HESI Mental Health Exam
Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
The RN leading a group session of adolescent clients gives the members a
handout about anger management. One of the male clients is fidgety,
interrupts peers when they try and talk, and talks about his pets at home. What
nursing action is best for the RN to take? A. Explore the client's feelings about
his pets and home life. B. Encourage his peers to help involve him in the
activity. C. Give the client permission to leave and return in 10 minutes. D.
Redirect him by encouraging him to read from the handout - Answer✔✔-D.
Redirect him by encouraging him to read from the handout.
A male adolescent was admitted to the unit two days ago for depression. When
the mental health RN tries to interview the client to establish rapport, he
becomes very irritated and sarcastic. Which action is best for the RN to take? A.
Report the behavior to the next shift. B. Offer to play a game of cards with the
client. C. Document the behavior in the chart. D. Plan to talk with the client the
next day. - Answer✔✔-B. Offer to play a game of cards with the client.
A male adult is admitted because of an acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose.
After transfer to the mental health unit, the client is told he has liver damage.
,Which information is most important for the nurse to include in the client's
discharge plan? A. Do not take any over the counter meds. B. Eat a high carb,
low fat, low protein diet. C. Call the crisis hotline if feeling lonely. D. Avoid
exposure to large crowds. - Answer✔✔-A. Do not take any over the counter
meds.
After receiving treatment for anorexia, a student asks the school RN for
permission to work in the school cafeteria as part of the school's work study
program. What action should the RN take? A. Refer the student to a psychiatrist
for further discussion. B. Recommend assignment to the receptionist's office. C.
Suggest that student work in the athletic department. D. Determine the
parent's opinion of the work assignment. - Answer✔✔-B. Recommend
assignment to the receptionist's office.
he Rn accepts a transfer to the metal health unit and understands that the
client is distractible and is exhibiting a decreased ability to concentrate. The RN
only has 15 minutes to talk to the client. To develop treatment plan for this
client, which assessment is most important for the RN to obtain? A. Motivation
of treatment. B. History of substance use. C. Medication compliance. D. Mental
status examination. - Answer✔✔-D. Mental status examination.
A male client who recently lost a loved one arrives at the mental health center
and tells the RN he is no longer interested is his usual activities and has not
slept for several days. Which priority nursing problem should the RN include in
the client's plan of care? A. Risk for suicide. B. Sleep deprivation. C. Situational
low self-esteem. D. Social isolation. - Answer✔✔-. Sleep deprivation
A male client with long history of alcohol dependency arrives in the emergency
department describing the feelings of bugs crawling on his body. His blood
pressure is 170/102, his pulse rate is 110 bpm, and is blood alcohol level is
0mg/dL. Which prescription should the RN administer? A. Haloperidol (Haldol).
,B. Thiamine (Vitamin B1). C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). D. Lorazepam
(Ativan). - Answer✔✔-D. Lorazepam (Ativan).
A client who refuses antipsychotic medications disrupts group activities, talks
with nonsensical words and wanders into client's rooms. The RN decides that
the client needs constant observation based on which of these assessment
findings? A. Wanders into the clients rooms. B. Refuses antipsychotic
medications. C. Talks with nonsensical words.D. Disrupts group activities -
Answer✔✔-. Wanders into the clients rooms.
A client with schizophrenia explains that she has 20 children and then very
seriously points to the RN and explains that she is one of them. What is the
most therapeutic response for the RN to provide/ A. "Let's go ask another RN is
this is true." B. "My name tag shows that I am a RN here." C. "I can't possibly be
one if your children." D. "I know that you don't have 20 children." -
Answer✔✔-B. "My name tag shows that I am a RN here."
A high school girl reveals to the high school RN that she has been engaging in
self-induced vomiting as weight-control measure. Which initial assessment
should the RN focus on with this adolescent? A. National percentile of weight
and height. B. Frequency of bingeing and purging behaviors. C. Perceptions of
family and social relationships. D. School grades and extracurricular activities. -
Answer✔✔-B. Frequency of bingeing and purging behaviors.
