ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam FILES | Complete
PACKAGE DEAL | Verified Questions and Correct
Answers | A+ Graded | 2025/2026 Edition
Section 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client to an inpatient psychiatric unit. The client states, "I don't want to be
here. I have the right to leave whenever I want." The nurse should recognize that this client's
right to leave may be restricted under which of the following circumstances?
A. The client has a diagnosis of schizophrenia
B. The client is a danger to self or others
C. The client refuses to take prescribed medication
D. The client has no family support system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Involuntary commitment allows a facility to restrict a client's right to leave if the
client poses a danger to self or others. A diagnosis alone does not justify restriction of rights,
nor does refusal of medication or lack of family support. The legal standard for involuntary
admission requires imminent danger or grave disability .
Question 2
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 abstract thinking, I should ask the client to interpret a proverb."
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses concentration and cognitive ability.
Observing facial expression assesses affect. Writing a sentence assesses language ability.
,Interpreting a proverb assesses abstract thinking. Repeating a list of objects assesses immediate
memory, not remote memory .
Question 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: Psychobiological interventions address the biological aspects of mental health,
including monitoring for medication adverse effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral
therapy, teaching coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention, and assessing comorbid
conditions is a general nursing assessment .
Question 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 requires vigorous stimulation to arouse briefly. A Glasgow
Coma Scale score less than 7 indicates coma, decorticate rigidity indicates severe neurological
damage, and being alert but disoriented indicates confusion .
Question 5
,A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should
identify that which of the following clients requires a temporary emergency admission?
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man with a metal
rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the room while talking to himself
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A client who has assaulted another person with a weapon poses an imminent
danger to others, which justifies temporary emergency admission. Delusions of grandeur alone
do not justify admission, a suicide attempt from a year ago is not an acute crisis, and pacing
while talking to oneself does not indicate immediate danger .
Question 6
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the
unit is very short-staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The nurse's actions
are an example of which of the following torts?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Battery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified detention of a client, including
inappropriate use of seclusion or restraints. Seclusion should never be used for staff
convenience or understaffing issues. Invasion of privacy involves disclosure of confidential
information, assault is a threat, and battery is unauthorized touching .
Question 7
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
, A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention to
do so
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to warn and protect. When a client discloses possession of
a weapon that could harm self or others, confidentiality must be breached to ensure safety. The
nurse should inform the client that this information must be shared with the health care team .
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the documentation? (Select All That Apply)
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every hour."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
Correct Answers: B, C, D
Rationale: Documentation for clients in restraints must include objective, factual
information: specific fluid offerings, specific behaviors observed, and medications administered
with time. "Ate most of his breakfast" is vague, and "acted out" is subjective and non-specific .
Question 9
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations in the hallway with
another nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the nurse manager
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior
C. Provide an in-service program about confidentiality
D. Complete an incident report
PACKAGE DEAL | Verified Questions and Correct
Answers | A+ Graded | 2025/2026 Edition
Section 1: Foundations of Mental Health Nursing (Questions 1-20)
Question 1
A nurse is admitting a client to an inpatient psychiatric unit. The client states, "I don't want to be
here. I have the right to leave whenever I want." The nurse should recognize that this client's
right to leave may be restricted under which of the following circumstances?
A. The client has a diagnosis of schizophrenia
B. The client is a danger to self or others
C. The client refuses to take prescribed medication
D. The client has no family support system
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Involuntary commitment allows a facility to restrict a client's right to leave if the
client poses a danger to self or others. A diagnosis alone does not justify restriction of rights,
nor does refusal of medication or lack of family support. The legal standard for involuntary
admission requires imminent danger or grave disability .
Question 2
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 abstract thinking, I should ask the client to interpret a proverb."
Correct Answers: A, B, C, E
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens assesses concentration and cognitive ability.
Observing facial expression assesses affect. Writing a sentence assesses language ability.
,Interpreting a proverb assesses abstract thinking. Repeating a list of objects assesses immediate
memory, not remote memory .
Question 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: Psychobiological interventions address the biological aspects of mental health,
including monitoring for medication adverse effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral
therapy, teaching coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention, and assessing comorbid
conditions is a general nursing assessment .
Question 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 requires vigorous stimulation to arouse briefly. A Glasgow
Coma Scale score less than 7 indicates coma, decorticate rigidity indicates severe neurological
damage, and being alert but disoriented indicates confusion .
Question 5
,A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should
identify that which of the following clients requires a temporary emergency admission?
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man with a metal
rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the room while talking to himself
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: A client who has assaulted another person with a weapon poses an imminent
danger to others, which justifies temporary emergency admission. Delusions of grandeur alone
do not justify admission, a suicide attempt from a year ago is not an acute crisis, and pacing
while talking to oneself does not indicate immediate danger .
Question 6
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the
unit is very short-staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The nurse's actions
are an example of which of the following torts?
A. Invasion of privacy
B. False imprisonment
C. Assault
D. Battery
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified detention of a client, including
inappropriate use of seclusion or restraints. Seclusion should never be used for staff
convenience or understaffing issues. Invasion of privacy involves disclosure of confidential
information, assault is a threat, and battery is unauthorized touching .
Question 7
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to
protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
, A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention to
do so
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse has a duty to warn and protect. When a client discloses possession of
a weapon that could harm self or others, confidentiality must be breached to ensure safety. The
nurse should inform the client that this information must be shared with the health care team .
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following statements
should the nurse include in the documentation? (Select All That Apply)
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every hour."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
Correct Answers: B, C, D
Rationale: Documentation for clients in restraints must include objective, factual
information: specific fluid offerings, specific behaviors observed, and medications administered
with time. "Ate most of his breakfast" is vague, and "acted out" is subjective and non-specific .
Question 9
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations in the hallway with
another nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Notify the nurse manager
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior
C. Provide an in-service program about confidentiality
D. Complete an incident report
