HESI MENTAL HEALTH FINAL EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A male client with depression is unresponsive and preoccupied with guilt and
hopelessness. Which statement should the practical nurse (PN) use that provides
therapeutic feedback to the client?
A. "Everything will work out ok for you."
B. "The group appreciated your comments today."
C. "You will feel better as your comments today."
D. "You need to help yourself by thinking positive." - ✔✔B. "The group appreciated your
comments today."
rationale:
The most therapeutic and positive statement provides feedback about the client's
interactions with others (B), which tells the client that he is recognized and allows him to
connect with the group in the here and now. (A and C) are clichés and are not
therapeutic. (D) is advice giving, which is non-therapeutic.
✔✔A male client who is hospitalized for depression ruminates over poor financial
decisions that he made in the past and calls himself "stupid". Which strategy should the
practical nurse (PN) implement to limit the amount of time the client spends on negative
self-evaluation?
A. assign client to dust and sweep unit floors
B. have client write thoughts and feelings in a journal
C. contract with client to focus only on positive topics
D. schedule occupational therapy and unit activities for client - ✔✔D. schedule
occupational therapy and unit activities for client
rationale:
Distraction and engagement in productive tasks, such as occupational therapy (OT) and
unit activities, provide opportunities for the client to socialize and interact with others
and limits his time for self-absorption and self-criticism (D). (A, B, and C) are solo
activities that allow the client time to ruminate over his past.
✔✔The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a male client with schizophrenia who is
exhibiting forgetfulness, disinterest in activities, and difficulty completing tasks. Which
intervention should the PN implement?
A. provide a structured schedule of activities on the unit
B. direct the client to pay his own household bills
C. encourage the client to go to the day room to work a puzzle
D. enroll the client in three therapeutic group sessions each day - ✔✔A. provide a
structured schedule of activities on the unit
rationale:
,The cognitive processes of an individual with schizophrenia are affected by disturbed
thought processes that impair memory, ability to focus attention, judgement, and
decision making. A structured schedule of activities (A) provides the client social
engagement without requiring the client to plan or make decisions. (B, C, and D) are too
stimulating or complex for this client.
✔✔The nurse who is leading a group therapy session is called to manage a unit
emergency and assigns the practical nurse (PN) as the leader of the group. During the
therapeutic session, a client challenges the PN as the leader. Which response should
the practical nurse (PN) communicate?
A. You are saying that I should not be the leader?
B. Let's vote and see who should be the leader.
C. So, you do not like me or my leadership style?
D. You will not be the group leader ever. - ✔✔A. You are saying that I should not be the
leader?
rationale:
The nurse leader should provide a safe place for group members to challenge authority.
(A) allows exploration of how the client feels toward the PN's leadership. Although a
democratic leadership style (B) may be used in groups, the leader should maintain
control and not permit disruption of the therapeutic environment. (C and D) are
confrontational and non-therapeutic.
✔✔When the mother of a young child is diagnosed with HIV, she asks the practical
nurse (PN), "who will take care of my children if I die soon?" What response is best for
the PN to provide?
A. " Surely you have a friend or family member who can help you in this time of need."
B. "Where is the father of your children? Surely he will want to help with the care of his
children."
C. "This is an important consideration, but you may live until they are grown up or even
longer."
D. "I can see that you are very concerned. Would you like me to call the chaplain to talk
to you?" - ✔✔C. "This is an important consideration, but you may live until they are
grown up or even longer."
rationale:
(C) is the best response because it offers a hope without dismissing the client's
concern. (A) may not be realistic. (B) is presumptuous and does not offer hope. (D)
dismisses the client's concern.
✔✔During a routine prenatal clinic visit, the practical nurse (PN) is assessing a pregnant
female client who expresses fears of spousal abuse. Which information should the PN
provide to facilitate client disclosure?
A. Provide her with a reflection of her apparent unhappiness and uncertainty about
pregnancy.
, B. Tell her that spousal abuse can be supported by evidence of old fractures seen on x-
rays.
