Psychiatric - HESI : PN Questions and
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
A client with schizophrenia hears voices telling them to harm themselves. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Ignore the voices and distract the client
✔✔B. Ensure safety and ask directly about suicidal thoughts
C. Offer to increase fluid intake
D. Encourage the client to rest quietly
A patient with depression states, “I can’t go on like this.” What is the nurse’s first response?
A. Tell the client that things will get better
✔✔B. Ask directly if the client has a plan for suicide
C. Change the subject to a lighter topic
D. Notify the family immediately
A client with bipolar disorder is in a manic phase. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide detailed group discussions
1
,✔✔B. Offer finger foods and limit distractions
C. Encourage long reflective journaling
D. Promote extended rest periods with sedation
A client with generalized anxiety disorder is pacing. What is the best immediate nursing action?
A. Ask the client to sit down and relax
✔✔B. Use short, simple sentences to decrease anxiety
C. Ignore the behavior and chart it later
D. Provide lengthy teaching about stress
A client refuses to take prescribed antipsychotic medication. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Explore the client’s reasons for refusal
B. Force the client to take the medication
C. Withhold the medication and ignore the refusal
D. Call security immediately
A patient with schizophrenia says, “The television is controlling my thoughts.” This is an
example of what?
2
,✔✔A. Delusion of control
B. Hallucination
C. Disorganized speech
D. Obsession
A client is admitted with alcohol withdrawal. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Offer water and food
✔✔B. Monitor for seizures and vital signs
C. Encourage group therapy
D. Provide spiritual counseling
A patient on lithium therapy reports excessive thirst and tremors. What should the nurse do?
A. Tell the client this is expected
✔✔B. Report possible lithium toxicity
C. Withhold fluids until thirst decreases
D. Encourage more salt intake
A client says, “I feel hopeless and worthless.” What is the best nursing response?
3
, A. “Don’t feel that way; you have so much to live for.”
✔✔B. “Can you tell me more about these feelings?”
C. “Ignore those feelings, they will pass.”
D. “You should think more positively.”
A client with schizophrenia is laughing inappropriately and talking to unseen others. What is the
nurse observing?
✔✔A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Delusions of grandeur
C. Obsessive thoughts
D. Tangential thinking
A client in the mental health unit becomes aggressive and threatens staff. What is the first action?
✔✔A. Maintain a safe distance and use a calm voice
B. Physically restrain the client immediately
C. Shout loudly to stop the behavior
D. Call the client’s family to calm them
4
Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026 |
Correct & Verified
A client with schizophrenia hears voices telling them to harm themselves. What is the priority
nursing action?
A. Ignore the voices and distract the client
✔✔B. Ensure safety and ask directly about suicidal thoughts
C. Offer to increase fluid intake
D. Encourage the client to rest quietly
A patient with depression states, “I can’t go on like this.” What is the nurse’s first response?
A. Tell the client that things will get better
✔✔B. Ask directly if the client has a plan for suicide
C. Change the subject to a lighter topic
D. Notify the family immediately
A client with bipolar disorder is in a manic phase. Which intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide detailed group discussions
1
,✔✔B. Offer finger foods and limit distractions
C. Encourage long reflective journaling
D. Promote extended rest periods with sedation
A client with generalized anxiety disorder is pacing. What is the best immediate nursing action?
A. Ask the client to sit down and relax
✔✔B. Use short, simple sentences to decrease anxiety
C. Ignore the behavior and chart it later
D. Provide lengthy teaching about stress
A client refuses to take prescribed antipsychotic medication. What should the nurse do first?
✔✔A. Explore the client’s reasons for refusal
B. Force the client to take the medication
C. Withhold the medication and ignore the refusal
D. Call security immediately
A patient with schizophrenia says, “The television is controlling my thoughts.” This is an
example of what?
2
,✔✔A. Delusion of control
B. Hallucination
C. Disorganized speech
D. Obsession
A client is admitted with alcohol withdrawal. What is the priority nursing intervention?
A. Offer water and food
✔✔B. Monitor for seizures and vital signs
C. Encourage group therapy
D. Provide spiritual counseling
A patient on lithium therapy reports excessive thirst and tremors. What should the nurse do?
A. Tell the client this is expected
✔✔B. Report possible lithium toxicity
C. Withhold fluids until thirst decreases
D. Encourage more salt intake
A client says, “I feel hopeless and worthless.” What is the best nursing response?
3
, A. “Don’t feel that way; you have so much to live for.”
✔✔B. “Can you tell me more about these feelings?”
C. “Ignore those feelings, they will pass.”
D. “You should think more positively.”
A client with schizophrenia is laughing inappropriately and talking to unseen others. What is the
nurse observing?
✔✔A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Delusions of grandeur
C. Obsessive thoughts
D. Tangential thinking
A client in the mental health unit becomes aggressive and threatens staff. What is the first action?
✔✔A. Maintain a safe distance and use a calm voice
B. Physically restrain the client immediately
C. Shout loudly to stop the behavior
D. Call the client’s family to calm them
4
