NCLEX-RN Mental Health Nursing Exam
1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which finding is a
priority for the nurse to assess?
A. Feelings of sadness
B. Suicidal ideation
C. Loss of appetite
D. Difficulty sleeping
2. A client is prescribed sertraline. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
3. A nurse is assessing a client with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a manic
episode. Which finding is expected?
A. Decreased energy
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Decreased talkativeness
D. Decreased activity
4. A client is prescribed lithium carbonate. Which instruction is essential for the
nurse to include?
A. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
B. "Maintain a consistent fluid and sodium intake."
C. "Avoid foods high in potassium."
D. "You will need to have your blood glucose checked regularly."
5. A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real.
B. Ask the client what the voices are saying.
C. Ignore the client's comments about the voices.
D. Encourage the client to watch television.
,6. A client is prescribed haloperidol. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Hypotension
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Weight loss
7. A nurse is assessing a client with anxiety who is experiencing a panic attack.
Which finding is expected?
A. Bradycardia
B. Palpitations and shortness of breath
C. Hypotension
D. Bradypnea
8. A client is prescribed lorazepam. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a high-fat meal."
B. "Avoid driving until you know how this medication affects you."
C. "This medication is safe to take during pregnancy."
D. "You can stop taking this medication abruptly."
9. A nurse is assessing a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which finding
is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
10. A client is prescribed fluoxetine. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
11. A nurse is assessing a client with post-traumatic stress disorder. Which finding
is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Flashbacks and nightmares
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
12. A client is prescribed prazosin for PTSD. Which instruction should the nurse
include?
,A. "Take this medication in the morning."
B. "Take this medication at bedtime."
C. "This medication will cure your PTSD."
D. "You can stop taking this medication if you feel better."
13. A nurse is assessing a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Excessive worry and tension
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
14. A client is prescribed buspirone. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication as needed for anxiety."
B. "It may take 2-4 weeks for the full effect."
C. "This medication will cure your anxiety."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
15. A nurse is assessing a client with social anxiety disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of social situations
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
16. A client is prescribed propranolol for social anxiety disorder. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication as needed for anxiety."
B. "Take this medication before social situations."
C. "This medication will cure your anxiety."
D. "You can stop taking this medication if you feel better."
17. A nurse is assessing a client with agoraphobia. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of places where escape is difficult
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
18. A client is prescribed alprazolam for agoraphobia. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Decreased anxiety
B. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute
, C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
D. Heart rate of 72 beats per minute
19. A nurse is assessing a client with a specific phobia. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of a specific object or situation
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
20. A client is prescribed exposure therapy for a specific phobia. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "This therapy will cure your phobia immediately."
B. "This therapy will gradually reduce your fear."
C. "This therapy does not affect your development."
D. "This therapy is not effective."
21. A nurse is assessing a client with body dysmorphic disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal body image
B. Preoccupation with a perceived body defect
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
22. A client is prescribed fluoxetine for body dysmorphic disorder. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
23. A nurse is assessing a client with hoarding disorder. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Difficulty discarding possessions
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
24. A client is prescribed cognitive behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder.
Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "This therapy will cure your disorder immediately."
B. "This therapy will help you change your behavior."
C. "This therapy does not affect your development."
D. "This therapy is not effective."
1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which finding is a
priority for the nurse to assess?
A. Feelings of sadness
B. Suicidal ideation
C. Loss of appetite
D. Difficulty sleeping
2. A client is prescribed sertraline. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
3. A nurse is assessing a client with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a manic
episode. Which finding is expected?
A. Decreased energy
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Decreased talkativeness
D. Decreased activity
4. A client is prescribed lithium carbonate. Which instruction is essential for the
nurse to include?
A. "Take this medication on an empty stomach."
B. "Maintain a consistent fluid and sodium intake."
C. "Avoid foods high in potassium."
D. "You will need to have your blood glucose checked regularly."
5. A nurse is assessing a client with schizophrenia who is experiencing auditory
hallucinations. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real.
B. Ask the client what the voices are saying.
C. Ignore the client's comments about the voices.
D. Encourage the client to watch television.
,6. A client is prescribed haloperidol. Which adverse effect should the nurse
monitor for?
A. Hypotension
B. Tardive dyskinesia
C. Hyperglycemia
D. Weight loss
7. A nurse is assessing a client with anxiety who is experiencing a panic attack.
Which finding is expected?
A. Bradycardia
B. Palpitations and shortness of breath
C. Hypotension
D. Bradypnea
8. A client is prescribed lorazepam. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication with a high-fat meal."
B. "Avoid driving until you know how this medication affects you."
C. "This medication is safe to take during pregnancy."
D. "You can stop taking this medication abruptly."
9. A nurse is assessing a client with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Which finding
is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
10. A client is prescribed fluoxetine. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
11. A nurse is assessing a client with post-traumatic stress disorder. Which finding
is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Flashbacks and nightmares
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
12. A client is prescribed prazosin for PTSD. Which instruction should the nurse
include?
,A. "Take this medication in the morning."
B. "Take this medication at bedtime."
C. "This medication will cure your PTSD."
D. "You can stop taking this medication if you feel better."
13. A nurse is assessing a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Excessive worry and tension
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
14. A client is prescribed buspirone. Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication as needed for anxiety."
B. "It may take 2-4 weeks for the full effect."
C. "This medication will cure your anxiety."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
15. A nurse is assessing a client with social anxiety disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of social situations
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
16. A client is prescribed propranolol for social anxiety disorder. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication as needed for anxiety."
B. "Take this medication before social situations."
C. "This medication will cure your anxiety."
D. "You can stop taking this medication if you feel better."
17. A nurse is assessing a client with agoraphobia. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of places where escape is difficult
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
18. A client is prescribed alprazolam for agoraphobia. Which finding requires
immediate intervention?
A. Decreased anxiety
B. Respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute
, C. Blood pressure of 120/80 mm Hg
D. Heart rate of 72 beats per minute
19. A nurse is assessing a client with a specific phobia. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Fear of a specific object or situation
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
20. A client is prescribed exposure therapy for a specific phobia. Which instruction
should the nurse include?
A. "This therapy will cure your phobia immediately."
B. "This therapy will gradually reduce your fear."
C. "This therapy does not affect your development."
D. "This therapy is not effective."
21. A nurse is assessing a client with body dysmorphic disorder. Which finding is
expected?
A. Normal body image
B. Preoccupation with a perceived body defect
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
22. A client is prescribed fluoxetine for body dysmorphic disorder. Which
instruction should the nurse include?
A. "Take this medication at bedtime."
B. "It may take 4-6 weeks for the full effect."
C. "Stop taking this medication if you feel better."
D. "You can drink alcohol while taking this medication."
23. A nurse is assessing a client with hoarding disorder. Which finding is expected?
A. Normal behavior
B. Difficulty discarding possessions
C. Normal development
D. Normal weight gain
24. A client is prescribed cognitive behavioral therapy for hoarding disorder.
Which instruction should the nurse include?
A. "This therapy will cure your disorder immediately."
B. "This therapy will help you change your behavior."
C. "This therapy does not affect your development."
D. "This therapy is not effective."
