ATI Mental Health Proctored Exam 2024/2025 100%
Verified Questions & A+ Answer Key for Guaranteed Pass
Psychiatric Nursing
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client with a history of bipolar disorder. Which finding
suggests the client is experiencing a manic episode?
A. Increased need for sleep
B. Rapid, pressured speech
C. Feelings of worthlessness
D. Social withdrawal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid, pressured speech is a hallmark of a manic episode in bipolar disorder, char-
acterized by elevated mood, high energy, and disorganized thinking. Increased need for sleep
and social withdrawal are more indicative of depression, while worthlessness aligns with de-
pressive symptoms.
Question 2: A nurse is planning care for a client with schizophrenia. Which intervention
promotes medication adherence?
A. Encouraging the client to skip doses if feeling well
B. Educating the client about the benefits and side effects of antipsychotics
C. Suggesting the client stop medication during stressful periods
D. Advising the client to self-adjust dosages based on symptoms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Educating the client about the benefits (e.g., symptom control) and side effects
(e.g., weight gain) of antipsychotics fosters understanding and encourages adherence. Skip-
ping doses, stopping medication, or self-adjusting dosages can lead to relapse or worsening
symptoms.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which nurs-
ing action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to avoid all stressful situations
B. Teach the client deep breathing techniques
C. Advise the client to ignore anxious feelings
D. Limit the clients interaction with others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deep breathing techniques help manage anxiety by promoting relaxation and re-
ducing physiological symptoms like rapid heart rate. Avoiding stress is unrealistic, ignoring
feelings invalidates the clients experience, and limiting interactions may increase isolation.
1
,Question 4: A nurse is developing a care plan for a client with post-traumatic stress dis-
order (PTSD). Which goal is most appropriate?
A. The client will eliminate all memories of the trauma
B. The client will verbalize effective coping strategies
C. The client will avoid discussing the traumatic event
D. The client will resume all pre-trauma activities immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verbalizing effective coping strategies, such as grounding techniques, supports
the clients ability to manage PTSD symptoms. Eliminating memories is unrealistic, avoid-
ing discussion may hinder therapy, and resuming all activities immediately ignores the clients
emotional readiness.
Therapeutic Communication
Question 5: A client says, Im worthless and a burden to everyone. Which nurse response
is therapeutic?
A. You shouldnt feel that way; youre important.
B. Can you tell me more about why you feel this way?
C. Thats not true; everyone loves you.
D. Lets focus on something positive instead.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking the client to elaborate encourages exploration of feelings and promotes
understanding, a key aspect of therapeutic communication. Other responses dismiss the clients
feelings or redirect the conversation inappropriately.
Question 6: A client with depression refuses to attend group therapy, stating, It wont help.
What is the nurses best response?
A. You have to go; its part of your treatment.
B. What concerns do you have about group therapy?
C. Youll feel better if you just try it.
D. Ill go with you to make it easier.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring the clients concerns validates their feelings and opens a dialogue to
address barriers, promoting engagement. Forcing attendance, promising outcomes, or offering
to accompany may not address the underlying resistance.
Question 7: A client with schizophrenia says, The voices are telling me to hide. Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Those voices arent real; ignore them.
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, B. That must be frightening. Can you tell me more?
C. Why do you believe the voices?
D. Lets talk about something else.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the clients fear and inviting further discussion validates their expe-
rience while gently exploring the hallucination. Dismissing the voices, questioning their belief,
or changing the topic minimizes the clients distress.
Question 8: A nurse is speaking with a client who is upset after a family visit. Which
statement reflects active listening?
A. You seem frustrated. Can you share what happened?
B. Your family means well; try not to be upset.
C. Lets schedule another visit soon.
D. Youre overreacting to the situation.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting the clients emotion and asking for clarification demonstrates active lis-
tening, fostering trust. Other responses assume intent, redirect, or invalidate the clients feelings.
Crisis Intervention
Question 9: A client in the emergency department reports suicidal ideation with a plan.
What is the nurses priority action?
A. Encourage the client to talk about their feelings
B. Ensure the clients immediate safety
C. Contact the clients family for support
D. Administer an anti-anxiety medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a crisis with suicidal ideation and a plan, ensuring immediate safety (e.g., re-
moving harmful objects, 1:1 observation) is the priority to prevent harm. Exploring feelings,
contacting family, or medicating are secondary after safety is established.
Question 10: A client experiencing a panic attack says, Im going to die. What is the nurses
best intervention?
A. Tell the client they are not going to die
B. Guide the client through slow, deep breathing
C. Leave the client alone to calm down
D. Distract the client with a different topic
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Verified Questions & A+ Answer Key for Guaranteed Pass
Psychiatric Nursing
Question 1: A nurse is assessing a client with a history of bipolar disorder. Which finding
suggests the client is experiencing a manic episode?
