ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam Practice
Q&A, Review Tips & Study Guide 2026
Updated Pass Guaranteed
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply).
- ............ANSWER..........A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the
client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression.
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention? - ............ANSWER..........D. Monitor the
client for adverse effects of the medications.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an
initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
- ............ANSWER..........B. Identify the client's perception of her mental
health status.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
,
nurse expect? - ............ANSWER..........A. The client arouses briefly in
response to a sternal rub.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of
the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply) - ............ANSWER..........B. The DSM-5
establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of
clients. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients
requires a temporary emergency admission? - ............ANSWER..........C.
A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion
overnight because the unit is very short-staffed, and the client frequently
fights with other clients. The nurse's actions are an example of which of
the following torts? - ............ANSWER..........B. False imprisonment
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under my
mattress in order to protect myself from my roommate, who is always
yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following actions
should the nurse take? - ............ANSWER..........D. Report the incident
,
to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention to do
so.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of
the following statements should the nurse include in the documentation?
(Select all that apply) - ............ANSWER..........B. "Client was offered 8
oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000.
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations
in the hallway with another nurse. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? - ............ANSWER..........B. Tell the nurse to stop
discussing the behavior
A nurse is caring for the parents of a child who has demonstrated
changes in behavior and mood. When the mother of the child asks the
nurse for reassurance about her son's condition, which of the following
responses should the nurse make? - ............ANSWER..........D. "I
understand you're concerned. Let's discuss what concerns you
specifically."
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? - ............ANSWER..........B. Denial
,
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?
- ............ANSWER..........B. Moderate
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take when trying to give
necessary information to the client? (Select all that apply.)
- ............ANSWER..........B. Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms
with the client.
D. Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions.
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? - ............ANSWER..........C. "Losing someone close to you must
be very upsetting."
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) - ............ANSWER..........C. It is goal-directed.
D. Behavioral change is encouraged.
E. A termination date is established.
A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a client
who has methamphetamine use disorder. Which of the following actions
Q&A, Review Tips & Study Guide 2026
Updated Pass Guaranteed
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse
indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that apply).
- ............ANSWER..........A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the
client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression.
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a
sentence."
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder.
Which of the following actions should the nurse include as a
psychobiological intervention? - ............ANSWER..........D. Monitor the
client for adverse effects of the medications.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an
initial client interview. When conducting the interview, which of the
following actions should the nurse identify as the priority?
- ............ANSWER..........B. Identify the client's perception of her mental
health status.
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous.
When assessing the client, which of the following findings should the
,
nurse expect? - ............ANSWER..........A. The client arouses briefly in
response to a sternal rub.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of
the following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply) - ............ANSWER..........B. The DSM-5
establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for client's who have
mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health
disorders.
A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of
clients. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients
requires a temporary emergency admission? - ............ANSWER..........C.
A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion
overnight because the unit is very short-staffed, and the client frequently
fights with other clients. The nurse's actions are an example of which of
the following torts? - ............ANSWER..........B. False imprisonment
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under my
mattress in order to protect myself from my roommate, who is always
yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following actions
should the nurse take? - ............ANSWER..........D. Report the incident
,
to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention to do
so.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of
the following statements should the nurse include in the documentation?
(Select all that apply) - ............ANSWER..........B. "Client was offered 8
oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000.
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations
in the hallway with another nurse. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take first? - ............ANSWER..........B. Tell the nurse to stop
discussing the behavior
A nurse is caring for the parents of a child who has demonstrated
changes in behavior and mood. When the mother of the child asks the
nurse for reassurance about her son's condition, which of the following
responses should the nurse make? - ............ANSWER..........D. "I
understand you're concerned. Let's discuss what concerns you
specifically."
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? - ............ANSWER..........B. Denial
,
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?
- ............ANSWER..........B. Moderate
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take when trying to give
necessary information to the client? (Select all that apply.)
- ............ANSWER..........B. Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms
with the client.
D. Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions.
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? - ............ANSWER..........C. "Losing someone close to you must
be very upsetting."
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) - ............ANSWER..........C. It is goal-directed.
D. Behavioral change is encouraged.
E. A termination date is established.
A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a client
who has methamphetamine use disorder. Which of the following actions
