HESI RN MENTAL HEALTH
EXAMINATION 2025/2025
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ANSWER-A.
Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - ANSWER-A. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
,A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - ANSWER-D. "I don't want
to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with
a known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago.
Useof which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - ANSWER-C. Methamphetamine
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will
not resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia.
Which information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - ANSWER-B. Have
you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
,A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at the
RN. What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - ANSWER-A. Stay quietly with the
patient
When developing a plan of care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit
following aspiration of a caustic material related to a suicide attempt, which
nursing problem has the highest priority?
A. Impaired comfort.
B. Risk for injury.
C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
D. Ineffective coping. - ANSWER-C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
A female client on a psychiatric unit is sweating profusely while she vigorously
does push-ups and then runs the length of the corridor several times before
crashing into furniture in the sitting room. Picking herself up, she begins to toss
chairs aside, looking for a red one to sit in. When another client objects to the
disturbance, the client shouts, "I am the boss here. I do what I want." Which
nursing problem best supports these observations?
A. Deficient diversional activity related to excess energy level.
B. Risk for other related violence related to disruptive behavior.
C. Risk for activity intolerance related to hyperactivity.
D. Disturbed personal identity related to grandiosity. - ANSWER-B. Risk for other
related violence related to disruptive behavior.
, A RN is preparing the physical environment to interview a new client for
admission to the mental health unit. Which environmental setting facilitates the
best outcome of the interview?
A. Dim the lights in the room to help the patient feel calm.
B. Sit within two feet of the client to enhance level of safety and security.
C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
D. Position table between the client and the RN for extra personal space. -
ANSWER-C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and
radio.
The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client
who is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included
in the safety plan? (Select all that apply)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates the abuser with injury.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit. - ANSWER-B.
Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
The RN is admitting a male client who takes lithium carbonate (Eskalith) twice a
day. Which information should the RN report to the HCP immediately?
A. Short term memory loss.
B. Five pound weight gain
EXAMINATION 2025/2025
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed. - ANSWER-A.
Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loud voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client. - ANSWER-A. Is attempting to
physically restrain the patient.
,A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore." - ANSWER-D. "I don't want
to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
The RN is performing intake interviews at a psychiatric clinic. A female client with
a known history of drug abuse reports that she had a heart attack four years ago.
Useof which substance places the client at highest risk for myocardial infarction?
A. Benzodiazepine
B. Alcohol
C. Methamphetamine
D. Marijuana - ANSWER-C. Methamphetamine
A male client comes to the emergency center because he has an erection that will
not resolve. The client reports that he is taking trazodone (Desyrel) for insomnia.
Which information is most important for the nurse ask the client?
A. When was the last time you drank alcoholic beverage?
B. Have you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
C. Are you having any other sexual dysfunctions or problems?
D. Do you have a history of angina or high blood pressure? - ANSWER-B. Have
you taken any medications for erectile dysfunction?
,A female client admitted to the mental health unit starts to shout and scream at the
RN. What is the best approach for the RN to take?
A. Stay quietly with the patient
B. Tell her that she is out of control.
C. Distract her by offering her finger foods.
D. Ignore the client's acting out behavior. - ANSWER-A. Stay quietly with the
patient
When developing a plan of care for a client admitted to the psychiatric unit
following aspiration of a caustic material related to a suicide attempt, which
nursing problem has the highest priority?
A. Impaired comfort.
B. Risk for injury.
C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
D. Ineffective coping. - ANSWER-C. Ineffective breathing pattern.
A female client on a psychiatric unit is sweating profusely while she vigorously
does push-ups and then runs the length of the corridor several times before
crashing into furniture in the sitting room. Picking herself up, she begins to toss
chairs aside, looking for a red one to sit in. When another client objects to the
disturbance, the client shouts, "I am the boss here. I do what I want." Which
nursing problem best supports these observations?
A. Deficient diversional activity related to excess energy level.
B. Risk for other related violence related to disruptive behavior.
C. Risk for activity intolerance related to hyperactivity.
D. Disturbed personal identity related to grandiosity. - ANSWER-B. Risk for other
related violence related to disruptive behavior.
, A RN is preparing the physical environment to interview a new client for
admission to the mental health unit. Which environmental setting facilitates the
best outcome of the interview?
A. Dim the lights in the room to help the patient feel calm.
B. Sit within two feet of the client to enhance level of safety and security.
C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and radio.
D. Position table between the client and the RN for extra personal space. -
ANSWER-C. Reduce the noise level in the room by turning off the television and
radio.
The RN is providing education about strategies for a safety plan for a female client
who is a victim of intimate partner violence. Which strategies should be included
in the safety plan? (Select all that apply)
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection.
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
C. Take a self-defense course that retaliates the abuser with injury.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit. - ANSWER-B.
Establish a code with family and friends to signify violence.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and children.
E. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the main exit.
The RN is admitting a male client who takes lithium carbonate (Eskalith) twice a
day. Which information should the RN report to the HCP immediately?
A. Short term memory loss.
B. Five pound weight gain
