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2026 ATI MENTAL HEALTH ACTUAL
EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|
RATED A + | NEW AND REVISED
A nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer. The
client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold that everyone has
been getting." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of
the following defense mechanisms?
A) Reaction formation
B) Denial
C) Displacement
D) Sublimation - ANSWER- B
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who was just
informed that she requires emergency surgery. The client has a
respiratory rate 30/min and says, "This is difficult to comprehend. I feel
shaky and nervous." The nurse should identify that the client is
experiencing which of the following levels of anxiety?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Panic - ANSWER- B
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A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety.
Which of the following actions should the nurse trying to give necessary
information to the client? (Select all that apply)
A) Reassure the client that everything will be okay
B) Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms with the client
C) Ignore the client's anxiety so that she will not be embarrassed
D) Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions
E) Gather information from the client using closed-ended questions -
ANSWER- B, D
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a love one - ANSWER- C
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a love one - ANSWER- C
,3|Page
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a loved one - ANSWER- C
A charge nurse is discussing the characteristics of a nurse-client
relationship with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
characteristics should the nurse include in the discussion? (Select all that
apply)
A) The needs of both participants are met
B) An emotional commitment exists between the participants
C) It is goal-directed
D) Behavioral change is encouraged
E) A termination date is established - ANSWER- C, D, E
A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a
client who has methamphetamine use disorder. Which of the following
actions indicates transference behavior?
A) The client asks the nurse whether she will go out to dinner with him
B) The client accuses the nurses of telling him what to do just like his
ex-girlfriend
, 4|Page
C) The client reminds the nurse of a friend who died from a substance
overdose
D) The client becomes angry and threatens to harm himself - ANSWER-
B
A nurse is planning care for the termination phase of a nurse-client
relationship. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in
the plan of care?
A) Discussing ways to use new behaviors
B) Practicing new problem-solving skills
C) Developing goals
D) Establishing boundaries - ANSWER- A
A nurse is orienting a new client to a mental health unit. When
explaining the unit's community meetings, which of the following
statements should the nurse make?
A) You and a group of other clients will meet to discuss your treatment
plans
B) Community meetings have a specific agenda that is established by
staff
C) You and the other clients will meet with staff to discuss common
problems
D) Community meetings are an excellent opportunity to explore your
personal mental health issues - ANSWER- C
2026 ATI MENTAL HEALTH ACTUAL
EXAM | ALL QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS|
RATED A + | NEW AND REVISED
A nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer. The
client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold that everyone has
been getting." The nurse should identify that the client is using which of
the following defense mechanisms?
A) Reaction formation
B) Denial
C) Displacement
D) Sublimation - ANSWER- B
A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who was just
informed that she requires emergency surgery. The client has a
respiratory rate 30/min and says, "This is difficult to comprehend. I feel
shaky and nervous." The nurse should identify that the client is
experiencing which of the following levels of anxiety?
A) Mild
B) Moderate
C) Severe
D) Panic - ANSWER- B
,2|Page
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety.
Which of the following actions should the nurse trying to give necessary
information to the client? (Select all that apply)
A) Reassure the client that everything will be okay
B) Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms with the client
C) Ignore the client's anxiety so that she will not be embarrassed
D) Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions
E) Gather information from the client using closed-ended questions -
ANSWER- B, D
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a love one - ANSWER- C
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a love one - ANSWER- C
,3|Page
A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the
death of his spouse. Which of the following statements should the nurse
make?
A) I feel very sorry for the loneliness you must be experiencing
B) Suicide is not the appropriate way to cope with loss
C) Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting
D) I know how difficult it is to lose a loved one - ANSWER- C
A charge nurse is discussing the characteristics of a nurse-client
relationship with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
characteristics should the nurse include in the discussion? (Select all that
apply)
A) The needs of both participants are met
B) An emotional commitment exists between the participants
C) It is goal-directed
D) Behavioral change is encouraged
E) A termination date is established - ANSWER- C, D, E
A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a
client who has methamphetamine use disorder. Which of the following
actions indicates transference behavior?
A) The client asks the nurse whether she will go out to dinner with him
B) The client accuses the nurses of telling him what to do just like his
ex-girlfriend
, 4|Page
C) The client reminds the nurse of a friend who died from a substance
overdose
D) The client becomes angry and threatens to harm himself - ANSWER-
B
A nurse is planning care for the termination phase of a nurse-client
relationship. Which of the following actions should the nurse include in
the plan of care?
A) Discussing ways to use new behaviors
B) Practicing new problem-solving skills
C) Developing goals
D) Establishing boundaries - ANSWER- A
A nurse is orienting a new client to a mental health unit. When
explaining the unit's community meetings, which of the following
statements should the nurse make?
A) You and a group of other clients will meet to discuss your treatment
plans
B) Community meetings have a specific agenda that is established by
staff
C) You and the other clients will meet with staff to discuss common
problems
D) Community meetings are an excellent opportunity to explore your
personal mental health issues - ANSWER- C
