BSN Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing
Examination Practice Questions & [Verified
Answers], Plus Explained Rationales|2026
Latest Update| Instant Download PDF
1. A client with major depressive disorder states, “My family would
be better off without me.” What is the nurse’s priority response?
A. “You should focus on the positive things in your life.”
B. “Do you have a specific plan to harm yourself?”
C. “Why do you think your family feels that way?”
D. “Your family would be devastated if you died.”
Answer: B. “Do you have a specific plan to harm yourself?”
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal ideation, intent, and plan is
essential for determining immediate safety risk. Asking about suicide
does not increase suicidal behavior and allows the nurse to initiate
appropriate safety interventions.
2. A client experiencing acute mania is pacing rapidly, speaking
loudly, and interrupting other clients. Which nursing intervention
is most appropriate?
A. Encourage participation in group activities.
B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment.
C. Challenge the client’s unrealistic ideas.
D. Encourage lengthy discussions about feelings.
Answer: B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment.
Rationale: Clients experiencing mania are highly vulnerable to
overstimulation. Reducing environmental stimuli, setting clear limits,
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,and providing concise directions help decrease agitation and promote
behavioral control.
3. A client with schizophrenia says, “The voices are telling me that
the staff is trying to poison me.” Which response by the nurse is
best?
A. “The voices are not real, so ignore them.”
B. “Why do you believe the staff is poisoning you?”
C. “I understand that you hear the voices, but I do not hear them.”
D. “You should do what the voices tell you.”
Answer: C. “I understand that you hear the voices, but I do not hear
them.”
Rationale: The nurse acknowledges the client’s experience without
validating the hallucination. Presenting reality calmly helps establish
trust while avoiding reinforcement of psychotic perceptions.
4. A client taking lithium reports severe diarrhea, vomiting, coarse
hand tremors, and confusion. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer the next lithium dose with food.
B. Encourage increased physical activity.
C. Hold lithium and notify the healthcare provider.
D. Reassure the client that these effects are expected.
Answer: C. Hold lithium and notify the healthcare provider.
Rationale: Severe gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremors,
confusion, and neurologic changes may indicate lithium toxicity.
Lithium should be withheld and the provider notified promptly for
evaluation and serum lithium measurement.
5. Which finding in a client taking an antipsychotic medication
requires immediate nursing intervention?
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,A. Mild dry mouth
B. Increased appetite
C. Severe muscle rigidity and fever
D. Mild drowsiness
Answer: C. Severe muscle rigidity and fever
Rationale: Severe rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental status, and
autonomic instability suggest neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a
potentially fatal antipsychotic-related emergency requiring immediate
intervention.
6. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is experiencing severe
anxiety. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Ask the client to solve several problems simultaneously.
B. Provide complex explanations of treatment.
C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
D. Encourage the client to participate in a large group activity.
Answer: C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
Rationale: Severe anxiety reduces attention, concentration, and
problem-solving ability. The nurse should remain with the client,
decrease stimuli, and communicate using simple, brief statements.
7. Which statement best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “Everything will be fine.”
B. “You should stop thinking about it.”
C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
D. “I know exactly how you feel.”
Answer: C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
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, Rationale: Open-ended statements encourage the client to express
thoughts and feelings. The other responses minimize the client’s
experience or impose the nurse’s assumptions.
8. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes
the hands until the skin becomes excoriated. What is the nurse’s
best initial intervention?
A. Immediately prohibit all handwashing.
B. Explore the anxiety associated with the compulsive behavior.
C. Tell the client that the behavior is irrational.
D. Ignore the behavior completely.
Answer: B. Explore the anxiety associated with the compulsive
behavior.
Rationale: Compulsions temporarily reduce anxiety associated with
obsessive thoughts. The nurse should assess the underlying anxiety
and gradually support healthier coping strategies rather than abruptly
eliminating the ritual.
9. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder becomes distressed
after hearing a loud noise. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to discuss the traumatic event immediately.
B. Tell the client the response is irrational.
C. Promote grounding techniques and a sense of safety.
D. Place the client in a stimulating environment.
Answer: C. Promote grounding techniques and a sense of safety.
Rationale: Grounding techniques help clients with PTSD reconnect
with the present environment and reduce trauma-related distress.
Immediate forced discussion of trauma may increase anxiety.
4|Page
Examination Practice Questions & [Verified
Answers], Plus Explained Rationales|2026
Latest Update| Instant Download PDF
1. A client with major depressive disorder states, “My family would
be better off without me.” What is the nurse’s priority response?
