HESI PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⫸ Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a
socialization group at a community day care center for the elderly
monopolizes most of the group's time and interrupts others when they
are talking. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
A Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group
meetings.
B Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
C Allow the group to handle the problem. Correct
D Ask the client to join another group. Answer: C
⫸ An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering
the busy halls of the extended care facility and asks the nurse, "Where
should I stand for the parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those
in the parade."
B "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no
parade."
C "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
D "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your
nurse." Answer: C.
,⫸ Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in
various locations on his body. X-ray examination reveals healed
fractures of the ribs. The mother tells the nurse that her child is always
having accidents. Which initial response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency
to be accident prone."
B "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
C "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not
seem accidental."
D "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be
quite accident prone." Answer: B
⫸ A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm.
Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects the child may be a victim of
abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the child's
mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you
touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the
mother's statements? The mother is
A regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B sublimating her anger.
C projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D suppressing her fear. Answer: C
⫸.
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid
schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat and
, tells the nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with that food."
Which response would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
A "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
B "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to
poison you?"
C "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
D "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of
changing your diet." Answer: A.
⫸ A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the
nurse finds her trying to leave the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse,
"Please let me go! I must leave because the secret police are after me."
Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A "No one is after you, you're safe here."
B "You'll feel better after you have rested."
C "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
"Come with me to your room and I will sit with you." Answer: D.
⫸ . A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that
he was Jesus Christ, but now he knows he is not. Which response is best
for the nurse to make?
A "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
B "I think you're getting well."
C "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
"Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?" Answer: c
COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
GRADED A+
⫸ Over a period of several weeks, one male participant of a
socialization group at a community day care center for the elderly
monopolizes most of the group's time and interrupts others when they
are talking. What is the best action for the nurse to take in this situation?
A Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group
meetings.
B Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
C Allow the group to handle the problem. Correct
D Ask the client to join another group. Answer: C
⫸ An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is wandering
the busy halls of the extended care facility and asks the nurse, "Where
should I stand for the parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A "Anywhere you want to stand as long as you do not get hurt by those
in the parade."
B "You are confused because of all the activity in the hall. There is no
parade."
C "Let's go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there."
D "Remember I told you that this is a nursing home and I am your
nurse." Answer: C.
,⫸ Physical examination of a 6-year-old reveals several bite marks in
various locations on his body. X-ray examination reveals healed
fractures of the ribs. The mother tells the nurse that her child is always
having accidents. Which initial response by the nurse is most
appropriate?
A "I need to inform the healthcare provider about your child's tendency
to be accident prone."
B "Tell me more specifically about your child's accidents."
C "I must report these injuries to the authorities because they do not
seem accidental."
D "Boys this age always seem to require more supervision and can be
quite accident prone." Answer: B
⫸ A child is brought to the emergency room with a broken arm.
Because of other injuries, the nurse suspects the child may be a victim of
abuse. When the nurse tries to give the child an injection, the child's
mother becomes very loud and shouts, "I won't leave my son! Don't you
touch him! You'll hurt my child!" What is the best interpretation of the
mother's statements? The mother is
A regressing to an earlier behavior pattern.
B sublimating her anger.
C projecting her feelings onto the nurse.
D suppressing her fear. Answer: C
⫸.
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis of paranoid
schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to her, she refuses to eat and
, tells the nurse, "I know you are trying to poison me with that food."
Which response would be most appropriate for the nurse to make?
A "I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else."
B "You're not being poisoned. Why do you think someone is trying to
poison you?"
C "No one on this unit has ever died from poisoning. You're safe here."
D "I will talk to your healthcare provider about the possibility of
changing your diet." Answer: A.
⫸ A 25-year-old female client has been particularly restless and the
nurse finds her trying to leave the psychiatric unit. She tells the nurse,
"Please let me go! I must leave because the secret police are after me."
Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A "No one is after you, you're safe here."
B "You'll feel better after you have rested."
C "I know you must feel lonely and frightened."
"Come with me to your room and I will sit with you." Answer: D.
⫸ . A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to believe that
he was Jesus Christ, but now he knows he is not. Which response is best
for the nurse to make?
A "Did you really believe you were Jesus Christ?"
B "I think you're getting well."
C "Others have had similar thoughts when under stress."
"Why did you think you were Jesus Christ?" Answer: c
