PSYCH HESI EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026 UPDATE.
A client who is diagnosed with schizophrenia is admitted to the hospital. The nurse assesses the
client's mental status. Which assessment finding is characteristic of a client with schizophrenia?
Mood swings.
Extreme sadness.
Manipulative behavior.
Flat affect. - ANS Flat affect.
Disinterest, and diminished or lack of facial expression is characteristic of schizophrenia and is
referred to as a flat affect. The other findings are not associated with schizophrenia.
The nurse is leading a "current events group" with client who have chronic psychiatric illnesses.
One group member states, "Clara Barton was my nurse during my last hospitalization. She was a
very mean nurse and wasn't nice to me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
Clara Barton was not your nurse.
What did she do to you that was so mean?
I didn't know that Clara Barton was a nurse.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross. - ANS Clara Barton started the American Red
Cross.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,The historical fact that Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War is referencing the concept
of universality in this group therapy discussion. Stating the original role of Clara Barton in
nursing should be presented, which is the reality in nursing and the American culture. The other
responses are not indicated.
The nurse is planning the care for an adult client with acute depression. Which intervention
should the nurse implement to help the client deal with depression?
Ensure that the client's day is filled with group activities.
Assist the client in exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Allow the client to initiate and determine activities of daily living.
Encourage the client to explore the rationale for depression. - ANS Assist the client in
exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Depression is associated with feelings of shame, anger, and guilt. Exploring such feelings with
the client is an important nursing intervention for a client who is acutely depressed. The other
interventions are not indicated.
Over a period of several weeks, a 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?
Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
Allow the group to handle the problem.
Ask the client to join another group. - ANS Allow the group to handle the problem.
The phase the group process is in--initial, working, or termination--this will help determine
communication styles between the group members. After several weeks, the group is in the
working phase and the group members should be allowed to determine the direction of the
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,group. The nurse should ignore the client's comments and allow the group to address the
situation.
A client on the psychiatric unit appears to imitate a certain nurse on the unit. The client seeks
out this particular nurse and imitates the nurse's mannerisms. Which defense mechanism is the
client using?
Sublimation.
Identification.
Introjection.
Repression. - ANS Identification.
Identification is an attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality traits of another. The
client is not demonstrating the other psychosocial mechanisms.
The nurse should include which interventions in the plan of care for a severely depressed client
with neurovegetative symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
Permit rest periods as needed.
Speaking slowly and simply.
Place the client on suicide precautions.
Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
Encourage vigorous exercise and long walks on the unit. - ANS Permit rest periods as needed.
Speaking slowly and simply.
Place the client on suicide precautions.
Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Neurovegetative symptoms that accompany the mood disorder of depression include
physiological disruptions, such as anorexia, constipation, sleep disturbance, and psychomotor
retardation. The client's plan of care should include measures that promote the client's comfort
and well-being, such as rest, nutrition, suicide precautions, and simple communications.
Vigorous exercise and long walks are not indicated for clients in a neurovegetative state.
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful
and states, "I just feel so nervous all of the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I
haven't been able to sleep at night and have hardly eaten for the past 3 or 4 days." Which
assessment finding should the nurse reference when initiating a referral?
Altered thought processes.
Moderate levels of anxiety.
Inadequate social support.
Altered health maintenance. - ANS Moderate levels of anxiety.
The nurse should initiate a referral based on anxiety levels and feelings of nervousness that the
client described as interfering with sleep, appetite, and the inability to solve problems. The
other findings are not indicated based on the client's reported symptoms.
An adult female client has been increasingly 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?
No one is after you, you're safe here.
You'll feel better after you have rested.
I know you must feel lonely and frightened.
Come with me to your room and I will sit with you. - ANS Come with me to your room and I
will sit with you.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
ANSWERS 100% PASS 2026 UPDATE.
A client who is diagnosed with schizophrenia is admitted to the hospital. The nurse assesses the
client's mental status. Which assessment finding is characteristic of a client with schizophrenia?
Mood swings.
Extreme sadness.
