ATI Mental Health Proctored EXAM
(Verified Answers) Newest 2026
Complete Questions and Correct
Detailed Answers |Already Graded A+
1. A nurse assesses a client at a community mental health facility using the SAD
PERSONS tool. The nurse knows that this tool provides which of the following data
related to a client?
A.Current anxiety level
B.Problem-solving ability
C.Suicide potential
D.Mood disturbance - CORRECT ANSWER-C
A.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS is not a tool to provide data related to the client's
current anxiety level.
B.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS is not a tool to provide data related to a client's
ability to problem solve.
C.CORRECT: SAD PERSONS is a tool that provides data related to a client's
suicide potential.
D.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS does not provide data related to a client's mood
disturbance.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
1. A nurse is assisting the parents of a school-age child who has oppositional defiant
disorder in identifying strategies to promote positive behavior. Which of the following
is an appropriate strategy for the nurse to recommend? (Select all that apply.)
A.Allow the child to choose consequences for negative behavior.
B.Use role playing to act out unacceptable behavior.
C.Develop a reward system for acceptable behavior.
D.Encourage the child to participate in school sports.
E.Be consistent when addressing unacceptable behavior. - CORRECT ANSWER-C,
D, E
A.IncOrrEct: The parents should set clear limits on unacceptable behavior.
B.IncOrrEct: The parents should focus on acceptable behavior and should
demonstrate this through modeling.
C.CORRECT: The parents should have a method to reward the child for acceptable
behavior.
D.CORRECT: The parents should encourage physical activity through which the
child can use energy and obtain success.
E.CORRECT: The parents should set clear limits on unacceptable behavior and
should be consistent.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Behavioral Interventions
,1. A nurse manager is discussing the care of a client who has a personality disorder
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed
nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A."I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule."
B."Self-assessment will help me cope with emotional reactions to client care."
C."I should practice limit-setting to help prevent client manipulation."
D."Maintaining professional boundaries is a priority of client care." - CORRECT
ANSWER-A
1. A. CoRRECT: Rather than establishing a schedule, the nurse should ask for the
client's input and offer realistic choices to promote the client's sense of control.
B. inCorrECt: Caring for a client who has a personality disorder can evoke an intense
emotional response by the nurse. Self-assessment assists the nurse to cope with
these reactions.
C. inCorrECt: When caring for a client who has a personality disorder, limit-setting is
appropriate to help prevent client manipulation.
D. inCorrECt: When caring for a client who has a personality disorder, the nurse
should always maintain professional boundaries.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Behavioral Interventions
2. A client says, "I plan to commit suicide." Which of the following should be the
nurse's priority assessment?
A.Client's educational and economic background
B.Lethality of the method and availability of means
C.Quality of the client's social support
D.Client's insight into the reasons for the decision - CORRECT ANSWER-B
A.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
B.CORRECT: The greatest risk to the client is self-harm as a result of carrying out a
suicide plan. Therefore, the priority assessment is to determine how lethal the
method is, how available the method is, and how detailed the plan is.
C.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
D.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has avoidant personality disorder. Which of the
following statements is expected from a client who has this type of personality
disorder?
A."I'm scared that you're going to leave me."
B. "I'll go to group therapy if you'll let me smoke."
C."I need to feel that everyone admires me."
D."I sometimes feel better if I cut myself." - CORRECT ANSWER-A
A. CoRRECT: Clients who have avoidant personality disorder often have a fear of
abandonment. Therefore, this type of statement is expected.
B. inCorrECt: This statement indicates manipulation, which is not expected from a
client who has borderline rather than avoidant personality disorder.
C. inCorrECt: This statement indicates a need for admiration, which is expected from
a client who has narcissistic rather than avoidant personality disorder.
,D. inCorrECt: This statement indicates a risk for self-injury, which is expected from a
client who has borderline rather than avoidant personality disorder.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
2. A nurse is discussing free association as a therapeutic tool with a client who has
major depressive disorder. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of this technique?
