2023 ATI Mental Health Practice Test Exam Updated 2024 -2025 wi th All Questions and 100% Correct Answer A nurse in a mental health clinic is planning for four clients. Which of the following tasks should the nurse delegate to an assistive personnel (AP)? A. Discuss outpatient resources with a client who has post -traumatic stress disorder. B. Create a plan of care for a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. C. Explain sleep hygiene to a client who has insomnia. D. Stay with a client who has anorexia nervosa for 1 hr after mealtimes. ---------- Correct Answer ---------- D. Stay with a client who has anorexia nervosa for 1 hr after mealtimes. Staying with a client who has anorexia nervosa following mealtimes is within the range of function of an AP. APs are allowed to attend to the safety of clients who are stable, and this task does not require assessment or technical skill. A school nurse is assessing a school -age child who experienced the traumatic loss of a parent 8 months ago. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as an indication that the child is experiencing post -traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)? A. Clinging behaviors directed toward a teacher B. Increased time spent sleeping C. Intense focus on school work D. Lack of interest in an upcoming holiday ---------- Correct Answer ---------- D. Lack of interest in an upcoming holiday The child who has PTSD will have negative moods and difficulty remembering aspects of the traumatic event. The child can also have a loss of interest or lack of participation in significant activities and events such as holidays. A nurse observes a client on a mental health unit pushing on the locked unit door. Which of the following statements should the nurse make? A. "It appears as though you would like to open the door." B. "You will feel more comfortable after you've been here for a while." C. "It is okay to not want to be here." D. "You really shouldn't be pushing on the door." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- A. "It appears as though you would like to open the door." This statement is an example of the therapeutic technique of making observations. This technique encourages the client to notice the behavior so that they can describe thoughts and feelings related to that behavior. A nurse on a mental health unit observes a client who has acute mania hit another client. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first? A. Call the provider to obtain an immediate prescription for restraint. B. Prepare to administer benzodiazepine IM. C. Call for a team of staff members to help with the situation. D. Check the client who has was hit for injuries. ---------- Correct Answer ---------- C. Call for a team of staff members to help with the situation. The greatest risk is injury to the client and others. Therefore, the first action the nurse should take is to call for assistance to prevent further injury to themselves or others. A nurse is planning discharge teaching with a family member of a client who has diagnosis of depression. Which of the following information about relapse should the nurse include? A. Additional acute episodes of depression are unlikely following inpatient care. B. Early identification of changes, such as decreased social involvement, is important. C. Medication compliance will prevent further need for inpatient hospitalization. D. It is helpful to regularly reinforce to the client that things will get better. ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. Early identification of changes, such as decreased social involvement, is important. Decreased social involvement is a manifestation of depression, and early identification of findings can lead to early intervention. A nurse in the emergency department is caring for four clients. Which of the following clients is the nurse required to report as a potential victim of abuse? A. A school -age child who has bruises on the knees B. An older adult client who is bedbound and has a stage IV pressure ulcer C. An adolescent who has a vaginal candida infection D. A young adult who is pregnant and has a sprained ankle ---------- Correct Answer -----
----- B. An older adult client who is bedbound and has a stage IV pressure ulcer A stage IV pressure ulcer on an older adult client who is bedbound can indicate physical neglect and warrants mandatory reporting. A nurse is counseling an adolescent who has anorexia nervosa and reports excessive laxative use and fear of gaining weight. The client states, "I'm so fat I can't even stand to look at myself." Which of the following therapeutic responses demonstrates the nurse's use of summarizing? A. "You've discussed several concerns about your weight. Let's go back and talk about your belief that you are fat." B. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining weight." C. "You don't want to look at yourself because you think you are fat." D. "You and I can work together to overcome your fears of gaining weight." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining weight." The nurse is using the therapeutic technique of summarizing to review the key points of the discussion. A nurse is caring for four clients in an emergency department. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients can give informed consent? A. A 17 -year-old client who lives with friends B. A 50 -year-old client who has a blood alcohol level of 80 mg/dL C. A 35 -year-old client who has major depressive disorder D. A 65 -year-old client who just received a dose of morphine ---------- Correct Answer ---
