HESI PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH TEST BANK 2
2026-2027 ACTUAL EXAM 300+ REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a newly admitted client with
paranoid schizophrenia who is hypervigilant and who constantly scans
the environment. The client tells the PN, "I saw those two doctors in the
hall talking about me." What descriptive terminology should the PN
document to describe the client's thought process?
A. Echolalia
B. Ideas of reference
C. Delusions of infidelity
D. Auditory hallucinations - Correct AnswerB. Ideas of reference
rationale:
Ideas of reference (B) are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or
actions of others that the client gives suspicious personal meanings to
these behaviors. This behavior does not reflect (A,C or D).
A client with delusions of persecution has been refusing all hospital
meals for the last 3 days and tells the practical nurse that the food
contains poison. What action should the PN implement?
Page 1 of 150
,A. Taste a small portion of the food in front of the client
B. Obtain a prescription for nasogastric nutrition
C. Provide foods in the original closed containers
D. Allow the client to place a food order for delivery - Correct AnswerC.
Provide foods in the original closed containers
rationale:
A client with delusions of persecution related to poisoning should be
provided foods that are in original sealed containers (C) or packages or
nuts in uncracked natural shells. (A and D) are often viewed suspiciously
by the client. (B) is not indicated.
What approach is best for the practical nurse (PN) to use when
establishing a relationship with a severely socially withdrawn male
client diagnosed with schizophrenia?
A. Read to the client from the daily newspaper to promote orientation
B. Sit with the client in silence several times a day
C. Ask the client questions about the thoughts that he is having
D. Use therapeutic touch by placing a hand on the client's arm
occasionally - Correct AnswerB. Sit with the client in silence several
times a day
rationale:
This severely withdrawn client should be accepted and met "at the
client's own level," with silence. Short contact and the use of silence are
helpful to minimize the client's anxiety (B). (A and C) may be ineffective.
Touch (D) is often perceived as threatening and is not recommended.
Page 2 of 150
,A client with schizophrenia approaches the practical nurse (PN) and
says, " The voices are bothering me. They're yelling and telling me I'm
bad. Can't you hear them?" Which responses should the PN provide?
A. "Do you hear the voices often?"
B. "Have you been taking your medication regularly?"
C. "I can't hear the voices, but I can see that you're upset."
D. "Dismiss the voices and ask someone to play cards with you." -
Correct AnswerC. "I can't hear the voices, but I can see that you're
upset."
rationale:
A response based in reality should be given in response to the client.
Since the experience is real for the client, acknowledging the distress
encourages the client to identify feelings associated with the experience
(C). The client can't respond to (A or B) while in an agitated state. (D) is
not therapeutic.
Which nursing intervention is best to help a female client with
progressive memory deficit?
A. Promote the client's sense of humor by telling jokes and discussing
cartoons
B. Avoid frustrating the client by performing routine activities of daily
living for her
C. Stimulate the client intellectually by bringing new topics to her
attention
D. Assist the client to perform simple tasks by giving step by step
directions - Correct AnswerD. Assist the client to perform simple tasks
by giving step by step directions
rationale:
Page 3 of 150
, When simple directions are given in a step by step fashion (D), a client
with memory deficit can process information and perform simple tasks.
Clients with memory or cognitive impairment should be encouraged to
perform all tasks they are capable of doing for themselves, not (B). (A
and C) may be frustrating and counterproductive for the client.
A client diagnosed with Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease is experiencing
difficulty toileting appropriately. What instruction is best for the
practical nurse (PN) to provide the family?
A. Label the client's bathroom door
B. Place the client in disposable diapers
C. Make sure the client does not eat nonfood items
D. Question the client often about the urge to void or defecate. -
Correct AnswerA. Label the client's bathroom door
rationale:
A client with Stage 3 (mild decline) Alzheimer's disease has memory loss
that begins to interfere with activities of daily living and may benefit
from the use of environmental cues such as labels to compensate for
memory loss. (B,C, and D) do not address the concepts of client dignity,
advocacy, and collarboration.
A male client with dementia who lives in an extended care facility is
placed in a wheelchair each day and positioned in the hall where he
kicks people who walk past him. Which intervention should the
practical nurse (PN) implement?
