2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam 1
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+ Guaranteed
Pass
1.
A 30-year-old sales manager tells the nurse, "I am thinking about a job change. I don't feel like I
am living up to my potential." Which of Maslow's developmental stages is the sales manager
attempting to achieve?
A) Self-Actualization.
B) Loving and Belonging.
C) Basic Needs.
D) Safety and Security.
Self-actualization is the highest level of Maslow's development stages, which is an attempt to
fulfill one's full potential (C). (B) is identifying support systems. (C) is the first level of Maslow's
developmental stages and is the foundation upon which higher needs rest. Individuals who feel
A+ TEST BANK 1
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
safe and secure (D) in their environment perceive themselves as having physical safety and lack
fear of harm.
Correct Answer(s): A\
2.
A male client with mental illness and substance dependency tells the mental health nurse that he
has started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis,
which person is best for the nurse to refer this client to first?
A) The emergency room nurse.
B) His case manager.
C) The clinic healthcare provider.
D) His support group sponsor.
The case manager (B) is responsible for coordinating community services, and since this client
has a dual diagnosis, this is the best person to describe available treatment options. (A) is
unnecessary, unless the client experiences behaviors that threaten his safety or the safety of
others. (C and D) might also be useful, but it is most important at this time that a treatment
program be coordinated to meet this client's needs.
Correct Answer(s): B
3.
The nurse is taking a history for a female client who is requesting a routine female exam. Which
assessment finding requires follow-up?
A) Menstruation onset at age 9.
B) Contraceptive method includes condoms only.
C) Menstrual cycle occurs every 35 days.
D) Black-out after one drink last night on a date.
A "black-out" typically occurs after ingestion of alcohol beverages that the client has no recall of
the experiences or one's behavior and is indicative of high blood alcohol levels, but the client's
experience of a "black-out" after one drink (D) is suspicious of the client receiving a "date rape"
drug (Flunitrazepam) and needs additional follow-up. Although (A and C) occur on the outer
ranges of "average," both are within acceptable or "normal" ranges. (B) is an individual
preference, but using condoms as the only contraceptive method carries a higher chance of
conception.
Correct Answer(s): D
A+ TEST BANK 2
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
24.
On admission, a highly anxious client is described as delusional. The nurse understands that
delusions are most likely to occur with which class of disorder?
A) Neurotic.
B) Personality.
C) Anxiety.
D) Psychotic.
Delusions are false beliefs associated with psychotic behavior, and psychotic persons are not in
touch with reality (D). (A, B, and C) are mental health disorders which are not associated with a
break in reality, nor with hallucinations (false sensations such as hearing, or seeing) or delusions
(false beliefs).
Correct Answer(s): D
5.
A client, who is on a 30-day commitment to a drug rehabilitation unit, asks the nurse if he can go
for a walk on the grounds of the treatment center. When he is told that his privileges do not
include walking on the grounds, the client becomes verbally abusive. Which approach should the
nurse use?
A) Call a staff member to escort the client to his room.
B) Tell the client to talk to his healthcare provider about his privileges.
C) Remind the client of the unit rules.
D) Ignore the client's inappropriate behavior.
The client is trying to engage the nurse in a dispute. Ignoring the behavior (D) provides no
reinforcement for the inappropriate behavior. (A) is not necessary unless the client becomes a
physical threat to the nurse. (B) would be inappropriate, because it is referring the situation to
the healthcare provider and is not in keeping with good health team management. Consistent
limits must be established and enforced. (C) would subject the nurse to more verbal abuse
because the client could use any response as an excuse to attack the nurse once again.
Correct Answer(s): D
6.
The nurse observes a client who is admitted to the mental health unit and identifies that the
client is talking continuously, using words that rhyme but that have no context or relationship
with one topic to the next in the conversation. This client's behavior and thought processes are
consistent with which syndrome?
A) Dementia.
B) Depression.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
C) Schizophrenia.
D) Chronic brain syndrome.
The client is demonstrating symptoms of schizophrenia (C), such as disorganized speech that
may include word salad (communication that includes both real and imaginary words in no
logical order), incoherent speech, and clanging (rhyming). Dementia (A) is a global impairment of
intellectual (cognitive) functions that may be progressive, such as Alzheimer's or organic brain
syndrome (D). Depression (C) is typified by psychomotor retardation, and the client appears to
be slowed down in movement, in speech, and would appear listless and disheveled.
Correct Answer(s): C
7.
A homeless person who is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder is admitted to the mental
health unit. Which laboratory finding obtained on admission is most important for the nurse to
report to the healthcare provider?
A) Decreased thyroid stimulating hormone level.
B) Elevated liver function profile.
C) Increased white blood cell count.
D) Decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
Hyperthyroidism causes an increased level of serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which inhibit
the release of TSH (A), so the client's manic behavior may be related to an endocrine disorder.
(B, C, and D) are abnormal findings that are commonly found in the homeless population
because of poor sanitation, poor nutrition, and the prevalence of substance abuse.
Correct Answer(s): A
8.
A 19-year-old female client with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa wants to help serve dinner trays
to other clients on a psychiatric unit. What action should the nurse take?
A) Encourage the client's participation in unit activities by asking her to pass trays for the rest of
the week.
B) Provide an additional challenge by asking the client to also help feed the older clients.
C) Suggest another way for this client to participate in unit activities.
D) Tell the client that hospital policy does not permit her to pass trays.
Anorexics gain pleasure from providing others with food and watching them eat. Such behaviors
reinforce their perception of self-control. These clients should not be allowed to plan or prepare
A+ TEST BANK 4
2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam 1
Questions and Verified Answers with
Detailed Rationales Graded A+ Guaranteed
Pass
1.
