ATI RN Mental Health 2026 | Level 3 | Practice Questions |
Complete Review Exam
Exam Instructions
This comprehensive practice examination contains 180 multiple-choice and select-all-that-
apply questions designed to simulate the ATI RN Mental Health Proctored Exam at the Level 3
proficiency level. Questions are organized by content domain and include detailed rationales for
each correct answer. Select the best answer(s) for each question.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1-20)
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations 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 Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses cognitive ability and concentration. Observing
facial expression assesses affect. Asking the client to write a sentence assesses language ability.
Having the client repeat a list of objects assesses immediate, not remote, memory. Asking the
client to identify recent presidents assesses recent memory and orientation, not abstract
thinking.
2. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client
interview. When conducting the interview, which of the following actions should the nurse
identify as the highest priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the priority action when using the nursing process approach.
Identifying the client's perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history. While coordinating care, including family, and teaching
are appropriate, assessment must occur first.
3. 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: Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological
intervention. Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral
intervention. Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is counseling or health teaching.
Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
4. 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: A stuporous client arouses briefly in response to a painful stimulus such as a sternal
rub. A GCS score less than 7 indicates a coma. Decorticate rigidity indicates severe brain injury.
Being alert but disoriented describes confusion, not stupor.
5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following
information is appropriate to include? (Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health disorders.
,C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients who have mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health disorders.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists in care planning, and indicates
expected assessment findings. It does not include client education handouts or recommend
specific pharmacological treatments.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is an
example of the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. The nurse respects the client's decision to refuse medication.
B. The nurse acts in the client's best interest.
C. The nurse treats all clients fairly regardless of diagnosis.
D. The nurse keeps the client's information confidential.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the client's best
interest. Respecting refusal of medication is autonomy. Treating clients fairly is justice.
Maintaining confidentiality is fidelity.
7. A nurse is admitting a client who is involuntarily committed to a psychiatric unit. Which of
the following client rights should the nurse prioritize in the admission process?
A. The right to refuse all medications and treatments.
B. The right to receive treatment in the least restrictive environment.
C. The right to leave the facility at any time.
D. The right to access the internet and personal phone.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to treatment in the least restrictive
environment appropriate to their needs. They do not have the right to leave at will, and
medication refusal may be overridden in emergency situations.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who was involuntarily admitted. The client refuses oral
medication and becomes physically aggressive. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
, A. Restrain the client to administer the medication.
B. Notify the provider and use therapeutic communication to de-escalate.
C. Administer the medication via IM injection without consent.
D. Document the refusal and discharge the client.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first attempt de-escalation through therapeutic communication
and notify the provider. Physical restraint or forced medication should only be used in
emergency situations when the client poses an immediate threat to self or others.
9. A nurse is reviewing the difference between assault and battery with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
understanding?
A. "Assault is the actual physical contact with a client without consent."
B. "Battery is threatening to touch a client without consent."
C. "Assault is threatening to touch a client without consent."
D. "Battery and assault mean the same thing legally."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Assault is the threat of touching without consent. Battery is the actual physical
contact without consent. They are distinct legal concepts.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. The client reports feeling sad.
B. The client reports suicidal ideation with a specific plan.
C. The client refuses to attend group therapy.
D. The client reports difficulty sleeping.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation with a specific plan is an immediate safety priority that requires
urgent provider notification and intervention. Sadness, therapy refusal, and sleep difficulty are
important but not immediately life-threatening.
11. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination. Which of the following should the
nurse assess to evaluate the client's thought process?
Complete Review Exam
Exam Instructions
This comprehensive practice examination contains 180 multiple-choice and select-all-that-
apply questions designed to simulate the ATI RN Mental Health Proctored Exam at the Level 3
proficiency level. Questions are organized by content domain and include detailed rationales for
each correct answer. Select the best answer(s) for each question.
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING (Questions 1-20)
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations 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 Answer: A, B, C
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses cognitive ability and concentration. Observing
facial expression assesses affect. Asking the client to write a sentence assesses language ability.
Having the client repeat a list of objects assesses immediate, not remote, memory. Asking the
client to identify recent presidents assesses recent memory and orientation, not abstract
thinking.
2. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client
interview. When conducting the interview, which of the following actions should the nurse
identify as the highest priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Assessment is the priority action when using the nursing process approach.
Identifying the client's perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history. While coordinating care, including family, and teaching
are appropriate, assessment must occur first.
3. 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: Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological
intervention. Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral
intervention. Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is counseling or health teaching.
Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
4. 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: A stuporous client arouses briefly in response to a painful stimulus such as a sternal
rub. A GCS score less than 7 indicates a coma. Decorticate rigidity indicates severe brain injury.
Being alert but disoriented describes confusion, not stupor.
5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following
information is appropriate to include? (Select all that apply)
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health disorders.
,C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients who have mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health disorders.
Correct Answer: B, D, E
Rationale: The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists in care planning, and indicates
expected assessment findings. It does not include client education handouts or recommend
specific pharmacological treatments.
6. A nurse is caring for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is an
example of the ethical principle of beneficence?
A. The nurse respects the client's decision to refuse medication.
B. The nurse acts in the client's best interest.
C. The nurse treats all clients fairly regardless of diagnosis.
D. The nurse keeps the client's information confidential.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Beneficence is the ethical principle of doing good and acting in the client's best
interest. Respecting refusal of medication is autonomy. Treating clients fairly is justice.
Maintaining confidentiality is fidelity.
7. A nurse is admitting a client who is involuntarily committed to a psychiatric unit. Which of
the following client rights should the nurse prioritize in the admission process?
A. The right to refuse all medications and treatments.
B. The right to receive treatment in the least restrictive environment.
C. The right to leave the facility at any time.
D. The right to access the internet and personal phone.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Involuntarily committed clients retain the right to treatment in the least restrictive
environment appropriate to their needs. They do not have the right to leave at will, and
medication refusal may be overridden in emergency situations.
8. A nurse is caring for a client who was involuntarily admitted. The client refuses oral
medication and becomes physically aggressive. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
, A. Restrain the client to administer the medication.
B. Notify the provider and use therapeutic communication to de-escalate.
C. Administer the medication via IM injection without consent.
D. Document the refusal and discharge the client.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nurse should first attempt de-escalation through therapeutic communication
and notify the provider. Physical restraint or forced medication should only be used in
emergency situations when the client poses an immediate threat to self or others.
9. A nurse is reviewing the difference between assault and battery with a newly licensed
nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
understanding?
A. "Assault is the actual physical contact with a client without consent."
B. "Battery is threatening to touch a client without consent."
C. "Assault is threatening to touch a client without consent."
D. "Battery and assault mean the same thing legally."
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Assault is the threat of touching without consent. Battery is the actual physical
contact without consent. They are distinct legal concepts.
10. A nurse is caring for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse report to the provider immediately?
A. The client reports feeling sad.
B. The client reports suicidal ideation with a specific plan.
C. The client refuses to attend group therapy.
D. The client reports difficulty sleeping.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Suicidal ideation with a specific plan is an immediate safety priority that requires
urgent provider notification and intervention. Sadness, therapy refusal, and sleep difficulty are
important but not immediately life-threatening.
11. A nurse is conducting a mental status examination. Which of the following should the
nurse assess to evaluate the client's thought process?
