Psychiatric-Mental Health Practice HESI EXAM LATEST
2026-2027 560 QUESTIONS AND 100% Verified
ANSWERS
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention when a client is seen openly masturbating in the
recreation room?
1
Restraining the client's hands
2
Putting the client in seclusion
3
Teaching the client acceptable behavior
4
Escorting the client from the room - answer>>4
Escorting the client from the room accepts the client but rejects the behavior. The nurse should set
limits on this behavior when it is not performed in a private area. Restraining the client's hands is
unrealistic and violates the client's rights. Putting the client in seclusion is a punishment rather than a
setting of limits. The client may be too anxious at this time to understand a conversation about
acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The nurse has a responsibility to the other clients to limit the
behavior.
A couple arrives at the mental health clinic for counseling because the husband consistently believes
that his wife is having multiple affairs. After several sessions a delusional disorder is diagnosed. What
specific subtype of the delusion does the nurse identify?
1
Somatic
2
Grandiose
3
Persecutory
4
,Jealousy - answer>>4
A client who is convinced that a mate is unfaithful exhibits delusional jealousy. Somatic delusions
concern preoccupation with the body, including complaints of disfigurement, nonfunctioning body
parts, insect infestation, and presence of a serious illness. In a grandiose delusion, the client seeks a
position of power by expressing an exaggerated belief in his or her importance or identity. Clients with
persecutory delusions believe that they are being conspired against, spied on, drugged, or poisoned.
The nurse at the mental health clinic is counseling a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who
spends a lot of time each day engaged in handwashing and has trouble keeping appointments on time
as a result. What is the most therapeutic initial intervention by the nurse?
1
Discouraging the frequent handwashing to prevent skin breakdown
2
Encouraging the client to hasten the ritual so appointments can be kept on time
3
Telling the client how angry others become when activities are delayed for handwashing
4
Accepting the ritualistic behavior with a matter-of-fact attitude without displaying criticism - answer>>4
Responding to the ritualistic behavior in a matter-of-fact way avoids reinforcing the behavior; allowing
time for rituals helps prevent an increase in the anxiety level. Attempts to discourage ritualistic
behavior often increase the anxiety level and intensify the performance of the ritual. Attempts to
hasten ritualistic behavior will increase the level of anxiety. Disparaging the client will decrease self-
esteem, will increase anxiety and guilt, and may worsen the client's symptoms.
A client is admitted with a conversion disorder. What is the primary nursing intervention?
1
Talking about the physical problems
2
Explaining how stress caused the physical symptoms
3
Focusing on the client's concerns regarding the symptoms
4
,Exploring ways to verbalize feelings - answer>>4
The priority is getting the client to express feelings appropriately rather than through the use of physical
symptoms. Focusing on symptoms will encourage their use by the client. An expression of feelings, not
an intellectual understanding of the cause of the symptoms, is required. Avoidance of feelings resulted
in the symptoms. Clients with a conversion disorder are rarely concerned about the associated physical
problem; this is known as la belle indifférence.
An older client with a diagnosis of dementia is living in a long-term care facility. The client's daughter,
who lives 300 miles away, calls the unit to speak to the nurse about her upcoming visit. What should
the nurse say in response to her question about the best time of day to visit?
1
"Whenever is most convenient for you. She'll be glad to see you."
2
"Come at noon. You'll be able to go to the dining room and visit while she eats."
3
"The longest uninterrupted time begins after supper and extends until bedtime, at 8:30 pm."
4
"Around 2:30 in the afternoon is the best time to visit." - answer>>4
A client with dementia will be most alert in the midafternoon because of the presence of sunlight and
decreased activity in the environment. Telling the daughter to come whenever it is most convenient for
her does not take into consideration the client's circadian rhythms and stressors within the
environment that may affect the client. As environmental stimuli increase, the client is at risk for
increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, and combative behavior. The evening (after supper and
continuing until bedtime, at 8:30 pm) is when the sundown syndrome occurs; clients with dementia
exhibit increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, wandering, and combative behavior because of
misinterpretation of the environment, lower tolerance for stress at the end of the day, or
overstimulation resulting from increased environmental activity in the evening.
A female client who is severely incapacitated by obsessive-compulsive behavior has been admitted to
the mental health hospital. The client's compulsive ritual involves changing her clothing eight to 12
times a day. She continually asks the nurse for advice regarding her problems but then ignores it. This is
an example of the conflict of:
1
Apathy versus anger
, 2
Trust versus mistrust
3
Intimacy versus isolation
4
Dependence versus independence - answer>>4
A conflict exists between wanting to be taken care of and wanting to be self-reliant; ambivalence
fosters lowered self-esteem. Apathy versus anger do not relate to the behavior described; people
usually do not alternate these emotions, which are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Trust versus
mistrust is the developmental conflict of the infant, according to Erikson; it is not related to the
behavior described. Intimacy versus isolation is the developmental conflict of the young adult,
according to Erikson; it is not related to the behavior described.
An effective mood-stabilizing drug used in clients with bipolar disorder in the acute treatment of mania
and prevention of recurrent mania and depressive episodes is:
1
Doxepin (Sinequan)
2
Clozapine (Clozaril)
3
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
4
Lithium carbonate (Lithium) - answer>>4
Lithium carbonate is often the first choice of treatment, once primary acute mania has been diagnosed,
to calm acute manic symptoms and relieve recurrent mania. Doxepin and amitriptyline are
antidepressants used to treat depression but not mania. Clozaril is an antipsychotic medication used to
control hallucinations and delusions in patients with psychosis but is not a first-line drug because of its
side effects, which include seizures and significant weight gain.
What statement by a male client during a yearly physical examination indicates to a nurse that the
client may have a sexual arousal disorder?
