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RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 1 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is prescribed haloperidol. The client reports
their muscles feel stiff and they cannot stop moving their legs. Which of the following conditions
should the nurse suspect?
A. Tardive dyskinesia
✓ B. Akathisia
C. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
✓ Correct Answer: B
AKATHISIA is an extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) of antipsychotics characterized by an intense inner restlessness and
inability to remain still — the client feels compelled to move (pacing, leg movements). Treatment: reduce dose or add
beta-blocker (propranolol). Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary facial/tongue movements after long-term use.
Pseudoparkinsonism causes tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia. NMS is a life-threatening hyperthermia/rigidity emergency.
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RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 2 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and performs
hand-washing rituals for 2 hours each day. Which of the following nursing interventions is most
appropriate?
A. Restrict the client from performing the ritual entirely.
✓ B. Allow the ritual while gradually limiting the time spent.
C. Tell the client the ritual is irrational and must stop.
D. Ignore the ritual and redirect to other activities immediately.
✓ Correct Answer: B
OCD rituals reduce anxiety — abruptly preventing them causes extreme distress and increased anxiety. The therapeutic
approach is to ALLOW the ritual while working to GRADUALLY REDUCE the time and frequency through behavioral
therapy (exposure and response prevention). Abrupt restriction, telling the client their behavior is irrational
(non-therapeutic), and ignoring the ritual all worsen anxiety and damage the therapeutic relationship.
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RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 3 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is assessing a client who has anorexia nervosa and is medically stable. The client says, 'I
know I'm thin, but when I look in the mirror, I see a fat person.' Which of the following responses by
the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You are not fat — you are actually underweight."
B. "That perception is part of your illness and distorts how you see your body."
✓ C. "Let's talk about what you see when you look in the mirror."
D. "You need to start eating more so you can see yourself accurately."
✓ Correct Answer: C
The therapeutic response EXPLORES the client's perception without confronting, arguing, or dismissing it. Saying 'let's
talk about what you see' opens therapeutic communication, validates the client's experience, and gathers assessment
data. Telling the client they are not fat is argumentative and ineffective — clients with anorexia have a distorted body
image that cannot be corrected by logical argument. Educating about illness or pressuring to eat is non-therapeutic in the
moment.
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RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 4 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is providing care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. The nurse should
prioritize assessing for which of the following complications?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension.
✓ B. Seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).
C. Respiratory depression and somnolence.
D. Hyperglycemia and polyuria.
✓ Correct Answer: B
Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. SEIZURES typically occur 6-48 hours after the last drink. DELIRIUM
TREMENS (DTs) — the most severe form — occurs 48-72 hours after cessation and presents with severe agitation,
confusion, fever, tachycardia, hypertension, and hallucinations. Untreated DTs have a mortality rate of up to 15%.
Benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam) via CIWA protocol are first-line treatment. Bradycardia and respiratory
depression are NOT signs of withdrawal (those are signs of intoxication).
RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 1 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is prescribed haloperidol. The client reports
their muscles feel stiff and they cannot stop moving their legs. Which of the following conditions
should the nurse suspect?
A. Tardive dyskinesia
✓ B. Akathisia
C. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome
D. Pseudoparkinsonism
✓ Correct Answer: B
AKATHISIA is an extrapyramidal side effect (EPS) of antipsychotics characterized by an intense inner restlessness and
inability to remain still — the client feels compelled to move (pacing, leg movements). Treatment: reduce dose or add
beta-blocker (propranolol). Tardive dyskinesia involves involuntary facial/tongue movements after long-term use.
Pseudoparkinsonism causes tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia. NMS is a life-threatening hyperthermia/rigidity emergency.
, classmerit.com — The Marketplace to Buy and Sell Study Materials
RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 2 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is caring for a client who has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and performs
hand-washing rituals for 2 hours each day. Which of the following nursing interventions is most
appropriate?
A. Restrict the client from performing the ritual entirely.
✓ B. Allow the ritual while gradually limiting the time spent.
C. Tell the client the ritual is irrational and must stop.
D. Ignore the ritual and redirect to other activities immediately.
✓ Correct Answer: B
OCD rituals reduce anxiety — abruptly preventing them causes extreme distress and increased anxiety. The therapeutic
approach is to ALLOW the ritual while working to GRADUALLY REDUCE the time and frequency through behavioral
therapy (exposure and response prevention). Abrupt restriction, telling the client their behavior is irrational
(non-therapeutic), and ignoring the ritual all worsen anxiety and damage the therapeutic relationship.
, classmerit.com — The Marketplace to Buy and Sell Study Materials
RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 3 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is assessing a client who has anorexia nervosa and is medically stable. The client says, 'I
know I'm thin, but when I look in the mirror, I see a fat person.' Which of the following responses by
the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. "You are not fat — you are actually underweight."
B. "That perception is part of your illness and distorts how you see your body."
✓ C. "Let's talk about what you see when you look in the mirror."
D. "You need to start eating more so you can see yourself accurately."
✓ Correct Answer: C
The therapeutic response EXPLORES the client's perception without confronting, arguing, or dismissing it. Saying 'let's
talk about what you see' opens therapeutic communication, validates the client's experience, and gathers assessment
data. Telling the client they are not fat is argumentative and ineffective — clients with anorexia have a distorted body
image that cannot be corrected by logical argument. Educating about illness or pressuring to eat is non-therapeutic in the
moment.
, classmerit.com — The Marketplace to Buy and Sell Study Materials
RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
2026 Exam · 50 Questions · With Rationales
Question: 4 of 50 RN ATI Capstone Mental Health
A nurse is providing care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. The nurse should
prioritize assessing for which of the following complications?
A. Bradycardia and hypotension.
✓ B. Seizures and delirium tremens (DTs).
C. Respiratory depression and somnolence.
D. Hyperglycemia and polyuria.
✓ Correct Answer: B
Alcohol withdrawal can be life-threatening. SEIZURES typically occur 6-48 hours after the last drink. DELIRIUM
TREMENS (DTs) — the most severe form — occurs 48-72 hours after cessation and presents with severe agitation,
confusion, fever, tachycardia, hypertension, and hallucinations. Untreated DTs have a mortality rate of up to 15%.
Benzodiazepines (lorazepam, diazepam) via CIWA protocol are first-line treatment. Bradycardia and respiratory
depression are NOT signs of withdrawal (those are signs of intoxication).