A 30-year-old sales manager tells the nurse, "I am thinking about a job change. I don't feel like I
am living up to my potential." Which of Maslow's developmental stages is the sales manager
attempting to achieve?
A) Self-Actualization.
B) Loving and Belonging.
C) Basic Needs.
D) Safety and Security.
Self-actualization is the highest level of Maslow's development stages, which is an attempt to
fulfill one's full potential (C). (B) is identifying support systems. (C) is the first level of Maslow's
developmental stages and is the foundation upon which higher needs rest. Individuals who feel
A+ TEST BANK 1
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
safe and secure (D) in their environment perceive themselves as having physical safety and lack
fear of harm.
Correct Answer(s): A\
2.
A male client with mental illness and substance dependency tells the mental health nurse that he
has started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis,
which person is best for the nurse to refer this client to first?
A) The emergency room nurse.
B) His case manager.
C) The clinic healthcare provider.
D) His support group sponsor.
The case manager (B) is responsible for coordinating community services, and since this client
has a dual diagnosis, this is the best person to describe available treatment options. (A) is
unnecessary, unless the client experiences behaviors that threaten his safety or the safety of
others. (C and D) might also be useful, but it is most important at this time that a treatment
program be coordinated to meet this client's needs.
Correct Answer(s): B
3.
The nurse is taking a history for a female client who is requesting a routine female exam. Which
assessment finding requires follow-up?
A) Menstruation onset at age 9.
B) Contraceptive method includes condoms only.
C) Menstrual cycle occurs every 35 days.
D) Black-out after one drink last night on a date.
A "black-out" typically occurs after ingestion of alcohol beverages that the client has no recall of
the experiences or one's behavior and is indicative of high blood alcohol levels, but the client's
experience of a "black-out" after one drink (D) is suspicious of the client receiving a "date rape"
drug (Flunitrazepam) and needs additional follow-up. Although (A and C) occur on the outer
ranges of "average," both are within acceptable or "normal" ranges. (B) is an individual
preference, but using condoms as the only contraceptive method carries a higher chance of
conception.
Correct Answer(s): D
A+ TEST BANK 2
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
24.
On admission, a highly anxious client is described as delusional. The nurse understands that
delusions are most likely to occur with which class of disorder?
A) Neurotic.
B) Personality.
C) Anxiety.
D) Psychotic.
Delusions are false beliefs associated with psychotic behavior, and psychotic persons are not in
touch with reality (D). (A, B, and C) are mental health disorders which are not associated with a
break in reality, nor with hallucinations (false sensations such as hearing, or seeing) or delusions
(false beliefs).
Correct Answer(s): D
5.
A client, who is on a 30-day commitment to a drug rehabilitation unit, asks the nurse if he can go
for a walk on the grounds of the treatment center. When he is told that his privileges do not
include walking on the grounds, the client becomes verbally abusive. Which approach should the
nurse use?
A) Call a staff member to escort the client to his room.
B) Tell the client to talk to his healthcare provider about his privileges.
C) Remind the client of the unit rules.
D) Ignore the client's inappropriate behavior.
The client is trying to engage the nurse in a dispute. Ignoring the behavior (D) provides no
reinforcement for the inappropriate behavior. (A) is not necessary unless the client becomes a
physical threat to the nurse. (B) would be inappropriate, because it is referring the situation to
the healthcare provider and is not in keeping with good health team management. Consistent
limits must be established and enforced. (C) would subject the nurse to more verbal abuse
because the client could use any response as an excuse to attack the nurse once again.
Correct Answer(s): D
6.
The nurse observes a client who is admitted to the mental health unit and identifies that the
client is talking continuously, using words that rhyme but that have no context or relationship
with one topic to the next in the conversation. This client's behavior and thought processes are
consistent with which syndrome?
A) Dementia.
B) Depression.
A+ TEST BANK 3
, 2026 ATI Capstone Mental Health Exam
C) Schizophrenia.
D) Chronic brain syndrome.
The client is demonstrating symptoms of schizophrenia (C), such as disorganized speech that
may include word salad (communication that includes both real and imaginary words in no
logical order), incoherent speech, and clanging (rhyming). Dementia (A) is a global impairment of
intellectual (cognitive) functions that may be progressive, such as Alzheimer's or organic brain
syndrome (D). Depression (C) is typified by psychomotor retardation, and the client appears to
be slowed down in movement, in speech, and would appear listless and disheveled.
Correct Answer(s): C
7.
A homeless person who is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder is admitted to the mental
health unit. Which laboratory finding obtained on admission is most important for the nurse to
report to the healthcare provider?
A) Decreased thyroid stimulating hormone level.
B) Elevated liver function profile.
C) Increased white blood cell count.
D) Decreased hematocrit and hemoglobin levels.
Hyperthyroidism causes an increased level of serum thyroid hormones (T3 and T4), which inhibit
the release of TSH (A), so the client's manic behavior may be related to an endocrine disorder.
(B, C, and D) are abnormal findings that are commonly found in the homeless population
because of poor sanitation, poor nutrition, and the prevalence of substance abuse.
Correct Answer(s): A
8.
A 19-year-old female client with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa wants to help serve dinner trays
to other clients on a psychiatric unit. What action should the nurse take?
A) Encourage the client's participation in unit activities by asking her to pass trays for the rest of
the week.
B) Provide an additional challenge by asking the client to also help feed the older clients.
C) Suggest another way for this client to participate in unit activities.
D) Tell the client that hospital policy does not permit her to pass trays.
Anorexics gain pleasure from providing others with food and watching them eat. Such behaviors
reinforce their perception of self-control. These clients should not be allowed to plan or prepare
A+ TEST BANK 4
