ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING
WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WRITTEN CORRETLY
Rationale: A family history of a client who has anorexia should include an assessment of family and
interpersonal relationships. You should also assess for the client's current eating habits, and the client's
perception of the issue.
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has anorexia nervosa with recent rapid weight loss and a
current weight of 90 lbs. Which of the following statements indicates the client is experiencing the
cognitive distortion of catastrophizing? - answer✔✔✨-A. "Life isn't worth living if I gain weight."
Rationale: Catastrophizing means that the client's perception of her appearance or situation is much
worse than her current condition.
A nurse is performing an admission assessment of a client who has bulimia nervosa with purging
behavior. Which of the following is an expected finding? - answer✔✔✨-B. Hypokalemia
D. Slightly elevated body weight
Rationale: A client who has a bulimia nervosa disorder will be hypokalemic, will maintain a weight within
a normal range or slightly higher; they will not have a period (amenorrhea), and a patchy skin (mottling
of skin).
Rationale: A nurse should focus on the patient's accomplishments, which helps promote self-esteem and
self-image.
,A nurse on an acute care unit is planning care for a client who has anorexia nervosa with binge-eating
and purging behavior. Which of the following nursing actions is appropriate to include in the client's plan
of care? - answer✔✔✨-D. Implement one-to-one observation during meal times.
Rationale: A nurse should closely monitor the client during and after meals to prevent purging. It may
necessitate accompanying the patient to the restroom. A patient should also have a highly structured
milieu, including meal times. The client should not eat foods high in fat and gas-producing at the start of
a treatment. A positive approach should also be used which includes rewards, such as when completing
meals or consuming a set number of calories.
A nurse is caring for a client who is on lithium therapy. The client states that he wants to take ibuprofen
for osteoarthritis pain relief. Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. "That is a good choice. Ibuprofen does not interact with lithium."
B. "Regular aspirin would be a better choice than ibuprofen."
C. "Lithium decreases the effectiveness of ibuprofen."
D. "The ibuprofen will make your lithium level fall too low." - answer✔✔✨-B
A nurse is discussing routine follow-up needs for a client who has a new prescription for valproic acid
(Depakote). The nurse should inform the client of the need for routine monitoring of which of the
following?
A. AST/ALT and LDH
B. Creatinine and BUN
C. WBC and granulocyte counts
D. Serum sodium and potassium - answer✔✔✨-A
A nurse is discussing early indications of toxicity with a client who has a new prescription for lithium
carbonate for bipolar disorder. The nurse should include which of the following in the teaching? (Select
all that apply.)
A. Constipation
,B. Polyuria
C. Rash
D. Muscle weakness
E. Tinnitus - answer✔✔✨-B, D
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing extreme mania due to bipolar disorder. Prior to
administration of lithium carbonate, the nurse notes that the lithium blood level is 1.2 mEq/L. Which of
the following is an appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Administer the next dose of lithium carbonate as scheduled.
B. Prepare for administration of aminophylline.
C. Notify the provider for a possible increase in the dosage of lithium carbonate.
D. Request a stat repeat of the client's lithium blood level. - answer✔✔✨-A
A nurse is admitting a client who has a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder and is scheduled to begin
lithium therapy. When collecting a medical history from the client's adult daughter, which of the
following statements is the highest priority to report to the provider?
A. "My mother has diabetes that is controlled by her diet."
B. "My mother recently completed a course of prednisone for acute bronchitis."
C. "My mother received her flu vaccine last month."
D. "My mother is currently on furosemide for her congestive heart failure." - answer✔✔✨-D
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and exhibits a lack of grooming and a flat affect. The
nurse should anticipate a prescription of which of the following medications?
A. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
B. Thiothixene (Navane)
C. Risperidone (Risperdal)
D. Haloperidol (Haldol) - answer✔✔✨-C
, A nurse is caring for a client who takes ziprasidone (Geodon). The client reports difficulty swallowing the
oral medication and becomes extremely agitated with injectable administration. The nurse should
contact the provider to discuss a change to which of the following medications? (Select all that apply.)
A. Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
B. Quetiapine (Seroquel)
C. Aripiprazole (Abilify)
D. Clozapine (Clozaril)
E. Paliperidone (Invega) - answer✔✔✨-C, D
A charge nurse is discussing manifestations of schizophrenia with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following should the charge nurse identify as being effectively treated by conventional antipsychotics?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Withdrawal from social situations
C. Delusions of grandeur
D. Severe agitation
E. Anhedonia - answer✔✔✨-A, C, D
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is currently taking perphenazine. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as an extrapyramidal symptom (EPS)? (Select all that apply.)
A. Decreased level of consciousness
B. Drooling
C. Involuntary arm movements
D. Urinary retention
E. Continual pacing - answer✔✔✨-B, C, E
WITH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
WRITTEN CORRETLY
Rationale: A family history of a client who has anorexia should include an assessment of family and
interpersonal relationships. You should also assess for the client's current eating habits, and the client's
perception of the issue.
