HESI Mental Health NGN Exams 2025 |
Actual Test Bank – 100+ Questions from
Versions A & B with A+ Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Version A (Questions 1–50)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with major depressive disorder who reports, “I feel hopeless and
can’t go on.” Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “You’re feeling hopeless, but things will get better soon.”
B. “Can you tell me more about what makes you feel hopeless?”
C. “Everyone feels this way sometimes; it’s normal.”
D. “You need to focus on the positive things in your life.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. False reassurance: Minimizes the client’s feelings and is nontherapeutic.
B. Open-ended question: Encourages the client to express feelings, fostering therapeutic
communication.
C. Minimizing feelings: Dismisses the client’s experience, reducing trust.
D. Giving advice: Nontherapeutic; shifts focus from the client’s emotions.
Question 2
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding self-harm. Which action is the
nurse’s priority?
A. Administer an antipsychotic medication
B. Assess the client’s risk for self-harm
C. Engage the client in a group therapy session
D. Encourage the client to ignore the voices
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
, A. Antipsychotic medication: Important but not the priority until safety is assessed.
B. Assess self-harm risk: Ensures client safety, the priority in mental health crises.
C. Group therapy: Inappropriate during an acute crisis.
D. Ignore voices: Unrealistic and nontherapeutic for active hallucinations.
Question 3 (NGN: Select All That Apply)
A nurse is planning care for a client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase. Which interventions
should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Provide a high-stimulation environment
B. Administer lithium as prescribed
C. Encourage participation in group activities
D. Monitor for signs of lithium toxicity
E. Offer frequent, high-calorie snacks
Correct Answers: B, D, E
Rationale:
A. High-stimulation environment: Contraindicated; low-stimulation reduces agitation.
B. Administer lithium: Stabilizes mood in mania.
C. Group activities: May overwhelm the client in a manic phase.
D. Monitor lithium toxicity: Essential due to narrow therapeutic range (0.6–1.2 mEq/L).
E. High-calorie snacks: Addresses increased energy expenditure in mania.
Question 4
A client with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed buspirone. Which statement by the client
indicates understanding of the medication?
A. “I can take it as needed for anxiety attacks.”
B. “It may take a few weeks to reduce my anxiety.”
C. “I should expect immediate sedation after taking it.”
D. “I can stop taking it once I feel better.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. As needed: Buspirone is not a PRN medication; it requires daily dosing.
B. Takes weeks: Buspirone has a delayed onset of 2–4 weeks for anxiety relief.
, C. Immediate sedation: Not a sedative; minimal sedation compared to benzodiazepines.
D. Stop when feeling better: Abrupt cessation can worsen symptoms; requires tapering.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a client with suspected alcohol withdrawal. Which finding is the priority?
A. Tremors
B. Diaphoresis
C. Seizures
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
A. Tremors: Common but not life-threatening.
B. Diaphoresis: Expected in withdrawal; not the priority.
C. Seizures: Life-threatening complication requiring immediate intervention.
D. Anxiety: Common but less urgent than seizures.
Question 6
A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends 2 hours daily washing their hands.
Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. “You need to stop washing your hands so often.”
B. “It sounds like this is taking a lot of your time. Can we talk about it?”
C. “Hand washing is normal; don’t worry about it.”
D. “Let’s distract you with another activity.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Giving advice: Nontherapeutic; dismisses client’s distress.
B. Open-ended and empathetic: Encourages exploration of feelings and behaviors.
C. Minimizing: Invalidates the client’s struggle with OCD.
D. Distraction: May reduce anxiety temporarily but doesn’t address the underlying issue.
Question 7
, A nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder who is splitting staff. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the client’s behavior
B. Set consistent boundaries with the team
C. Assign different staff daily
D. Allow the client to choose preferred staff
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Ignore behavior: Reinforces splitting; doesn’t address the issue.
B. Consistent boundaries: Reduces manipulation and promotes stability.
C. Different staff daily: Increases inconsistency, worsening splitting.
D. Client chooses staff: Enables manipulation; nontherapeutic.
Question 8
A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine. Which monitoring is essential?
A. Blood glucose levels
B. White blood cell count
C. Liver function tests
D. Thyroid function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Blood glucose: Monitored for metabolic effects but not primary.
B. WBC count: Essential due to risk of agranulocytosis, a life-threatening side effect.
C. Liver function: Not the primary concern for clozapine.
D. Thyroid function: Not directly related to clozapine.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about sertraline for depression. Which side effect should the nurse
include?
A. Weight loss
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Hypotension
D. Seizures
Actual Test Bank – 100+ Questions from
Versions A & B with A+ Verified
Answers & Detailed Rationales
Version A (Questions 1–50)
Question 1
A nurse is caring for a client with major depressive disorder who reports, “I feel hopeless and
can’t go on.” Which response by the nurse demonstrates therapeutic communication?
