HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM ACTUAL
EXAM 2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
Which action should the nurse take? - ans-Explain to the UAP, away from the client,
that initial client teaching must be performed by the nurse.
Rationale: Initial client teaching requires the expertise of the nurse.
Which behaviors of the client's partner exhibit codependency toward the client? (Select
all that apply.) - ans-The client's partner states that moving out of their home
caused the client to start drinking heavily.
Rationale: Finding excuses for alcohol abuse is considered codependent
behavior.
The client's partner removed hidden alcohol from the home and is now moving
back to keep a close eye on the client.
Rationale: The client's partner feels responsible for the client. Searching for and
removing alcohol from the home is further evidence of codependent behavior.
The client's partner paid all of the bills for the next two months so that the client
won't have to worry about finances when discharged.
Rationale: This shows that the client's partner feels a need to control the finances
and assume responsibility for the client's duties.
Which thought process describes the client's inability to leave his apartment because he
thinks someone is waiting to kill him? - ans-Delusions.
Rationale: A delusion is a false belief that is firmly maintained even though it is
not shared by others and is contradicted by reality.
When the client explains that someone has been following him and is waiting outside
the door of the ED, how should the nurse respond? - ans-State how he must be
concerned and assure him he will be safe there.
Rationale: The nurse should respond to the client's underlying feelings and not
make assumptions about his delusions.
When the client looks around the room and mumbles to himself, how should the nurse
respond? - ans-Ask the client if they are hearing voices.
Rationale: The client is demonstrating nonverbal cues that he is experiencing
auditory hallucinations, so the nurse should ask the client if he is hearing voices.
,The client admits that the voices he hears have been getting louder over the past
couple of weeks. Which nursing intervention best promotes effective communication? -
ans-Have the client repeat what he thinks the voices are saying.
Rationale: The nurse should first ask what the voices are saying in order to
assess for command hallucinations.
The nurse observes the client looking to the corner of the room and mumbling to
himself. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in the client's plan
of care? - ans-Begin a sequence of interventions to address the client's
hallucinations.
Rationale: Hallucinations can be nonverbal or they can include talking to oneself,
moving the lips without making sounds, rapid eye movements, and grinning or
inappropriate laughter.
The client becomes very agitated and angry, and he talks loudly to himself as he waits
to be seen by the healthcare provider (HCP).
Which medications should the nurse anticipate giving the client after securing a
prescription from the healthcare provider? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all
options may be correct.) - ans-Short-acting anxiolytic (benzodiazepines).
Rationale: Antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines, lorazepam clonazepam, or
diazepam) are most effective for anxiety-related symptoms to produce calming
and sedation. When used in conjunction with an atypical antipsychotic
medication, such as olanzapine, benzodiazepines, especially IM, can augment the
efficacy of the antipsychotic medication, quickly alleviating acute agitation of a
client.
Antipsychotic medication.
Rationale: Antipsychotic medications are effective for psychosis-related
symptoms and manifestations of agitation associated with mental illness.
Which assessment data provides evidence that the client can be involuntarily committed
to the hospital, if he insists on leaving? - ans-Losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks.
Rationale: The criteria for commitment includes danger to self and/or others,
unable to provide for own basic needs, and/or the need for immediate and
adequate treatment. Excessive weight loss demonstrates the client's inability to
provide for his own basic needs by not maintaining adequate nutrition.
As part of the admission process, the nurse orients the client to the program and
to his room.
What is the most important part of this admission process? - ans-Take away the
client's cigarettes and lighter.
Rationale: Safety for the client and the unit environment is the highest priority, so
the staff should keep any potentially dangerous objects away from the client.
, Which assessment data are the best indicators of the potential for violence? (Select all
that apply. One, some, or all options may be correct.) - ans-Gender and age.
Rationale: Demographic variables such as gender and age are variables for
predicting violence when assessing the client with psychosis.
Past suicide attempts.
Rationale: Past suicide attempts are indicators of violence toward self.
History of violence.
Rationale: The best single predictor of violence is a past history of violence.
Medication noncompliance.
Rationale: Clients with active psychotic symptoms are at increased risk for
violence (symptom exacerbation), especially if they are medication noncompliant.
The nurse understands that the purpose of the urine drug screen is to assess the client
for what important information? - ans-Detection of substances that may have caused
the client's delusions and/or hallucinations.
Rationale: A urine drug screen is routinely ordered to determine the presence of
any substances that may have altered a client's mental status. Blood and urine
are the body fluids most often tested for drug content, although methods of
analyzing saliva, hair, breath, and sweat have been developed.
Which lab values from the urinalysis can the nurse expect to be related to the client's
10-pound weight loss in the past 2 weeks? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all
options may be correct.) - ans-Positive ketones.
Rationale: Ketones in the urine can suggest malnutrition, fasting, or starvation.
Increased urine specific gravity.
Rationale: Increased urine specific gravity is associated with dehydration which
could be contributing to the client's weight loss.
What is the purpose of a baseline complete blood count (CBC) prior to initiation of the
antipsychotic medication? - ans-To determine if other medical issues are present.
Rationale: A CBC can provide helpful information on the client's health status. It
is important to determine if there are other issues that could be causing some of
the symptoms, and whether the client is healthy enough to take the medication.
Some antypsychotic medications can cause neutropenia. If the client has other
medical issues, considerations will need to be discussed regarding what
medications should be prescribed.
Because the client has hallucinations and delusions, the nurse develops an initial plan
of care related to psychosis.
Which nursing diagnosis is best to include in the initial care plan? - ans-Sensory-
perceptual alteration related to withdrawal into self.
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis is related to the client's hallucinations,
which impact his functioning and social interaction.
