ATI MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED EXAM STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS ALREADY
GRADED A+
The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes and attending to a normal tone
of voice and speech. What is the level of consciousness? - answer-Alert
The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls asleep readily. What is the level
of consciousness? - answer-Lethargic
The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief
response. They might not be able to respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness? -
answerStuporous
The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What is the level of consciousness? -
answer-Comatose
How to test a client's immediate memory - answer-Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list
of objects
How to test a client's recent memory - answer-Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from
the current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or admission
How to test a client's remote memory - answer-Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is
verifiable, such as his birth date or his mother's maiden name
How to assess a client's ability to calculate - answer-Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly - answer-Ask the client to interpret something complex
such as, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
Glasgow coma scale - answer-Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of consciousness;
highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or
less indicates that the client is in a coma
,Serious mental illness - answer-Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental illnesses;
clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or recurrent
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that
apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most recent
presidents." - answer-A. Counting backward by sevens is an appropriate technique to assess a client's
cognitive ability.
B. Observing a client's facial expression is appropriate when assessing affect.
C. Writing a sentence is an indication of language ability. Remote language is tested by asking the client
to state a fact from his past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by asking the
client to interpret something.
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 the medications. - answer-D. Monitoring for adverse effects
of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention. Systematic desensitization is
cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching. Assessing
for comorbid conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. When
conducting the 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 her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
,D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder. - answer-B. Assessment is the priority
action. Identifying the client's perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history.
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. - answer-A. A client who is stuporous requires
vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response. B & C occur with comatose patients.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following information is
appropriate to include in the discussion? (Select all that apply)
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 client's who have mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health disorders. - answer-B, D, & E.
The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists nurses in planning care, and identifies expected
findings for mental health disorders. The DSM-5 does not contain client education handouts or
recommended pharmacological treatment.
Beneficence - answer-The quality of doing good, can be described as charity
Autonomy - answer-The client's right to make their own decisions
Justice - answer-Fair and equal treatment for all
Fidelity - answer-Loyalty and faithfulness to the client and to one's duty Veracity
- answer-Honesty when dealing with a client
Requirements for restraining a patient - answer-Provider must prescribe the restraint in writing; time
limits are based on age, 4 hr for adults, 2 hr for ages 9-17, 1 hr for age 8 and younger; must be reviewed
every 24 hr; documentation must be done every 15-30 min
, False imprisonment - answer-Confining a client to a specific area if the reason for such confinement is
for the convenience of the staff
Assault - answer-Making a threat to a client's person
Battery - answer-Touching a client in a harmful or offensive way
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 -
answer-C. A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate for a temporary emergency
admission.
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is
very 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 - answer-B. Secluding a client for the convenience of the staff is false imprisonment.
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to protect
myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
GRADED A+
The client is responsive and able to fully respond by opening their eyes and attending to a normal tone
of voice and speech. What is the level of consciousness? - answer-Alert
The client is able to open their eyes and respond but is drowsy and falls asleep readily. What is the level
of consciousness? - answer-Lethargic
The client requires vigorous or painful stimuli (pinching a tendon or rubbing the sternum) to elicit a brief
response. They might not be able to respond verbally. What is the level of consciousness? -
answerStuporous
The client is unconscious and does not respond to painful stimuli. What is the level of consciousness? -
answer-Comatose
How to test a client's immediate memory - answer-Ask the client to repeat a series of numbers or a list
of objects
How to test a client's recent memory - answer-Ask the client to recall recent events, such as visitors from
the current day, or the purpose of the current mental health appointment or admission
How to test a client's remote memory - answer-Ask the client to state a fact from his past that is
verifiable, such as his birth date or his mother's maiden name
How to assess a client's ability to calculate - answer-Ask the client to count backward from 100 in sevens
How to assess a client's ability to think abstractly - answer-Ask the client to interpret something complex
such as, "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
Glasgow coma scale - answer-Used to obtain a baseline assessment of a client's level of consciousness;
highest score is 15 and indicates that the client is awake and responding appropriately; a score of 7 or
less indicates that the client is in a coma
,Serious mental illness - answer-Includes disorders classified as severe and persistent mental illnesses;
clients often have difficulty with ADLs; can be chronic or recurrent
A charge nurse is discussing mental status exams with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching? (Select all that
apply)
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most recent
presidents." - answer-A. Counting backward by sevens is an appropriate technique to assess a client's
cognitive ability.
B. Observing a client's facial expression is appropriate when assessing affect.
C. Writing a sentence is an indication of language ability. Remote language is tested by asking the client
to state a fact from his past that his verifiable (date of birth). Abstract thinking is tested by asking the
client to interpret something.
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 the medications. - answer-D. Monitoring for adverse effects
of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention. Systematic desensitization is
cognitive and behavioral. Teaching coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching. Assessing
for comorbid conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. When
conducting the 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 her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
,D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder. - answer-B. Assessment is the priority
action. Identifying the client's perception of her mental health status provides important information
about the client's psychosocial history.
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. - answer-A. A client who is stuporous requires
vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a response. B & C occur with comatose patients.
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the DSM-5. Which of the following information is
appropriate to include in the discussion? (Select all that apply)
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 client's who have mental health disorders.
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings of mental health disorders. - answer-B, D, & E.
The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria, assists nurses in planning care, and identifies expected
findings for mental health disorders. The DSM-5 does not contain client education handouts or
recommended pharmacological treatment.
Beneficence - answer-The quality of doing good, can be described as charity
Autonomy - answer-The client's right to make their own decisions
Justice - answer-Fair and equal treatment for all
Fidelity - answer-Loyalty and faithfulness to the client and to one's duty Veracity
- answer-Honesty when dealing with a client
Requirements for restraining a patient - answer-Provider must prescribe the restraint in writing; time
limits are based on age, 4 hr for adults, 2 hr for ages 9-17, 1 hr for age 8 and younger; must be reviewed
every 24 hr; documentation must be done every 15-30 min
, False imprisonment - answer-Confining a client to a specific area if the reason for such confinement is
for the convenience of the staff
Assault - answer-Making a threat to a client's person
Battery - answer-Touching a client in a harmful or offensive way
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 -
answer-C. A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate for a temporary emergency
admission.
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is
very 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 - answer-B. Secluding a client for the convenience of the staff is false imprisonment.
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to protect
myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following
actions should the nurse take?
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic
communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely.
