HESI Psychiatric Nursing Exam Question
and correct answers (verified answers
100%) Q&A
2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A client with major depressive disorder says, “There is no reason for me to keep living.”
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage the client to identify positive aspects of life
B. Ask directly whether the client has a plan to harm themselves
C. Tell the client that suicide is not the answer
D. Leave the client alone to provide privacy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal thoughts, intent, and plan is the priority because
immediate safety must be established.
2. Which statement by a client indicates the greatest risk for suicide?
A. “I feel sad most of the time.”
B. “I don't sleep well anymore.”
C. “My family would be better off without me.”
D. “I have decided exactly how and when I will kill myself.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A specific suicide plan, including method and timing, indicates a high and immediate
level of risk.
3. A client experiencing a panic attack is trembling and hyperventilating. What is the nurse's
priority intervention?
,A. Ask the client to describe the cause of the anxiety
B. Encourage the client to make decisions
C. Remain with the client and use short, calm statements
D. Teach detailed relaxation techniques immediately
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During severe anxiety or panic, the client has limited ability to process information.
Staying with the client and communicating calmly promotes safety.
4. Which behavior is characteristic of mania?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Slow speech
D. Loss of interest in activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mania commonly includes decreased need for sleep, increased energy, pressured
speech, impulsivity, and elevated or irritable mood.
5. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling the client to hurt another person.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real
B. Determine whether the client intends to follow the commands
C. Encourage the client to ignore the voices
D. Ask the client to listen to music
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Command hallucinations can create an immediate safety risk. The nurse should
assess the content, intent, and potential for acting on the commands.
6. Which finding is most consistent with schizophrenia?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Auditory hallucinations
,C. Increased goal-directed activity
D. Persistent elevated mood
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations are a common positive symptom of schizophrenia.
7. A client says, “The television is sending secret messages directly to me.” Which type of
symptom is this?
A. Delusion
B. Illusion
C. Compulsion
D. Obsession
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A fixed false belief that is not supported by reality is a delusion.
8. Which response is most therapeutic when a client says, “The voices are telling me I am
evil”?
A. “Those voices are not real.”
B. “Why do you think the voices are saying that?”
C. “I don't hear the voices, but I understand that you hear them.”
D. “You need to stop listening to the voices.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse acknowledges the client's experience without validating the hallucination
as reality.
9. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing acute psychosis?
A. Provide a highly stimulating environment
B. Give lengthy explanations
C. Maintain a calm, low-stimulation environment
D. Encourage participation in group activities
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Reducing environmental stimulation can decrease anxiety and help a psychotic client
maintain control.
10. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes their hands. Which term
describes the handwashing?
A. Obsession
B. Compulsion
C. Delusion
D. Hallucination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compulsion is a repetitive behavior performed to reduce anxiety associated with an
obsession.
11. Which statement best describes an obsession?
A. A repetitive behavior
B. A false fixed belief
C. An intrusive recurrent thought
D. A sensory perception without a stimulus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An obsession is an intrusive, recurrent thought, image, or urge that causes anxiety.
12. A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports excessive worry about several areas of
life. Which symptom would the nurse expect?
A. Persistent muscle tension
B. Grandiosity
C. Echolalia
D. Flat affect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder commonly causes excessive worry, restlessness, muscle
tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
and correct answers (verified answers
100%) Q&A
2026/2027 INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. A client with major depressive disorder says, “There is no reason for me to keep living.”
What should the nurse do first?
A. Encourage the client to identify positive aspects of life
B. Ask directly whether the client has a plan to harm themselves
C. Tell the client that suicide is not the answer
D. Leave the client alone to provide privacy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Directly assessing suicidal thoughts, intent, and plan is the priority because
immediate safety must be established.
2. Which statement by a client indicates the greatest risk for suicide?
A. “I feel sad most of the time.”
B. “I don't sleep well anymore.”
C. “My family would be better off without me.”
D. “I have decided exactly how and when I will kill myself.”
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: A specific suicide plan, including method and timing, indicates a high and immediate
level of risk.
3. A client experiencing a panic attack is trembling and hyperventilating. What is the nurse's
priority intervention?
,A. Ask the client to describe the cause of the anxiety
B. Encourage the client to make decisions
C. Remain with the client and use short, calm statements
D. Teach detailed relaxation techniques immediately
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: During severe anxiety or panic, the client has limited ability to process information.
Staying with the client and communicating calmly promotes safety.
4. Which behavior is characteristic of mania?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Decreased need for sleep
C. Slow speech
D. Loss of interest in activities
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Mania commonly includes decreased need for sleep, increased energy, pressured
speech, impulsivity, and elevated or irritable mood.
5. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices telling the client to hurt another person.
What should the nurse do first?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real
B. Determine whether the client intends to follow the commands
C. Encourage the client to ignore the voices
D. Ask the client to listen to music
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Command hallucinations can create an immediate safety risk. The nurse should
assess the content, intent, and potential for acting on the commands.
6. Which finding is most consistent with schizophrenia?
A. Flight of ideas
B. Auditory hallucinations
,C. Increased goal-directed activity
D. Persistent elevated mood
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Auditory hallucinations are a common positive symptom of schizophrenia.
7. A client says, “The television is sending secret messages directly to me.” Which type of
symptom is this?
A. Delusion
B. Illusion
C. Compulsion
D. Obsession
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A fixed false belief that is not supported by reality is a delusion.
8. Which response is most therapeutic when a client says, “The voices are telling me I am
evil”?
A. “Those voices are not real.”
B. “Why do you think the voices are saying that?”
C. “I don't hear the voices, but I understand that you hear them.”
D. “You need to stop listening to the voices.”
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The nurse acknowledges the client's experience without validating the hallucination
as reality.
9. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing acute psychosis?
A. Provide a highly stimulating environment
B. Give lengthy explanations
C. Maintain a calm, low-stimulation environment
D. Encourage participation in group activities
Correct Answer: C
, Rationale: Reducing environmental stimulation can decrease anxiety and help a psychotic client
maintain control.
10. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes their hands. Which term
describes the handwashing?
A. Obsession
B. Compulsion
C. Delusion
D. Hallucination
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A compulsion is a repetitive behavior performed to reduce anxiety associated with an
obsession.
11. Which statement best describes an obsession?
A. A repetitive behavior
B. A false fixed belief
C. An intrusive recurrent thought
D. A sensory perception without a stimulus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: An obsession is an intrusive, recurrent thought, image, or urge that causes anxiety.
12. A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports excessive worry about several areas of
life. Which symptom would the nurse expect?
A. Persistent muscle tension
B. Grandiosity
C. Echolalia
D. Flat affect
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder commonly causes excessive worry, restlessness, muscle
tension, fatigue, and sleep disturbance.
