
C. Teach relaxation techniques immediately
D. Encourage group therapy
What is a priority nursing intervention for a client on lithium therapy?
A. Monitor for weight gain
B. Teach about avoiding dairy products
✔✔C. Monitor serum lithium levels regularly
D. Encourage intake of grapefruit juice
Which statement indicates a client understands sertraline therapy?
A. “I can stop the medication once I feel better.”
B. “I should take it only when I feel depressed.”
✔✔C. “It may take several weeks before I notice improvement.”
D. “I can drink alcohol while on this medication.”
What is the therapeutic communication response to a client who says, “I feel hopeless and
alone”?
2
,A. “You shouldn’t feel that way.”
B. “You just need to think positively.”
✔✔C. “It sounds like you are feeling very isolated. Tell me more.”
D. “Other people have it worse than you.”
Which defense mechanism is being used when a student blames the teacher for failing an exam?
✔✔A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Denial
D. Sublimation
Which intervention is best for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who washes hands
repeatedly?
A. Prevent the client from washing hands
✔✔B. Allow handwashing with gradual limits set
C. Ignore the behavior completely
D. Joke about the habit to reduce anxiety
3
, What is the nurse’s priority action when a client expresses suicidal ideation with a specific plan?
A. Teach relaxation techniques
✔✔B. Implement suicide precautions immediately
C. Ask family to supervise the client
D. Encourage journaling
Which side effect should the nurse monitor for in a client taking haloperidol?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperglycemia
✔✔C. Extrapyramidal symptoms
D. Weight loss
Which statement demonstrates use of therapeutic communication with a grieving client?
A. “You need to be strong for your family.”
✔✔B. “I can see this is very painful for you. Would you like to talk?”
C. “Time heals everything.”
D. “Don’t cry; your loved one wouldn’t want that.”
4
Questions and Answers | Latest
Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified
What is the primary goal of therapeutic communication in mental health nursing?
A. To give direct advice
✔✔B. To build trust and rapport with the client
C. To share personal experiences
D. To control client behavior
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling them to hurt themselves. What should
the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Assess the client for risk of self-harm
B. Distract the client with activities
C. Explain that the voices are not real
D. Notify the family immediately
Which nursing intervention is most appropriate for a client experiencing a panic attack?
A. Encourage deep discussions about stressors
1
,✔✔B. Remain with the client and provide a calm presence
C. Teach relaxation techniques immediately
D. Encourage group therapy
What is a priority nursing intervention for a client on lithium therapy?
A. Monitor for weight gain
B. Teach about avoiding dairy products
✔✔C. Monitor serum lithium levels regularly
D. Encourage intake of grapefruit juice
Which statement indicates a client understands sertraline therapy?
A. “I can stop the medication once I feel better.”
B. “I should take it only when I feel depressed.”
✔✔C. “It may take several weeks before I notice improvement.”
D. “I can drink alcohol while on this medication.”
What is the therapeutic communication response to a client who says, “I feel hopeless and
alone”?
2
,A. “You shouldn’t feel that way.”
B. “You just need to think positively.”
✔✔C. “It sounds like you are feeling very isolated. Tell me more.”
D. “Other people have it worse than you.”
Which defense mechanism is being used when a student blames the teacher for failing an exam?
✔✔A. Projection
B. Regression
C. Denial
D. Sublimation
Which intervention is best for a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who washes hands
repeatedly?
A. Prevent the client from washing hands
✔✔B. Allow handwashing with gradual limits set
C. Ignore the behavior completely
D. Joke about the habit to reduce anxiety
3
, What is the nurse’s priority action when a client expresses suicidal ideation with a specific plan?
A. Teach relaxation techniques
✔✔B. Implement suicide precautions immediately
C. Ask family to supervise the client
D. Encourage journaling
Which side effect should the nurse monitor for in a client taking haloperidol?
A. Hypertension
B. Hyperglycemia
✔✔C. Extrapyramidal symptoms
D. Weight loss
Which statement demonstrates use of therapeutic communication with a grieving client?
A. “You need to be strong for your family.”
✔✔B. “I can see this is very painful for you. Would you like to talk?”
C. “Time heals everything.”
D. “Don’t cry; your loved one wouldn’t want that.”
4
