HESI Mental Health RN Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified

HESI Mental Health RN Questions and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 | Correct & Verified A client states, “I hear voices telling me to harm myself.” What is the nurse’s priority action? Ensure the client is in a safe environment and notify the healthcare provider immediately. A client with bipolar disorder is pacing, talking rapidly, and refusing meals. What should the nurse do first? Offer high-calorie finger foods that can be eaten while moving. A client with schizophrenia reports, “The FBI has implanted a chip in my brain.” How should the nurse respond? Acknowledge the client’s feelings and gently focus on reality without arguing about the delusion. A depressed client says, “I can’t go on living like this.” What is the nurse’s immediate priority? Assess the client’s suicide risk and implement safety precautions. 2 A client with OCD spends hours arranging objects symmetrically. What is the best nursing intervention? Allow rituals within set time limits and gradually introduce stress management techniques. During alcohol withdrawal, a client begins to tremble and reports anxiety. What is the nurse’s priority? Monitor for seizures and administer prescribed benzodiazepines. A client with anorexia nervosa has a heart rate of 48 beats per minute. What is the priority nursing action? Notify the provider immediately due to risk of cardiac complications. A client on lithium reports diarrhea, blurred vision, and unsteady gait. What should the nurse suspect? Lithium toxicity requiring immediate intervention. A client diagnosed with schizophrenia is mute and maintains rigid postures for hours. What is this behavior called? Catatonia. 3 A client taking fluoxetine reports sexual dysfunction. What should the nurse explain? This is a common side effect of SSRIs and should be discussed with the provider. A client with PTSD refuses to sleep, stating, “I have nightmares every night.” What should the nurse do? Encourage relaxation techniques before bed and explore trauma-focused therapy options. A client in a manic episode is intrusive and disruptive on the unit. What should the nurse do first? Set clear, firm, and consistent limits on behavior. A client with dementia keeps trying to leave the facility at night. What is the nurse’s priority action? Ensure a safe environment and redirect the client to calming activities. A client prescribed clozapine develops a sore throat and fever. What is the nurse’s first action? Obtain a white blood