A. "I will write down my dreams as soon as I wake up."
B. "I may begin to associate my therapists with important people in my life."
C. "I can learn to express myself in a nonaggressive manner."
D. "This therapy will address my conscious feelings about stressful experiences."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 7 Application Exercises - CORRECT
ANSWER-D:
Free association is the spontaneous, uncensored verbalization of whatever comes to
the client's mind.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 7 Application Exercises
2. A nurse is performing an admission assessment on an adolescent client who has
depression. Which of the following is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.)
A.Fear of being alone
B.Substance use
C.Weight gain
D.Irritability
E.Aggressiveness - CORRECT ANSWER-B, D, E
A.IncOrrEct: Solitary play or work, rather than the fear of being alone, is an expected
finding associated with depression.
B.CORRECT: Substance use is an expected finding associated with depression.
C.IncOrrEct: Loss of appetite and weight loss, not weight gain, are expected findings
associated with depression.
D.CORRECT: Irritability is an expected finding associated with depression.
E.CORRECT: Aggressiveness is an expected finding associated with depression.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
3. A charge nurse is preparing a staff education session on personality disorders.
Which of the following should be included as personality characteristics associated
with all of the personality disorders? (Select all that apply.)
A.Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
B.Belief in the ability to become invisible during times of stress
C.Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
D. Claiming to be more important than other persons
E.Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff - CORRECT ANSWER-A, C, E
A. CoRRECT: Difficulty with social and professional relationships is a personality
characteristic that can be seen with all personality disorder types.
B. inCorrECt: Clients who have schizotypal personality disorder may display magical
thinking or delusions; however, this is not associated with all personality disorder
types.
, C. CoRRECT: Maladaptive response to stress is a personality characteristic that can
be seen with all personality disorder types.
D.inCorrECt: Clients who have narcissistic personality disorder may display
grandiose thinking; however, this is not associated with all personality disorder types.
E. CoRRECT: Difficulty understanding personal boundaries is a personality
characteristic that can be seen with all personality disorder types.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
3. A nurse is assessing a client who is suicidal. Which of the following is appropriate
for the nurse to ask the client? (Select all that apply.)
A.Do you have a plan?
B.Have you thought about hurting yourself?
C.Do you feel that life is not worth living?
D.Why do you want to commit suicide?
E.Have you experienced a recent change in your mood? - CORRECT ANSWER-A,
B, C
A.CORRECT: It is important to ask the client if they have a plan.
B.CORRECT: The nurse should ask the client about thoughts of hurting herself.
C.CORRECT: This is an appropriate question for nurse to ask a client who is
suicidal.
D.INCORRECT: This is a nontherapeutic response. "Why" questions should be
avoided because they may cause the client to be defensive.
E.CORRECT: This is an appropriate question for the nurse to ask a client who is
suicidal.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
3. A nurse working in a pediatric clinic is caring for a preschool-age child who has a
new diagnosis of ADHD. When teaching the parent about this disorder, which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A."Behaviors associated with ADHD must be present prior to age 3."
B."This disorder is characterized by argumentativeness."
C."Below-average intellectual functioning is associated with ADHD."
D."Because of this disorder, your child is at an increased risk for injury." - CORRECT
ANSWER-D
A.IncOrrEct: Behaviors associated with ADHD must be present before the age of 12.
B.IncOrrEct: Argumentativeness is associated with oppositional defiant disorder
rather than ADHD.
C.IncOrrEct: Below-average intellectual functioning is associated with intellectual
developmental disorder rather than ADHD.
D.CORRECT: Inattentive or impulsive behavior increases the risk for injury in a child
who has ADHD.
NCLEX® Connection: Safety and Infection Control, Accident/Error/Injury Prevention
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has borderline personality disorder. The client
says, "The nurse on the evening shift is always nice! You are the meanest nurse
ever!" The nurse should recognize the client's statement as an example of which of
the following defense mechanisms?
A.Regression
B.Splitting
C.Undoing
(Verified Answers) Newest 2026
Complete Questions and Correct
Detailed Answers |Already Graded A+
1. A nurse assesses a client at a community mental health facility using the SAD
PERSONS tool. The nurse knows that this tool provides which of the following data
related to a client?
