HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist A
with accurate documentation later. Which statement is
most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's
nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of
the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse
breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and
allows the client speak at normal pace.
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an B
antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a depressed
affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking
the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety BCD
plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner
violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify
violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the
main exit.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and
children
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a B
male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at the floor, and
talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's
behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic
techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.)
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, C
and declines activities. Which nursing problem has the
greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem.
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar B
disorder and notices that the client discontinued
antipsychotic medication for several days. Which
medication should also be discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia).
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
,HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to A
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.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression B
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.
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking A
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.
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the B
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.
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental D
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?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working D
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."
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
,HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is B
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.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a
crowd.
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self- ADE
esteem of a male client with modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his
concerns.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for D
recurrent negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia and
medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When
the client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally
contracted position, he states that something has made his
body contort into a monster. What action should the RN
take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic
thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack
for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from
somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine
(Cogentin) for dystonia.
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating A
aggressive behavior. Which action by the MHW warrant
immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more C
agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in the hallway.
When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the
medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of
the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports D
taking extra antianxiety medication because, "I'm so
stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should
plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which
statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a C
female employee because of an oncoming gurney. The
pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the
female employee. Both employees are referred for
counseling with the staff psychiatric RN. Which factor in
the pushed employee's history is most related to the
reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
The RN documents the mental status of a female client B
who has been hospitalized for several days by court order.
The client states, "I don't need to be here" and tells the RN
that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should
document these assessment findings in which section of
the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit reports B
shortness of breath and dizziness. The client tells the RN,
"I feel like I'm going to die". Which nursing problem should
the RN include in this client's plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Alteredthoughts.
D. Social isolation.
A female client who is wearing dirty clothes and has foul A
body odor, comes to the clinic reporting feeling scared
because she is being stalked. What action is most
important for the RN to take?
A. Offer the client a safe place to relax before interviewing
her.
B. Ask the client to describe why she is being stalked.
C. Recommend that the client talk with a social worker.
D. Assure the client that the HCP will see her today.
The RN leading a group session of adolescent clients D
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.
A male adolescent was admitted to the unit two days ago B
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.
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
While interviewing a client, the nurse takes notes to assist A
with accurate documentation later. Which statement is
most accurate regarding note-taking during an interview?
A. The nurse' ability to directly observe the client's
nonverbal communication is limited
with note taking.
B. Taking notes during an interview is a legal obligation of
the examining nurse.
C. The client's comfort level is increased when the nurse
breaks eye contact to take note to take note.
D. The interview process is enhanced with note taking and
allows the client speak at normal pace.
An adolescent male receives a prescription for an B
antidepressant drug because he is exhibiting a depressed
affect. While the client is taking the antidepressant, which
comparison of the client's behavior before and after taking
the drug is most important for the nurse to obtain?
A. His appetite.
B. The emotional quality of his attitude
C. His level of activity.
D. The interactions he has with others.
A nurse is providing education about strategies for a safety BCD
plan for a female client who is a victim of intimate partner
violence. Which strategies should be included in the safety
plan? Select all that apply.
A. Purchase a gun to use for protection
B. Establish a code with family and friends to signify
violence.
C. Plan an escape route to use if the abuser blocks the
main exit.
D. Have a bag ready that has extra clothes for self and
children
While sitting in the dayroom of the mental health unit, a B
male adolescent avoids eye contact, looks at the floor, and
talks softly when interacting verbally with the nurse. The
two trade places, and the nurse demonstrate the client's
behavior. What is the main goal of this therapeutic
techniques?
A. Discuss the client's feeling when he responds.
B. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
C. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
D. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.)
A client with depression remains in bed most of the day, C
and declines activities. Which nursing problem has the
greatest priority for this client?
A. Loss of interest in diversional activity.
B. Social isolation.
C. Refusal to address nutritional needs.
D. Low self-esteem.
The RN is preparing medications for a client with bipolar B
disorder and notices that the client discontinued
antipsychotic medication for several days. Which
medication should also be discontinued?
a. Lithium. (Lithotabs)
b. Benzotropine (Cogentin).
c. Alprazolam (Xanax).
d. Magnesium (Milk of Magnesia).
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
,HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A female client requests that her husband be allowed to A
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.
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression B
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.
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking A
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.
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the B
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.
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental D
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?
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working D
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."
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
,HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is B
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.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a
crowd.
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self- ADE
esteem of a male client with modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his
concerns.
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for D
recurrent negative symptoms of chronic schizophrenia and
medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When
the client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally
contracted position, he states that something has made his
body contort into a monster. What action should the RN
take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic
thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack
for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from
somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine
(Cogentin) for dystonia.
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating A
aggressive behavior. Which action by the MHW warrant
immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more C
agitated, shouting at the staff, and pacing in the hallway.
When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the
medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of
the unit hallway. What nursing intervention should the RN
implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff
members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports D
taking extra antianxiety medication because, "I'm so
stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should
plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which
statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH LATEST ACTUAL EXAM COMPLETE 300+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a C
female employee because of an oncoming gurney. The
pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the
female employee. Both employees are referred for
counseling with the staff psychiatric RN. Which factor in
the pushed employee's history is most related to the
reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
The RN documents the mental status of a female client B
who has been hospitalized for several days by court order.
The client states, "I don't need to be here" and tells the RN
that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should
document these assessment findings in which section of
the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
A client is admitted to the mental health unit reports B
shortness of breath and dizziness. The client tells the RN,
"I feel like I'm going to die". Which nursing problem should
the RN include in this client's plan of care?
A. Mood disturbance.
B. Moderate anxiety.
C. Alteredthoughts.
D. Social isolation.
A female client who is wearing dirty clothes and has foul A
body odor, comes to the clinic reporting feeling scared
because she is being stalked. What action is most
important for the RN to take?
A. Offer the client a safe place to relax before interviewing
her.
B. Ask the client to describe why she is being stalked.
C. Recommend that the client talk with a social worker.
D. Assure the client that the HCP will see her today.
The RN leading a group session of adolescent clients D
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.
A male adolescent was admitted to the unit two days ago B
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.
Stuvia.com 2026 - 2027
