PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH ASSIGNMENT
EXAM HESI PRACTICE (LATEST) 2025/26
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS, GRADED
A+
The nurse is caring for an adult male client with catatonic schizophrenia who is
mute and motionless. What is the priority nursing problem?
A. Impaired mobility.
B. Ineffective individual coping.
C. Impaired verbal communication.
D. High risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Answer - ANS: D. High risk for
fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
Maintaining physiological stability by first addressing basic physiological needs
is the priority. A client who is in a catatonic or stuporous state is at risk for
malnutrition and dehydration. Fluid and electrolyte imbalance is the priority
nursing problem for this client at this time. The other problems are not life-
threatening.
A female client comes to an outpatient therapy appointment intoxicated. The
spouse tells the nurse, "There wasn't anything I could do to stop her drinking
this morning." What intervention should the nurse take at this time?
,A. Arrange for emergency admission to a detoxification unit.
B. Talk to the spouse about strategies to limit the client's drinking.
C. Have the client admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit.
D. Tell the client that therapy cannot take place while she is intoxicated.
Answer - ANS: D. Tell the client that therapy cannot take place while she is
intoxicated.
Therapy sessions are designed to confront the issues that the client with
alcohol dependence may be experiencing. If the client presents inebriated, a
therapeutic and confrontational meeting cannot occur because the client's
judgment is altered. The other interventions are not necessary.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement during the initial
interview for a client who is admitted to the mental health unit?
A. Establish rapport in each phase of the nurse-client relationship.
B. Determine the client's ability to communicate effectively.
C. Reflect on previous psychiatric interviews the nurse has performed.
D. Ensure data is collected and recorded in a systematic sequence. Answer -
ANS: A. Establish rapport in each phase of the nurse-client relationship.
,A client with whom the nurse establishes rapport during the initial interview
and in each phase of the nurse-client relationship feels understood by the
nurse and is more likely to cooperate and provide feedback during the
admission process. The other actions not always needed to establish rapport or
maintain the therapeutic self in a therapeutic relationship.
The nurse is planning the care for a client based on the psychoanalytical model.
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Emphasize the client's strengths and assets.
B. Teach the importance of medication compliance.
C. Offer the client psychoeducational materials to read.
D. Focus on the client's positive or negative feelings toward the nurse. Answer
- ANS: D. Focus on the client's positive or negative feelings toward the nurse.
Interactions and interventions that focus on the client's positive or negative
feelings toward the nurse are based on the psychoanalytical model of mental
health care. The other interventions are not associated with the
psychoanalytical model.
A client on the mental health unit reports concerns about weight gain as a
result of taking divalproex (Depakote) and requests assistance to fill out a
menu. The nurse should initiate a referral to which healthcare team member?
A. Occupational therapist.
B. Recreational therapist.
, C. Dietician.
D. Physician. Answer - ANS: C. Dietician.
The nurse should ask for a referral to the dietician who can assist the client
with meal planning for weight reduction. The other members of the healthcare
team do not give guidance about meal planning.
Which client should the nurse identify as the highest risk for the onset of
stress-related problems?
A. A man whose new business is growing slowly, who plans to adopt a child
with his wife, and says, "I think I'm in control of my destiny."
B. A woman who is graduating from college, getting married in one month, and
states, "I'm anticipating the changes these events will make in my life."
C. A client who is passed over for promotion, quits a job to start a new
business, and states, "This is just one of a series of challenges I've faced in my
life."
D. A person whose father died three months ago, who is losing a job due to
company downsizing, and states, "Living with loss and the threat of loss makes
me feel helpless." Answer - ANS: D. A person whose father died three months
ago, who is losing a job due to company downsizing, and states, "Living with
loss and the threat of loss makes me feel helpless."
