Mental Health CMS ATI Exam (3 Versions) with
Questions and 100% Correct Answers/ ATI Mental
Health CMS Latest Version Completed
A school nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has a history of a depressive
episode 1 year ago. He appears withdrawn from social activities and his school
performance is declining. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate a structured daily schedule of activities.
B. Conduct a suicide-risk assessment.
C. Encourage the client to express his feelings in a journal.
D. Ask teachers to monitor for other signs of depression. - ANSWERS-B
A nurse on an inpatient unit is assessing a client who has claustrophobia. The nurse
determines the client's condition has improved when he can perform which of following
tasks?
A. Ride in an elevator.
B. Attend a class where several service animals are present.
C. Sit in a large room with several people he does not know.
D. Go for a swim in an outdoor pool. - ANSWERS-A
A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking an antipsychotic medication for 6
years and the provider has started tapering off the dosage. The nurse should monitor
the client for which of the following manifestations of tardive dyskinesia?
A. Muscular weakness
B. Muscle spasms
C. Involuntary tongue protrusion
D. Uncontrolled rolling of the eyes - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for phenelzine. The
nurse should teach the client that which of the following over-the-counter medications
can cause a hypertensive crisis when taken concurrently with phenelzine?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ranitidine
C. Naproxen
D. Pseudoephedrine - ANSWERS-D
,A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an intentional overdose of
opioids. The client state, "I feel so alone. No one can help me." Which of the following
responses by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." - ANSWERS-D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-vehicle crash. The
client is crying inconsolably. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer. Shortly after the
client receives the diagnosis, the nurse enters the client's room and the client begins
yelling, "I have received terrible care here and no one cares about me." The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "My internal
organs have turned to stone." The nurse should document this finding as which of the
following types of delusions?
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose - ANSWERS-A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult son who states that
his father recently died. The client repeatedly yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about
your father!" The nurse should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the
following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation - ANSWERS-A
,A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and recently started
taking an antidepressant. The nurse should identify which of the following client
statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like being with other
people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving care following an
involuntary admission. The client states, "I'm not taking any more medication." Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical record. - ANSWERS-D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated and pacing
rapidly. The client looks at the nurse and says, "Back off. Leave me alone." Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control yourself." -
ANSWERS-C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of a
terminal brain tumor. The nurse should expect the parents to experience which of the
following stages of grief first?
A. Denial
B. Bargaining
C. Anger
D. Depression - ANSWERS-A
A nurse in a mental health facility is reviewing confidentiality requirements with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
an understanding of the information?
A. "I am legally required to notify a client's employer about a substance use disorder."
B. "If a client is involuntarily committed, I can discuss information with the client's next of
kin."
, C. "I can discuss a client's treatment with others as long as they are employees of the
facility."
D. "I should keep information private even after a client dies." - ANSWERS-D
A nurse is caring for a client who reminds her of a negative person in her past. These
memories cause the nurse to unconsciously displace negative feelings towards the
client. The nurse should recognize that she is demonstrating which of the following
behaviors?
A. Suppression
B. Countertransference
C. Transference
D. Assertiveness - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is planning care for a client who has thoughts of suicide. Which of the following
goals should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
A. The client will identify positive aspects of others.
B. The client agrees to notify a staff member of thoughts of self-harm.
C. The client will engage in an independent diversional activity.
D. The client will not verbalize thoughts or feelings related to suicide. - ANSWERS-B
A nurse in an emergency department is caring for an 18-month-old toddler who has a
fractured left femur. Which of the following statements by the toddler's parent should
cause the nurse to suspect child abuse?
A. "My child fell down the stairs."
B. "My child was riding a bicycle and fell off."
C. "My child slipped out of the high chair."
D. "My child climbed up on a chair and it tipped over." - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is counseling a client who seems relaxed initially, but then becomes restless
and begins wringing his hands. The nurse states that the client seems tense, and the
client agrees. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
A. "Did I say something wrong that made you feel tense?"
B. "Do you often feel tense when you are talking to a health care provider?"
C. "What were we discussing when you began to feel uncomfortable?"
D. "It is ok to feel nervous during our counseling sessions." - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is caring for a client who has depression and started taking paroxetine one
week ago. The client states to the nurse, "My family would be better off without me."
Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Why do you feel your family would be better off without you?"
B. "Many people feel this way when they are depressed."
Questions and 100% Correct Answers/ ATI Mental
Health CMS Latest Version Completed
A school nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has a history of a depressive
episode 1 year ago. He appears withdrawn from social activities and his school
performance is declining. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?
A. Initiate a structured daily schedule of activities.
B. Conduct a suicide-risk assessment.
C. Encourage the client to express his feelings in a journal.
D. Ask teachers to monitor for other signs of depression. - ANSWERS-B
A nurse on an inpatient unit is assessing a client who has claustrophobia. The nurse
determines the client's condition has improved when he can perform which of following
tasks?
A. Ride in an elevator.
B. Attend a class where several service animals are present.
C. Sit in a large room with several people he does not know.
D. Go for a swim in an outdoor pool. - ANSWERS-A
A nurse is assessing a client who has been taking an antipsychotic medication for 6
years and the provider has started tapering off the dosage. The nurse should monitor
the client for which of the following manifestations of tardive dyskinesia?