A. “You should focus on the positive things in your life.”
B. “Do you have a specific plan to harm yourself?”
C. “Why do you think your family feels that way?”
D. “Your family would be devastated if you died.”
Answer: B. “Do you have a specific plan to harm yourself?”
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal ideation, intent, and plan is
essential for determining immediate safety risk. Asking about suicide
does not increase suicidal behavior and allows the nurse to initiate
appropriate safety interventions.
2. A client experiencing acute mania is pacing rapidly, speaking
loudly, and interrupting other clients. Which nursing intervention
is most appropriate?
A. Encourage participation in group activities.
B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment.
C. Challenge the client’s unrealistic ideas.
D. Encourage lengthy discussions about feelings.
Answer: B. Provide a quiet, low-stimulation environment.
Rationale: Clients experiencing mania are highly vulnerable to
overstimulation. Reducing environmental stimuli, setting clear limits,
1|Page
,and providing concise directions help decrease agitation and promote
behavioral control.
3. A client with schizophrenia says, “The voices are telling me that
the staff is trying to poison me.” Which response by the nurse is
best?
A. “The voices are not real, so ignore them.”
B. “Why do you believe the staff is poisoning you?”
C. “I understand that you hear the voices, but I do not hear them.”
D. “You should do what the voices tell you.”
Answer: C. “I understand that you hear the voices, but I do not hear
them.”
Rationale: The nurse acknowledges the client’s experience without
validating the hallucination. Presenting reality calmly helps establish
trust while avoiding reinforcement of psychotic perceptions.
4. A client taking lithium reports severe diarrhea, vomiting, coarse
hand tremors, and confusion. What should the nurse do first?
A. Administer the next lithium dose with food.
B. Encourage increased physical activity.
C. Hold lithium and notify the healthcare provider.
D. Reassure the client that these effects are expected.
Answer: C. Hold lithium and notify the healthcare provider.
Rationale: Severe gastrointestinal symptoms, coarse tremors,
confusion, and neurologic changes may indicate lithium toxicity.
Lithium should be withheld and the provider notified promptly for
evaluation and serum lithium measurement.
5. Which finding in a client taking an antipsychotic medication
requires immediate nursing intervention?
2|Page
,A. Mild dry mouth
B. Increased appetite
C. Severe muscle rigidity and fever
D. Mild drowsiness
Answer: C. Severe muscle rigidity and fever
Rationale: Severe rigidity, hyperthermia, altered mental status, and
autonomic instability suggest neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a
potentially fatal antipsychotic-related emergency requiring immediate
intervention.
6. A client with generalized anxiety disorder is experiencing severe
anxiety. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Ask the client to solve several problems simultaneously.
B. Provide complex explanations of treatment.
C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
D. Encourage the client to participate in a large group activity.
Answer: C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
Rationale: Severe anxiety reduces attention, concentration, and
problem-solving ability. The nurse should remain with the client,
decrease stimuli, and communicate using simple, brief statements.
7. Which statement best demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “Everything will be fine.”
B. “You should stop thinking about it.”
C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
D. “I know exactly how you feel.”
Answer: C. “Tell me more about what you are experiencing.”
3|Page
, Rationale: Open-ended statements encourage the client to express
thoughts and feelings. The other responses minimize the client’s
experience or impose the nurse’s assumptions.
8. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes
the hands until the skin becomes excoriated. What is the nurse’s
best initial intervention?
A. Immediately prohibit all handwashing.
B. Explore the anxiety associated with the compulsive behavior.
C. Tell the client that the behavior is irrational.
D. Ignore the behavior completely.
Answer: B. Explore the anxiety associated with the compulsive
behavior.
Rationale: Compulsions temporarily reduce anxiety associated with
obsessive thoughts. The nurse should assess the underlying anxiety
and gradually support healthier coping strategies rather than abruptly
eliminating the ritual.
9. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder becomes distressed
after hearing a loud noise. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to discuss the traumatic event immediately.
B. Tell the client the response is irrational.
C. Promote grounding techniques and a sense of safety.
D. Place the client in a stimulating environment.
Answer: C. Promote grounding techniques and a sense of safety.
Rationale: Grounding techniques help clients with PTSD reconnect
with the present environment and reduce trauma-related distress.
Immediate forced discussion of trauma may increase anxiety.
4|Page