Narcan was administered to an adult client following a suicide attempt with an
overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate (Vicodin). Within 15 minutes, the client is
alert and oriented. In planning nursing care, which intervention has the highest
priority at this time? A. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake. B. Obtain
the client's serum Vicodin level. C. Observe the client for further narcotic
effects. D. Determine the client's reason for attempting suicide. - Answer✔✔-.
Observe the client for further narcotic effects.
, Following surgery, a male client with antisocial personality disorder frequently
requests that a specific RN be assigned to is care and is belligerent when
another RN is assigned. What action should the charge RN implement? A.
Reassure the client that his request will be met whenever possible. B. Advise
the client that assignments are not based on the client's request. C. Ask the
client to explain why he constantly requests the RN.D. Encourage the client to
verbalize his feelings about the RN. - Answer✔✔-. Advise the client that
assignments are not based on the client's request.
When preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a homeless male at a
community clinic, the client tells the RN that he usually takes a different
dosage. What action should the RN take? A. Tell him to take the medication
then verify the dosage at the next healthcare team meeting. B. Withhold the
medication until the dosage can be confirmed. C. Inform him that he may
refuse the medication and document whether or not he takes it. D. Explain to
the client that the dosage has been changed. - Answer✔✔-B. Withhold the
medication until the dosage can be confirmed.
The nurse orients a female client with depression to the new room on the
mental health unit. The client states "It seems strange that I don't have a T.V in
my room." Which statement would be best for the RN to provide? A. "You can
watch T.V as much as you want outside of your room." B. "Sometimes clients
feel like the T.V is sending them messages." C. "It's important to be out of you
room and talking to others." D. "Watching T.V is a passive activity and we want
you to be active." - Answer✔✔-C. "It's important to be out of you room and
talking to others."
A client admitted with a closed head injury after a fall has a blood alcohol level
of 0.28 (28%) and is difficult to arouse. Which intervention during the first 6
hours following admission should the RN identify as the priority? A. Give
lorazepam (Ativan) PRN for signs of withdrawal. B. Administer disulfiram
Study Guide – Practice
Questions with Verified
Answers. GRADED A+. Latest
2026/2027 Update
The RN leading a group session of adolescent clients gives the members a
handout about anger management. One of the male clients is fidgety,
interrupts peers when they try and talk, and talks about his pets at home. What
nursing action is best for the RN to take? A. Explore the client's feelings about
his pets and home life. B. Encourage his peers to help involve him in the
activity. C. Give the client permission to leave and return in 10 minutes. D.
Redirect him by encouraging him to read from the handout - Answer✔✔-D.
Redirect him by encouraging him to read from the handout.
A male adolescent was admitted to the unit two days ago for depression. When
the mental health RN tries to interview the client to establish rapport, he
becomes very irritated and sarcastic. Which action is best for the RN to take? A.
Report the behavior to the next shift. B. Offer to play a game of cards with the
client. C. Document the behavior in the chart. D. Plan to talk with the client the
next day. - Answer✔✔-B. Offer to play a game of cards with the client.
A male adult is admitted because of an acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose.
After transfer to the mental health unit, the client is told he has liver damage.
,Which information is most important for the nurse to include in the client's
discharge plan? A. Do not take any over the counter meds. B. Eat a high carb,
low fat, low protein diet. C. Call the crisis hotline if feeling lonely. D. Avoid
exposure to large crowds. - Answer✔✔-A. Do not take any over the counter
meds.
After receiving treatment for anorexia, a student asks the school RN for
permission to work in the school cafeteria as part of the school's work study
program. What action should the RN take? A. Refer the student to a psychiatrist
for further discussion. B. Recommend assignment to the receptionist's office. C.
Suggest that student work in the athletic department. D. Determine the
parent's opinion of the work assignment. - Answer✔✔-B. Recommend
assignment to the receptionist's office.
he Rn accepts a transfer to the metal health unit and understands that the
client is distractible and is exhibiting a decreased ability to concentrate. The RN
only has 15 minutes to talk to the client. To develop treatment plan for this
client, which assessment is most important for the RN to obtain? A. Motivation
of treatment. B. History of substance use. C. Medication compliance. D. Mental
status examination. - Answer✔✔-D. Mental status examination.
