ATI Mental Health Foundations & Therapeutic Communication Exam 1
Practice 2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is educating a group of community members about mental health
promotion. Which of the following is an example of primary prevention?
A. Providing support groups for individuals with chronic depression
B. Teaching stress reduction techniques to high school students
C. Screening older adults for early signs of dementia
D. Leading a rehabilitation program for clients with schizophrenia
Answer: B
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing mental health problems from
occurring. Teaching stress reduction techniques to a healthy population is a primary
prevention strategy.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following
rights does this client still retain?
A. The right to leave the hospital at any time against medical advice
B. The right to carry personal weapons for self-defense
C. The right to refuse prescribed psychiatric medications
D. The right to access all areas of the hospital unsupervised
Answer: C
Rationale: Clients admitted involuntarily still retain the right to refuse treatment,
including medications, unless they are a danger to self or others or a court order is in place.
,3. During a mental status examination, a nurse asks a client to explain the
meaning of the proverb, ‘Don’t cry over spilled milk.’ What is the nurse
assessing?
A. Memory
B. Judgment
C. Abstract thinking
D. Orientation
Answer: C
Rationale: Asking a client to interpret a proverb is a method used to assess abstract
thinking. Concrete thinking would result in a literal interpretation.
4. A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who is distressed.
Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to show interest and
encourage the client to continue?
A. Offering advice
B. Giving false reassurance
C. Using silence
D. Asking ‘Why’ questions
Answer: C
Rationale: Silence is a therapeutic technique that allows the client time to think and
encourages them to share more information. Advice, false reassurance, and ‘why’ questions
are non-therapeutic.
, 5. A client states, ‘I am a failure and will never get a job.’ The nurse responds,
‘You feel like you won’t be successful because you haven’t found work yet.’
Which technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
C. Clarifying
D. Exploring
Answer: A
Rationale: Reflection involves directing the client’s feelings and ideas back to them to help
them recognize and accept their emotions.
6. Which ethical principle is defined as the duty to do good and act in the best
interest of the client?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: A
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good for others and acting in their
best interest.
7. A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment. Which of the following
factors represents the highest risk for a client?
A. A detailed plan with access to a lethal method
B. Occasional feelings of sadness
C. A history of supportive family relationships
D. Religious beliefs against suicide
Answer: A
Practice 2026 |Questions |Answers |Rationales
1. A nurse is educating a group of community members about mental health
promotion. Which of the following is an example of primary prevention?
A. Providing support groups for individuals with chronic depression
B. Teaching stress reduction techniques to high school students
C. Screening older adults for early signs of dementia
D. Leading a rehabilitation program for clients with schizophrenia
Answer: B
Rationale: Primary prevention focuses on preventing mental health problems from
occurring. Teaching stress reduction techniques to a healthy population is a primary
prevention strategy.
2. A client is admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit. Which of the following
rights does this client still retain?
A. The right to leave the hospital at any time against medical advice
B. The right to carry personal weapons for self-defense
C. The right to refuse prescribed psychiatric medications
D. The right to access all areas of the hospital unsupervised
Answer: C
Rationale: Clients admitted involuntarily still retain the right to refuse treatment,
including medications, unless they are a danger to self or others or a court order is in place.
,3. During a mental status examination, a nurse asks a client to explain the
meaning of the proverb, ‘Don’t cry over spilled milk.’ What is the nurse
assessing?
A. Memory
B. Judgment
C. Abstract thinking
D. Orientation
Answer: C
Rationale: Asking a client to interpret a proverb is a method used to assess abstract
thinking. Concrete thinking would result in a literal interpretation.
4. A nurse is using therapeutic communication with a client who is distressed.
Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to show interest and
encourage the client to continue?
A. Offering advice
B. Giving false reassurance
C. Using silence
D. Asking ‘Why’ questions
Answer: C
Rationale: Silence is a therapeutic technique that allows the client time to think and
encourages them to share more information. Advice, false reassurance, and ‘why’ questions
are non-therapeutic.
, 5. A client states, ‘I am a failure and will never get a job.’ The nurse responds,
‘You feel like you won’t be successful because you haven’t found work yet.’
Which technique is the nurse using?
A. Reflecting
B. Restating
C. Clarifying
D. Exploring
Answer: A
Rationale: Reflection involves directing the client’s feelings and ideas back to them to help
them recognize and accept their emotions.
6. Which ethical principle is defined as the duty to do good and act in the best
interest of the client?
A. Beneficence
B. Justice
C. Autonomy
D. Fidelity
Answer: A
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good for others and acting in their
best interest.
7. A nurse is conducting a suicide risk assessment. Which of the following
factors represents the highest risk for a client?
A. A detailed plan with access to a lethal method
B. Occasional feelings of sadness
C. A history of supportive family relationships
D. Religious beliefs against suicide
Answer: A
