Page 1 of 143
PN ATI MENTAL HEALTH RETAKE PROCTORED EXAM WITH NGN
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
PN ATI Mental Health Retake Proctored Exam with NGN — Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Foundations of Mental Health Nursing — therapeutic communication, ethics, legal issues,
patient rights, nurse-client relationship phases.
Mood Disorders — major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, suicide risk assessment, mood
stabilizers.
Anxiety Disorders, OCD, and Trauma-Related Disorders — GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD,
defense mechanisms.
Psychotic Disorders — schizophrenia, delusional disorders, antipsychotics, EPS, NMS.
Personality Disorders — BPD, antisocial personality disorder, nursing interventions, DBT.
Substance Use Disorders — alcohol/opioid withdrawal, CIWA, COWS, detox, dual diagnosis.
Eating Disorders — anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, refeeding syndrome.
Neurocognitive Disorders — delirium, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, sundowning.
Crisis and Trauma — sexual assault, IPV, abuse reporting, crisis intervention.
Psychopharmacology and NGN Clinical Judgment — antidepressants, mood stabilizers,
antipsychotics, side effects, recognizing cues, generating solutions.
,Page 2 of 143
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1–35)
Q1. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is receiving treatment for self-
inflicted injuries. The nurse should identify which of the following interventions as the priority
for this client?
A. Promoting and maintaining the client's safety
B. Discussing reasons for the client's behavior
C. Assisting the client to recognize feelings
D. Reinforcing teaching with the client about alternative coping strategies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The priority for a client who has self-inflicted injuries is promoting and maintaining
safety. Safety is the highest priority according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs and takes
precedence over discussing feelings or teaching coping strategies. The client must be physically
safe before any therapeutic work can begin.
Q2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a school-age child who has attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include?
A. Ignore your child's attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous
B. Administer ADHD medications within 30 min of your child's bedtime
C. Continue with an activity as planned even if your child becomes frustrated
D. Expect your child to gain weight after starting ADHD medications
,Page 3 of 143
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Parents should ignore attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous, as this
approach prevents reinforcing negative behaviors. ADHD medications are stimulants and should
be administered in the morning to prevent insomnia. Activities should be modified if the child
becomes frustrated. ADHD medications commonly cause weight loss, not weight gain, due to
appetite suppression.
Q3. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newly admitted client who has bipolar
disorder and is experiencing acute mania. Which of the following client goals should the nurse
identify as the priority?
A. Practicing problem-solving skills
B. Understanding of medication regimen
C. Identifying indications of relapse
D. Maintaining adequate hydration
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Maintaining adequate hydration is the priority for a client experiencing acute mania.
Clients in a manic state are often unable to sit still long enough to eat or drink, leading to
dehydration and exhaustion. Physiological needs take priority over teaching, problem-solving,
and relapse prevention.
Q4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the family of a client who has Alzheimer's disease
about donepezil. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. Donepezil can improve cognitive functioning during the earlier stages of the disease
B. Donepezil cures the disease process if it is started upon first recognition of dementia
C. Donepezil provides long-term reversal of memory loss in the last phase of the brain disease
D. Donepezil accelerates the breakdown of acetylcholine within the client's brain
, Page 4 of 143
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor that can improve cognitive functioning during
the earlier stages of Alzheimer's disease by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain. It does
not cure the disease, reverse memory loss in late stages, or accelerate acetylcholine breakdown.
The medication slows the progression of symptoms but does not stop or reverse the disease
process.
Q5. A nurse in an acute mental health facility is assisting with the plan of care for a client who
has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which of the following actions should the nurse
recommend?
A. Encourage the client to focus on personal hygiene
B. Limit the hours the client sleeps each day
C. Instruct the client to practice thought stopping
D. Make negative statements about the client's behavior
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought stopping is a therapeutic technique that helps clients with OCD interrupt
obsessive thoughts by saying "stop" to themselves. Encouraging excessive focus on hygiene can
reinforce compulsive behaviors. Limiting sleep can worsen anxiety. Negative statements about
the client's behavior are nontherapeutic and damage the nurse-client relationship.
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized and says to the nurse, "My partner called
and told me my boss hired someone to take my place." Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
A. "You should call your boss and ask if you can have your job back."
B. "I don't understand why your partner would upset you with news like that."
C. "There really isn't much you can do about that until you are discharged."
D. "You must feel very concerned and disappointed by that information."
PN ATI MENTAL HEALTH RETAKE PROCTORED EXAM WITH NGN
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED QUESTIONS DETAILED
RATIONALES GRADED A+
PN ATI Mental Health Retake Proctored Exam with NGN — Questions with Rationales
Summarized 10-Point Exam Coverage
Foundations of Mental Health Nursing — therapeutic communication, ethics, legal issues,
patient rights, nurse-client relationship phases.
