Page 1 of 420
HESI CAT EXAM QUESTION BANK NEWEST VERSION
ALL 600 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE JUST RELEASED THIS YEAR
Question: What is most appropriate for a nurse to say when interviewing a newly admitted
depressed client whose thoughts are focused on feelings of worthlessness and failure?
1
"Tell me how you feel about yourself."
2
"Tell me what has been bothering you."
3
"Why do you feel so bad about yourself?"
4
"What can we do to help you while you're here?" - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1
Because major depression is a result of the client's feelings of self-rejection, it is important for
the nurse to have the client initially identify these feelings before developing a plan of care.
Later discussion should be focused on other topics to prevent reinforcement of negative
thoughts and feelings. "Tell me what has been bothering you" is asking the client to draw a
conclusion; the client may be unable to do so at this time. Also, depression may be related not
to external events but instead to a client's psychobiology. Asking why does not let a client
explore feelings; it usually elicits an "I don't know" response. "What can we do to help you while
you're here?" is beyond the scope of the client's abilities at this time.
, Page 2 of 420
Question: A client is admitted to the mental health unit with the diagnosis of major depressive
disorder. Which statement alerts the nurse to the possibility of a suicide attempt?
1
"I don't feel too good today."
2
"I feel much better; today is a lovely day."
3
"I feel a little better, but it probably won't last."
4
"I'm really tired today, so I'll take things a little slower." - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔2
A rapid mood upswing and psychomotor change may signal that the client has made a decision
and has developed a plan for suicide. "I don't feel too good today"; "I feel a little better, but it
probably won't last"; and "I'm really tired today, so I'll take things a little slower" are all typical
of the depressed client; none of these statements signals a change in mood.
Question: During a group discussion it is learned that a group member hid suicidal urges and
committed suicide several days ago. What should the nurse leading the group be prepared to
manage?
1
Guilt of the co-leaders for failing to anticipate and prevent the suicide
, Page 3 of 420
2
Guilt of group members because they could not prevent another's suicide
3
Lack of concern over the suicide expressed by several of the members in the group
4
Fear by some members that their own suicidal urges may go unnoticed and that they may go
unprotected - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔4
Ambivalence about life and death, plus the introspection commonly found in clients with
emotional problems, can lead to increased anxiety and fear among the group members. These
feelings must be handled within the support and supervisory systems for the staff; the group
members are the primary concern. Guilt that the group's leaders or members might feel
because they could not prevent another's suicide will probably be a secondary concern of the
group leader. Lack of concern over the suicide expressed by several of the members in the
group is not a primary concern, but this should be explored later to determine the reason for
such apparent indifference, which may be a mask to cover true feelings.
Question: Which screening report will help the nurse determine skeletal growth in a child?
1
Electroencephalogram reports
2
Radiographs of the hand and wrist
3
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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
4
Denver Developmental Screening Test - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔2
Skeletal growth in a child can be determined from the ossification centers. At 5 to 6 months of
age, the capitate and hamate bones in the wrist are the earliest centers. Therefore radiographs
of the hand and wrist will help determine skeletal growth in the child. Electroencephalogram
reports will help assess a child's brain activity. MRI is used to scan the internal structures of a
client. The Denver Developmental Screening Test is used to understand developmental issues of
a child.
Question: A client describes his delusions in minute detail to the nurse. How should the nurse
respond?
1
Changing the topic to reality-based events
2
Continuing to discuss the delusion with the client
3
Getting the client involved in a social project with peers
4
Disputing the perceptions with the use of logical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1
HESI CAT EXAM QUESTION BANK NEWEST VERSION
ALL 600 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE JUST RELEASED THIS YEAR
Question: What is most appropriate for a nurse to say when interviewing a newly admitted
depressed client whose thoughts are focused on feelings of worthlessness and failure?
1
"Tell me how you feel about yourself."
2
"Tell me what has been bothering you."
3
"Why do you feel so bad about yourself?"
4
"What can we do to help you while you're here?" - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1
Because major depression is a result of the client's feelings of self-rejection, it is important for
the nurse to have the client initially identify these feelings before developing a plan of care.
Later discussion should be focused on other topics to prevent reinforcement of negative
thoughts and feelings. "Tell me what has been bothering you" is asking the client to draw a
conclusion; the client may be unable to do so at this time. Also, depression may be related not
to external events but instead to a client's psychobiology. Asking why does not let a client
explore feelings; it usually elicits an "I don't know" response. "What can we do to help you while
you're here?" is beyond the scope of the client's abilities at this time.
, Page 2 of 420
Question: A client is admitted to the mental health unit with the diagnosis of major depressive
disorder. Which statement alerts the nurse to the possibility of a suicide attempt?
1
"I don't feel too good today."
2
"I feel much better; today is a lovely day."
3
"I feel a little better, but it probably won't last."
4
"I'm really tired today, so I'll take things a little slower." - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔2
A rapid mood upswing and psychomotor change may signal that the client has made a decision
and has developed a plan for suicide. "I don't feel too good today"; "I feel a little better, but it
probably won't last"; and "I'm really tired today, so I'll take things a little slower" are all typical
of the depressed client; none of these statements signals a change in mood.
Question: During a group discussion it is learned that a group member hid suicidal urges and
committed suicide several days ago. What should the nurse leading the group be prepared to
manage?
1
Guilt of the co-leaders for failing to anticipate and prevent the suicide
, Page 3 of 420
2
Guilt of group members because they could not prevent another's suicide
3
Lack of concern over the suicide expressed by several of the members in the group
4
Fear by some members that their own suicidal urges may go unnoticed and that they may go
unprotected - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔4
Ambivalence about life and death, plus the introspection commonly found in clients with
emotional problems, can lead to increased anxiety and fear among the group members. These
feelings must be handled within the support and supervisory systems for the staff; the group
members are the primary concern. Guilt that the group's leaders or members might feel
because they could not prevent another's suicide will probably be a secondary concern of the
group leader. Lack of concern over the suicide expressed by several of the members in the
group is not a primary concern, but this should be explored later to determine the reason for
such apparent indifference, which may be a mask to cover true feelings.
Question: Which screening report will help the nurse determine skeletal growth in a child?
1
Electroencephalogram reports
2
Radiographs of the hand and wrist
3
, Page 4 of 420
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
4
Denver Developmental Screening Test - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔2
Skeletal growth in a child can be determined from the ossification centers. At 5 to 6 months of
age, the capitate and hamate bones in the wrist are the earliest centers. Therefore radiographs
of the hand and wrist will help determine skeletal growth in the child. Electroencephalogram
reports will help assess a child's brain activity. MRI is used to scan the internal structures of a
client. The Denver Developmental Screening Test is used to understand developmental issues of
a child.
Question: A client describes his delusions in minute detail to the nurse. How should the nurse
respond?
1
Changing the topic to reality-based events
2
Continuing to discuss the delusion with the client
3
Getting the client involved in a social project with peers
4
Disputing the perceptions with the use of logical thinking - CORRECT ANSWER✔✔1
