ATI RN Mental Health Online Practice 2023
B questions and Correct answers with
explanations
1.A nurse in a mental health clinic is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and reports that they
stopped taking lithium 2 weeks ago. The nurse should recognize which of the following as an expected
adverse effect that might have caused the client to spot taking the medication?
1. Sore throat
2. Photophobia
3. Hand tremors
4. Constipation - Correct answer = 3. Hand Tremors
- Fine hand tremors are an expected adverse effect of lithium and can interfere with performance of
ADLs, causing the client to stop taking the medication.
*Diarrhea is an early manifestation of lithium toxicity
2.A nurse is updating the plan of care for a client who has bulimia nervosa and is 5% above their ideal
body weight. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
1. Include a liquid supplement with meals.
2. Identify the client's trigger foods.
3. Allow the client at least 1 hr for each meal.
4. Weigh the client at bedtime each day. - Correct answer = 2. Identify the client's trigger foods.
- The nurse should identify the trigger foods that initiate the client's binge and assist the client to
understanding their thoughts and behavior that relate to the food.
The nurse should limit the client's meal times to about 30 min to prevent putting excessive focus on
food.
The nurse should weigh the client immediately after they wake up and void and prior to oral intake. Th
nurse should weigh the client daily for the first week and then three times per week.
,3.A nurse is caring for a client whose child has a terminal illness. The client requests information abou
how to deal with the upcoming loss. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
1. "It will be better for you to keep busy to avoid thinking about your child's death."
2. "You will complete the grieving process about a year after your child's death."
3. "The grief process will start once your child actually dies."
4. "It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others." - Correct answer = 4. "It is not
uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others."
- Feelings of blame and anger toward oneself or others are an expected reaction when a client is
experiencing a loss.
The grief process has no timeline. It varies for each individual.
The client can begin anticipatory grieving during the child's illness.
4.A nurse in a mental health clinic is planning care for a client who has a new prescription for
olanzapine. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
1. Advise the client to take frequent sips of water.
2. Recommend that the client exercise regularly.
3. Consult a dietitian for a calorie-controlled diet plan.
4. Instruct the client to avoid driving during initial therapy. - Correct answer = 4. Instruct the client to
avoid driving during initial therapy.
- The greatest risk to this client is injury resulting from drowsiness or dizziness. Therefore, the nurse's
priority intervention is to instruct the client to avoid activities that require mental alertness during initi
medication therapy.
The nurse should advise the client to take frequent sips of water due to the adverse effect of dry mouth
However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
The nurse should advise the client to exercise regularly due to the adverse effects of weight gain and
constipation. However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
The nurse should consult a dietitian for a calorie-controlled diet plan due to the adverse effect of weigh
gain. However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
5.A nurse is counseling an adolescent who has anorexia nervosa and reports excessive laxative use a
fear of gaining weight. The Client states, "I'm so fat I can't even stand to look at myself.". Which of the
following therapeutic responses demonstrates the nurse's use of summarizing?
1. "You've discussed several concerns about your weight. Let's go back and talk about your belief that
you are fat."
2. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining
weight."
3. "You don't want to look at yourself because you think you are fat."
, 6.A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting. When the nurse
questions the client regarding their admission, the client states, "I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to
bed!". The nurse should document the client's speech pattern as which of the following?
1. Clang Association
2. Word Salad
3. Neologism
4. Echolalia - Correct answer = 1. Clang Association
- The nurse should document that the client's speech uses clang associations, which often rhyme or
contain a string of words that can have a similar sound.
NGN: A nurse is caring for a Client who has an alcohol use disorder.
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options...
Dropdown 1: "The Client is at greatest risk for ________
1. Dehydration
2. Violent Behavior
3. Ineffective Coping
Dropdown 2: "as evidenced by the Client's ________
4. Inability to Perform Simple Tasks
5. Loss of Appetite
6. Agitation - Correct answer =
Dropdown 1:
2. Violent Behavior
- The greatest risk for the client is engaging in violent behavior due to the withdrawal of alcohol, which
is causing them increasing agitation. The nurse should closely monitor the client and be prepared to
intervene to protect the client and others from injury.
Dropdown 2:
6. Agitation
- The client is at greatest risk of engaging in violent behavior as evidenced by the client's agitation,
which can be indicated by pacing, restlessness, staring, silence, rigid posture, and clenched jaw. The
nurse should closely monitor the client and be prepared to intervene to protect the client and others
from injury.
NGN: A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a recently admitted client.
