ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam - 2025
Questions and Correct Answers in Bold
Question 1
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 a fect, 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."
Correct Answer(s):
A. To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens.
B. To assess a fect, I should observe the client's facial expression.
C. To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence.
E. To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most recent
presidents.
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.
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,C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. "Monitor the client for adverse e fects of the medications."
Correct Answer(s):
D. Monitor the client for adverse e fects of the medications.
Question 3
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.
Correct Answer(s):
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
Question 4
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the
client, which of the following ndings should the nurse expect?
A. "The client arouses brie y in response to a sternal rub."
B. The client is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.
C. The client responds to commands but is slow to react.
D. The client is unresponsive to all stimuli.
Correct Answer(s):
A. The client arouses brie y in response to a sternal rub.
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,Question 5
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 ndings of mental health disorders."
Correct Answer(s):
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual 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 ndings of mental health disorders.
Question 6
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because
the unit is very short-sta fed, and the client frequently ghts 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(s):
B. False imprisonment.
f fi fi fi
, Question 7
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 con dential, but talk to the client daily, using
therapeutic communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication con dential, but watch the client and his roommate
closely.
C. "Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it
concerns the health and safety of the client and others."
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention
to do so.
Correct Answer(s):
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was o fered 8 oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
Correct Answer(s):
A. Client ate most of his breakfast.
B. Client was o fered 8 oz of water every hr.
f f fifi
Questions and Correct Answers in Bold
Question 1
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 a fect, 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."
Correct Answer(s):
A. To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by sevens.
B. To assess a fect, I should observe the client's facial expression.
C. To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence.
E. To assess the client's abstract thinking, I should ask the client to identify our most recent
presidents.
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.
f f
,C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. "Monitor the client for adverse e fects of the medications."
Correct Answer(s):
D. Monitor the client for adverse e fects of the medications.
Question 3
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.
Correct Answer(s):
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
Question 4
A nurse is told during change of shift report that a client is stuporous. When assessing the
client, which of the following ndings should the nurse expect?
A. "The client arouses brie y in response to a sternal rub."
B. The client is alert and oriented to person, place, and time.
C. The client responds to commands but is slow to react.
D. The client is unresponsive to all stimuli.
Correct Answer(s):
A. The client arouses brie y in response to a sternal rub.
fl flfi f f
,Question 5
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 ndings of mental health disorders."
Correct Answer(s):
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual 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 ndings of mental health disorders.
Question 6
A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because
the unit is very short-sta fed, and the client frequently ghts 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(s):
B. False imprisonment.
f fi fi fi
, Question 7
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 con dential, but talk to the client daily, using
therapeutic communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife.
B. Keep the client's communication con dential, but watch the client and his roommate
closely.
C. "Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it
concerns the health and safety of the client and others."
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the client of the intention
to do so.
Correct Answer(s):
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the
health and safety of the client and others.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following
statements should the nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that apply.)
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast."
B. "Client was o fered 8 oz of water every hr."
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel."
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000."
E. "Client acted out after lunch."
Correct Answer(s):
A. Client ate most of his breakfast.
B. Client was o fered 8 oz of water every hr.
f f fifi
