ATI PN MENTAL HEALTH 2026 PROCTORED EXAM —
LEVEL 3 PREPARATION
Comprehensive NGN-Style Practice Bank ANSWER +
Rationale for Every Option latest
,
,
, SECTION 1 — NURSE–CLIENT RELATIONSHIP & THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
A nurse in a mental health facility is contributing to the plan of care for a new client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to include in the working phase of the nurse–client relationship?
A. Establish a regular meeting time with the client. ✗ Setting structure and schedules occurs in the
orientation phase.
B. Collect data about the client's current health status. ✗ Assessment/data collection belongs to the
orientation phase.
C. Determine whether the client's goals are met. ✗ Evaluating goal achievement is termination-phase
work.
D. Provide the client with information on problem-solving. ✔ The working phase focuses on problem-
solving, teaching coping skills, and behavior change.
ANSWER: D
During which phase does the nurse introduce the client, set goals, and establish meeting times?
A. Preorientation ✗ Preorientation involves reviewing records and examining the nurse's own feelings.
B. Orientation ✔ Introductions, goal-setting, boundaries, and structure define orientation.
C. Working ✗ Working is problem-solving and skill-building after trust is established.
D. Termination ✗ Termination evaluates progress and processes ending the relationship.
ANSWER: B
Which task belongs to the preorientation phase?
A. Exploring the nurse's own feelings and biases about the client ✔ Self-examination and record review
occur before first contact.
B. Identifying the client's problems ✗ Problem identification happens with the client in orientation.
C. Teaching coping skills ✗ Skill teaching is working-phase activity.
D. Summarizing progress ✗ Summarizing outcomes occurs at termination.
ANSWER: A
The relationship is ending next week. Which action is appropriate now?
A. Review progress and discuss feelings about loss ✔ Termination includes evaluating outcomes and
addressing separation feelings.
B. Set new long-term goals ✗ New goals belong earlier; termination focuses on closure.
LEVEL 3 PREPARATION
Comprehensive NGN-Style Practice Bank ANSWER +
Rationale for Every Option latest
,
,
, SECTION 1 — NURSE–CLIENT RELATIONSHIP & THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
A nurse in a mental health facility is contributing to the plan of care for a new client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to include in the working phase of the nurse–client relationship?
A. Establish a regular meeting time with the client. ✗ Setting structure and schedules occurs in the
orientation phase.
B. Collect data about the client's current health status. ✗ Assessment/data collection belongs to the
orientation phase.
C. Determine whether the client's goals are met. ✗ Evaluating goal achievement is termination-phase
work.
D. Provide the client with information on problem-solving. ✔ The working phase focuses on problem-
solving, teaching coping skills, and behavior change.
ANSWER: D
During which phase does the nurse introduce the client, set goals, and establish meeting times?
A. Preorientation ✗ Preorientation involves reviewing records and examining the nurse's own feelings.
B. Orientation ✔ Introductions, goal-setting, boundaries, and structure define orientation.
C. Working ✗ Working is problem-solving and skill-building after trust is established.
D. Termination ✗ Termination evaluates progress and processes ending the relationship.
ANSWER: B
Which task belongs to the preorientation phase?
A. Exploring the nurse's own feelings and biases about the client ✔ Self-examination and record review
occur before first contact.
B. Identifying the client's problems ✗ Problem identification happens with the client in orientation.
C. Teaching coping skills ✗ Skill teaching is working-phase activity.
D. Summarizing progress ✗ Summarizing outcomes occurs at termination.
ANSWER: A
The relationship is ending next week. Which action is appropriate now?
A. Review progress and discuss feelings about loss ✔ Termination includes evaluating outcomes and
addressing separation feelings.
B. Set new long-term goals ✗ New goals belong earlier; termination focuses on closure.
