ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Identification
D. Intellectualization
A. Denial is the refusal to accept a painful reality by pretending that it did not happen.
B. Sublimation involves redirecting unacceptable feelings or drives into an
acceptable channel.
C. Identification involves taking on attributes and characteristics of someone admired.
D. Intellectualization involves excessive focus on reasoning to avoid feelings
associated with a situation.
A. Anticipatory grief
B. Uncomplicated grief
C. Delayed grief reaction
D. Distorted grief reaction
A. Anticipatory grief is grief before a loss occurs.
B. In uncomplicated grief, the client’s self-esteem remains intact with symptom resolution.
C. Delayed grief reaction is the absence of the expression of grief during situations
when a grief reaction is expected.
,ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
D. The nurse’s focus for counseling should be directed toward the client’s distorted
grief reaction. The symptoms reported by the client are exaggerated and
prolonged.
A. “How did you try to kill yourself?”
B. “Why did you think life wasn’t worth living?”
C. “What skills can you utilize if you experience problems again?”
D. “Do you have the phone number of the suicide prevention center?”
A. How suicide was initially attempted would have been addressed during the initial
assessment and does not determine future coping.
B. Asking the client a “why” question is not helpful and conveys a judgmental attitude.
C. Asking the client directly regarding what skills he or she could utilize if similar
problems occurred in the future provides the client with an opportunity to reflect
on learned behaviors and to determine a plan for future prevention.
D. Although asking the client if the suicide prevention center number is known would
be helpful, the question does not determine learned coping strategies.
A. Powerlessness
B. Attempted suicide
C. Anticipatory grieving
D. Disturbed sleep pattern
1. The presence of powerlessness is concerning but does not take priority over the suicide.
2. The potential for suicidal behavior is priority for the client with a major depressive
disorder who previously attempted suicide.
3. Anticipatory grieving is concerning because it may be the cause of the major
depressive disorder, but it is not the priority.
,ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
4. The presence of a disturbed sleep pattern is concerning and should be addressed, but it
is not the priority.
A. An acute care hospital unit
B. An inpatient mental health unit
C. An outpatient mental health clinic
D. A community detoxification center
A. There is no indication that the client sustained injuries that require
hospitalization on an acute care unit.
B. The client with a history of suicidal behavior with current suicidal ideation
is at risk and in need of hospitalization. The most appropriate setting is an
inpatient mental health unit that is equipped to handle the safety issues of
risky behaviors.
C. An outpatient mental health clinic does not provide the level of safety
required for the client reporting suicidal ideation.
D. There is no indication that the client’s attempted suicide was due to drug or
alcohol intoxication.
A. Feeling sad
B. Hopelessness
C. Feelings of being trapped
D. Severe anxiety and agitation
E. Increasing alcohol or drug use
A. Feeling sad can be a normal mood variation and is not considered a warning sign
, ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
of suicide.
B. Hopelessness is a warning sign for suicide. Statements about problems
never resolving or about feelings of giving up indicate hopelessness.
C. Feeling trapped as if there is no way out is a warning sign of suicide.
D. Severe anxiety or agitation as well as recklessness can be an indication of
suicide risk.
E. Increasing drug or alcohol use can be indicative of suicide risk.
A. The client must have been fasting for the past 12 hours.
B. The client’s kidney function should be within normal parameters.
C. The client’s behavior has not been controlled with room seclusion.
D. Benzodiazepine use has been discontinued in the client’s treatment.
A. Having the client fast is unnecessary prior to initiating treatment with
lithium carbonate.
B. Because lithium carbonate (Lithobid) is excreted by the kidneys, a baseline
evaluation of normal kidney function should be completed before treatment
begins.
C. Room seclusion is used as a last resort and is unrelated to medication
administration.
D. Benzodiazepines are often used in treatment during the initiation phase to
aid in controlling mania, as it can take up to a week for lithium to become
effective.
