ATI RN Mental Health Proctored Exam
2026/2027 | ACTUAL-Style Practice Questions
& Answers, Psychiatric Nursing, Therapeutic
Communication, Psychotropic Medications,
and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations
with a newly licensed nurse. Which statement by the newly licensed
nurse indicates an understanding of assessing cognitive ability?
A. "I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "I should instruct the client to write a complete sentence."
D. "I should have the client repeat a list of objects immediately."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens."
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens (serial sevens) is a standard
method for assessing cognitive ability, specifically attention and
calculation. Observing facial expression assesses affect, writing a
sentence assesses language ability, and repeating objects assesses
immediate memory rather than calculation ability .
Question 2: 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. Monitor the client for adverse effects of
medications.
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions focus on the biological aspects
of mental health treatment, including medication management and
monitoring for side effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral
therapy, teaching coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention, and
assessing comorbid conditions is a general nursing assessment .
,Question 3: A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. Which of the following actions
should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of their mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about their current mental health disorder.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Identify the client's perception of their mental
health status.
Rationale: During an initial interview, the priority is to establish a
therapeutic relationship and understand the client's perspective.
Coordination of care, family inclusion, and teaching occur after the initial
assessment and identification of the client's concerns .
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. The client arouses briefly in response to a
sternal rub.
Rationale: Stupor is a level of impaired consciousness in which the client
requires vigorous or painful stimuli to be aroused briefly. A Glasgow Coma
Scale score less than 7 indicates coma, decorticate rigidity indicates
severe neurological damage, and alert but disoriented describes confusion
.
Question 5: A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-
5. Which of the following information is appropriate to include?
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health
disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
,mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients who have mental
health disorders.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for
individual mental health disorders.
Rationale: The DSM-5 is the diagnostic manual that establishes criteria for
mental health disorders and assists in planning care. It does not include
client education handouts or recommend pharmacological treatments .
Question 6: 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. A client who has borderline personality disorder
and assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Rationale: Temporary emergency admission is indicated when a client
poses an imminent danger to self or others. Assaulting someone with a
weapon demonstrates dangerousness to others. Delusions of grandeur, a
suicide attempt a year ago, and pacing while talking to oneself do not
indicate immediate danger .
Question 7: A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is 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. False imprisonment
, Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified detention of a client.
Seclusion can only be used when the client poses an immediate danger to
self or others and never for staff convenience or staffing shortages.
Invasion of privacy involves confidentiality breaches, assault is a threat,
and battery is unauthorized touching .
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client who has generalized anxiety
disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Fear of gaining weight
B. Excessive worry about multiple events
C. Auditory hallucinations
D. Grandiose delusions
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Excessive worry about multiple events
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive,
uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life. Fear of weight gain
suggests anorexia nervosa, hallucinations suggest psychosis, and
grandiosity suggests mania .
Question 9: 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 a PRN benzodiazepine.
B. Encourage the client to describe the trigger.
C. Stay with the client and remain calm.
D. Move the client to a quiet, dimly lit room.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Stay with the client and remain calm.
Rationale: During a panic attack, the priority is safety and reassurance.
Staying with the client and remaining calm helps reduce anxiety.
Medication may be given later, exploring triggers should occur after the
attack subsides, and moving the client should be done without leaving
them alone .
Question 10: A client is prescribed sertraline for depression. The nurse
should instruct the client that which of the following findings indicates
a therapeutic response?
A. Increased appetite within 24 hours
B. Improved mood after 4 to 6 weeks
2026/2027 | ACTUAL-Style Practice Questions
& Answers, Psychiatric Nursing, Therapeutic
Communication, Psychotropic Medications,
and Detailed Rationales
Question 1: A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations
with a newly licensed nurse. Which statement by the newly licensed
nurse indicates an understanding of assessing cognitive ability?
A. "I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "I should instruct the client to write a complete sentence."
D. "I should have the client repeat a list of objects immediately."
CORRECT ANSWER: A. "I should ask the client to count backward by
sevens."
Rationale: Counting backward by sevens (serial sevens) is a standard
method for assessing cognitive ability, specifically attention and
calculation. Observing facial expression assesses affect, writing a
sentence assesses language ability, and repeating objects assesses
immediate memory rather than calculation ability .
Question 2: 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. Monitor the client for adverse effects of
medications.
Rationale: Psychobiological interventions focus on the biological aspects
of mental health treatment, including medication management and
monitoring for side effects. Systematic desensitization is a behavioral
therapy, teaching coping mechanisms is a psychosocial intervention, and
assessing comorbid conditions is a general nursing assessment .
,Question 3: A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. Which of the following actions
should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B. Identify the client's perception of their mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about their current mental health disorder.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Identify the client's perception of their mental
health status.
Rationale: During an initial interview, the priority is to establish a
therapeutic relationship and understand the client's perspective.
Coordination of care, family inclusion, and teaching occur after the initial
assessment and identification of the client's concerns .
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. The client arouses briefly in response to a
sternal rub.
Rationale: Stupor is a level of impaired consciousness in which the client
requires vigorous or painful stimuli to be aroused briefly. A Glasgow Coma
Scale score less than 7 indicates coma, decorticate rigidity indicates
severe neurological damage, and alert but disoriented describes confusion
.
Question 5: A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-
5. Which of the following information is appropriate to include?
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental health
disorders.
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment for
,mental health disorders.
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients who have mental
health disorders.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for
individual mental health disorders.
Rationale: The DSM-5 is the diagnostic manual that establishes criteria for
mental health disorders and assists in planning care. It does not include
client education handouts or recommend pharmacological treatments .
Question 6: 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. A client who has borderline personality disorder
and assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod.
Rationale: Temporary emergency admission is indicated when a client
poses an imminent danger to self or others. Assaulting someone with a
weapon demonstrates dangerousness to others. Delusions of grandeur, a
suicide attempt a year ago, and pacing while talking to oneself do not
indicate immediate danger .
Question 7: A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is 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. False imprisonment
, Rationale: False imprisonment is the unjustified detention of a client.
Seclusion can only be used when the client poses an immediate danger to
self or others and never for staff convenience or staffing shortages.
Invasion of privacy involves confidentiality breaches, assault is a threat,
and battery is unauthorized touching .
Question 8: A nurse is caring for a client who has generalized anxiety
disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Fear of gaining weight
B. Excessive worry about multiple events
C. Auditory hallucinations
D. Grandiose delusions
CORRECT ANSWER: B. Excessive worry about multiple events
Rationale: Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by excessive,
uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life. Fear of weight gain
suggests anorexia nervosa, hallucinations suggest psychosis, and
grandiosity suggests mania .
Question 9: 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 a PRN benzodiazepine.
B. Encourage the client to describe the trigger.
C. Stay with the client and remain calm.
D. Move the client to a quiet, dimly lit room.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Stay with the client and remain calm.
Rationale: During a panic attack, the priority is safety and reassurance.
Staying with the client and remaining calm helps reduce anxiety.
Medication may be given later, exploring triggers should occur after the
attack subsides, and moving the client should be done without leaving
them alone .
Question 10: A client is prescribed sertraline for depression. The nurse
should instruct the client that which of the following findings indicates
a therapeutic response?
A. Increased appetite within 24 hours
B. Improved mood after 4 to 6 weeks
