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ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH EDITION 12.0 ACTUAL EXAM
2026
Questions 1–200 | Complete All 26 Chapters |
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Episodes of sudden, intense fear lasting minutes
B. Excessive worry about multiple events for at least 6 months
C. Fear of being in open spaces
D. Repetitive, intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
about multiple events or activities occurring more days than not for at least 6 months. Option A
describes panic disorder. Option C describes agoraphobia. Option D describes obsessive-
compulsive disorder.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer alprazolam as prescribed
B. Stay with the client and speak in a calm, reassuring voice
C. Teach the client deep breathing exercises
D. Assist the client to a quiet, dimly lit environment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse's first priority during a panic attack is to remain with the client and
provide reassurance to promote safety and reduce fear. Medication administration (A) and
teaching deep breathing (C) may be appropriate but follow the initial therapeutic presence.
Moving the client (D) may increase anxiety.
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3. A nurse is assessing a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Elevated mood and increased energy
B. Anhedonia and feelings of worthlessness
C. Grandiosity and decreased need for sleep
D. Flight of ideas and rapid speech
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of pleasure), feelings
of worthlessness or guilt, fatigue, and depressed mood. Options A, C, and D are symptoms of
mania, which occurs in bipolar disorder.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing acute mania.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Psychomotor retardation
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Social withdrawal
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: During acute mania, clients typically have a decreased need for sleep, increased
energy, and psychomotor agitation. Psychomotor retardation (A) and social withdrawal (C) are
seen in depression. Weight gain (D) is not typically associated with mania.
5. A nurse is administering lithium carbonate to a client who has bipolar disorder. Which of
the following findings indicates lithium toxicity?
A. Serum lithium level of 0.8 mEq/L
B. Fine hand tremors
C. Coarse hand tremors and ataxia
D. Increased thirst
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Coarse hand tremors and ataxia indicate moderate to severe lithium toxicity. A
level of 0.8 mEq/L (A) is therapeutic (0.6-1.2 mEq/L). Fine hand tremors (B) and increased thirst
(D) are common side effects, not toxicity.
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6. A nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask first?
A. "What are the voices telling you to do?"
B. "Do you recognize the voices?"
C. "How long have you been hearing the voices?"
D. "Does the medication help the voices?"
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The priority is to assess whether the voices are commanding the client to harm
themselves or others. Option B, C, and D are important but do not address immediate safety.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed haloperidol. Which of the
following findings indicates acute dystonia?
A. Muscle rigidity and high fever
B. Involuntary facial movements
C. Severe muscle spasms of the neck and eyes
D. Akathisia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Acute dystonia presents with severe muscle spasms, particularly of the neck
(torticollis), eyes (oculogyric crisis), and tongue. Muscle rigidity with fever (A) indicates
neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Involuntary facial movements (B) indicate tardive dyskinesia.
Akathisia (D) is restlessness.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Body mass index (BMI) of 22
B. Bradycardia and hypotension
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Increased body temperature
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Anorexia nervosa commonly causes bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, and
electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hypokalemia). A BMI of 22 (A) is normal. Hyperkalemia (C) is not
typical. Increased body temperature (D) is not associated.
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9. A nurse is providing care to a client who has bulimia nervosa. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Severe emaciation
B. Dental erosion and calluses on the knuckles
C. Lanugo and cold intolerance
D. Bradycardia and hypotension
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Clients with bulimia nervosa may have dental erosion from repeated vomiting and
calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign) from self-induced vomiting. Severe emaciation (A),
lanugo (C), and bradycardia/hypotension (D) are characteristic of anorexia nervosa.
10. A nurse is assessing a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypervigilance and intrusive flashbacks
B. Grandiosity and decreased need for sleep
C. Compulsive rituals
D. Anhedonia and psychomotor retardation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: PTSD is characterized by hypervigilance, intrusive flashbacks, nightmares, and
avoidance of trauma-related stimuli. Option B describes mania. Option C describes OCD. Option
D describes depression.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naltrexone
B. Lorazepam
C. Disulfiram
D. Acamprosate
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are the first-line treatment for alcohol
withdrawal to prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Naltrexone (A) and acamprosate (D) are
used for maintenance of abstinence. Disulfiram (C) is used for aversion therapy.
ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH EDITION 12.0 ACTUAL EXAM
2026
Questions 1–200 | Complete All 26 Chapters |
Questions with Verified Answers & Rationales | Pass
Guaranteed - A+ Graded
1. A nurse is assessing a client who has generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Episodes of sudden, intense fear lasting minutes
B. Excessive worry about multiple events for at least 6 months
C. Fear of being in open spaces
D. Repetitive, intrusive thoughts and ritualistic behaviors
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
about multiple events or activities occurring more days than not for at least 6 months. Option A
describes panic disorder. Option C describes agoraphobia. Option D describes obsessive-
compulsive disorder.
2. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing a panic attack. Which of the following
actions should the nurse take first?
A. Administer alprazolam as prescribed
B. Stay with the client and speak in a calm, reassuring voice
C. Teach the client deep breathing exercises
D. Assist the client to a quiet, dimly lit environment
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The nurse's first priority during a panic attack is to remain with the client and
provide reassurance to promote safety and reduce fear. Medication administration (A) and
teaching deep breathing (C) may be appropriate but follow the initial therapeutic presence.
Moving the client (D) may increase anxiety.
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3. A nurse is assessing a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Elevated mood and increased energy
B. Anhedonia and feelings of worthlessness
C. Grandiosity and decreased need for sleep
D. Flight of ideas and rapid speech
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Major depressive disorder is characterized by anhedonia (loss of pleasure), feelings
of worthlessness or guilt, fatigue, and depressed mood. Options A, C, and D are symptoms of
mania, which occurs in bipolar disorder.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing acute mania.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Psychomotor retardation
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Social withdrawal
D. Weight gain
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: During acute mania, clients typically have a decreased need for sleep, increased
energy, and psychomotor agitation. Psychomotor retardation (A) and social withdrawal (C) are
seen in depression. Weight gain (D) is not typically associated with mania.
5. A nurse is administering lithium carbonate to a client who has bipolar disorder. Which of
the following findings indicates lithium toxicity?
A. Serum lithium level of 0.8 mEq/L
B. Fine hand tremors
C. Coarse hand tremors and ataxia
D. Increased thirst
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Coarse hand tremors and ataxia indicate moderate to severe lithium toxicity. A
level of 0.8 mEq/L (A) is therapeutic (0.6-1.2 mEq/L). Fine hand tremors (B) and increased thirst
(D) are common side effects, not toxicity.
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6. A nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which of the following questions should the nurse ask first?
A. "What are the voices telling you to do?"
B. "Do you recognize the voices?"
C. "How long have you been hearing the voices?"
D. "Does the medication help the voices?"
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The priority is to assess whether the voices are commanding the client to harm
themselves or others. Option B, C, and D are important but do not address immediate safety.
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has been prescribed haloperidol. Which of the
following findings indicates acute dystonia?
A. Muscle rigidity and high fever
B. Involuntary facial movements
C. Severe muscle spasms of the neck and eyes
D. Akathisia
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Acute dystonia presents with severe muscle spasms, particularly of the neck
(torticollis), eyes (oculogyric crisis), and tongue. Muscle rigidity with fever (A) indicates
neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Involuntary facial movements (B) indicate tardive dyskinesia.
Akathisia (D) is restlessness.
8. A nurse is assessing a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect?
A. Body mass index (BMI) of 22
B. Bradycardia and hypotension
C. Hyperkalemia
D. Increased body temperature
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Anorexia nervosa commonly causes bradycardia, hypotension, hypothermia, and
electrolyte imbalances (e.g., hypokalemia). A BMI of 22 (A) is normal. Hyperkalemia (C) is not
typical. Increased body temperature (D) is not associated.
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9. A nurse is providing care to a client who has bulimia nervosa. Which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. Severe emaciation
B. Dental erosion and calluses on the knuckles
C. Lanugo and cold intolerance
D. Bradycardia and hypotension
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Clients with bulimia nervosa may have dental erosion from repeated vomiting and
calluses on the knuckles (Russell's sign) from self-induced vomiting. Severe emaciation (A),
lanugo (C), and bradycardia/hypotension (D) are characteristic of anorexia nervosa.
10. A nurse is assessing a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Hypervigilance and intrusive flashbacks
B. Grandiosity and decreased need for sleep
C. Compulsive rituals
D. Anhedonia and psychomotor retardation
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: PTSD is characterized by hypervigilance, intrusive flashbacks, nightmares, and
avoidance of trauma-related stimuli. Option B describes mania. Option C describes OCD. Option
D describes depression.
11. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following medications should the nurse anticipate administering?
A. Naltrexone
B. Lorazepam
C. Disulfiram
D. Acamprosate
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Benzodiazepines such as lorazepam are the first-line treatment for alcohol
withdrawal to prevent seizures and delirium tremens. Naltrexone (A) and acamprosate (D) are
used for maintenance of abstinence. Disulfiram (C) is used for aversion therapy.