------- C. A 35 -year-old client who has major depressive disorder A client who has major depressive disorder is capable of making health care decisions unless the client is determined to be legally incompetent. A nurse is planning prevention strategies for partner violence in the community. Which of the following strategies should the nurse include as a method of secondary prevention? A. Provide teaching about the use of positive coping mechanisms. B. Establish screening programs to identify at -risk clients. C. Refer survivors of intimate partner abuse to a legal advocacy program. D. Organize rehabilitation therapy for clients who have experienced intimate partner abuse. ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. Establish screening programs to identify at -
risk clients. This is an example of secondary prevention. By establishing screening programs, the nurse can identify individuals who are at risk for partner violence in the community and can take the necessary steps to address individual client needs. A nurse in a community health center is working with a group of clients who have post -
traumatic stress disorder. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include to reduce anxiety among the group members? A. Response prevention B. Guided imagery C. Aversion therapy D. Light therapy ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. Guided imagery Guided imagery involves assisting the client to imagine a restful and safe place. This method is effective in reducing anxiety in clients who have post -traumatic stress disorder. A nurse is receiving change -of-shift report for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to see first? A. A client who has avoidant personality disorder and refuses to attend group therapy B. A client who has bipolar disorder and reports being kidnapped by aliens overnight C. A client who is taking bupropion and reports having insomnia the past 2 nights D. A client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills ---------- Correct Answer ---------- D. A client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine to first see the client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills. Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a serious adverse effect that causes neutrope nia. The nurse should withhold the medication and notify the provider of these findings . A nurse is facilitating a community meeting for acute care clients. One client is constantly talking and using the majority of the group's time. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement? A. Tell the client to talk less or risk being removed from the meeting. B. Ask group members to discuss their feelings about this client's monopolizing behavior. C. End the group meeting and take the client aside to discuss the disruptive behavior. D. Focus on other group members and ignore the client who is doing all the talking. -----
----- Correct Answer ---------- B. Ask group members to discuss their feelings about this client's monopolizing behavior. This intervention will validate other members' feelings toward the client who is dominating the meeting. It also should encourage group problem -solving. A nurse is teaching the guardians of a client about their adolescent child's diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Which of the following statements made by the guardians indicates an understanding of their client's illness? A. "This disease will increase our child's risk for high blood pressure." B. "It is important for our child to have regular dental checkups." C. "We need to weigh our child daily for several weeks, then once per week." D. "Bleeding during our child's periods will increase because of this disease." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. "It is important for our child to have regular dental checkups." For a client who has bulimia nervosa, repeated vomiting erodes tooth enamel and predisposes the teeth to caries. Thus, the nurse should teach the guardians that regular dental checkups are important for a client who has bulimia nervosa A nurse is providing teaching to the partner of a client who is in a rehabilitation program for alcohol use disorder. The nurse should identify that which of the following statements by the client's partner indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I will avoid social events until my partner has completed treatment." B. "It is important for me to focus my attention on my partner's addiction." C. "I will not take charge of my partner's work responsibilities." D. "I want my partner to promise to change addictive behaviors." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- C. "I will not take charge of my partner's work responsibilities."
