NURS 322HESI PSYCHIATRICMENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
Section One: Questions 1–100
A patient with schizophrenia says, "The government has planted a microchip in my brain to monitor
my thoughts." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. No one has planted a chip in your brain. That is impossible.
B. It must be very frightening to feel like your thoughts are being monitored.
C. Why do you think the government wants to monitor you?
D. Let's look at an X-ray of your brain to prove there is no chip there.
🟢 B. It must be very frightening to feel like your thoughts are being monitored.
🔴 RATIONALE: Validating the patient's underlying feelings without reinforcing the false belief or
arguing with the delusion is the most therapeutic approach.
A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted with a major depressive episode. The patient
states, "I don't see any point in living anymore." What is the priority intervention?
A. Document the statement in the patient's medical record.
B. Ask the patient directly if they have a specific plan for suicide.
C. Contact the patient's family to inform them of the statement.
D. Administer the prescribed antidepressant medication immediately.
🟢 B. Ask the patient directly if they have a specific plan for suicide.
🔴 RATIONALE: Safety is always the first priority. Direct questioning about suicidal intent and a
plan is necessary to assess the immediate risk level.
A patient is prescribed phenelzine for treatment-resistant depression. Which food item must the
nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A. Fresh apples
B. Grilled chicken breast
,C. Aged cheddar cheese
D. Whole wheat bread
🟢 C. Aged cheddar cheese
🔴 RATIONALE: Phenelzine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Foods rich in tyramine,
such as aged cheeses, must be avoided to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
A patient diagnosed with bipolar I disorder is experiencing acute mania. Which environment is most
appropriate for this patient?
A. A private room near the nurse's station with low lighting.
B. The dayroom where they can socialize with other patients.
C. A semi-private room next to a high-traffic area.
D. The facility gym for physical activity to burn off excess energy.
🟢 A. A private room near the nurse's station with low lighting.
🔴 RATIONALE: Patients in an acute manic state require a low-stimulus environment to decrease
agitation and promote rest, while staying close to staff for safety tracking.
A nurse is evaluating a patient who began taking haloperidol two days ago. The nurse notes that
the patient's neck is twisted to one side and their eyes are rolled upward. How should the nurse
document this finding?
A. Akathisia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Acute dystonia
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
🟢 C. Acute dystonia
🔴 RATIONALE: Acute dystonia involves severe, involuntary muscle spasms, such as torticollis
(twisted neck) and oculogyric crisis (eyes rolled up), which can occur early in first-generation
antipsychotic therapy.
,Which legal concept protects a patient's right to refuse psychotropic medication unless an
emergency court order is obtained?
A. Autonomy
B. Veracity
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
🟢 A. Autonomy
🔴 RATIONALE: Autonomy is the ethical and legal right of a patient to make their own healthcare
decisions, including the right to refuse treatments and medications.
A patient is admitted for alcohol detoxification. On day two, the patient exhibits tremors, a heart rate
of 118 bpm, and visual hallucinations. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Disulfiram
B. Lorazepam
C. Methadone
D. Naloxone
🟢 B. Lorazepam
🔴 RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines like lorazepam are the first-line treatment for acute alcohol
withdrawal symptoms to prevent complications such as seizures and delirium tremens.
A patient with borderline personality disorder cuts their forearm after a dispute with a peer. When
dressing the wound, which behavior should the nurse display?
A. Express disappointment regarding the self-harm behavior.
B. Provide a matter-of-fact, neutral physical treatment.
C. Offer extended counseling sessions to explore the triggers immediately.
D. Spend extra time comforting the patient to show empathy.
🟢 B. Provide a matter-of-fact, neutral physical treatment.
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Treating self-harm wounds in a matter-of-fact manner prevents secondary gains,
such as excessive attention, which can inadvertently reinforce self-injurious behavior in borderline
personality disorder.
A patient is brought to the emergency department with suspected lithium toxicity. The patient's
serum lithium level is 2.4 mEq/L. Which clinical manifestation is consistent with this finding?
A. Mild hand tremors and polyuria
B. Coarse hand tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea
C. Constipation and increased alertness
D. Hypertension and bradycardia
🟢 B. Coarse hand tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea
🔴 RATIONALE: Lithium levels above 2.0 mEq/L indicate severe toxicity, which presents with
gastrointestinal distress, coarse tremors, slurred speech, and mental confusion.
A nurse is caring for an older adult patient who is experiencing sudden confusion, disorientation,
and fluctuating levels of consciousness. Which condition do these symptoms indicate?
A. Alzheimer's disease
B. Delirium
C. Vascular dementia
D. Major depressive disorder
🟢 B. Delirium
🔴 RATIONALE: Delirium is characterized by an acute, sudden onset of fluctuating cognitive
impairment and altered levels of consciousness, often triggered by a medical condition or infection.
An adolescent patient with anorexia nervosa is admitted to an inpatient unit. Which intervention is
most appropriate regarding meal times?
A. Allow the patient to eat alone in their room to reduce anxiety.
B. Set a strict 30-minute time limit for meals and observe the patient.
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A |LATEST EXAM UPDATE 2026/2027
Section One: Questions 1–100
A patient with schizophrenia says, "The government has planted a microchip in my brain to monitor
my thoughts." Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. No one has planted a chip in your brain. That is impossible.