A. Muscular weakness
B. Muscle spasms
C. Involuntary tongue protrusion
D. Uncontrolled rolling of the eyes - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is providing teaching to a client who has a new prescription for phenelzine. The
nurse should teach the client that which of the following over-the-counter medications
can cause a hypertensive crisis when taken concurrently with phenelzine?
A. Acetaminophen
B. Ranitidine
C. Naproxen
D. Pseudoephedrine - ANSWERS-D
,A nurse is admitting a client in the emergency department for an intentional overdose of
opioids. The client state, "I feel so alone. No one can help me." Which of the following
responses by the nurse is therapeutic?
A. "Let's finish your admission and then talk about your feelings."
B. "How come you feel that no one can help you when you are receiving help now?"
C. "Why do you feel that no one can help you?"
D. "I would like to sit and talk with you." - ANSWERS-D
A nurse is caring for a client whose adolescent child died in a motor-vehicle crash. The
client is crying inconsolably. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Suggest that the client call the facility's chaplain.
B. Provide a quiet place for the client to be alone.
C. Stay with the client and allow the client to cry.
D. Express sympathy for the client's loss. - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is caring for a client who has a new diagnosis of colon cancer. Shortly after the
client receives the diagnosis, the nurse enters the client's room and the client begins
yelling, "I have received terrible care here and no one cares about me." The nurse
should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Displacement
C. Reaction formation
D. Projection - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia. The client states, "My internal
organs have turned to stone." The nurse should document this finding as which of the
following types of delusions?
A. Somatic
B. Reference
C. Persecutory
D. Grandiose - ANSWERS-A
A nurse is caring for a client who is brought to the clinic by her adult son who states that
his father recently died. The client repeatedly yells at her son stating, "Quit lying about
your father!" The nurse should recognize that the client is demonstrating which of the
following defense mechanisms?
A. Denial
B. Identification
C. Introjection
D. Sublimation - ANSWERS-A
,A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and recently started
taking an antidepressant. The nurse should identify which of the following client
statements as the priority?
A. "I hate being so helpless. I can't even manage my own finances anymore."
B. "At group therapy today I wanted to leave. I didn't feeling like being with other
people."
C. "I have it all figured out. Everything is going to be okay now."
D. "I don't feel like showering. I'd rather just stay in bed today." - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is administering an oral sedative to a client who is receiving care following an
involuntary admission. The client states, "I'm not taking any more medication." Which of
the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Administer the medication by another route.
B. Refer the client's refusal to the facility's ethics committee.
C. Inform the client that, due to her involuntary admission, she cannot refuse a sedative.
D. Document the client's refusal of the medication in the medical record. - ANSWERS-D
A nurse enters a client's room and observes that the client is agitated and pacing
rapidly. The client looks at the nurse and says, "Back off. Leave me alone." Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
A. "I demand that you calm down now. Your behavior is unacceptable."
B. "I will close the door to provide privacy, and you can tell me what is bothering you."
C. "I will give you space if you calm down. Tell me what is causing you to feel so tense."
D. "I will leave you alone for a few minutes while you try to control yourself." -
ANSWERS-C
A nurse is providing support for the parents of a child who has a new diagnosis of a
terminal brain tumor. The nurse should expect the parents to experience which of the
following stages of grief first?
A. Denial
B. Bargaining
C. Anger
D. Depression - ANSWERS-A
A nurse in a mental health facility is reviewing confidentiality requirements with a newly
licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates
an understanding of the information?
A. "I am legally required to notify a client's employer about a substance use disorder."
B. "If a client is involuntarily committed, I can discuss information with the client's next of
kin."
, C. "I can discuss a client's treatment with others as long as they are employees of the
facility."
D. "I should keep information private even after a client dies." - ANSWERS-D
A nurse is caring for a client who reminds her of a negative person in her past. These
memories cause the nurse to unconsciously displace negative feelings towards the
client. The nurse should recognize that she is demonstrating which of the following
behaviors?
A. Suppression
B. Countertransference
C. Transference
D. Assertiveness - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is planning care for a client who has thoughts of suicide. Which of the following
goals should the nurse include in the client's plan of care?
A. The client will identify positive aspects of others.
B. The client agrees to notify a staff member of thoughts of self-harm.
C. The client will engage in an independent diversional activity.
D. The client will not verbalize thoughts or feelings related to suicide. - ANSWERS-B
A nurse in an emergency department is caring for an 18-month-old toddler who has a
fractured left femur. Which of the following statements by the toddler's parent should
cause the nurse to suspect child abuse?
A. "My child fell down the stairs."
B. "My child was riding a bicycle and fell off."
C. "My child slipped out of the high chair."
D. "My child climbed up on a chair and it tipped over." - ANSWERS-B
A nurse is counseling a client who seems relaxed initially, but then becomes restless
and begins wringing his hands. The nurse states that the client seems tense, and the
client agrees. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
A. "Did I say something wrong that made you feel tense?"
B. "Do you often feel tense when you are talking to a health care provider?"
C. "What were we discussing when you began to feel uncomfortable?"
D. "It is ok to feel nervous during our counseling sessions." - ANSWERS-C
A nurse is caring for a client who has depression and started taking paroxetine one
week ago. The client states to the nurse, "My family would be better off without me."
Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Why do you feel your family would be better off without you?"
B. "Many people feel this way when they are depressed."