----- B. An older adult client who is bedbound and has a stage IV pressure ulcer A stage IV pressure ulcer on an older adult client who is bedbound can indicate physical neglect and warrants mandatory reporting. A nurse is counseling an adolescent who has anorexia nervosa and reports excessive laxative use and fear of gaining weight. The client states, "I'm so fat I can't even stand to look at myself." Which of the following therapeutic responses demonstrates the nurse's use of summarizing? A. "You've discussed several concerns about your weight. Let's go back and talk about your belief that you are fat." B. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining weight." C. "You don't want to look at yourself because you think you are fat." D. "You and I can work together to overcome your fears of gaining weight." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining weight." The nurse is using the therapeutic technique of summarizing to review the key points of the discussion. A nurse is caring for four clients in an emergency department. The nurse should identify that which of the following clients can give informed consent? A. A 17 -year-old client who lives with friends B. A 50 -year-old client who has a blood alcohol level of 80 mg/dL C. A 35 -year-old client who has major depressive disorder D. A 65 -year-old client who just received a dose of morphine ---------- Correct Answer ---
------- C. A 35 -year-old client who has major depressive disorder A client who has major depressive disorder is capable of making health care decisions unless the client is determined to be legally incompetent. A nurse is planning prevention strategies for partner violence in the community. Which of the following strategies should the nurse include as a method of secondary prevention? A. Provide teaching about the use of positive coping mechanisms. B. Establish screening programs to identify at -risk clients. C. Refer survivors of intimate partner abuse to a legal advocacy program. D. Organize rehabilitation therapy for clients who have experienced intimate partner abuse. ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. Establish screening programs to identify at -
risk clients. This is an example of secondary prevention. By establishing screening programs, the nurse can identify individuals who are at risk for partner violence in the community and can take the necessary steps to address individual client needs. A nurse in a community health center is working with a group of clients who have post -
traumatic stress disorder. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include to reduce anxiety among the group members? A. Response prevention B. Guided imagery C. Aversion therapy D. Light therapy ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. Guided imagery Guided imagery involves assisting the client to imagine a restful and safe place. This method is effective in reducing anxiety in clients who have post -traumatic stress disorder. A nurse is receiving change -of-shift report for four clients. Which of the following clients should the nurse plan to see first? A. A client who has avoidant personality disorder and refuses to attend group therapy B. A client who has bipolar disorder and reports being kidnapped by aliens overnight C. A client who is taking bupropion and reports having insomnia the past 2 nights D. A client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills ---------- Correct Answer ---------- D. A client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills When using the urgent vs. nonurgent approach to client care, the nurse should determine to first see the client who is taking clozapine and reports a sore throat and chills. Clozapine can cause agranulocytosis, a serious adverse effect that causes neutrope nia. The nurse should withhold the medication and notify the provider of these findings . A nurse is facilitating a community meeting for acute care clients. One client is constantly talking and using the majority of the group's time. Which of the following interventions should the nurse implement? A. Tell the client to talk less or risk being removed from the meeting. B. Ask group members to discuss their feelings about this client's monopolizing behavior. C. End the group meeting and take the client aside to discuss the disruptive behavior. D. Focus on other group members and ignore the client who is doing all the talking. -----
----- Correct Answer ---------- B. Ask group members to discuss their feelings about this client's monopolizing behavior. This intervention will validate other members' feelings toward the client who is dominating the meeting. It also should encourage group problem -solving. A nurse is teaching the guardians of a client about their adolescent child's diagnosis of bulimia nervosa. Which of the following statements made by the guardians indicates an understanding of their client's illness? A. "This disease will increase our child's risk for high blood pressure." B. "It is important for our child to have regular dental checkups." C. "We need to weigh our child daily for several weeks, then once per week." D. "Bleeding during our child's periods will increase because of this disease." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- B. "It is important for our child to have regular dental checkups." For a client who has bulimia nervosa, repeated vomiting erodes tooth enamel and predisposes the teeth to caries. Thus, the nurse should teach the guardians that regular dental checkups are important for a client who has bulimia nervosa A nurse is providing teaching to the partner of a client who is in a rehabilitation program for alcohol use disorder. The nurse should identify that which of the following statements by the client's partner indicates an understanding of the teaching? A. "I will avoid social events until my partner has completed treatment." B. "It is important for me to focus my attention on my partner's addiction." C. "I will not take charge of my partner's work responsibilities." D. "I want my partner to promise to change addictive behaviors." ---------- Correct Answer ---------- C. "I will not take charge of my partner's work responsibilities."
