HESI Mental Health Practice Exam Test Bank |
Complete Actual Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update 2026/2027 ( 100% Correct Solutions) ||
Question 1
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist with accurate documentation
later. Which statement is most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse's ability to directly observe the client's nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse breaks eye contact to take notes.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and allows the client to speak at a
normal pace.
Answer: A
Rationale: Note-taking during an interview limits the nurse's ability to observe the client's
nonverbal communication, which is an essential part of the assessment. It can also disrupt
the flow of conversation and make clients feel less heard. While documentation is
important, note-taking is not a legal obligation (B), and it does not enhance the interview
(D).
Question 2
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is
exhibiting a depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for
the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity
D. The interactions he has with others
Answer: B
Rationale: The emotional quality of his attitude is the most important indicator of
antidepressant effectiveness, as these medications are prescribed to improve mood.
Appetite (A), activity level (C), and social interactions (D) are important but secondary to
mood improvement.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a
victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Safety planning includes establishing a code (B), planning escape routes (C),
and having a ready bag (D). Purchasing a gun (A) increases risk of harm and is not
recommended.
Question 4
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye contact,
looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The two trade
places, and the nurse demonstrates the client's behavior. What is the main goal of this
therapeutic technique?
A. Discuss the client's feelings when he responds
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions
Answer: A
Rationale: Role reversal or demonstration allows the client to see his own behavior and
then discuss his feelings about it. This technique promotes insight and self-awareness.
Option B describes the action, but A is the goal.
Question 5
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day and declines activities. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity
B. Social isolation
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
D. Low self-esteem
Answer: C
Rationale: Refusing to address nutritional needs is the priority because it poses an
immediate threat to physical health (potential malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte
2
,imbalance). Loss of interest (A), social isolation (B), and low self-esteem (D) are important
but not life-threatening.
Question 6
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
client discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should
also be discontinued?
A. Lithium (Lithotabs)
B. Benztropine (Cogentin)
C. Alprazolam (Xanax)
D. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia)
Answer: B
Rationale: Benztropine (Cogentin) is an anticholinergic medication used to treat
extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) caused by antipsychotic medications. If the antipsychotic
is discontinued, the anticholinergic should also be discontinued to prevent unnecessary side
effects.
Question 7
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the
admission assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy between
the client's verbal and nonverbal communication. What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should pay close attention to the discrepancy between verbal and
nonverbal communication and document the nonverbal messages, which often convey the
client's true feelings. Asking the husband (B) breaches confidentiality and may not be
accurate. Ignoring nonverbal cues (C) misses important data. Integrating them (D) is not
appropriate when there is a discrepancy.
Question 8
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice,
saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he
loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes
3
, that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Rationalization
D. Splitting
Answer: B
Rationale: Projection is attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to another
person. The client is projecting his own anger onto his roommate. Denial (A) is refusing to
acknowledge reality. Rationalization (C) is making excuses. Splitting (D) is seeing things
as all good or all bad.
Question 9
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive thirst (polydipsia) can be an early sign of lithium toxicity. The nurse
should report the serum lithium level to the HCP. Polydipsia is a common side effect (C)
but should still be monitored. Hard candy (B) does not address the underlying issue.
Question 10
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose
C. Attend monthly meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user
Answer: B
Rationale: Disulfiram therapy requires the client to be alcohol-free for at least 12 hours
prior to the first dose to prevent an adverse reaction. Abstinence from other drugs (A) is
important but not specific to disulfiram. AA meetings (C) are supportive but not required.
4
Complete Actual Exam Questions with Verified
Correct Answers and Detailed Rationales | Latest
Update 2026/2027 ( 100% Correct Solutions) ||
Question 1
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist with accurate documentation
later. Which statement is most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse's ability to directly observe the client's nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse breaks eye contact to take notes.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and allows the client to speak at a
normal pace.
Answer: A
Rationale: Note-taking during an interview limits the nurse's ability to observe the client's
nonverbal communication, which is an essential part of the assessment. It can also disrupt
the flow of conversation and make clients feel less heard. While documentation is
important, note-taking is not a legal obligation (B), and it does not enhance the interview
(D).
Question 2
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an antidepressant drug because he is
exhibiting a depressed affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking the drug is most important for
the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity
D. The interactions he has with others
Answer: B
Rationale: The emotional quality of his attitude is the most important indicator of
antidepressant effectiveness, as these medications are prescribed to improve mood.
Appetite (A), activity level (C), and social interactions (D) are important but secondary to
mood improvement.
1
,Question 3
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client who is a
victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety plan?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children
Answer: B, C, D
Rationale: Safety planning includes establishing a code (B), planning escape routes (C),
and having a ready bag (D). Purchasing a gun (A) increases risk of harm and is not
recommended.
Question 4
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye contact,
looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The two trade
places, and the nurse demonstrates the client's behavior. What is the main goal of this
therapeutic technique?
A. Discuss the client's feelings when he responds
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions
Answer: A
Rationale: Role reversal or demonstration allows the client to see his own behavior and
then discuss his feelings about it. This technique promotes insight and self-awareness.
Option B describes the action, but A is the goal.
Question 5
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day and declines activities. Which
nursing problem has the greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity
B. Social isolation
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs
D. Low self-esteem
Answer: C
Rationale: Refusing to address nutritional needs is the priority because it poses an
immediate threat to physical health (potential malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte
2
,imbalance). Loss of interest (A), social isolation (B), and low self-esteem (D) are important
but not life-threatening.
Question 6
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar disorder and notices that the
client discontinued antipsychotic medication for several days. Which medication should
also be discontinued?
A. Lithium (Lithotabs)
B. Benztropine (Cogentin)
C. Alprazolam (Xanax)
D. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia)
Answer: B
Rationale: Benztropine (Cogentin) is an anticholinergic medication used to treat
extrapyramidal side effects (EPS) caused by antipsychotic medications. If the antipsychotic
is discontinued, the anticholinergic should also be discontinued to prevent unnecessary side
effects.
Question 7
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to stay in the room during the
admission assessment. When interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy between
the client's verbal and nonverbal communication. What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal messages
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's verbal messages
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and interpret them as one
Answer: A
Rationale: The nurse should pay close attention to the discrepancy between verbal and
nonverbal communication and document the nonverbal messages, which often convey the
client's true feelings. Asking the husband (B) breaches confidentiality and may not be
accurate. Ignoring nonverbal cues (C) misses important data. Integrating them (D) is not
appropriate when there is a discrepancy.
Question 8
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises his voice,
saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever met. If he
loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes
3
, that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Rationalization
D. Splitting
Answer: B
Rationale: Projection is attributing one's own unacceptable feelings or impulses to another
person. The client is projecting his own anger onto his roommate. Denial (A) is refusing to
acknowledge reality. Rationalization (C) is making excuses. Splitting (D) is seeing things
as all good or all bad.
Question 9
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days ago is
complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water from the
bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed
Answer: A
Rationale: Excessive thirst (polydipsia) can be an early sign of lithium toxicity. The nurse
should report the serum lithium level to the HCP. Polydipsia is a common side effect (C)
but should still be monitored. Hard candy (B) does not address the underlying issue.
Question 10
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose
C. Attend monthly meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user
Answer: B
Rationale: Disulfiram therapy requires the client to be alcohol-free for at least 12 hours
prior to the first dose to prevent an adverse reaction. Abstinence from other drugs (A) is
important but not specific to disulfiram. AA meetings (C) are supportive but not required.
4
