MENTAL HEALTH HESI RN TEST BANK NEWEST
2025 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS)
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - ans -A. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - ans -D. "I don't want to
walk. Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with
a known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago.
Useof which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - ans -C. Methamphetamine
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
,C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ans -A. Report the
client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will
not resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia.
Which information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - ans -B. Have you
taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at
the RN. What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - ans -A. Stay quietly with the patient
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is has
been poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to
encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ans -A. Using
open-ended questions and silence
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior
spends hours at the locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing
wrong with me. I don't belong here." What defense mechanism is the patient
implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ans -A. Denial
,A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I
wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on
like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
D. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a
diagnosis." - ans -C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for
you to be cured?"
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary.
Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which patient's behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. -
ans -D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for the treatment of an anxiety disorder demands
to be released from the hospital. Which action should the nurse take initially?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. -
ans -A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a patient was
admitted to the mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission,
the nurse should provide which intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission
was needed. - ans -A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
, The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient
relationship. The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most
appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes - ans -B. Making appropriate referrals
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a neighbor in a local
grocery store. The neighbors ask the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best
friend and is seen at your clinic every week." Which is the most appropriate
nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and deserves her
privacy." - ans -A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the following as
therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
C. Asking the patient "Why?"
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
F. Giving advice and approval or disapproval - ans -A. Restating
B. Listening
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
A patient's unresolved feelings related to loss would be most likely observed
during which phase of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship?
A. Trusting
B. Working
C. Orientation
D. Termination - ans -D. Termination
2025 ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED
ANSWERS)
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - ans -A. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - ans -D. "I don't want to
walk. Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with
a known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago.
Useof which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - ans -C. Methamphetamine
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
,C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ans -A. Report the
client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will
not resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia.
Which information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - ans -B. Have you
taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at
the RN. What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - ans -A. Stay quietly with the patient
A patient experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is has
been poisoned. Which communication technique should the nurse use to
encourage the patient to eat?
A. Using open-ended questions and silence
B. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
C. Documenting reasons why the patient does not want to eat
D. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - ans -A. Using
open-ended questions and silence
A patient admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior
spends hours at the locked exit door shouting. "Let me out. There's nothing
wrong with me. I don't belong here." What defense mechanism is the patient
implementing?
A. Denial
B. Projection
C. Regression
D. Rationalization - ans -A. Denial
,A patient diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse "I'm going to die, and I
wish my family would stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on
like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying." Which response by the nurse is
therapeutic?
A. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
B. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
D. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a
diagnosis." - ans -C. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for
you to be cured?"
On review of the patient's record, the nurse notes the admission was voluntary.
Based on this information, the nurse anticipates which patient's behavior?
A. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
B. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
C. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. -
ans -D. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
A patient admitted voluntarily for the treatment of an anxiety disorder demands
to be released from the hospital. Which action should the nurse take initially?
A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
B. Call the patient's family to arrange for transportations.
C. Attempt to persuade the patient to stay for only a few more days.
D. Tell the patient that leaving would likely result in an involuntary commitment. -
ans -A. Contact the patient's health care provider (HCP).
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a patient was
admitted to the mental health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission,
the nurse should provide which intervention for this patient?
A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
B. Assist in completing an application for admission
C. Supply the patient with written information about their mental illness.
D. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission
was needed. - ans -A. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
, The nurse is preparing a patient for the termination phase of the nurse-patient
relationship. The nurse prepares to implement which nursing task that is most
appropriate for this phase?
A. Planning short-term goals
B. Making appropriate referrals
C. Developing realistic solutions
D. Identifying expected outcomes - ans -B. Making appropriate referrals
The nurse employed in a mental health clinic is greeted by a neighbor in a local
grocery store. The neighbors ask the nurse, "How is Mary doing? She is my best
friend and is seen at your clinic every week." Which is the most appropriate
nursing response?
A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
B. "If you want to know about Mary, you need to ask her yourself."
C. "Only because you're worried about a friend, I'll tell you that she is improving."
D. "Being her friend, you know she is having a difficult time and deserves her
privacy." - ans -A. "I can not discuss any patient situation with you."
The nurse in the mental health unit recognizes which of the following as
therapeutic communication techniques? (Select all that apply)
A. Restating
B. Listening
C. Asking the patient "Why?"
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
F. Giving advice and approval or disapproval - ans -A. Restating
B. Listening
D. Maintaining neutral responses
E. Providing acknowledgment and feedback
A patient's unresolved feelings related to loss would be most likely observed
during which phase of the therapeutic nurse-patient relationship?
A. Trusting
B. Working
C. Orientation
D. Termination - ans -D. Termination
