ATI Mental Health CMS|Psychiatric Nursing
Comprehensive Assessment
1. Therapeutic Communication
A client says, “I feel hopeless.” Which response is most therapeutic?
A. “Don’t worry, things will get better.”
B. “Why do you feel hopeless?”
C. “Tell me more about these feelings.”
D. “You should focus on the positives.”
2. Suicide Risk
Which statement indicates the highest suicide risk?
A. “I feel sad most days.”
B. “I don’t want to live anymore.”
C. “I have a plan to hang myself tonight.”
D. “Life is difficult for me.”
3. Schizophrenia
A client states, “The FBI is controlling my thoughts.” This is an example of:
A. Hallucination
B. Delusion of persecution
C. Delusion of control
D. Flight of ideas
4. Bipolar Disorder
Which activity is most appropriate for a client in a manic episode?
A. Competitive basketball
,B. Group therapy
C. Walking in the garden
D. Watching TV in a crowded lounge
5. Electroconvulsive Therapy
Priority nursing action immediately after ECT is:
A. Monitor for memory loss
B. Assess gag reflex
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Provide discharge teaching
6. Defense Mechanisms
A client fired from work says, “I didn’t want that job anyway.” This is:
A. Projection
B. Rationalization
C. Denial
D. Regression
7. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Best intervention for a client who washes hands repeatedly:
A. Stop the ritual immediately
B. Allow ritual, then set limits
C. Ignore the behavior
D. Encourage avoidance of triggers
8. Medication Management
Which finding requires urgent intervention in a client taking clozapine?
A. Weight gain
B. Sedation
,C. Sore throat and fever
D. Constipation
9. Group Therapy
Purpose of group therapy is:
A. To eliminate need for individual therapy
B. To prevent relapse completely
C. To help clients learn from each other
D. To treat only depression
10. Crisis Intervention
Primary goal of crisis intervention is:
A. Explore past coping
B. Resolve long-term issues
C. Restore psychological equilibrium
D. Encourage independence
11. Anxiety Disorders
Which intervention is most effective during a panic attack?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Explore triggers
C. Provide detailed teaching
D. Confront irrational thoughts
12. Depression
Which activity is most therapeutic for a depressed client?
A. Competitive sports
B. Simple, structured tasks
C. Complex problem-solving
, D. Isolation
13. Borderline Personality Disorder
A client alternates between idealizing and devaluing staff. This is:
A. Projection
B. Splitting
C. Denial
D. Rationalization
14. Alcohol Withdrawal
Which medication is most appropriate for alcohol withdrawal?
A. Haloperidol
B. Lorazepam
C. Lithium
D. Clozapine
15. Therapeutic Milieu
Purpose of a therapeutic milieu is:
A. To provide punishment
B. To promote social interaction
C. To eliminate symptoms
D. To replace medication
16. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Which intervention is most appropriate for PTSD?
A. Encourage avoidance of triggers
B. Use grounding techniques
C. Discourage discussion of trauma
D. Promote isolation
Comprehensive Assessment
1. Therapeutic Communication
A client says, “I feel hopeless.” Which response is most therapeutic?
A. “Don’t worry, things will get better.”
B. “Why do you feel hopeless?”
C. “Tell me more about these feelings.”
D. “You should focus on the positives.”
2. Suicide Risk
Which statement indicates the highest suicide risk?
A. “I feel sad most days.”
B. “I don’t want to live anymore.”
C. “I have a plan to hang myself tonight.”
D. “Life is difficult for me.”
3. Schizophrenia
A client states, “The FBI is controlling my thoughts.” This is an example of:
A. Hallucination
B. Delusion of persecution
C. Delusion of control
D. Flight of ideas
4. Bipolar Disorder
Which activity is most appropriate for a client in a manic episode?
A. Competitive basketball
,B. Group therapy
C. Walking in the garden
D. Watching TV in a crowded lounge
5. Electroconvulsive Therapy
Priority nursing action immediately after ECT is:
A. Monitor for memory loss
B. Assess gag reflex
C. Encourage oral fluids
D. Provide discharge teaching
6. Defense Mechanisms
A client fired from work says, “I didn’t want that job anyway.” This is:
A. Projection
B. Rationalization
C. Denial
D. Regression
7. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Best intervention for a client who washes hands repeatedly:
A. Stop the ritual immediately
B. Allow ritual, then set limits
C. Ignore the behavior
D. Encourage avoidance of triggers
8. Medication Management
Which finding requires urgent intervention in a client taking clozapine?
A. Weight gain
B. Sedation
,C. Sore throat and fever
D. Constipation
9. Group Therapy
Purpose of group therapy is:
A. To eliminate need for individual therapy
B. To prevent relapse completely
C. To help clients learn from each other
D. To treat only depression
10. Crisis Intervention
Primary goal of crisis intervention is:
A. Explore past coping
B. Resolve long-term issues
C. Restore psychological equilibrium
D. Encourage independence
11. Anxiety Disorders
Which intervention is most effective during a panic attack?
A. Encourage deep breathing
B. Explore triggers
C. Provide detailed teaching
D. Confront irrational thoughts
12. Depression
Which activity is most therapeutic for a depressed client?
A. Competitive sports
B. Simple, structured tasks
C. Complex problem-solving
, D. Isolation
13. Borderline Personality Disorder
A client alternates between idealizing and devaluing staff. This is:
A. Projection
B. Splitting
C. Denial
D. Rationalization
14. Alcohol Withdrawal
Which medication is most appropriate for alcohol withdrawal?
A. Haloperidol
B. Lorazepam
C. Lithium
D. Clozapine
15. Therapeutic Milieu
Purpose of a therapeutic milieu is:
A. To provide punishment
B. To promote social interaction
C. To eliminate symptoms
D. To replace medication
16. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Which intervention is most appropriate for PTSD?
A. Encourage avoidance of triggers
B. Use grounding techniques
C. Discourage discussion of trauma
D. Promote isolation
