HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2024
2025 300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to
stay in the room during the admission assessment. When
interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy
between the client's verbal and nonverbal communication.
What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal
messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's
verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and
interpret them as one. - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression
on his face and raises his voice, saying "My roommate is
,the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever
met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am
going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that the client
is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting. - CORRECT ANSWERS -B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking
lithium carbonate five days ago is complaining of excessive
thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water
from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should
the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve
the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side
effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not
allowed. - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
,The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the
prescribed abstinence therapy using disulfiram
(Antabuse). What information should the client
acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user. -
CORRECT ANSWERS -B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental
health unit after abruptly stopping his prescription for
ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to
enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -D
, During an annual physical by the occupational RN
working in a corporate clinic, a male employee tells the RN
that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal
life. He further explains that he often gets so angry while
driving to and from work that he has considered "getting
even" with other drivers. How should the RN respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major
confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an
unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you
feel angry." - CORRECT ANSWERS -D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is
beginning desensitization with the therapist, and the RN is
reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the
highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and
negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
2025 300 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to
stay in the room during the admission assessment. When
interviewing the client, the RN notes a discrepancy
between the client's verbal and nonverbal communication.
What action does the RN take?
A. Pay close attention and document the nonverbal
messages.
B. Ask the client's husband to interpret the discrepancy.
C. Ignore the nonverbal behavior and focus on the client's
verbal messages.
D. Integrate the verbal and nonverbal messages and
interpret them as one. - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression
on his face and raises his voice, saying "My roommate is
,the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I have ever
met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am
going to punch him out!" The RN recognizes that the client
is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting. - CORRECT ANSWERS -B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking
lithium carbonate five days ago is complaining of excessive
thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink water
from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should
the RN implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve
the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side
effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not
allowed. - CORRECT ANSWERS -A
,The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the
prescribed abstinence therapy using disulfiram
(Antabuse). What information should the client
acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user. -
CORRECT ANSWERS -B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental
health unit after abruptly stopping his prescription for
ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to
enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear? -
CORRECT ANSWERS -D
, During an annual physical by the occupational RN
working in a corporate clinic, a male employee tells the RN
that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal
life. He further explains that he often gets so angry while
driving to and from work that he has considered "getting
even" with other drivers. How should the RN respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major
confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an
unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you
feel angry." - CORRECT ANSWERS -D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is
beginning desensitization with the therapist, and the RN is
reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the
highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and
negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
