Mental Health Nursing Exam Cycle 2026 |
NCLEX‑Style Comprehensive Prep Guide |
Student Success Edition with Practice Pack
100 Questions
1. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this medication with food if it upsets my stomach."
B) "I will feel better immediately after starting this medication."
C) "I should not stop taking this medication abruptly."
D) "It may take 4-6 weeks to see the full therapeutic effect."
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) "I will feel better immediately after starting this medication."
💡EXPLANATION: SSRIs typically take 4-6 weeks to achieve therapeutic effect. Immediate improvement
is unrealistic, which indicates the patient needs further education about the medication's onset of
action.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with bipolar disorder experiencing a manic episode. Which nursing
intervention is a priority?
A) Place the patient in a private room with minimal stimulation
B) Encourage the patient to participate in group activities
C) Provide the patient with high-calorie finger foods
D) Allow the patient to make independent decisions about their care
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: A) Place the patient in a private room with minimal stimulation
💡EXPLANATION: During a manic episode, patients are highly stimulated and may become
overwhelmed. A quiet, low-stimulation environment helps reduce agitation and promote rest.
,3. A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. What is the most therapeutic
nursing response?
A) "The voices are not real, so you should ignore them."
B) "Tell me what the voices are saying to you."
C) "I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you."
D) "Let's go for a walk to distract you from the voices."
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: C) "I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you."
💡EXPLANATION: Validating the patient's experience without reinforcing the hallucination is
therapeutic. This response acknowledges the patient's reality while maintaining a grounding connection
to the nurse's reality.
4. A patient is prescribed haloperidol for schizophrenia. Which adverse effect requires immediate
nursing intervention?
A) Dry mouth
B) Drowsiness
C) Tardive dyskinesia
D) Acute dystonia
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: D) Acute dystonia
💡EXPLANATION: Acute dystonia is a severe extrapyramidal symptom characterized by sudden muscle
spasms, especially of the face, neck, and tongue. It requires immediate treatment with anticholinergic
medications like benztropine.
5. A patient with borderline personality disorder engages in self-harming behavior. What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Place the patient in seclusion
B) Assess the patient's physical injuries and provide wound care
C) Restrict the patient's visitors
D) Administer a PRN sedative medication
,🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Assess the patient's physical injuries and provide wound care
💡EXPLANATION: Physical safety is the priority. The nurse must first assess and treat any physical
injuries before addressing the underlying emotional issues.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which symptom is most
consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Grandiose delusions
B) Flashbacks of the traumatic event
C) Disorganized speech
D) Flight of ideas
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Flashbacks of the traumatic event
💡EXPLANATION: Flashbacks, where the patient relives the traumatic event, are a hallmark symptom of
PTSD. Other symptoms include hypervigilance, nightmares, and avoidance of trauma reminders.
7. A patient with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed lorazepam. What is the most important
nursing teaching point?
A) This medication is safe for long-term use
B) Avoid alcohol while taking this medication
C) Take this medication only when feeling anxious
D) This medication will cure your anxiety
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Avoid alcohol while taking this medication
💡EXPLANATION: Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that causes CNS depression. Alcohol potentiates this
effect and increases the risk of respiratory depression and sedation.
8. A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours washing their hands. Which nursing
intervention is appropriate?
A) Physically prevent the patient from washing their hands
, B) Allow the patient to wash their hands but set time limits
C) Punish the patient for engaging in the behavior
D) Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcing it
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Allow the patient to wash their hands but set time limits
💡EXPLANATION: It is important to set limits on compulsive behaviors to prevent them from interfering
with daily functioning while not punishing the patient. This approach maintains safety and gradually
reduces the behavior.
9. A patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal is at risk for which life-threatening complication?
A) Delirium tremens
B) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
C) Cirrhosis of the liver
D) Peripheral neuropathy
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: A) Delirium tremens
💡EXPLANATION: Delirium tremens is a severe, life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal
characterized by confusion, hallucinations, tachycardia, and hypertension. It typically occurs 48-72 hours
after the last drink.
10. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed phenelzine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI). The nurse should instruct the patient to avoid:
A) Grapefruit juice
B) Foods containing tyramine
C) Green leafy vegetables
D) Dairy products
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Foods containing tyramine
💡EXPLANATION: MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of tyramine. Consuming tyramine-rich foods (e.g., aged
cheese, cured meats, fermented products) can cause a hypertensive crisis.
NCLEX‑Style Comprehensive Prep Guide |
Student Success Edition with Practice Pack
100 Questions
1. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
Which statement by the patient indicates a need for further teaching?
A) "I should take this medication with food if it upsets my stomach."