1
2026-2027 560 QUESTIONS AND 100% Verified
ANSWERS
What is the most appropriate nursing intervention when a client is seen openly masturbating in the
recreation room?
1
Restraining the client's hands
2
Putting the client in seclusion
3
Teaching the client acceptable behavior
4
Escorting the client from the room - answer>>4
Escorting the client from the room accepts the client but rejects the behavior. The nurse should set
limits on this behavior when it is not performed in a private area. Restraining the client's hands is
unrealistic and violates the client's rights. Putting the client in seclusion is a punishment rather than a
setting of limits. The client may be too anxious at this time to understand a conversation about
acceptable and unacceptable behavior. The nurse has a responsibility to the other clients to limit the
behavior.
A couple arrives at the mental health clinic for counseling because the husband consistently believes
that his wife is having multiple affairs. After several sessions a delusional disorder is diagnosed. What
specific subtype of the delusion does the nurse identify?
1
Somatic
2
Grandiose
3
Persecutory
4
,Jealousy - answer>>4
A client who is convinced that a mate is unfaithful exhibits delusional jealousy. Somatic delusions
concern preoccupation with the body, including complaints of disfigurement, nonfunctioning body
parts, insect infestation, and presence of a serious illness. In a grandiose delusion, the client seeks a
position of power by expressing an exaggerated belief in his or her importance or identity. Clients with
persecutory delusions believe that they are being conspired against, spied on, drugged, or poisoned.
The nurse at the mental health clinic is counseling a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder who
spends a lot of time each day engaged in handwashing and has trouble keeping appointments on time
as a result. What is the most therapeutic initial intervention by the nurse?
1
Discouraging the frequent handwashing to prevent skin breakdown
2
Encouraging the client to hasten the ritual so appointments can be kept on time
3
Telling the client how angry others become when activities are delayed for handwashing
4
Accepting the ritualistic behavior with a matter-of-fact attitude without displaying criticism - answer>>4
Responding to the ritualistic behavior in a matter-of-fact way avoids reinforcing the behavior; allowing
time for rituals helps prevent an increase in the anxiety level. Attempts to discourage ritualistic
behavior often increase the anxiety level and intensify the performance of the ritual. Attempts to
hasten ritualistic behavior will increase the level of anxiety. Disparaging the client will decrease self-
esteem, will increase anxiety and guilt, and may worsen the client's symptoms.
A client is admitted with a conversion disorder. What is the primary nursing intervention?
1
Talking about the physical problems
2
Explaining how stress caused the physical symptoms
3
Focusing on the client's concerns regarding the symptoms
4
,Exploring ways to verbalize feelings - answer>>4
The priority is getting the client to express feelings appropriately rather than through the use of physical
symptoms. Focusing on symptoms will encourage their use by the client. An expression of feelings, not
an intellectual understanding of the cause of the symptoms, is required. Avoidance of feelings resulted
in the symptoms. Clients with a conversion disorder are rarely concerned about the associated physical
problem; this is known as la belle indifférence.
An older client with a diagnosis of dementia is living in a long-term care facility. The client's daughter,
who lives 300 miles away, calls the unit to speak to the nurse about her upcoming visit. What should
the nurse say in response to her question about the best time of day to visit?
1
"Whenever is most convenient for you. She'll be glad to see you."
2
"Come at noon. You'll be able to go to the dining room and visit while she eats."
3
"The longest uninterrupted time begins after supper and extends until bedtime, at 8:30 pm."
4
"Around 2:30 in the afternoon is the best time to visit." - answer>>4
A client with dementia will be most alert in the midafternoon because of the presence of sunlight and
decreased activity in the environment. Telling the daughter to come whenever it is most convenient for
her does not take into consideration the client's circadian rhythms and stressors within the
environment that may affect the client. As environmental stimuli increase, the client is at risk for
increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, and combative behavior. The evening (after supper and
continuing until bedtime, at 8:30 pm) is when the sundown syndrome occurs; clients with dementia
exhibit increased confusion, restlessness, agitation, wandering, and combative behavior because of
misinterpretation of the environment, lower tolerance for stress at the end of the day, or
overstimulation resulting from increased environmental activity in the evening.
A female client who is severely incapacitated by obsessive-compulsive behavior has been admitted to
the mental health hospital. The client's compulsive ritual involves changing her clothing eight to 12
times a day. She continually asks the nurse for advice regarding her problems but then ignores it. This is
an example of the conflict of:
1
Apathy versus anger
, 2
Trust versus mistrust
3
Intimacy versus isolation
4
Dependence versus independence - answer>>4
A conflict exists between wanting to be taken care of and wanting to be self-reliant; ambivalence
fosters lowered self-esteem. Apathy versus anger do not relate to the behavior described; people
usually do not alternate these emotions, which are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Trust versus
mistrust is the developmental conflict of the infant, according to Erikson; it is not related to the
behavior described. Intimacy versus isolation is the developmental conflict of the young adult,
according to Erikson; it is not related to the behavior described.
An effective mood-stabilizing drug used in clients with bipolar disorder in the acute treatment of mania
and prevention of recurrent mania and depressive episodes is:
1
Doxepin (Sinequan)
2
Clozapine (Clozaril)
3
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
4
Lithium carbonate (Lithium) - answer>>4
Lithium carbonate is often the first choice of treatment, once primary acute mania has been diagnosed,
to calm acute manic symptoms and relieve recurrent mania. Doxepin and amitriptyline are
antidepressants used to treat depression but not mania. Clozaril is an antipsychotic medication used to
control hallucinations and delusions in patients with psychosis but is not a first-line drug because of its
side effects, which include seizures and significant weight gain.
What statement by a male client during a yearly physical examination indicates to a nurse that the
client may have a sexual arousal disorder?
1