Manipulative behavior.
Flat affect. - ANS Flat affect.
Disinterest, and diminished or lack of facial expression is characteristic of schizophrenia and is
referred to as a flat affect. The other findings are not associated with schizophrenia.
The nurse is leading a "current events group" with client who have chronic psychiatric illnesses.
One group member states, "Clara Barton was my nurse during my last hospitalization. She was a
very mean nurse and wasn't nice to me." Which response is best for the nurse to make?
Clara Barton was not your nurse.
What did she do to you that was so mean?
I didn't know that Clara Barton was a nurse.
Clara Barton started the American Red Cross. - ANS Clara Barton started the American Red
Cross.
1 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,The historical fact that Clara Barton was a nurse during the Civil War is referencing the concept
of universality in this group therapy discussion. Stating the original role of Clara Barton in
nursing should be presented, which is the reality in nursing and the American culture. The other
responses are not indicated.
The nurse is planning the care for an adult client with acute depression. Which intervention
should the nurse implement to help the client deal with depression?
Ensure that the client's day is filled with group activities.
Assist the client in exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Allow the client to initiate and determine activities of daily living.
Encourage the client to explore the rationale for depression. - ANS Assist the client in
exploring feelings of shame, anger, and guilt.
Depression is associated with feelings of shame, anger, and guilt. Exploring such feelings with
the client is an important nursing intervention for a client who is acutely depressed. The other
interventions are not indicated.
Over a period of several weeks, a 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?
Talk to the client outside the group about his behavior during group meetings.
Remind the client to allow others in the group a chance to talk.
Allow the group to handle the problem.
Ask the client to join another group. - ANS Allow the group to handle the problem.
The phase the group process is in--initial, working, or termination--this will help determine
communication styles between the group members. After several weeks, the group is in the
working phase and the group members should be allowed to determine the direction of the
2 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
,group. The nurse should ignore the client's comments and allow the group to address the
situation.
A client on the psychiatric unit appears to imitate a certain nurse on the unit. The client seeks
out this particular nurse and imitates the nurse's mannerisms. Which defense mechanism is the
client using?
Sublimation.
Identification.
Introjection.
Repression. - ANS Identification.
Identification is an attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality traits of another. The
client is not demonstrating the other psychosocial mechanisms.
The nurse should include which interventions in the plan of care for a severely depressed client
with neurovegetative symptoms? (Select all that apply.)
Permit rest periods as needed.
Speaking slowly and simply.
Place the client on suicide precautions.
Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
Encourage vigorous exercise and long walks on the unit. - ANS Permit rest periods as needed.
Speaking slowly and simply.
Place the client on suicide precautions.
Observe and encourage food and fluid intake.
3 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
, Neurovegetative symptoms that accompany the mood disorder of depression include
physiological disruptions, such as anorexia, constipation, sleep disturbance, and psychomotor
retardation. The client's plan of care should include measures that promote the client's comfort
and well-being, such as rest, nutrition, suicide precautions, and simple communications.
Vigorous exercise and long walks are not indicated for clients in a neurovegetative state.
A nurse working on a mental health unit receives a community call from a person who is tearful
and states, "I just feel so nervous all of the time. I don't know what to do about my problems. I
haven't been able to sleep at night and have hardly eaten for the past 3 or 4 days." Which
assessment finding should the nurse reference when initiating a referral?
Altered thought processes.
Moderate levels of anxiety.
Inadequate social support.
Altered health maintenance. - ANS Moderate levels of anxiety.
The nurse should initiate a referral based on anxiety levels and feelings of nervousness that the
client described as interfering with sleep, appetite, and the inability to solve problems. The
other findings are not indicated based on the client's reported symptoms.
An adult female client has been increasingly 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?
No one is after you, you're safe here.
You'll feel better after you have rested.
I know you must feel lonely and frightened.
Come with me to your room and I will sit with you. - ANS Come with me to your room and I
will sit with you.
4 @COPYRIGHT 2025/2026 ALLRIGHTS RESERVED.