A.Current anxiety level
B.Problem-solving ability
C.Suicide potential
D.Mood disturbance - CORRECT ANSWER-C
A.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS is not a tool to provide data related to the client's
current anxiety level.
B.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS is not a tool to provide data related to a client's
ability to problem solve.
C.CORRECT: SAD PERSONS is a tool that provides data related to a client's
suicide potential.
D.INCORRECT: SAD PERSONS does not provide data related to a client's mood
disturbance.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
1. A nurse is assisting the parents of a school-age child who has oppositional defiant
disorder in identifying strategies to promote positive behavior. Which of the following
is an appropriate strategy for the nurse to recommend? (Select all that apply.)
A.Allow the child to choose consequences for negative behavior.
B.Use role playing to act out unacceptable behavior.
C.Develop a reward system for acceptable behavior.
D.Encourage the child to participate in school sports.
E.Be consistent when addressing unacceptable behavior. - CORRECT ANSWER-C,
D, E
A.IncOrrEct: The parents should set clear limits on unacceptable behavior.
B.IncOrrEct: The parents should focus on acceptable behavior and should
demonstrate this through modeling.
C.CORRECT: The parents should have a method to reward the child for acceptable
behavior.
D.CORRECT: The parents should encourage physical activity through which the
child can use energy and obtain success.
E.CORRECT: The parents should set clear limits on unacceptable behavior and
should be consistent.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Behavioral Interventions
,1. A nurse manager is discussing the care of a client who has a personality disorder
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed
nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A."I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule."
B."Self-assessment will help me cope with emotional reactions to client care."
C."I should practice limit-setting to help prevent client manipulation."
D."Maintaining professional boundaries is a priority of client care." - CORRECT
ANSWER-A
1. A. CoRRECT: Rather than establishing a schedule, the nurse should ask for the
client's input and offer realistic choices to promote the client's sense of control.
B. inCorrECt: Caring for a client who has a personality disorder can evoke an intense
emotional response by the nurse. Self-assessment assists the nurse to cope with
these reactions.
C. inCorrECt: When caring for a client who has a personality disorder, limit-setting is
appropriate to help prevent client manipulation.
D. inCorrECt: When caring for a client who has a personality disorder, the nurse
should always maintain professional boundaries.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Behavioral Interventions
2. A client says, "I plan to commit suicide." Which of the following should be the
nurse's priority assessment?
A.Client's educational and economic background
B.Lethality of the method and availability of means
C.Quality of the client's social support
D.Client's insight into the reasons for the decision - CORRECT ANSWER-B
A.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
B.CORRECT: The greatest risk to the client is self-harm as a result of carrying out a
suicide plan. Therefore, the priority assessment is to determine how lethal the
method is, how available the method is, and how detailed the plan is.
C.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
D.INCORRECT: This is an appropriate action by the nurse. However, it is not the
priority.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
2. A nurse is caring for a client who has avoidant personality disorder. Which of the
following statements is expected from a client who has this type of personality
disorder?
A."I'm scared that you're going to leave me."
B. "I'll go to group therapy if you'll let me smoke."
C."I need to feel that everyone admires me."
D."I sometimes feel better if I cut myself." - CORRECT ANSWER-A
A. CoRRECT: Clients who have avoidant personality disorder often have a fear of
abandonment. Therefore, this type of statement is expected.
B. inCorrECt: This statement indicates manipulation, which is not expected from a
client who has borderline rather than avoidant personality disorder.
C. inCorrECt: This statement indicates a need for admiration, which is expected from
a client who has narcissistic rather than avoidant personality disorder.
,D. inCorrECt: This statement indicates a risk for self-injury, which is expected from a
client who has borderline rather than avoidant personality disorder.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
2. A nurse is discussing free association as a therapeutic tool with a client who has
major depressive disorder. Which of the following client statements indicates
understanding of this technique?