B) "I will feel better immediately after starting this medication."
C) "I should not stop taking this medication abruptly."
D) "It may take 4-6 weeks to see the full therapeutic effect."
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) "I will feel better immediately after starting this medication."
💡EXPLANATION: SSRIs typically take 4-6 weeks to achieve therapeutic effect. Immediate improvement
is unrealistic, which indicates the patient needs further education about the medication's onset of
action.
2. A nurse is caring for a patient with bipolar disorder experiencing a manic episode. Which nursing
intervention is a priority?
A) Place the patient in a private room with minimal stimulation
B) Encourage the patient to participate in group activities
C) Provide the patient with high-calorie finger foods
D) Allow the patient to make independent decisions about their care
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: A) Place the patient in a private room with minimal stimulation
💡EXPLANATION: During a manic episode, patients are highly stimulated and may become
overwhelmed. A quiet, low-stimulation environment helps reduce agitation and promote rest.
,3. A patient with schizophrenia is experiencing auditory hallucinations. What is the most therapeutic
nursing response?
A) "The voices are not real, so you should ignore them."
B) "Tell me what the voices are saying to you."
C) "I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you."
D) "Let's go for a walk to distract you from the voices."
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: C) "I do not hear the voices, but I understand they are real to you."
💡EXPLANATION: Validating the patient's experience without reinforcing the hallucination is
therapeutic. This response acknowledges the patient's reality while maintaining a grounding connection
to the nurse's reality.
4. A patient is prescribed haloperidol for schizophrenia. Which adverse effect requires immediate
nursing intervention?
A) Dry mouth
B) Drowsiness
C) Tardive dyskinesia
D) Acute dystonia
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: D) Acute dystonia
💡EXPLANATION: Acute dystonia is a severe extrapyramidal symptom characterized by sudden muscle
spasms, especially of the face, neck, and tongue. It requires immediate treatment with anticholinergic
medications like benztropine.
5. A patient with borderline personality disorder engages in self-harming behavior. What is the priority
nursing action?
A) Place the patient in seclusion
B) Assess the patient's physical injuries and provide wound care
C) Restrict the patient's visitors
D) Administer a PRN sedative medication
,🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Assess the patient's physical injuries and provide wound care
💡EXPLANATION: Physical safety is the priority. The nurse must first assess and treat any physical
injuries before addressing the underlying emotional issues.
6. A nurse is assessing a patient with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which symptom is most
consistent with this diagnosis?
A) Grandiose delusions
B) Flashbacks of the traumatic event
C) Disorganized speech
D) Flight of ideas
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Flashbacks of the traumatic event
💡EXPLANATION: Flashbacks, where the patient relives the traumatic event, are a hallmark symptom of
PTSD. Other symptoms include hypervigilance, nightmares, and avoidance of trauma reminders.
7. A patient with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed lorazepam. What is the most important
nursing teaching point?
A) This medication is safe for long-term use
B) Avoid alcohol while taking this medication
C) Take this medication only when feeling anxious
D) This medication will cure your anxiety
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Avoid alcohol while taking this medication
💡EXPLANATION: Lorazepam is a benzodiazepine that causes CNS depression. Alcohol potentiates this
effect and increases the risk of respiratory depression and sedation.
8. A patient with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours washing their hands. Which nursing
intervention is appropriate?
A) Physically prevent the patient from washing their hands
, B) Allow the patient to wash their hands but set time limits
C) Punish the patient for engaging in the behavior
D) Ignore the behavior to avoid reinforcing it
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Allow the patient to wash their hands but set time limits
💡EXPLANATION: It is important to set limits on compulsive behaviors to prevent them from interfering
with daily functioning while not punishing the patient. This approach maintains safety and gradually
reduces the behavior.
9. A patient experiencing alcohol withdrawal is at risk for which life-threatening complication?
A) Delirium tremens
B) Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
C) Cirrhosis of the liver
D) Peripheral neuropathy
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: A) Delirium tremens
💡EXPLANATION: Delirium tremens is a severe, life-threatening form of alcohol withdrawal
characterized by confusion, hallucinations, tachycardia, and hypertension. It typically occurs 48-72 hours
after the last drink.
10. A patient with major depressive disorder is prescribed phenelzine, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor
(MAOI). The nurse should instruct the patient to avoid:
A) Grapefruit juice
B) Foods containing tyramine
C) Green leafy vegetables
D) Dairy products
🎯CORRECT CHOICE: B) Foods containing tyramine
💡EXPLANATION: MAOIs inhibit the breakdown of tyramine. Consuming tyramine-rich foods (e.g., aged
cheese, cured meats, fermented products) can cause a hypertensive crisis.
