ATI Mental Health Nursing
Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales
2026/2027 Q&A | Instant
1. A nurse is caring for a client with major depressive disorder.
Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Reports lack of energy
B. Sleeps 10 hours per day
C. States, “I don’t see a reason to live anymore.”
D. Poor appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Statements indicating hopelessness or suicidal ideation
require immediate assessment and intervention to ensure client
safety.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about lithium therapy. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A. “I will restrict my salt intake.”
B. “I will drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid each day.”
C. “I will stop taking lithium if I feel better.”
D. “I should avoid routine blood tests.”
,Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate hydration helps prevent lithium toxicity by
maintaining stable sodium levels.
3. A nurse is assessing a client experiencing a panic attack. Which
finding is expected?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hyperventilation
C. Constricted pupils
D. Slow speech
Answer: B
Rationale: Panic attacks commonly cause hyperventilation,
tachycardia, and feelings of impending doom.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia experiencing
auditory hallucinations. Which response is appropriate?
A. “Those voices are not real.”
B. “Ignore the voices.”
C. “What are the voices telling you?”
D. “Why do you think you hear them?”
Answer: C
Rationale: Asking about hallucination content assesses risk for self-
harm or harm to others.
5. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed fluoxetine. Which adverse
effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
, C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs commonly cause sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and
GI disturbances.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with mania. Which finding is
expected?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Slow speech
C. Decreased need for sleep
D. Poor appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Clients with mania often require little sleep and display
increased activity.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder.
Which behavior is expected?
A. Emotional detachment
B. Fear of abandonment
C. Lack of empathy
D. Social isolation
Answer: B
Rationale: Fear of abandonment and unstable relationships are
hallmark features of borderline personality disorder.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about clozapine. Which lab value
requires monitoring?
Practice Exam Questions And
Correct Answers (Verified
Answers) Plus Rationales
2026/2027 Q&A | Instant
1. A nurse is caring for a client with major depressive disorder.
Which finding requires immediate intervention?
A. Reports lack of energy
B. Sleeps 10 hours per day
C. States, “I don’t see a reason to live anymore.”
D. Poor appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Statements indicating hopelessness or suicidal ideation
require immediate assessment and intervention to ensure client
safety.
2. A nurse is teaching a client about lithium therapy. Which
statement indicates understanding?
A. “I will restrict my salt intake.”
B. “I will drink 2 to 3 liters of fluid each day.”
C. “I will stop taking lithium if I feel better.”
D. “I should avoid routine blood tests.”
,Answer: B
Rationale: Adequate hydration helps prevent lithium toxicity by
maintaining stable sodium levels.
3. A nurse is assessing a client experiencing a panic attack. Which
finding is expected?
A. Bradycardia
B. Hyperventilation
C. Constricted pupils
D. Slow speech
Answer: B
Rationale: Panic attacks commonly cause hyperventilation,
tachycardia, and feelings of impending doom.
4. A nurse is caring for a client with schizophrenia experiencing
auditory hallucinations. Which response is appropriate?
A. “Those voices are not real.”
B. “Ignore the voices.”
C. “What are the voices telling you?”
D. “Why do you think you hear them?”
Answer: C
Rationale: Asking about hallucination content assesses risk for self-
harm or harm to others.
5. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed fluoxetine. Which adverse
effect should the nurse monitor?
A. Hypertension
B. Bradycardia
, C. Sexual dysfunction
D. Weight loss
Answer: C
Rationale: SSRIs commonly cause sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and
GI disturbances.
6. A nurse is assessing a client with mania. Which finding is
expected?
A. Social withdrawal
B. Slow speech
C. Decreased need for sleep
D. Poor appetite
Answer: C
Rationale: Clients with mania often require little sleep and display
increased activity.
7. A nurse is caring for a client with borderline personality disorder.
Which behavior is expected?
A. Emotional detachment
B. Fear of abandonment
C. Lack of empathy
D. Social isolation
Answer: B
Rationale: Fear of abandonment and unstable relationships are
hallmark features of borderline personality disorder.
8. A nurse is teaching a client about clozapine. Which lab value
requires monitoring?