A. Move him to a busier hall with more people
B. Ask the client every half hour what he needs
C. Call him by name until he focuses his attention
Page 4 of 150
2026-2027 ACTUAL EXAM 300+ REAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
The practical nurse (PN) is assessing a newly admitted client with
paranoid schizophrenia who is hypervigilant and who constantly scans
the environment. The client tells the PN, "I saw those two doctors in the
hall talking about me." What descriptive terminology should the PN
document to describe the client's thought process?
A. Echolalia
B. Ideas of reference
C. Delusions of infidelity
D. Auditory hallucinations - Correct AnswerB. Ideas of reference
rationale:
Ideas of reference (B) are misinterpretations of the verbalizations or
actions of others that the client gives suspicious personal meanings to
these behaviors. This behavior does not reflect (A,C or D).
A client with delusions of persecution has been refusing all hospital
meals for the last 3 days and tells the practical nurse that the food
contains poison. What action should the PN implement?
Page 1 of 150
,A. Taste a small portion of the food in front of the client
B. Obtain a prescription for nasogastric nutrition
C. Provide foods in the original closed containers
D. Allow the client to place a food order for delivery - Correct AnswerC.
Provide foods in the original closed containers
rationale:
A client with delusions of persecution related to poisoning should be
provided foods that are in original sealed containers (C) or packages or
nuts in uncracked natural shells. (A and D) are often viewed suspiciously
by the client. (B) is not indicated.
What approach is best for the practical nurse (PN) to use when
establishing a relationship with a severely socially withdrawn male
client diagnosed with schizophrenia?
A. Read to the client from the daily newspaper to promote orientation
B. Sit with the client in silence several times a day
C. Ask the client questions about the thoughts that he is having
D. Use therapeutic touch by placing a hand on the client's arm
occasionally - Correct AnswerB. Sit with the client in silence several
times a day
rationale:
This severely withdrawn client should be accepted and met "at the
client's own level," with silence. Short contact and the use of silence are
helpful to minimize the client's anxiety (B). (A and C) may be ineffective.
Touch (D) is often perceived as threatening and is not recommended.
Page 2 of 150
,A client with schizophrenia approaches the practical nurse (PN) and
says, " The voices are bothering me. They're yelling and telling me I'm
bad. Can't you hear them?" Which responses should the PN provide?
A. "Do you hear the voices often?"
B. "Have you been taking your medication regularly?"
C. "I can't hear the voices, but I can see that you're upset."
D. "Dismiss the voices and ask someone to play cards with you." -
Correct AnswerC. "I can't hear the voices, but I can see that you're
upset."
rationale:
A response based in reality should be given in response to the client.
Since the experience is real for the client, acknowledging the distress
encourages the client to identify feelings associated with the experience
(C). The client can't respond to (A or B) while in an agitated state. (D) is
not therapeutic.
Which nursing intervention is best to help a female client with
progressive memory deficit?
A. Promote the client's sense of humor by telling jokes and discussing
cartoons
B. Avoid frustrating the client by performing routine activities of daily
living for her
C. Stimulate the client intellectually by bringing new topics to her
attention
D. Assist the client to perform simple tasks by giving step by step
directions - Correct AnswerD. Assist the client to perform simple tasks
by giving step by step directions
rationale:
Page 3 of 150
, When simple directions are given in a step by step fashion (D), a client
with memory deficit can process information and perform simple tasks.
Clients with memory or cognitive impairment should be encouraged to
perform all tasks they are capable of doing for themselves, not (B). (A
and C) may be frustrating and counterproductive for the client.
A client diagnosed with Stage 3 Alzheimer's disease is experiencing
difficulty toileting appropriately. What instruction is best for the
practical nurse (PN) to provide the family?
A. Label the client's bathroom door
B. Place the client in disposable diapers
C. Make sure the client does not eat nonfood items
D. Question the client often about the urge to void or defecate. -
Correct AnswerA. Label the client's bathroom door
rationale:
A client with Stage 3 (mild decline) Alzheimer's disease has memory loss
that begins to interfere with activities of daily living and may benefit
from the use of environmental cues such as labels to compensate for
memory loss. (B,C, and D) do not address the concepts of client dignity,
advocacy, and collarboration.
A male client with dementia who lives in an extended care facility is
placed in a wheelchair each day and positioned in the hall where he
kicks people who walk past him. Which intervention should the
practical nurse (PN) implement?
A. Move him to a busier hall with more people
B. Ask the client every half hour what he needs
C. Call him by name until he focuses his attention
Page 4 of 150