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
A. Denial
B. Sublimation
C. Identification
D. Intellectualization
A. Denial is the refusal to accept a painful reality by pretending that it did not happen.
B. Sublimation involves redirecting unacceptable feelings or drives into an
acceptable channel.
C. Identification involves taking on attributes and characteristics of someone admired.
D. Intellectualization involves excessive focus on reasoning to avoid feelings
associated with a situation.
A. Anticipatory grief
B. Uncomplicated grief
C. Delayed grief reaction
D. Distorted grief reaction
A. Anticipatory grief is grief before a loss occurs.
B. In uncomplicated grief, the client’s self-esteem remains intact with symptom resolution.
C. Delayed grief reaction is the absence of the expression of grief during situations
when a grief reaction is expected.
,ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
D. The nurse’s focus for counseling should be directed toward the client’s distorted
grief reaction. The symptoms reported by the client are exaggerated and
prolonged.
A. “How did you try to kill yourself?”
B. “Why did you think life wasn’t worth living?”
C. “What skills can you utilize if you experience problems again?”
D. “Do you have the phone number of the suicide prevention center?”
A. How suicide was initially attempted would have been addressed during the initial
assessment and does not determine future coping.
B. Asking the client a “why” question is not helpful and conveys a judgmental attitude.
C. Asking the client directly regarding what skills he or she could utilize if similar
problems occurred in the future provides the client with an opportunity to reflect
on learned behaviors and to determine a plan for future prevention.
D. Although asking the client if the suicide prevention center number is known would
be helpful, the question does not determine learned coping strategies.
A. Powerlessness
B. Attempted suicide
C. Anticipatory grieving
D. Disturbed sleep pattern
1. The presence of powerlessness is concerning but does not take priority over the suicide.
2. The potential for suicidal behavior is priority for the client with a major depressive
disorder who previously attempted suicide.
3. Anticipatory grieving is concerning because it may be the cause of the major
depressive disorder, but it is not the priority.
,ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
4. The presence of a disturbed sleep pattern is concerning and should be addressed, but it
is not the priority.
A. An acute care hospital unit
B. An inpatient mental health unit
C. An outpatient mental health clinic
D. A community detoxification center
A. There is no indication that the client sustained injuries that require
hospitalization on an acute care unit.
B. The client with a history of suicidal behavior with current suicidal ideation
is at risk and in need of hospitalization. The most appropriate setting is an
inpatient mental health unit that is equipped to handle the safety issues of
risky behaviors.
C. An outpatient mental health clinic does not provide the level of safety
required for the client reporting suicidal ideation.
D. There is no indication that the client’s attempted suicide was due to drug or
alcohol intoxication.
A. Feeling sad
B. Hopelessness
C. Feelings of being trapped
D. Severe anxiety and agitation
E. Increasing alcohol or drug use
A. Feeling sad can be a normal mood variation and is not considered a warning sign
, ATI / NCLEX Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
Proctored Exam Questions and Rationales 2025/2026"
of suicide.
B. Hopelessness is a warning sign for suicide. Statements about problems
never resolving or about feelings of giving up indicate hopelessness.
C. Feeling trapped as if there is no way out is a warning sign of suicide.
D. Severe anxiety or agitation as well as recklessness can be an indication of
suicide risk.
E. Increasing drug or alcohol use can be indicative of suicide risk.
A. The client must have been fasting for the past 12 hours.
B. The client’s kidney function should be within normal parameters.
C. The client’s behavior has not been controlled with room seclusion.
D. Benzodiazepine use has been discontinued in the client’s treatment.
A. Having the client fast is unnecessary prior to initiating treatment with
lithium carbonate.
B. Because lithium carbonate (Lithobid) is excreted by the kidneys, a baseline
evaluation of normal kidney function should be completed before treatment
begins.
C. Room seclusion is used as a last resort and is unrelated to medication
administration.
D. Benzodiazepines are often used in treatment during the initiation phase to
aid in controlling mania, as it can take up to a week for lithium to become
effective.