C. Encourage her to share incidents of past abuse so her personal safety can be
addressed
D. Share with client that her situation is not unique and abuse often increases with
pregnancy. - ✔✔D. Share with client that her situation is not unique and abuse often
increases with pregnancy.
rationale:
Fear, guilt, and embarrassment prevent women from sharing information about family
violence. Letting the client know that the experienced by others (D) may overcome the
strong tendency to deny abuse. Although (B and C) provide factual information, it may
threaten the client or increase her fear and minimize seeking help. The interpretation
that the client is unhappy and unsure about her pregnancy (A), though possibly true,
does not address the client's risk for abuse, which should be addressed directly.
✔✔The practical nurse (PN) is taking the blood pressure of a middle-aged male who is
involved with his children's sports teams as a coach and referee. While establishing a
nurse-client relationship, the client tells the PN that he hires and trains teenagers to
work part-time in his restaurant. Which psychosocial development stage is the client
experiencing?
A. Identity
B. Generativity
C. Isolation
D. Stagnation - ✔✔B. Generativity
rationale:
Generativity (B) is a positive psychosocial outcome in adulthood that includes teaching
and guiding the younger generation. (A) is a developmental task of adolescence. (C)
occurs with the failure to develop intimate relationships. (D) results from not being
involved in the lives of the younger generation.
✔✔An older male client who has vision and hearing problems is admitted after a
combative incident with his caregivers. Which intervention should the practical nurse
(PN) implement when providing basic care?
A. Ask the healthcare provider for a prescription to use restraints
B. Perform tasks quickly to reduce risks to caregivers
C. Explain to the client that this is unacceptable behavior
D. Obtain the client's attention and consent before starting care - ✔✔D. Obtain the
client's attention and consent before starting care
rationale:
Individuals with limited sensory ability may strike out because of fear or confusion.
Taking time to make contact with the individual before starting care should reduce
problems (D). Restraints (A) are not indicated. Performing tasks quickly (B) does ensure
the client's cooperation. Explaining appropriate behavior (C) is ineffective.
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
✔✔A male client with depression is unresponsive and preoccupied with guilt and
hopelessness. Which statement should the practical nurse (PN) use that provides
therapeutic feedback to the client?
A. "Everything will work out ok for you."
B. "The group appreciated your comments today."
C. "You will feel better as your comments today."
D. "You need to help yourself by thinking positive." - ✔✔B. "The group appreciated your
comments today."
rationale:
The most therapeutic and positive statement provides feedback about the client's
interactions with others (B), which tells the client that he is recognized and allows him to
connect with the group in the here and now. (A and C) are clichés and are not
therapeutic. (D) is advice giving, which is non-therapeutic.
✔✔A male client who is hospitalized for depression ruminates over poor financial
decisions that he made in the past and calls himself "stupid". Which strategy should the
practical nurse (PN) implement to limit the amount of time the client spends on negative
self-evaluation?
A. assign client to dust and sweep unit floors
B. have client write thoughts and feelings in a journal
C. contract with client to focus only on positive topics
D. schedule occupational therapy and unit activities for client - ✔✔D. schedule
occupational therapy and unit activities for client
rationale:
Distraction and engagement in productive tasks, such as occupational therapy (OT) and
unit activities, provide opportunities for the client to socialize and interact with others
and limits his time for self-absorption and self-criticism (D). (A, B, and C) are solo
activities that allow the client time to ruminate over his past.
✔✔The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a male client with schizophrenia who is
exhibiting forgetfulness, disinterest in activities, and difficulty completing tasks. Which
intervention should the PN implement?
A. provide a structured schedule of activities on the unit
B. direct the client to pay his own household bills
C. encourage the client to go to the day room to work a puzzle
D. enroll the client in three therapeutic group sessions each day - ✔✔A. provide a
structured schedule of activities on the unit
rationale:
,The cognitive processes of an individual with schizophrenia are affected by disturbed
thought processes that impair memory, ability to focus attention, judgement, and
decision making. A structured schedule of activities (A) provides the client social
engagement without requiring the client to plan or make decisions. (B, C, and D) are too
stimulating or complex for this client.
