HESI Mental Health Questions and
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
A client with depression states, “I have no reason to live.” What is the nurse’s best response?
A. “Don’t say that, your family loves you.”
✔✔B. “You sound like you are feeling hopeless right now.”
C. “You just need to focus on the positives.”
D. “Why do you feel that way?”
A client prescribed lithium reports nausea, vomiting, and tremors. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Encourage oral fluids.
✔✔B. Assess for lithium toxicity.
C. Give an antiemetic.
D. Reassure the client.
A client experiencing alcohol withdrawal begins to have tremors and sweating. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
1
,A. Offer small meals.
✔✔B. Monitor for seizures and administer benzodiazepines.
C. Provide a quiet environment.
D. Teach the client about relapse prevention.
A client with schizophrenia says, “The FBI is controlling my mind.” How should the nurse
respond?
A. “That’s not true.”
✔✔B. “That must feel very frightening for you.”
C. “You should stop thinking that way.”
D. “Why do you think they are controlling you?”
A client on clozapine reports fever and sore throat. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give acetaminophen.
✔✔B. Obtain a white blood cell count.
C. Offer warm fluids.
D. Encourage rest.
2
,A nurse observes a client talking rapidly and jumping from one topic to another. How should this
be documented?
A. Tangential speech
✔✔B. Flight of ideas
C. Perseveration
D. Word salad
A client in a manic state refuses to sit down for meals. What is the best nursing action?
A. Skip meals until the client calms.
B. Offer caffeine-containing drinks.
✔✔C. Provide high-calorie finger foods.
D. Withhold snacks until compliance.
A client in panic reports palpitations and chest pain. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Leave the client alone.
✔✔B. Stay with the client and speak calmly.
C. Teach about coping skills.
D. Ask the client to explain the fear.
3
, A client with OCD repeatedly checks the door lock. What should the nurse do?
A. Remove the client from the room.
✔✔B. Allow checking but set reasonable time limits.
C. Stop the ritual immediately.
D. Ignore the behavior.
A client with schizophrenia refuses meals saying food is poisoned. What is the best action?
A. Convince the client the food is safe.
✔✔B. Offer packaged or sealed foods.
C. Restrict meals until compliance.
D. Ask family to feed the client.
A client on sertraline asks when the drug will work. What should the nurse say?
A. “It works immediately.”
B. “You may feel relief in 1 or 2 days.”
✔✔C. “It may take several weeks for full effect.”
D. “You can stop once you feel better.”
4
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
A client with depression states, “I have no reason to live.” What is the nurse’s best response?
A. “Don’t say that, your family loves you.”
✔✔B. “You sound like you are feeling hopeless right now.”
C. “You just need to focus on the positives.”
D. “Why do you feel that way?”
A client prescribed lithium reports nausea, vomiting, and tremors. What should the nurse do
first?
A. Encourage oral fluids.
✔✔B. Assess for lithium toxicity.
C. Give an antiemetic.
D. Reassure the client.
A client experiencing alcohol withdrawal begins to have tremors and sweating. What is the
nurse’s priority action?
1
,A. Offer small meals.
✔✔B. Monitor for seizures and administer benzodiazepines.
C. Provide a quiet environment.
D. Teach the client about relapse prevention.
A client with schizophrenia says, “The FBI is controlling my mind.” How should the nurse
respond?
A. “That’s not true.”
✔✔B. “That must feel very frightening for you.”
C. “You should stop thinking that way.”
D. “Why do you think they are controlling you?”
A client on clozapine reports fever and sore throat. What is the nurse’s priority action?
A. Give acetaminophen.
✔✔B. Obtain a white blood cell count.
C. Offer warm fluids.
D. Encourage rest.
2
,A nurse observes a client talking rapidly and jumping from one topic to another. How should this
be documented?
A. Tangential speech
✔✔B. Flight of ideas
C. Perseveration
D. Word salad
A client in a manic state refuses to sit down for meals. What is the best nursing action?
A. Skip meals until the client calms.
B. Offer caffeine-containing drinks.
✔✔C. Provide high-calorie finger foods.
D. Withhold snacks until compliance.
A client in panic reports palpitations and chest pain. What is the nurse’s priority?
A. Leave the client alone.
✔✔B. Stay with the client and speak calmly.
C. Teach about coping skills.
D. Ask the client to explain the fear.
3
, A client with OCD repeatedly checks the door lock. What should the nurse do?
A. Remove the client from the room.
✔✔B. Allow checking but set reasonable time limits.
C. Stop the ritual immediately.
D. Ignore the behavior.
A client with schizophrenia refuses meals saying food is poisoned. What is the best action?
A. Convince the client the food is safe.
✔✔B. Offer packaged or sealed foods.
C. Restrict meals until compliance.
D. Ask family to feed the client.
A client on sertraline asks when the drug will work. What should the nurse say?
A. “It works immediately.”
B. “You may feel relief in 1 or 2 days.”
✔✔C. “It may take several weeks for full effect.”
D. “You can stop once you feel better.”
4
