ATI RN Mental Health Nursing
Questions & Answers| Latest Update| Guaranteed Pass
,1. A nurse says to a client, "I noticed you haven't left your room today.
What's that been like for you?" This is an example of which therapeutic
communication technique?
A. Giving advice
B. Making observations
C. Offering reassurance
D. Asking a closed-ended question
Correct Answer: B. Making observations
Rationale: Making observations involves verbalizing what the nurse perceives
about the client's behavior without judgment, which encourages the client to
reflect and share. Giving advice imposes the nurse's opinion, reassurance can
minimize feelings, and this is an open-ended, not closed-ended, question.
2. Which nursing statement demonstrates the therapeutic communication
technique of restating?
A. "You said you feel like giving up. Tell me more about that."
B. "So you're saying you feel hopeless about the future."
C. "Everything will be fine, don't worry."
D. "Why do you feel that way?"
Correct Answer: B. "So you're saying you feel hopeless about the
future."
Rationale: Restating repeats the main idea of what the client said in the
nurse's own words, confirming understanding. Option A is exploring, C is false
reassurance (nontherapeutic), and D ("why") is a nontherapeutic technique
that can sound accusatory.
3. A client with schizophrenia states, "The government put a chip in my
brain to control my thoughts." Which nursing response is most
therapeutic?
A. "That's not possible; no one put a chip in your brain."
B. "I don't believe that's true, but I understand it feels real to you."
C. "Tell me more about the chip and how it controls you."
D. "You need to stop thinking about that."
,Correct Answer: B. "I don't believe that's true, but I understand it feels
real to you."
Rationale: The nurse should not argue with a delusion or reinforce it by asking
for elaborate details; instead, the nurse presents reality while acknowledging
the client's feelings. Arguing (A) increases defensiveness, exploring delusional
content in detail (C) reinforces it, and telling the client to stop (D) is dismissive
and nontherapeutic.
4. Which action best reflects the ethical principle of autonomy in
psychiatric nursing care?
A. Administering PRN medication without the client's knowledge to prevent
agitation
B. Allowing a voluntarily admitted client to refuse a recommended
medication after being informed of risks
C. Restraining a calm client as a precaution
D. Deciding treatment goals for the client based on family preference
Correct Answer: B. Allowing a voluntarily admitted client to refuse a
recommended medication after being informed of risks
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a competent client to make decisions
about their own care, including refusal of treatment after informed consent.
The other options override the client's self-determination without justification.
5. A nurse who ensures equal access to psychiatric services regardless
of a client's insurance status is upholding which ethical principle?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Beneficence
Correct Answer: C. Justice
Rationale: Justice refers to fair and equal treatment and distribution of
healthcare resources. Fidelity is keeping promises, veracity is truth-telling, and
beneficence is acting in the client's best interest.
6. A client tells the nurse a secret and asks the nurse not to share it with
the treatment team. What is the nurse's best response?
, A. "I promise I won't tell anyone."
B. "Information relevant to your care must be shared with the treatment
team, but I will respect your privacy otherwise."
C. "I'll only tell the physician."
D. "Your secrets are safe with me no matter what."
Correct Answer: B. "Information relevant to your care must be shared
with the treatment team, but I will respect your privacy otherwise."
Rationale: The nurse must be honest that information pertinent to safety and
treatment is shared among the team; promising absolute confidentiality is
dishonest and could compromise client safety, particularly regarding harm to
self or others.
7. Which client statement would require the nurse to break confidentiality
under the duty to warn (Tarasoff) principle?
A. "I hate my job and want to quit."
B. "I'm going to find my ex-wife and kill her."
C. "I sometimes feel sad for no reason."
D. "I don't trust my neighbors."
Correct Answer: B. "I'm going to find my ex-wife and kill her." Rationale:
The duty to warn requires the nurse to notify identifiable, intended victims
and appropriate authorities when a client makes a specific, credible threat of
harm against a named individual.
8. A client voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit requests to leave
against medical advice. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Physically block the client from leaving
B. Notify the healthcare provider and follow facility discharge procedures
C. Administer a sedative to keep the client calm
D. Call security to detain the client immediately
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider and follow facility
discharge procedures
Rationale: Voluntarily admitted clients retain the right to leave; the nurse
should notify the provider, who may evaluate for imminent danger criteria to
pursue involuntary hold if warranted, but cannot simply detain the client
Questions & Answers| Latest Update| Guaranteed Pass
,1. A nurse says to a client, "I noticed you haven't left your room today.