✔✔The nurse who is leading a group therapy session is called to manage a unit
emergency and assigns the practical nurse (PN) as the leader of the group. During the
therapeutic session, a client challenges the PN as the leader. Which response should
the practical nurse (PN) communicate?
A. You are saying that I should not be the leader?
B. Let's vote and see who should be the leader.
C. So, you do not like me or my leadership style?
D. You will not be the group leader ever. - ✔✔A. You are saying that I should not be the
leader?
rationale:
The nurse leader should provide a safe place for group members to challenge authority.
(A) allows exploration of how the client feels toward the PN's leadership. Although a
democratic leadership style (B) may be used in groups, the leader should maintain
control and not permit disruption of the therapeutic environment. (C and D) are
confrontational and non-therapeutic.
✔✔When the mother of a young child is diagnosed with HIV, she asks the practical
nurse (PN), "who will take care of my children if I die soon?" What response is best for
the PN to provide?
A. " Surely you have a friend or family member who can help you in this time of need."
B. "Where is the father of your children? Surely he will want to help with the care of his
children."
C. "This is an important consideration, but you may live until they are grown up or even
longer."
D. "I can see that you are very concerned. Would you like me to call the chaplain to talk
to you?" - ✔✔C. "This is an important consideration, but you may live until they are
grown up or even longer."
rationale:
(C) is the best response because it offers a hope without dismissing the client's
concern. (A) may not be realistic. (B) is presumptuous and does not offer hope. (D)
dismisses the client's concern.
✔✔During a routine prenatal clinic visit, the practical nurse (PN) is assessing a pregnant
female client who expresses fears of spousal abuse. Which information should the PN
provide to facilitate client disclosure?
A. Provide her with a reflection of her apparent unhappiness and uncertainty about
pregnancy.
, B. Tell her that spousal abuse can be supported by evidence of old fractures seen on x-
rays.
C. Encourage her to share incidents of past abuse so her personal safety can be
addressed
D. Share with client that her situation is not unique and abuse often increases with
pregnancy. - ✔✔D. Share with client that her situation is not unique and abuse often
increases with pregnancy.
rationale:
Fear, guilt, and embarrassment prevent women from sharing information about family
violence. Letting the client know that the experienced by others (D) may overcome the
strong tendency to deny abuse. Although (B and C) provide factual information, it may
threaten the client or increase her fear and minimize seeking help. The interpretation
that the client is unhappy and unsure about her pregnancy (A), though possibly true,
does not address the client's risk for abuse, which should be addressed directly.
✔✔The practical nurse (PN) is taking the blood pressure of a middle-aged male who is
involved with his children's sports teams as a coach and referee. While establishing a
nurse-client relationship, the client tells the PN that he hires and trains teenagers to
work part-time in his restaurant. Which psychosocial development stage is the client
experiencing?
A. Identity
B. Generativity
C. Isolation
D. Stagnation - ✔✔B. Generativity
rationale:
Generativity (B) is a positive psychosocial outcome in adulthood that includes teaching
and guiding the younger generation. (A) is a developmental task of adolescence. (C)
occurs with the failure to develop intimate relationships. (D) results from not being
involved in the lives of the younger generation.
✔✔An older male client who has vision and hearing problems is admitted after a
combative incident with his caregivers. Which intervention should the practical nurse
(PN) implement when providing basic care?
A. Ask the healthcare provider for a prescription to use restraints
B. Perform tasks quickly to reduce risks to caregivers
C. Explain to the client that this is unacceptable behavior
D. Obtain the client's attention and consent before starting care - ✔✔D. Obtain the
client's attention and consent before starting care
rationale:
Individuals with limited sensory ability may strike out because of fear or confusion.
Taking time to make contact with the individual before starting care should reduce
problems (D). Restraints (A) are not indicated. Performing tasks quickly (B) does ensure
the client's cooperation. Explaining appropriate behavior (C) is ineffective.
