HESI PSYCHIATRIC-MENTAL HEALTH
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE & REVIEW QUESTIONS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is Let us go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there
wandering the busy halls of the extended care facility
and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the
parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression. The A negative view of self and the future
nurse knows that which characteristic is most indicative of
depression?
A 40-year-old male client diagnosed with schizophrenia Stagnation
and alcohol dependence has not had any visitors or
phone calls since admission. He reports he has no family
that cares about him and was living on the streets prior to
this admission. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which stage is the client in at
this time?
An elderly female client with advanced dementia is Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her
admitted to the hospital with a fractured hip. The client
repeatedly tells the staff, "Take me home. I want my
Mommy." Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to Others have had similar thoughts when under stress
believe that he was Jesus Christ, but now heknows he is
not. Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is hearing
medical diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.During the
admission procedure, the client looks up and states, "No,
it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you
did." What action is best for the nurse to take?
A woman arrives in the Emergency Center and tells the "Rape is no limited to strangers and frequently occurs by someone who is known
nurse she thinks she has been raped. The client is sobbing to the victim"
and expresses disbelief that a rape could happen
because the man is her best friend.After acknowledging
the client's fear and anxiety, how should the nurse
respond?
A 72-year-old female client is admitted to the psychiatric I think my cat is going to die
unit with a medical diagnosis of major depression. Which
statement by the client should concern the nurse and
require further assessment?
A 52-year-old male client in the intensive care unit who Cluster care so that brief periods of rest can be scheduled during the day
has been oriented suddenly becomes disoriented and
fearful. Assessment of vital signs and other physical
parameters reveal no significant change and the nurse
formulates the diagnosis, "Confusion related to ICU
psychosis." Which intervention is best to implement?
, A 27-year-old female client is admitted to the psychiatric Provide a structured environment with little stimuli
hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder,manic phase.
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should
the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
A male client with mental illness and substance His case manager
dependency tells the mental health nurse that he has
started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek
treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis, which person is
best for the nurse to refer this client to first
The parents of a 14-year-old boy bring their son to the If he might have taken any other drugs
hospital. He is lethargic, but responsive. The mother
states, "I think he took some of my pain pills." During
initial assessment of the teenager, what information is
most important for the nurse to obtain from the parents?
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.
of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to
her, she refuses to eat and tells the nurse, "I know you are
trying to poison me with that food." Which response is
most appropriate for the nurse to make?
A 35-year-old male client on the psychiatric ward of a low self-esteem
general hospital believes that someone is trying to
poison him. The nurse understands that a client's
delusions are most likely related to his
A manic depressive client on the psychiatric ward Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room
becomes loud, and shouts at one of the nurses, "You fat
tub of lard! Get something done around here!" What is
the best initial action for the nurse to take?
Which ego-defense mechanisms are exhibited by a Symbolization
phobic client who refuses to leave her home?
When preparing a teaching plan for a client who is to be Keep your dietary salt intake consistent
discharged with a prescription for lithium carbonate
(Lithonate), it is most important for the nurse to include
which instruction?
PRACTICE EXAM 2026 | COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE & REVIEW QUESTIONS
| GRADED A+ | GUARANTEED SUCCESS
Updated 2026 Questions and Answers
100% Verified Exam Prep and Comprehensive
Rationales Included
,An 86-year-old female client with Alzheimer's disease is Let us go back to the activity room and see what is going on in there
wandering the busy halls of the extended care facility
and asks the nurse, "Where should I stand for the
parade?" Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A client is admitted with a diagnosis of depression. The A negative view of self and the future
nurse knows that which characteristic is most indicative of
depression?
A 40-year-old male client diagnosed with schizophrenia Stagnation
and alcohol dependence has not had any visitors or
phone calls since admission. He reports he has no family
that cares about him and was living on the streets prior to
this admission. According to Erikson's theory of
psychosocial development, which stage is the client in at
this time?
An elderly female client with advanced dementia is Tell the client that the nurse is there and will help her
admitted to the hospital with a fractured hip. The client
repeatedly tells the staff, "Take me home. I want my
Mommy." Which response is best for the nurse to
provide?
A 45-year-old male client tells the nurse that he used to Others have had similar thoughts when under stress
believe that he was Jesus Christ, but now heknows he is
not. Which response is best for the nurse to make?
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit with a Assess the content of the hallucinations by asking the client what he is hearing
medical diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.During the
admission procedure, the client looks up and states, "No,
it's not MY fault. You can't blame me. I didn't kill him, you
did." What action is best for the nurse to take?
A woman arrives in the Emergency Center and tells the "Rape is no limited to strangers and frequently occurs by someone who is known
nurse she thinks she has been raped. The client is sobbing to the victim"
and expresses disbelief that a rape could happen
because the man is her best friend.After acknowledging
the client's fear and anxiety, how should the nurse
respond?
A 72-year-old female client is admitted to the psychiatric I think my cat is going to die
unit with a medical diagnosis of major depression. Which
statement by the client should concern the nurse and
require further assessment?
A 52-year-old male client in the intensive care unit who Cluster care so that brief periods of rest can be scheduled during the day
has been oriented suddenly becomes disoriented and
fearful. Assessment of vital signs and other physical
parameters reveal no significant change and the nurse
formulates the diagnosis, "Confusion related to ICU
psychosis." Which intervention is best to implement?
, A 27-year-old female client is admitted to the psychiatric Provide a structured environment with little stimuli
hospital with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder,manic phase.
She is demanding and active. Which intervention should
the nurse include in this client's plan of care?
A male client with mental illness and substance His case manager
dependency tells the mental health nurse that he has
started using illegal drugs again and wants to seek
treatment. Since he has a dual diagnosis, which person is
best for the nurse to refer this client to first
The parents of a 14-year-old boy bring their son to the If he might have taken any other drugs
hospital. He is lethargic, but responsive. The mother
states, "I think he took some of my pain pills." During
initial assessment of the teenager, what information is
most important for the nurse to obtain from the parents?
A 38-year-old female client is admitted with a diagnosis I'll leave your tray here. I am available if you need anything else.
of paranoid schizophrenia. When her tray is brought to
her, she refuses to eat and tells the nurse, "I know you are
trying to poison me with that food." Which response is
most appropriate for the nurse to make?
A 35-year-old male client on the psychiatric ward of a low self-esteem
general hospital believes that someone is trying to
poison him. The nurse understands that a client's
delusions are most likely related to his
A manic depressive client on the psychiatric ward Redirect the client's energy by asking him to tidy the recreation room
becomes loud, and shouts at one of the nurses, "You fat
tub of lard! Get something done around here!" What is
the best initial action for the nurse to take?
Which ego-defense mechanisms are exhibited by a Symbolization
phobic client who refuses to leave her home?
When preparing a teaching plan for a client who is to be Keep your dietary salt intake consistent
discharged with a prescription for lithium carbonate
(Lithonate), it is most important for the nurse to include
which instruction?