A nurse is caring for an adolescent client who has anorexia nervosa with recent rapid weight loss and a
current weight of 90 lbs. Which of the following statements indicates the client is experiencing the
cognitive distortion of catastrophizing? - answer✔✔✨-A. "Life isn't worth living if I gain weight."
Rationale: Catastrophizing means that the client's perception of her appearance or situation is much
worse than her current condition.
A nurse is performing an admission assessment of a client who has bulimia nervosa with purging
behavior. Which of the following is an expected finding? - answer✔✔✨-B. Hypokalemia
D. Slightly elevated body weight
Rationale: A client who has a bulimia nervosa disorder will be hypokalemic, will maintain a weight within
a normal range or slightly higher; they will not have a period (amenorrhea), and a patchy skin (mottling
of skin).
Rationale: A nurse should focus on the patient's accomplishments, which helps promote self-esteem and
self-image.
,A nurse on an acute care unit is planning care for a client who has anorexia nervosa with binge-eating
and purging behavior. Which of the following nursing actions is appropriate to include in the client's plan
of care? - answer✔✔✨-D. Implement one-to-one observation during meal times.
Rationale: A nurse should closely monitor the client during and after meals to prevent purging. It may
necessitate accompanying the patient to the restroom. A patient should also have a highly structured
milieu, including meal times. The client should not eat foods high in fat and gas-producing at the start of
a treatment. A positive approach should also be used which includes rewards, such as when completing
meals or consuming a set number of calories.
A nurse is caring for a client who is on lithium therapy. The client states that he wants to take ibuprofen
for osteoarthritis pain relief. Which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate?
A. "That is a good choice. Ibuprofen does not interact with lithium."
B. "Regular aspirin would be a better choice than ibuprofen."
C. "Lithium decreases the effectiveness of ibuprofen."
D. "The ibuprofen will make your lithium level fall too low." - answer✔✔✨-B
A nurse is discussing routine follow-up needs for a client who has a new prescription for valproic acid
(Depakote). The nurse should inform the client of the need for routine monitoring of which of the
following?
A. AST/ALT and LDH
B. Creatinine and BUN
C. WBC and granulocyte counts
D. Serum sodium and potassium - answer✔✔✨-A
A nurse is discussing early indications of toxicity with a client who has a new prescription for lithium
carbonate for bipolar disorder. The nurse should include which of the following in the teaching? (Select
all that apply.)
A. Constipation
,B. Polyuria
C. Rash
D. Muscle weakness
E. Tinnitus - answer✔✔✨-B, D
A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing extreme mania due to bipolar disorder. Prior to
administration of lithium carbonate, the nurse notes that the lithium blood level is 1.2 mEq/L. Which of
the following is an appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Administer the next dose of lithium carbonate as scheduled.
B. Prepare for administration of aminophylline.
C. Notify the provider for a possible increase in the dosage of lithium carbonate.
D. Request a stat repeat of the client's lithium blood level. - answer✔✔✨-A
A nurse is admitting a client who has a new diagnosis of bipolar disorder and is scheduled to begin
lithium therapy. When collecting a medical history from the client's adult daughter, which of the
following statements is the highest priority to report to the provider?
A. "My mother has diabetes that is controlled by her diet."
B. "My mother recently completed a course of prednisone for acute bronchitis."
C. "My mother received her flu vaccine last month."
D. "My mother is currently on furosemide for her congestive heart failure." - answer✔✔✨-D
A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and exhibits a lack of grooming and a flat affect. The
nurse should anticipate a prescription of which of the following medications?
A. Chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
B. Thiothixene (Navane)
C. Risperidone (Risperdal)
D. Haloperidol (Haldol) - answer✔✔✨-C
, A nurse is caring for a client who takes ziprasidone (Geodon). The client reports difficulty swallowing the
oral medication and becomes extremely agitated with injectable administration. The nurse should
contact the provider to discuss a change to which of the following medications? (Select all that apply.)
A. Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
B. Quetiapine (Seroquel)
C. Aripiprazole (Abilify)
D. Clozapine (Clozaril)
E. Paliperidone (Invega) - answer✔✔✨-C, D
A charge nurse is discussing manifestations of schizophrenia with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following should the charge nurse identify as being effectively treated by conventional antipsychotics?
(Select all that apply.)
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Withdrawal from social situations
C. Delusions of grandeur
D. Severe agitation
E. Anhedonia - answer✔✔✨-A, C, D
4. A nurse is assessing a client who is currently taking perphenazine. Which of the following findings
should the nurse identify as an extrapyramidal symptom (EPS)? (Select all that apply.)
A. Decreased level of consciousness
B. Drooling
C. Involuntary arm movements
D. Urinary retention
E. Continual pacing - answer✔✔✨-B, C, E