A male client who recently lost a loved one arrives at the mental health center
and tells the RN he is no longer interested is his usual activities and has not
slept for several days. Which priority nursing problem should the RN include in
the client's plan of care? A. Risk for suicide. B. Sleep deprivation. C. Situational
low self-esteem. D. Social isolation. - Answer✔✔-. Sleep deprivation
A male client with long history of alcohol dependency arrives in the emergency
department describing the feelings of bugs crawling on his body. His blood
pressure is 170/102, his pulse rate is 110 bpm, and is blood alcohol level is
0mg/dL. Which prescription should the RN administer? A. Haloperidol (Haldol).
,B. Thiamine (Vitamin B1). C. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). D. Lorazepam
(Ativan). - Answer✔✔-D. Lorazepam (Ativan).
A client who refuses antipsychotic medications disrupts group activities, talks
with nonsensical words and wanders into client's rooms. The RN decides that
the client needs constant observation based on which of these assessment
findings? A. Wanders into the clients rooms. B. Refuses antipsychotic
medications. C. Talks with nonsensical words.D. Disrupts group activities -
Answer✔✔-. Wanders into the clients rooms.
A client with schizophrenia explains that she has 20 children and then very
seriously points to the RN and explains that she is one of them. What is the
most therapeutic response for the RN to provide/ A. "Let's go ask another RN is
this is true." B. "My name tag shows that I am a RN here." C. "I can't possibly be
one if your children." D. "I know that you don't have 20 children." -
Answer✔✔-B. "My name tag shows that I am a RN here."
A high school girl reveals to the high school RN that she has been engaging in
self-induced vomiting as weight-control measure. Which initial assessment
should the RN focus on with this adolescent? A. National percentile of weight
and height. B. Frequency of bingeing and purging behaviors. C. Perceptions of
family and social relationships. D. School grades and extracurricular activities. -
Answer✔✔-B. Frequency of bingeing and purging behaviors.
Narcan was administered to an adult client following a suicide attempt with an
overdose of hydrocodone bitartrate (Vicodin). Within 15 minutes, the client is
alert and oriented. In planning nursing care, which intervention has the highest
priority at this time? A. Encourage the client to increase fluid intake. B. Obtain
the client's serum Vicodin level. C. Observe the client for further narcotic
effects. D. Determine the client's reason for attempting suicide. - Answer✔✔-.
Observe the client for further narcotic effects.
, Following surgery, a male client with antisocial personality disorder frequently
requests that a specific RN be assigned to is care and is belligerent when
another RN is assigned. What action should the charge RN implement? A.
Reassure the client that his request will be met whenever possible. B. Advise
the client that assignments are not based on the client's request. C. Ask the
client to explain why he constantly requests the RN.D. Encourage the client to
verbalize his feelings about the RN. - Answer✔✔-. Advise the client that
assignments are not based on the client's request.
When preparing to administer a prescribed medication to a homeless male at a
community clinic, the client tells the RN that he usually takes a different
dosage. What action should the RN take? A. Tell him to take the medication
then verify the dosage at the next healthcare team meeting. B. Withhold the
medication until the dosage can be confirmed. C. Inform him that he may
refuse the medication and document whether or not he takes it. D. Explain to
the client that the dosage has been changed. - Answer✔✔-B. Withhold the
medication until the dosage can be confirmed.
The nurse orients a female client with depression to the new room on the
mental health unit. The client states "It seems strange that I don't have a T.V in
my room." Which statement would be best for the RN to provide? A. "You can
watch T.V as much as you want outside of your room." B. "Sometimes clients
feel like the T.V is sending them messages." C. "It's important to be out of you
room and talking to others." D. "Watching T.V is a passive activity and we want
you to be active." - Answer✔✔-C. "It's important to be out of you room and
talking to others."
A client admitted with a closed head injury after a fall has a blood alcohol level
of 0.28 (28%) and is difficult to arouse. Which intervention during the first 6
hours following admission should the RN identify as the priority? A. Give
lorazepam (Ativan) PRN for signs of withdrawal. B. Administer disulfiram
