HESI PN MENTAL HEALTH CERTIFICATION PREP
GUIDE 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
▶ eating disorders - assess for what & why Answer: suicide risk, bc of their
impulsivity
▶ priority in treating someone w an eating disorder Answer: Behavioral
reinforcement and solid plans for relapse prevention
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders Answer: When emotional distress
cannot be processed cognitively, it may be expressed physically (chronic
nausea, chronic back pain, nondescript pain, nothing makes it better)
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - GOAL Answer: Differentiate
disorders and apply consistent nursing response
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - focus on what? Answer: Focus on
pattern recognition instead of memorization
▶ is there someone PHYSICALLY wrong in someone with Somatic &
Dissociative Disorders Answer: Nothing PHYSICALLY wrong: need to rule
out the medical cause
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - pts are experiencing ____ distress
Answer: REAL! even tho sx may not match medical findings
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - nursing role Answer: validation +
redirection to function
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder - main takeaway Answer: real symptoms,
not intentional
▶ Illness Anxiety Disorder Answer: *fear of illness with minimal symptoms*
Preoccupation with having disease
Minimal physical findings
Frequent checking behaviors
, Reassurance temporarily helps then anxiety returns
▶ Conversion Disorder - info Answer: *neurologic deficit after stress*
Loss of motor or sensory function
Often after emotional trauma
Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy
▶ Factitious Disorder Answer: *intentional for sick role*
Intentional symptom creation
Desire to assume sick role - they like the attention they get when sick
May self-harm to create symptoms: weird self-harm like ingesting a little bit
of poison
▶ Malingering Disorder Answer: *intentional sx creation for external gain*
Legal, financial, housing, pain meds, procedures
Behavior stops when reward achieved
"I want to hurt myself" - homeless people will often say this in winter
months :(
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern & most common complaint Answer:
Multiple shifting symptoms
Frequent provider visits
High health anxiety
Pain most common complaint
Negative testing
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern - nursing focus Answer: Do not
confront
Validate distress w/o rewarding
Schedule regular visits
Focus on functioning: what's going well?
Single provider approach
Pocket manipulate
▶ Conversion Disorder - how pt typically presents Answer: Patient may
appear calm & INTERESTED
▶ Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders - nursing communication
Answer: Validate feelings
Avoid reinforcing illness behavior
GUIDE 2026 DETAILED QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS
▶ eating disorders - assess for what & why Answer: suicide risk, bc of their
impulsivity
▶ priority in treating someone w an eating disorder Answer: Behavioral
reinforcement and solid plans for relapse prevention
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders Answer: When emotional distress
cannot be processed cognitively, it may be expressed physically (chronic
nausea, chronic back pain, nondescript pain, nothing makes it better)
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - GOAL Answer: Differentiate
disorders and apply consistent nursing response
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - focus on what? Answer: Focus on
pattern recognition instead of memorization
▶ is there someone PHYSICALLY wrong in someone with Somatic &
Dissociative Disorders Answer: Nothing PHYSICALLY wrong: need to rule
out the medical cause
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - pts are experiencing ____ distress
Answer: REAL! even tho sx may not match medical findings
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - nursing role Answer: validation +
redirection to function
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder - main takeaway Answer: real symptoms,
not intentional
▶ Illness Anxiety Disorder Answer: *fear of illness with minimal symptoms*
Preoccupation with having disease
Minimal physical findings
Frequent checking behaviors
, Reassurance temporarily helps then anxiety returns
▶ Conversion Disorder - info Answer: *neurologic deficit after stress*
Loss of motor or sensory function
Often after emotional trauma
Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy
▶ Factitious Disorder Answer: *intentional for sick role*
Intentional symptom creation
Desire to assume sick role - they like the attention they get when sick
May self-harm to create symptoms: weird self-harm like ingesting a little bit
of poison
▶ Malingering Disorder Answer: *intentional sx creation for external gain*
Legal, financial, housing, pain meds, procedures
Behavior stops when reward achieved
"I want to hurt myself" - homeless people will often say this in winter
months :(
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern & most common complaint Answer:
Multiple shifting symptoms
Frequent provider visits
High health anxiety
Pain most common complaint
Negative testing
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern - nursing focus Answer: Do not
confront
Validate distress w/o rewarding
Schedule regular visits
Focus on functioning: what's going well?
Single provider approach
Pocket manipulate
▶ Conversion Disorder - how pt typically presents Answer: Patient may
appear calm & INTERESTED
▶ Somatic Symptom and Dissociative Disorders - nursing communication
Answer: Validate feelings
Avoid reinforcing illness behavior