A. “You’re feeling hopeless, but things will get better soon.”
B. “Can you tell me more about what makes you feel hopeless?”
C. “Everyone feels this way sometimes; it’s normal.”
D. “You need to focus on the positive things in your life.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. False reassurance: Minimizes the client’s feelings and is nontherapeutic.
B. Open-ended question: Encourages the client to express feelings, fostering therapeutic
communication.
C. Minimizing feelings: Dismisses the client’s experience, reducing trust.
D. Giving advice: Nontherapeutic; shifts focus from the client’s emotions.
Question 2
A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding self-harm. Which action is the
nurse’s priority?
A. Administer an antipsychotic medication
B. Assess the client’s risk for self-harm
C. Engage the client in a group therapy session
D. Encourage the client to ignore the voices
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
, A. Antipsychotic medication: Important but not the priority until safety is assessed.
B. Assess self-harm risk: Ensures client safety, the priority in mental health crises.
C. Group therapy: Inappropriate during an acute crisis.
D. Ignore voices: Unrealistic and nontherapeutic for active hallucinations.
Question 3 (NGN: Select All That Apply)
A nurse is planning care for a client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase. Which interventions
should the nurse include? (Select all that apply.)
A. Provide a high-stimulation environment
B. Administer lithium as prescribed
C. Encourage participation in group activities
D. Monitor for signs of lithium toxicity
E. Offer frequent, high-calorie snacks
Correct Answers: B, D, E
Rationale:
A. High-stimulation environment: Contraindicated; low-stimulation reduces agitation.
B. Administer lithium: Stabilizes mood in mania.
C. Group activities: May overwhelm the client in a manic phase.
D. Monitor lithium toxicity: Essential due to narrow therapeutic range (0.6–1.2 mEq/L).
E. High-calorie snacks: Addresses increased energy expenditure in mania.
Question 4
A client with generalized anxiety disorder is prescribed buspirone. Which statement by the client
indicates understanding of the medication?
A. “I can take it as needed for anxiety attacks.”
B. “It may take a few weeks to reduce my anxiety.”
C. “I should expect immediate sedation after taking it.”
D. “I can stop taking it once I feel better.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. As needed: Buspirone is not a PRN medication; it requires daily dosing.
B. Takes weeks: Buspirone has a delayed onset of 2–4 weeks for anxiety relief.
, C. Immediate sedation: Not a sedative; minimal sedation compared to benzodiazepines.
D. Stop when feeling better: Abrupt cessation can worsen symptoms; requires tapering.
Question 5
A nurse is assessing a client with suspected alcohol withdrawal. Which finding is the priority?
A. Tremors
B. Diaphoresis
C. Seizures
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Rationale:
A. Tremors: Common but not life-threatening.
B. Diaphoresis: Expected in withdrawal; not the priority.
C. Seizures: Life-threatening complication requiring immediate intervention.
D. Anxiety: Common but less urgent than seizures.
Question 6
A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends 2 hours daily washing their hands.
Which response by the nurse is most therapeutic?
A. “You need to stop washing your hands so often.”
B. “It sounds like this is taking a lot of your time. Can we talk about it?”
C. “Hand washing is normal; don’t worry about it.”
D. “Let’s distract you with another activity.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Giving advice: Nontherapeutic; dismisses client’s distress.
B. Open-ended and empathetic: Encourages exploration of feelings and behaviors.
C. Minimizing: Invalidates the client’s struggle with OCD.
D. Distraction: May reduce anxiety temporarily but doesn’t address the underlying issue.
Question 7
, A nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder who is splitting staff. Which
action should the nurse take?
A. Ignore the client’s behavior
B. Set consistent boundaries with the team
C. Assign different staff daily
D. Allow the client to choose preferred staff
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Ignore behavior: Reinforces splitting; doesn’t address the issue.
B. Consistent boundaries: Reduces manipulation and promotes stability.
C. Different staff daily: Increases inconsistency, worsening splitting.
D. Client chooses staff: Enables manipulation; nontherapeutic.
Question 8
A client with schizophrenia is prescribed clozapine. Which monitoring is essential?
A. Blood glucose levels
B. White blood cell count
C. Liver function tests
D. Thyroid function tests
Correct Answer: B
Rationale:
A. Blood glucose: Monitored for metabolic effects but not primary.
B. WBC count: Essential due to risk of agranulocytosis, a life-threatening side effect.
C. Liver function: Not the primary concern for clozapine.
D. Thyroid function: Not directly related to clozapine.
Question 9
A nurse is teaching a client about sertraline for depression. Which side effect should the nurse
include?
A. Weight loss
B. Sexual dysfunction
C. Hypotension
D. Seizures