B. It must be very frightening to feel like your thoughts are being monitored.
C. Why do you think the government wants to monitor you?
D. Let's look at an X-ray of your brain to prove there is no chip there.
🟢 B. It must be very frightening to feel like your thoughts are being monitored.
🔴 RATIONALE: Validating the patient's underlying feelings without reinforcing the false belief or
arguing with the delusion is the most therapeutic approach.
A nurse is caring for a patient who was admitted with a major depressive episode. The patient
states, "I don't see any point in living anymore." What is the priority intervention?
A. Document the statement in the patient's medical record.
B. Ask the patient directly if they have a specific plan for suicide.
C. Contact the patient's family to inform them of the statement.
D. Administer the prescribed antidepressant medication immediately.
🟢 B. Ask the patient directly if they have a specific plan for suicide.
🔴 RATIONALE: Safety is always the first priority. Direct questioning about suicidal intent and a
plan is necessary to assess the immediate risk level.
A patient is prescribed phenelzine for treatment-resistant depression. Which food item must the
nurse instruct the patient to avoid?
A. Fresh apples
B. Grilled chicken breast
,C. Aged cheddar cheese
D. Whole wheat bread
🟢 C. Aged cheddar cheese
🔴 RATIONALE: Phenelzine is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Foods rich in tyramine,
such as aged cheeses, must be avoided to prevent a hypertensive crisis.
A patient diagnosed with bipolar I disorder is experiencing acute mania. Which environment is most
appropriate for this patient?
A. A private room near the nurse's station with low lighting.
B. The dayroom where they can socialize with other patients.
C. A semi-private room next to a high-traffic area.
D. The facility gym for physical activity to burn off excess energy.
🟢 A. A private room near the nurse's station with low lighting.
🔴 RATIONALE: Patients in an acute manic state require a low-stimulus environment to decrease
agitation and promote rest, while staying close to staff for safety tracking.
A nurse is evaluating a patient who began taking haloperidol two days ago. The nurse notes that
the patient's neck is twisted to one side and their eyes are rolled upward. How should the nurse
document this finding?
A. Akathisia
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Acute dystonia
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
🟢 C. Acute dystonia
🔴 RATIONALE: Acute dystonia involves severe, involuntary muscle spasms, such as torticollis
(twisted neck) and oculogyric crisis (eyes rolled up), which can occur early in first-generation
antipsychotic therapy.
,Which legal concept protects a patient's right to refuse psychotropic medication unless an
emergency court order is obtained?
A. Autonomy
B. Veracity
C. Beneficence
D. Fidelity
🟢 A. Autonomy
🔴 RATIONALE: Autonomy is the ethical and legal right of a patient to make their own healthcare
decisions, including the right to refuse treatments and medications.
A patient is admitted for alcohol detoxification. On day two, the patient exhibits tremors, a heart rate
of 118 bpm, and visual hallucinations. Which medication should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Disulfiram
B. Lorazepam
C. Methadone
D. Naloxone
🟢 B. Lorazepam
🔴 RATIONALE: Benzodiazepines like lorazepam are the first-line treatment for acute alcohol
withdrawal symptoms to prevent complications such as seizures and delirium tremens.
A patient with borderline personality disorder cuts their forearm after a dispute with a peer. When
dressing the wound, which behavior should the nurse display?
A. Express disappointment regarding the self-harm behavior.
B. Provide a matter-of-fact, neutral physical treatment.
C. Offer extended counseling sessions to explore the triggers immediately.
D. Spend extra time comforting the patient to show empathy.
🟢 B. Provide a matter-of-fact, neutral physical treatment.
, 🔴 RATIONALE: Treating self-harm wounds in a matter-of-fact manner prevents secondary gains,
such as excessive attention, which can inadvertently reinforce self-injurious behavior in borderline
personality disorder.
A patient is brought to the emergency department with suspected lithium toxicity. The patient's
serum lithium level is 2.4 mEq/L. Which clinical manifestation is consistent with this finding?
A. Mild hand tremors and polyuria
B. Coarse hand tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea
C. Constipation and increased alertness
D. Hypertension and bradycardia
🟢 B. Coarse hand tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea
🔴 RATIONALE: Lithium levels above 2.0 mEq/L indicate severe toxicity, which presents with
gastrointestinal distress, coarse tremors, slurred speech, and mental confusion.
A nurse is caring for an older adult patient who is experiencing sudden confusion, disorientation,
and fluctuating levels of consciousness. Which condition do these symptoms indicate?
A. Alzheimer's disease
B. Delirium
C. Vascular dementia
D. Major depressive disorder
🟢 B. Delirium
🔴 RATIONALE: Delirium is characterized by an acute, sudden onset of fluctuating cognitive
impairment and altered levels of consciousness, often triggered by a medical condition or infection.
An adolescent patient with anorexia nervosa is admitted to an inpatient unit. Which intervention is
most appropriate regarding meal times?
A. Allow the patient to eat alone in their room to reduce anxiety.
B. Set a strict 30-minute time limit for meals and observe the patient.