A client who is dealing with two stressful life events and expresses a cognitive
appraisal of loss and helplessness is at the highest risk for a stress-related
EXAM HESI PRACTICE (LATEST) 2025/26
QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE ANSWERS, GRADED
A+
The nurse is caring for an adult male client with catatonic schizophrenia who is
mute and motionless. What is the priority nursing problem?
A. Impaired mobility.
B. Ineffective individual coping.
C. Impaired verbal communication.
D. High risk for fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Answer - ANS: D. High risk for
fluid and electrolyte imbalance.
Maintaining physiological stability by first addressing basic physiological needs
is the priority. A client who is in a catatonic or stuporous state is at risk for
malnutrition and dehydration. Fluid and electrolyte imbalance is the priority
nursing problem for this client at this time. The other problems are not life-
threatening.
A female client comes to an outpatient therapy appointment intoxicated. The
spouse tells the nurse, "There wasn't anything I could do to stop her drinking
this morning." What intervention should the nurse take at this time?
,A. Arrange for emergency admission to a detoxification unit.
B. Talk to the spouse about strategies to limit the client's drinking.
C. Have the client admitted to the inpatient psychiatric unit.
D. Tell the client that therapy cannot take place while she is intoxicated.
Answer - ANS: D. Tell the client that therapy cannot take place while she is
intoxicated.
Therapy sessions are designed to confront the issues that the client with
alcohol dependence may be experiencing. If the client presents inebriated, a
therapeutic and confrontational meeting cannot occur because the client's
judgment is altered. The other interventions are not necessary.
Which action is most important for the nurse to implement during the initial
interview for a client who is admitted to the mental health unit?
A. Establish rapport in each phase of the nurse-client relationship.
B. Determine the client's ability to communicate effectively.
C. Reflect on previous psychiatric interviews the nurse has performed.
D. Ensure data is collected and recorded in a systematic sequence. Answer -
ANS: A. Establish rapport in each phase of the nurse-client relationship.
,A client with whom the nurse establishes rapport during the initial interview
and in each phase of the nurse-client relationship feels understood by the
nurse and is more likely to cooperate and provide feedback during the
admission process. The other actions not always needed to establish rapport or
maintain the therapeutic self in a therapeutic relationship.
The nurse is planning the care for a client based on the psychoanalytical model.
Which intervention should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Emphasize the client's strengths and assets.
B. Teach the importance of medication compliance.
C. Offer the client psychoeducational materials to read.
D. Focus on the client's positive or negative feelings toward the nurse. Answer
- ANS: D. Focus on the client's positive or negative feelings toward the nurse.
Interactions and interventions that focus on the client's positive or negative
feelings toward the nurse are based on the psychoanalytical model of mental
health care. The other interventions are not associated with the
psychoanalytical model.
A client on the mental health unit reports concerns about weight gain as a
result of taking divalproex (Depakote) and requests assistance to fill out a
menu. The nurse should initiate a referral to which healthcare team member?
A. Occupational therapist.
B. Recreational therapist.
, C. Dietician.
D. Physician. Answer - ANS: C. Dietician.
The nurse should ask for a referral to the dietician who can assist the client
with meal planning for weight reduction. The other members of the healthcare
team do not give guidance about meal planning.
Which client should the nurse identify as the highest risk for the onset of
stress-related problems?
A. A man whose new business is growing slowly, who plans to adopt a child
with his wife, and says, "I think I'm in control of my destiny."
B. A woman who is graduating from college, getting married in one month, and
states, "I'm anticipating the changes these events will make in my life."
C. A client who is passed over for promotion, quits a job to start a new
business, and states, "This is just one of a series of challenges I've faced in my
life."
D. A person whose father died three months ago, who is losing a job due to
company downsizing, and states, "Living with loss and the threat of loss makes
me feel helpless." Answer - ANS: D. A person whose father died three months
ago, who is losing a job due to company downsizing, and states, "Living with
loss and the threat of loss makes me feel helpless."
A client who is dealing with two stressful life events and expresses a cognitive
appraisal of loss and helplessness is at the highest risk for a stress-related