EXAM 2026 UPDATE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT VERIFIED ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+ (BRAND NEW VISION)
Which action should the nurse take? - ans-Explain to the UAP, away from the client,
that initial client teaching must be performed by the nurse.
Rationale: Initial client teaching requires the expertise of the nurse.
Which behaviors of the client's partner exhibit codependency toward the client? (Select
all that apply.) - ans-The client's partner states that moving out of their home
caused the client to start drinking heavily.
Rationale: Finding excuses for alcohol abuse is considered codependent
behavior.
The client's partner removed hidden alcohol from the home and is now moving
back to keep a close eye on the client.
Rationale: The client's partner feels responsible for the client. Searching for and
removing alcohol from the home is further evidence of codependent behavior.
The client's partner paid all of the bills for the next two months so that the client
won't have to worry about finances when discharged.
Rationale: This shows that the client's partner feels a need to control the finances
and assume responsibility for the client's duties.
Which thought process describes the client's inability to leave his apartment because he
thinks someone is waiting to kill him? - ans-Delusions.
Rationale: A delusion is a false belief that is firmly maintained even though it is
not shared by others and is contradicted by reality.
When the client explains that someone has been following him and is waiting outside
the door of the ED, how should the nurse respond? - ans-State how he must be
concerned and assure him he will be safe there.
Rationale: The nurse should respond to the client's underlying feelings and not
make assumptions about his delusions.
When the client looks around the room and mumbles to himself, how should the nurse
respond? - ans-Ask the client if they are hearing voices.
Rationale: The client is demonstrating nonverbal cues that he is experiencing
auditory hallucinations, so the nurse should ask the client if he is hearing voices.
,The client admits that the voices he hears have been getting louder over the past
couple of weeks. Which nursing intervention best promotes effective communication? -
ans-Have the client repeat what he thinks the voices are saying.
Rationale: The nurse should first ask what the voices are saying in order to
assess for command hallucinations.
The nurse observes the client looking to the corner of the room and mumbling to
himself. Which intervention is most important for the nurse to include in the client's plan
of care? - ans-Begin a sequence of interventions to address the client's
hallucinations.
Rationale: Hallucinations can be nonverbal or they can include talking to oneself,
moving the lips without making sounds, rapid eye movements, and grinning or
inappropriate laughter.
The client becomes very agitated and angry, and he talks loudly to himself as he waits
to be seen by the healthcare provider (HCP).
Which medications should the nurse anticipate giving the client after securing a
prescription from the healthcare provider? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all
options may be correct.) - ans-Short-acting anxiolytic (benzodiazepines).
Rationale: Antianxiety medications (benzodiazepines, lorazepam clonazepam, or
diazepam) are most effective for anxiety-related symptoms to produce calming
and sedation. When used in conjunction with an atypical antipsychotic
medication, such as olanzapine, benzodiazepines, especially IM, can augment the
efficacy of the antipsychotic medication, quickly alleviating acute agitation of a
client.
Antipsychotic medication.
Rationale: Antipsychotic medications are effective for psychosis-related
symptoms and manifestations of agitation associated with mental illness.
Which assessment data provides evidence that the client can be involuntarily committed
to the hospital, if he insists on leaving? - ans-Losing 10 pounds in 2 weeks.
Rationale: The criteria for commitment includes danger to self and/or others,
unable to provide for own basic needs, and/or the need for immediate and
adequate treatment. Excessive weight loss demonstrates the client's inability to
provide for his own basic needs by not maintaining adequate nutrition.
As part of the admission process, the nurse orients the client to the program and
to his room.
What is the most important part of this admission process? - ans-Take away the
client's cigarettes and lighter.
Rationale: Safety for the client and the unit environment is the highest priority, so
the staff should keep any potentially dangerous objects away from the client.
, Which assessment data are the best indicators of the potential for violence? (Select all
that apply. One, some, or all options may be correct.) - ans-Gender and age.
Rationale: Demographic variables such as gender and age are variables for
predicting violence when assessing the client with psychosis.
Past suicide attempts.
Rationale: Past suicide attempts are indicators of violence toward self.
History of violence.
Rationale: The best single predictor of violence is a past history of violence.
Medication noncompliance.
Rationale: Clients with active psychotic symptoms are at increased risk for
violence (symptom exacerbation), especially if they are medication noncompliant.
The nurse understands that the purpose of the urine drug screen is to assess the client
for what important information? - ans-Detection of substances that may have caused
the client's delusions and/or hallucinations.
Rationale: A urine drug screen is routinely ordered to determine the presence of
any substances that may have altered a client's mental status. Blood and urine
are the body fluids most often tested for drug content, although methods of
analyzing saliva, hair, breath, and sweat have been developed.
Which lab values from the urinalysis can the nurse expect to be related to the client's
10-pound weight loss in the past 2 weeks? (Select all that apply. One, some, or all
options may be correct.) - ans-Positive ketones.
Rationale: Ketones in the urine can suggest malnutrition, fasting, or starvation.
Increased urine specific gravity.
Rationale: Increased urine specific gravity is associated with dehydration which
could be contributing to the client's weight loss.
What is the purpose of a baseline complete blood count (CBC) prior to initiation of the
antipsychotic medication? - ans-To determine if other medical issues are present.
Rationale: A CBC can provide helpful information on the client's health status. It
is important to determine if there are other issues that could be causing some of
the symptoms, and whether the client is healthy enough to take the medication.
Some antypsychotic medications can cause neutropenia. If the client has other
medical issues, considerations will need to be discussed regarding what
medications should be prescribed.
Because the client has hallucinations and delusions, the nurse develops an initial plan
of care related to psychosis.
Which nursing diagnosis is best to include in the initial care plan? - ans-Sensory-
perceptual alteration related to withdrawal into self.
Rationale: The priority nursing diagnosis is related to the client's hallucinations,
which impact his functioning and social interaction.