For each potential assessment finding, click to specify if it is a positive or negative symptom of
B questions and Correct answers with
explanations
1.A nurse in a mental health clinic is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and reports that they
stopped taking lithium 2 weeks ago. The nurse should recognize which of the following as an expected
adverse effect that might have caused the client to spot taking the medication?
1. Sore throat
2. Photophobia
3. Hand tremors
4. Constipation - Correct answer = 3. Hand Tremors
- Fine hand tremors are an expected adverse effect of lithium and can interfere with performance of
ADLs, causing the client to stop taking the medication.
*Diarrhea is an early manifestation of lithium toxicity
2.A nurse is updating the plan of care for a client who has bulimia nervosa and is 5% above their ideal
body weight. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
1. Include a liquid supplement with meals.
2. Identify the client's trigger foods.
3. Allow the client at least 1 hr for each meal.
4. Weigh the client at bedtime each day. - Correct answer = 2. Identify the client's trigger foods.
- The nurse should identify the trigger foods that initiate the client's binge and assist the client to
understanding their thoughts and behavior that relate to the food.
The nurse should limit the client's meal times to about 30 min to prevent putting excessive focus on
food.
The nurse should weigh the client immediately after they wake up and void and prior to oral intake. Th
nurse should weigh the client daily for the first week and then three times per week.
,3.A nurse is caring for a client whose child has a terminal illness. The client requests information abou
how to deal with the upcoming loss. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
1. "It will be better for you to keep busy to avoid thinking about your child's death."
2. "You will complete the grieving process about a year after your child's death."
3. "The grief process will start once your child actually dies."
4. "It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others." - Correct answer = 4. "It is not
uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others."
- Feelings of blame and anger toward oneself or others are an expected reaction when a client is
experiencing a loss.
The grief process has no timeline. It varies for each individual.
The client can begin anticipatory grieving during the child's illness.
4.A nurse in a mental health clinic is planning care for a client who has a new prescription for
olanzapine. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
1. Advise the client to take frequent sips of water.
2. Recommend that the client exercise regularly.
3. Consult a dietitian for a calorie-controlled diet plan.
4. Instruct the client to avoid driving during initial therapy. - Correct answer = 4. Instruct the client to
avoid driving during initial therapy.
- The greatest risk to this client is injury resulting from drowsiness or dizziness. Therefore, the nurse's
priority intervention is to instruct the client to avoid activities that require mental alertness during initi
medication therapy.
The nurse should advise the client to take frequent sips of water due to the adverse effect of dry mouth
However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
The nurse should advise the client to exercise regularly due to the adverse effects of weight gain and
constipation. However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
The nurse should consult a dietitian for a calorie-controlled diet plan due to the adverse effect of weigh
gain. However, this is not the nurse's priority intervention.
5.A nurse is counseling an adolescent who has anorexia nervosa and reports excessive laxative use a
fear of gaining weight. The Client states, "I'm so fat I can't even stand to look at myself.". Which of the
following therapeutic responses demonstrates the nurse's use of summarizing?
1. "You've discussed several concerns about your weight. Let's go back and talk about your belief that
you are fat."
2. "You're saying that you think you are fat and are using laxatives because you are afraid of gaining
weight."
3. "You don't want to look at yourself because you think you are fat."
, 6.A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting. When the nurse
questions the client regarding their admission, the client states, "I'm red, in the head, and I'm going to
bed!". The nurse should document the client's speech pattern as which of the following?
1. Clang Association
2. Word Salad
3. Neologism
4. Echolalia - Correct answer = 1. Clang Association
- The nurse should document that the client's speech uses clang associations, which often rhyme or
contain a string of words that can have a similar sound.
NGN: A nurse is caring for a Client who has an alcohol use disorder.
Complete the following sentence by using the list of options...
Dropdown 1: "The Client is at greatest risk for ________
1. Dehydration
2. Violent Behavior
3. Ineffective Coping
Dropdown 2: "as evidenced by the Client's ________
4. Inability to Perform Simple Tasks
5. Loss of Appetite
6. Agitation - Correct answer =
Dropdown 1:
2. Violent Behavior
- The greatest risk for the client is engaging in violent behavior due to the withdrawal of alcohol, which
is causing them increasing agitation. The nurse should closely monitor the client and be prepared to
intervene to protect the client and others from injury.
Dropdown 2:
6. Agitation
- The client is at greatest risk of engaging in violent behavior as evidenced by the client's agitation,
which can be indicated by pacing, restlessness, staring, silence, rigid posture, and clenched jaw. The
nurse should closely monitor the client and be prepared to intervene to protect the client and others
from injury.
NGN: A nurse on a mental health unit is caring for a recently admitted client.
For each potential assessment finding, click to specify if it is a positive or negative symptom of
