PN MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+. 100% Verified Solutions |
Updated Per Latest Guidelines | 2026/2027
Graded A+
Question 1
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed nurse. Which of
the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most
recent presidents."
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens (serial sevens) is a standard assessment of
cognitive function and concentration. Affect refers to the observable expression of emotion,
assessed by noting facial expressions, tone of voice, and body movements. The ability to
write a sentence is a test of language ability. Repeating a list of words tests recent
memory, not remote memory. Identifying recent presidents tests remote memory, not
abstract thinking (which is assessed by interpreting proverbs) .
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to perform a mental status examination on a client. Which of the
following components should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
,A. Level of consciousness
B. Physical appearance and behavior
C. Vital signs measurement
D. Cognitive and intellectual abilities
E. Mood and affect
Correct Answers: A, B, D, E
Rationale: A mental status examination (MSE) assesses appearance, behavior, speech,
mood, affect, thought process, thought content, cognition, and insight/judgment. Vital
signs are part of the physical assessment, not the MSE .
Question 3
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing
the client, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stupor is a state of unresponsiveness from which a client can be aroused only
briefly by vigorous and repeated stimulation, such as a sternal rub. The client then returns
to an unresponsive state. A GCS less than 7 indicates coma, not stupor. Decorticate rigidity
is a posturing response to painful stimuli, not a definition of stupor .
Question 4
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions address the biological and physiological aspects
of mental health disorders, primarily through medication and its management. Monitoring
for adverse effects is a direct nursing responsibility related to pharmacotherapy.
Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy; teaching coping mechanisms is a
psychological intervention .
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has paranoid personality disorder. Which
manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Preoccupied with perfectionism
B. Uses attention-seeking behaviors
C. Exhibits magical thinking
D. Distrustful and suspicious of others
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others, interpreting others' motives as malevolent. Perfectionism is
associated with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Attention-seeking behaviors are
seen in histrionic personality disorder. Magical thinking is associated with schizotypal
personality disorder .
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client's risk for suicide. Which of the following factors is the most
significant predictor?
A. History of previous suicide attempts
B. Family history of depression
C. Social isolation
D. Substance use
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: A history of previous suicide attempts is the most significant predictor of future
suicide attempts. All other options are risk factors, but previous attempts carry the highest
predictive value .
Question 7
A nurse is assisting with screening a group of clients for major depressive disorder
(MDD). The nurse should identify that which of the following clients is at an increased
risk for MDD?
A. A client who is newly employed.
B. A client who has a chronic medical condition.
C. A client who is married.
D. A client who exercises regularly.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of major
depressive disorder. New employment, being married, and regular exercise are generally
protective factors or not associated with increased risk .
Question 8
Which of the following findings is expected in a client with major depressive disorder?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Anhedonia
B. Increased energy
C. Sleep disturbances
D. Feelings of worthlessness
E. Pressured speech
Correct Answers: A, C, D
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is characterized by depressed mood, anhedonia (loss
of interest or pleasure), sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness, and fatigue.
Pressured speech and increased energy are associated with mania .
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+. 100% Verified Solutions |
Updated Per Latest Guidelines | 2026/2027
Graded A+
Question 1
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed nurse. Which of
the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the
teaching? (Select all that apply.)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most
recent presidents."
Correct Answers: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens (serial sevens) is a standard assessment of
cognitive function and concentration. Affect refers to the observable expression of emotion,
assessed by noting facial expressions, tone of voice, and body movements. The ability to
write a sentence is a test of language ability. Repeating a list of words tests recent
memory, not remote memory. Identifying recent presidents tests remote memory, not
abstract thinking (which is assessed by interpreting proverbs) .
Question 2
A nurse is preparing to perform a mental status examination on a client. Which of the
following components should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
,A. Level of consciousness
B. Physical appearance and behavior
C. Vital signs measurement
D. Cognitive and intellectual abilities
E. Mood and affect
Correct Answers: A, B, D, E
Rationale: A mental status examination (MSE) assesses appearance, behavior, speech,
mood, affect, thought process, thought content, cognition, and insight/judgment. Vital
signs are part of the physical assessment, not the MSE .
Question 3
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing
the client, which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub.
B. The client has a Glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C. The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D. The client is alert but disoriented to time and place.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Stupor is a state of unresponsiveness from which a client can be aroused only
briefly by vigorous and repeated stimulation, such as a sternal rub. The client then returns
to an unresponsive state. A GCS less than 7 indicates coma, not stupor. Decorticate rigidity
is a posturing response to painful stimuli, not a definition of stupor .
Question 4
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
,Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions address the biological and physiological aspects
of mental health disorders, primarily through medication and its management. Monitoring
for adverse effects is a direct nursing responsibility related to pharmacotherapy.
Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy; teaching coping mechanisms is a
psychological intervention .
Question 5
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has paranoid personality disorder. Which
manifestation should the nurse expect?
A. Preoccupied with perfectionism
B. Uses attention-seeking behaviors
C. Exhibits magical thinking
D. Distrustful and suspicious of others
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Paranoid personality disorder is characterized by a pervasive distrust and
suspiciousness of others, interpreting others' motives as malevolent. Perfectionism is
associated with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. Attention-seeking behaviors are
seen in histrionic personality disorder. Magical thinking is associated with schizotypal
personality disorder .
Question 6
A nurse is assessing a client's risk for suicide. Which of the following factors is the most
significant predictor?
A. History of previous suicide attempts
B. Family history of depression
C. Social isolation
D. Substance use
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: A history of previous suicide attempts is the most significant predictor of future
suicide attempts. All other options are risk factors, but previous attempts carry the highest
predictive value .
Question 7
A nurse is assisting with screening a group of clients for major depressive disorder
(MDD). The nurse should identify that which of the following clients is at an increased
risk for MDD?
A. A client who is newly employed.
B. A client who has a chronic medical condition.
C. A client who is married.
D. A client who exercises regularly.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Chronic medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of major
depressive disorder. New employment, being married, and regular exercise are generally
protective factors or not associated with increased risk .
Question 8
Which of the following findings is expected in a client with major depressive disorder?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Anhedonia
B. Increased energy
C. Sleep disturbances
D. Feelings of worthlessness
E. Pressured speech
Correct Answers: A, C, D
Rationale: Major depressive disorder is characterized by depressed mood, anhedonia (loss
of interest or pleasure), sleep disturbances, feelings of worthlessness, and fatigue.
Pressured speech and increased energy are associated with mania .