What's that been like for you?" This is an example of which therapeutic
communication technique?
A. Giving advice
B. Making observations
C. Offering reassurance
D. Asking a closed-ended question
Correct Answer: B. Making observations
Rationale: Making observations involves verbalizing what the nurse perceives
about the client's behavior without judgment, which encourages the client to
reflect and share. Giving advice imposes the nurse's opinion, reassurance can
minimize feelings, and this is an open-ended, not closed-ended, question.
2. Which nursing statement demonstrates the therapeutic communication
technique of restating?
A. "You said you feel like giving up. Tell me more about that."
B. "So you're saying you feel hopeless about the future."
C. "Everything will be fine, don't worry."
D. "Why do you feel that way?"
Correct Answer: B. "So you're saying you feel hopeless about the
future."
Rationale: Restating repeats the main idea of what the client said in the
nurse's own words, confirming understanding. Option A is exploring, C is false
reassurance (nontherapeutic), and D ("why") is a nontherapeutic technique
that can sound accusatory.
3. A client with schizophrenia states, "The government put a chip in my
brain to control my thoughts." Which nursing response is most
therapeutic?
A. "That's not possible; no one put a chip in your brain."
B. "I don't believe that's true, but I understand it feels real to you."
C. "Tell me more about the chip and how it controls you."
D. "You need to stop thinking about that."
,Correct Answer: B. "I don't believe that's true, but I understand it feels
real to you."
Rationale: The nurse should not argue with a delusion or reinforce it by asking
for elaborate details; instead, the nurse presents reality while acknowledging
the client's feelings. Arguing (A) increases defensiveness, exploring delusional
content in detail (C) reinforces it, and telling the client to stop (D) is dismissive
and nontherapeutic.
4. Which action best reflects the ethical principle of autonomy in
psychiatric nursing care?
A. Administering PRN medication without the client's knowledge to prevent
agitation
B. Allowing a voluntarily admitted client to refuse a recommended
medication after being informed of risks
C. Restraining a calm client as a precaution
D. Deciding treatment goals for the client based on family preference
Correct Answer: B. Allowing a voluntarily admitted client to refuse a
recommended medication after being informed of risks
Rationale: Autonomy is the right of a competent client to make decisions
about their own care, including refusal of treatment after informed consent.
The other options override the client's self-determination without justification.
5. A nurse who ensures equal access to psychiatric services regardless
of a client's insurance status is upholding which ethical principle?
A. Fidelity
B. Veracity
C. Justice
D. Beneficence
Correct Answer: C. Justice
Rationale: Justice refers to fair and equal treatment and distribution of
healthcare resources. Fidelity is keeping promises, veracity is truth-telling, and
beneficence is acting in the client's best interest.
6. A client tells the nurse a secret and asks the nurse not to share it with
the treatment team. What is the nurse's best response?
, A. "I promise I won't tell anyone."
B. "Information relevant to your care must be shared with the treatment
team, but I will respect your privacy otherwise."
C. "I'll only tell the physician."
D. "Your secrets are safe with me no matter what."
Correct Answer: B. "Information relevant to your care must be shared
with the treatment team, but I will respect your privacy otherwise."
Rationale: The nurse must be honest that information pertinent to safety and
treatment is shared among the team; promising absolute confidentiality is
dishonest and could compromise client safety, particularly regarding harm to
self or others.
7. Which client statement would require the nurse to break confidentiality
under the duty to warn (Tarasoff) principle?
A. "I hate my job and want to quit."
B. "I'm going to find my ex-wife and kill her."
C. "I sometimes feel sad for no reason."
D. "I don't trust my neighbors."
Correct Answer: B. "I'm going to find my ex-wife and kill her." Rationale:
The duty to warn requires the nurse to notify identifiable, intended victims
and appropriate authorities when a client makes a specific, credible threat of
harm against a named individual.
8. A client voluntarily admitted to a psychiatric unit requests to leave
against medical advice. What is the nurse's priority action?
A. Physically block the client from leaving
B. Notify the healthcare provider and follow facility discharge procedures
C. Administer a sedative to keep the client calm
D. Call security to detain the client immediately
Correct Answer: B. Notify the healthcare provider and follow facility
discharge procedures
Rationale: Voluntarily admitted clients retain the right to leave; the nurse
should notify the provider, who may evaluate for imminent danger criteria to
pursue involuntary hold if warranted, but cannot simply detain the client