Mood Disorders — major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, suicide risk assessment, mood
stabilizers.
Anxiety Disorders, OCD, and Trauma-Related Disorders — GAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD,
defense mechanisms.
Psychotic Disorders — schizophrenia, delusional disorders, antipsychotics, EPS, NMS.
Personality Disorders — BPD, antisocial personality disorder, nursing interventions, DBT.
Substance Use Disorders — alcohol/opioid withdrawal, CIWA, COWS, detox, dual diagnosis.
Eating Disorders — anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, refeeding syndrome.
Neurocognitive Disorders — delirium, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, sundowning.
Crisis and Trauma — sexual assault, IPV, abuse reporting, crisis intervention.
Psychopharmacology and NGN Clinical Judgment — antidepressants, mood stabilizers,
antipsychotics, side effects, recognizing cues, generating solutions.
,Page 2 of 143
SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING (Questions 1–35)
Q1. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a client who is receiving treatment for self-
inflicted injuries. The nurse should identify which of the following interventions as the priority
for this client?
A. Promoting and maintaining the client's safety
B. Discussing reasons for the client's behavior
C. Assisting the client to recognize feelings
D. Reinforcing teaching with the client about alternative coping strategies
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The priority for a client who has self-inflicted injuries is promoting and maintaining
safety. Safety is the highest priority according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs and takes
precedence over discussing feelings or teaching coping strategies. The client must be physically
safe before any therapeutic work can begin.
Q2. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a school-age child who has attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following instructions should the nurse
include?
A. Ignore your child's attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous
B. Administer ADHD medications within 30 min of your child's bedtime
C. Continue with an activity as planned even if your child becomes frustrated
D. Expect your child to gain weight after starting ADHD medications
,Page 3 of 143
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Parents should ignore attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous, as this
approach prevents reinforcing negative behaviors. ADHD medications are stimulants and should
be administered in the morning to prevent insomnia. Activities should be modified if the child
becomes frustrated. ADHD medications commonly cause weight loss, not weight gain, due to
appetite suppression.
Q3. A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newly admitted client who has bipolar
disorder and is experiencing acute mania. Which of the following client goals should the nurse
identify as the priority?
A. Practicing problem-solving skills
B. Understanding of medication regimen
C. Identifying indications of relapse
D. Maintaining adequate hydration
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Maintaining adequate hydration is the priority for a client experiencing acute mania.
Clients in a manic state are often unable to sit still long enough to eat or drink, leading to
dehydration and exhaustion. Physiological needs take priority over teaching, problem-solving,
and relapse prevention.
Q4. A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the family of a client who has Alzheimer's disease
about donepezil. Which of the following statements should the nurse include?
A. Donepezil can improve cognitive functioning during the earlier stages of the disease
B. Donepezil cures the disease process if it is started upon first recognition of dementia
C. Donepezil provides long-term reversal of memory loss in the last phase of the brain disease
D. Donepezil accelerates the breakdown of acetylcholine within the client's brain
, Page 4 of 143
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Donepezil is a cholinesterase inhibitor that can improve cognitive functioning during
the earlier stages of Alzheimer's disease by increasing acetylcholine levels in the brain. It does
not cure the disease, reverse memory loss in late stages, or accelerate acetylcholine breakdown.
The medication slows the progression of symptoms but does not stop or reverse the disease
process.
Q5. A nurse in an acute mental health facility is assisting with the plan of care for a client who
has obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Which of the following actions should the nurse
recommend?
A. Encourage the client to focus on personal hygiene
B. Limit the hours the client sleeps each day
C. Instruct the client to practice thought stopping
D. Make negative statements about the client's behavior
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Thought stopping is a therapeutic technique that helps clients with OCD interrupt
obsessive thoughts by saying "stop" to themselves. Encouraging excessive focus on hygiene can
reinforce compulsive behaviors. Limiting sleep can worsen anxiety. Negative statements about
the client's behavior are nontherapeutic and damage the nurse-client relationship.
Q6. A nurse is caring for a client who is hospitalized and says to the nurse, "My partner called
and told me my boss hired someone to take my place." Which of the following responses
should the nurse make?
A. "You should call your boss and ask if you can have your job back."
B. "I don't understand why your partner would upset you with news like that."
C. "There really isn't much you can do about that until you are discharged."
D. "You must feel very concerned and disappointed by that information."
