ATI CAPSTONE MENTAL HEALTH
PROCTORED EXAM 2026
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS A+
◉ The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and
falls asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Lethargic
◉ The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or
rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to
respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Stuporous
◉ The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli.
What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Comatose
◉ How to test a client's immediate memory
Answer: Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list of objects
◉ How to test a client's recent memory
,Answer: Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from the
current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or
admission
◉ How to test a client's remote memory
Answer: Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is verifiable,
such as his birth date or his mother's maiden name
◉ How to assess a client's ability to calculate
Answer: Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
◉ How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly
Answer: Ask the client to interpret something complex such as, "A bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush."
◉ Glasgow coma scale
Answer: Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of
consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake
and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less indicates that the client
is in a coma
◉ Serious mental illness
Answer: Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental
illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or
recurrent
,◉ 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?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
Answer: D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example
of a psychobiological intervention. Systematic desensitization is
cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping mechanisms is a counseling
or health teaching. Assessing for comorbid conditions is health
promotion and maintenance.
◉ 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?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
Answer: B. Assessment is the priority action. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history.
, ◉ 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?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Answer: A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful
stimuli to elicit a response. B & C occur with comatose patients.
◉ 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)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
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.
Answer: B, D, & E.
PROCTORED EXAM 2026
PSYCHIATRIC NURSING SCRIPT
SOLVED QUESTIONS VERIFIED
ANSWERS A+
◉ The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and
falls asleep readily. What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Lethargic
◉ The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or
rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief response. They might not be able to
respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Stuporous
◉ The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli.
What is the level of consciousness?
Answer: Comatose
◉ How to test a client's immediate memory
Answer: Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list of objects
◉ How to test a client's recent memory
,Answer: Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from the
current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or
admission
◉ How to test a client's remote memory
Answer: Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is verifiable,
such as his birth date or his mother's maiden name
◉ How to assess a client's ability to calculate
Answer: Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
◉ How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly
Answer: Ask the client to interpret something complex such as, "A bird
in the hand is worth two in the bush."
◉ Glasgow coma scale
Answer: Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of
consciousness; highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake
and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or less indicates that the client
is in a coma
◉ Serious mental illness
Answer: Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental
illnesses; clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or
recurrent
,◉ 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?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications.
Answer: D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example
of a psychobiological intervention. Systematic desensitization is
cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping mechanisms is a counseling
or health teaching. Assessing for comorbid conditions is health
promotion and maintenance.
◉ 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?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
Answer: B. Assessment is the priority action. Identifying the client's
perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history.
, ◉ 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?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Answer: A. A client who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful
stimuli to elicit a response. B & C occur with comatose patients.
◉ 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)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
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.
Answer: B, D, & E.
