HESI Exit Exam
Mental Health Practice Questions
80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers
Focused on Therapeutic Communication, Psychiatric Disorders, Crisis
Intervention, and Safety
Designed for Stuvia Study Resources
Updated May 2025
, HESI Exit Exam Mental Health Practice Questions
Instructions
This document contains 80 HESI Exit Exam-style multiple-choice questions focused on
Mental Health nursing. Each question presents a patient scenario and asks what the
nurse should do next, with four answer options (A–D). Select the best answer, and use the
provided correct answer for self-assessment. Topics include therapeutic communication,
common psychiatric disorders, crisis intervention, and safety.
Question Set 1 Question Set 1
Question 1: A client with depression says, Im worthless and cant do anything right. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Reassure the client they are valuable.
B. Ask, Can you tell me more about how youre feeling?
C. Encourage the client to focus on positive traits.
D. Document the statement without responding.
Correct Answer: B (Open-ended questions promote therapeutic communi-
cation.)
Question 2: A client with schizophrenia is pacing and says, The voices are telling me Im
in danger. What should the nurse do next?
A. Say, The voices arent real.
B. Ask, What are the voices saying?
C. Ignore the statement.
D. Restrain the client for safety.
Correct Answer: B (Exploring hallucinations assesses risk and builds trust.)
Question 3: A client with anxiety says, I cant handle this stress anymore. What should
the nurse do next?
A. Encourage the client to relax.
B. Ask, What strategies have helped you manage stress before?
C. Administer a sedative.
D. Document the clients anxiety level.
Correct Answer: B (Identifying coping strategies promotes self-efficacy.)
Question 4: A client with bipolar disorder yells, Youre all against me! during a group
session. What should the nurse do next?
A. Ignore the outburst.
B. Say, Lets talk about why you feel this way.
C. Remove the client from the group.
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, HESI Exit Exam Mental Health Practice Questions
D. Administer a mood stabilizer.
Correct Answer: B (Addressing feelings de-escalates and fosters communi-
cation.)
Question Set 2 Question Set 2
Question 1: A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) says, I cant sleep be-
cause of nightmares. What should the nurse do next?
A. Reassure the client nightmares are temporary.
B. Ask, Can you describe what happens in your nightmares?
C. Administer a sleeping aid.
D. Encourage avoiding sleep.
Correct Answer: B (Exploring symptoms assesses severity and builds rap-
port.)
Question 2: A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) says, I have to check the
door 10 times or something bad will happen. What should the nurse do
next?
A. Say, Thats irrational.
B. Ask, How does checking the door make you feel?
C. Stop the client from checking.
D. Document the behavior.
Correct Answer: B (Understanding the rituals impact aids therapeutic re-
sponse.)
Question 3: A client with major depressive disorder says, No one cares about me. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Say, Thats not true; we care.
B. Ask, What makes you feel that way?
C. Encourage social activities.
D. Ignore the statement.
Correct Answer: B (Open-ended questions explore feelings and promote di-
alogue.)
Question 4: A client with borderline personality disorder says, Youre the only nurse who
understands me. What should the nurse do next?
A. Accept the compliment and continue care.
B. Say, Im glad you feel supported, but all the staff are here to help.
C. Ignore the statement.
Page 2 of ??
Mental Health Practice Questions
80 NCLEX-Style Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers
Focused on Therapeutic Communication, Psychiatric Disorders, Crisis
Intervention, and Safety
Designed for Stuvia Study Resources
Updated May 2025
, HESI Exit Exam Mental Health Practice Questions
Instructions
This document contains 80 HESI Exit Exam-style multiple-choice questions focused on
Mental Health nursing. Each question presents a patient scenario and asks what the
nurse should do next, with four answer options (A–D). Select the best answer, and use the
provided correct answer for self-assessment. Topics include therapeutic communication,
common psychiatric disorders, crisis intervention, and safety.
Question Set 1 Question Set 1
Question 1: A client with depression says, Im worthless and cant do anything right. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Reassure the client they are valuable.
B. Ask, Can you tell me more about how youre feeling?
C. Encourage the client to focus on positive traits.
D. Document the statement without responding.
Correct Answer: B (Open-ended questions promote therapeutic communi-
cation.)
Question 2: A client with schizophrenia is pacing and says, The voices are telling me Im
in danger. What should the nurse do next?
A. Say, The voices arent real.
B. Ask, What are the voices saying?
C. Ignore the statement.
D. Restrain the client for safety.
Correct Answer: B (Exploring hallucinations assesses risk and builds trust.)
Question 3: A client with anxiety says, I cant handle this stress anymore. What should
the nurse do next?
A. Encourage the client to relax.
B. Ask, What strategies have helped you manage stress before?
C. Administer a sedative.
D. Document the clients anxiety level.
Correct Answer: B (Identifying coping strategies promotes self-efficacy.)
Question 4: A client with bipolar disorder yells, Youre all against me! during a group
session. What should the nurse do next?
A. Ignore the outburst.
B. Say, Lets talk about why you feel this way.
C. Remove the client from the group.
Page 1 of ??
, HESI Exit Exam Mental Health Practice Questions
D. Administer a mood stabilizer.
Correct Answer: B (Addressing feelings de-escalates and fosters communi-
cation.)
Question Set 2 Question Set 2
Question 1: A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) says, I cant sleep be-
cause of nightmares. What should the nurse do next?
A. Reassure the client nightmares are temporary.
B. Ask, Can you describe what happens in your nightmares?
C. Administer a sleeping aid.
D. Encourage avoiding sleep.
Correct Answer: B (Exploring symptoms assesses severity and builds rap-
port.)
Question 2: A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) says, I have to check the
door 10 times or something bad will happen. What should the nurse do
next?
A. Say, Thats irrational.
B. Ask, How does checking the door make you feel?
C. Stop the client from checking.
D. Document the behavior.
Correct Answer: B (Understanding the rituals impact aids therapeutic re-
sponse.)
Question 3: A client with major depressive disorder says, No one cares about me. What
should the nurse do next?
A. Say, Thats not true; we care.
B. Ask, What makes you feel that way?
C. Encourage social activities.
D. Ignore the statement.
Correct Answer: B (Open-ended questions explore feelings and promote di-
alogue.)
Question 4: A client with borderline personality disorder says, Youre the only nurse who
understands me. What should the nurse do next?
A. Accept the compliment and continue care.
B. Say, Im glad you feel supported, but all the staff are here to help.
C. Ignore the statement.
Page 2 of ??