A. Increased need for sleep
B. Rapid, pressured speech
C. Feelings of worthlessness
D. Social withdrawal
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Rapid, pressured speech is a hallmark of a manic episode in bipolar disorder, char-
acterized by elevated mood, high energy, and disorganized thinking. Increased need for sleep
and social withdrawal are more indicative of depression, while worthlessness aligns with de-
pressive symptoms.
Question 2: A nurse is planning care for a client with schizophrenia. Which intervention
promotes medication adherence?
A. Encouraging the client to skip doses if feeling well
B. Educating the client about the benefits and side effects of antipsychotics
C. Suggesting the client stop medication during stressful periods
D. Advising the client to self-adjust dosages based on symptoms
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Educating the client about the benefits (e.g., symptom control) and side effects
(e.g., weight gain) of antipsychotics fosters understanding and encourages adherence. Skip-
ping doses, stopping medication, or self-adjusting dosages can lead to relapse or worsening
symptoms.
Question 3: A nurse is caring for a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which nurs-
ing action is most appropriate?
A. Encourage the client to avoid all stressful situations
B. Teach the client deep breathing techniques
C. Advise the client to ignore anxious feelings
D. Limit the clients interaction with others
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Deep breathing techniques help manage anxiety by promoting relaxation and re-
ducing physiological symptoms like rapid heart rate. Avoiding stress is unrealistic, ignoring
feelings invalidates the clients experience, and limiting interactions may increase isolation.
1
,Question 4: A nurse is developing a care plan for a client with post-traumatic stress dis-
order (PTSD). Which goal is most appropriate?
A. The client will eliminate all memories of the trauma
B. The client will verbalize effective coping strategies
C. The client will avoid discussing the traumatic event
D. The client will resume all pre-trauma activities immediately
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Verbalizing effective coping strategies, such as grounding techniques, supports
the clients ability to manage PTSD symptoms. Eliminating memories is unrealistic, avoid-
ing discussion may hinder therapy, and resuming all activities immediately ignores the clients
emotional readiness.
Therapeutic Communication
Question 5: A client says, Im worthless and a burden to everyone. Which nurse response
is therapeutic?
A. You shouldnt feel that way; youre important.
B. Can you tell me more about why you feel this way?
C. Thats not true; everyone loves you.
D. Lets focus on something positive instead.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Asking the client to elaborate encourages exploration of feelings and promotes
understanding, a key aspect of therapeutic communication. Other responses dismiss the clients
feelings or redirect the conversation inappropriately.
Question 6: A client with depression refuses to attend group therapy, stating, It wont help.
What is the nurses best response?
A. You have to go; its part of your treatment.
B. What concerns do you have about group therapy?
C. Youll feel better if you just try it.
D. Ill go with you to make it easier.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Exploring the clients concerns validates their feelings and opens a dialogue to
address barriers, promoting engagement. Forcing attendance, promising outcomes, or offering
to accompany may not address the underlying resistance.
Question 7: A client with schizophrenia says, The voices are telling me to hide. Which
response demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. Those voices arent real; ignore them.
2
, B. That must be frightening. Can you tell me more?
C. Why do you believe the voices?
D. Lets talk about something else.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Acknowledging the clients fear and inviting further discussion validates their expe-
rience while gently exploring the hallucination. Dismissing the voices, questioning their belief,
or changing the topic minimizes the clients distress.
Question 8: A nurse is speaking with a client who is upset after a family visit. Which
statement reflects active listening?
A. You seem frustrated. Can you share what happened?
B. Your family means well; try not to be upset.
C. Lets schedule another visit soon.
D. Youre overreacting to the situation.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reflecting the clients emotion and asking for clarification demonstrates active lis-
tening, fostering trust. Other responses assume intent, redirect, or invalidate the clients feelings.
Crisis Intervention
Question 9: A client in the emergency department reports suicidal ideation with a plan.
What is the nurses priority action?
A. Encourage the client to talk about their feelings
B. Ensure the clients immediate safety
C. Contact the clients family for support
D. Administer an anti-anxiety medication
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: In a crisis with suicidal ideation and a plan, ensuring immediate safety (e.g., re-
moving harmful objects, 1:1 observation) is the priority to prevent harm. Exploring feelings,
contacting family, or medicating are secondary after safety is established.
Question 10: A client experiencing a panic attack says, Im going to die. What is the nurses
best intervention?
A. Tell the client they are not going to die
B. Guide the client through slow, deep breathing
C. Leave the client alone to calm down
D. Distract the client with a different topic
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