A. "I will write down my dreams as soon as I wake up."
B. "I may begin to associate my therapists with important people in my life."
C. "I can learn to express myself in a nonaggressive manner."
D. "This therapy will address my conscious feelings about stressful experiences."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 7 Application Exercises - CORRECT
ANSWER-D:
Free association is the spontaneous, uncensored verbalization of whatever comes to
the client's mind.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 7 Application Exercises
2. A nurse is performing an admission assessment on an adolescent client who has
depression. Which of the following is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.)
A.Fear of being alone
B.Substance use
C.Weight gain
D.Irritability
E.Aggressiveness - CORRECT ANSWER-B, D, E
A.IncOrrEct: Solitary play or work, rather than the fear of being alone, is an expected
finding associated with depression.
B.CORRECT: Substance use is an expected finding associated with depression.
C.IncOrrEct: Loss of appetite and weight loss, not weight gain, are expected findings
associated with depression.
D.CORRECT: Irritability is an expected finding associated with depression.
E.CORRECT: Aggressiveness is an expected finding associated with depression.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
3. A charge nurse is preparing a staff education session on personality disorders.
Which of the following should be included as personality characteristics associated
with all of the personality disorders? (Select all that apply.)
A.Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group
B.Belief in the ability to become invisible during times of stress
C.Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed
D. Claiming to be more important than other persons
E.Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with
staff - CORRECT ANSWER-A, C, E
A. CoRRECT: Difficulty with social and professional relationships is a personality
characteristic that can be seen with all personality disorder types.
B. inCorrECt: Clients who have schizotypal personality disorder may display magical
thinking or delusions; however, this is not associated with all personality disorder
types.
, C. CoRRECT: Maladaptive response to stress is a personality characteristic that can
be seen with all personality disorder types.
D.inCorrECt: Clients who have narcissistic personality disorder may display
grandiose thinking; however, this is not associated with all personality disorder types.
E. CoRRECT: Difficulty understanding personal boundaries is a personality
characteristic that can be seen with all personality disorder types.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Mental Health Concepts
3. A nurse is assessing a client who is suicidal. Which of the following is appropriate
for the nurse to ask the client? (Select all that apply.)
A.Do you have a plan?
B.Have you thought about hurting yourself?
C.Do you feel that life is not worth living?
D.Why do you want to commit suicide?
E.Have you experienced a recent change in your mood? - CORRECT ANSWER-A,
B, C
A.CORRECT: It is important to ask the client if they have a plan.
B.CORRECT: The nurse should ask the client about thoughts of hurting herself.
C.CORRECT: This is an appropriate question for nurse to ask a client who is
suicidal.
D.INCORRECT: This is a nontherapeutic response. "Why" questions should be
avoided because they may cause the client to be defensive.
E.CORRECT: This is an appropriate question for the nurse to ask a client who is
suicidal.
NCLEX® Connection: Psychosocial Integrity, Crisis Intervention
3. A nurse working in a pediatric clinic is caring for a preschool-age child who has a
new diagnosis of ADHD. When teaching the parent about this disorder, which of the
following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
A."Behaviors associated with ADHD must be present prior to age 3."
B."This disorder is characterized by argumentativeness."
C."Below-average intellectual functioning is associated with ADHD."
D."Because of this disorder, your child is at an increased risk for injury." - CORRECT
ANSWER-D
A.IncOrrEct: Behaviors associated with ADHD must be present before the age of 12.
B.IncOrrEct: Argumentativeness is associated with oppositional defiant disorder
rather than ADHD.
C.IncOrrEct: Below-average intellectual functioning is associated with intellectual
developmental disorder rather than ADHD.
D.CORRECT: Inattentive or impulsive behavior increases the risk for injury in a child
who has ADHD.
NCLEX® Connection: Safety and Infection Control, Accident/Error/Injury Prevention
4. A nurse is caring for a client who has borderline personality disorder. The client
says, "The nurse on the evening shift is always nice! You are the meanest nurse
ever!" The nurse should recognize the client's statement as an example of which of
the following defense mechanisms?
A.Regression
B.Splitting
C.Undoing
