ATI Mental Health
Questions with Detailed
Answers A+ Grade
2026/2027
,A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations A, B, C
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an
understanding of the teaching? (SATA)
A. "To assess cognitive ability; I should ask the client to
count backwards by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial
expression."
C. "To assess language ability; I should instruct the client
to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory; I should have the client
repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess abstract thinking, I should ask the pt to
identify our most recent presidents"
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications
health disorder. Which of the following actions should the
nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to B. Identify the client's perception of her of her own mental health status
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the
interview, which of the following is the highest priority
action?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services
B. Identify the client's perception of her of her own mental
health status
C. Include the client's family in the interview
D. Teach the client about her current mental health
disorder
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the B, D, E
DSM-5. Which of the following is appropriate to include in establishes diagnostic criteria
the discussion? (select all that apply) assists nurses in planning care
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for indicates expected assessment findings
mental health disorders
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for
individual mental health disorders
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended
pharmacological treatment for mental health disorders
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients
with mental health disorders
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings
of mental health disorders
A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for C. CORRECT: A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate
a group of clients. The nurse should identify that which of for a temporary emergency admission.
the following clients requires a temporary emergency A. The presence of delusions does not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
admission? emergency admission unless they present a danger for the client or others.
B. Clinical findings of depression do not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of emergency admission unless the client is currently at risk for suicide.
grandeur D. A client who is pacing does not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and emergency admission.
attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and
assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly
around the room while talking to himself
, A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic B. CORRECT: A civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights is a tort. In this
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is very case, it is false imprisonment, which is the confining of a client to a specific
short‑staffed, and the client frequently fights with other area, such as a seclusion room, if the reason for such confinement is for the
clients. The nurse's actions are an example of which of the convenience of staff.
following torts? A. Invasion of privacy is the sharing or obtaining of the client's confidential
information without the client's consent.
A. Invasion of privacy C. Assault is making a threat to the client's person.
B. False imprisonment D. Justice involves the fair and equal treatment of clients
C. Assault
D. Battery
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp .C. CORRECT: The information presented by the client is a serious safety
knife under my mattress in order to protect myself from my issue that the nurse must report to the health care team. Using the ethical
roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening principle of veracity, the student tells the client truthfully what must be done
me." Which of the following actions should the nurse take? regarding the issue.
A. The nurse should use therapeutic communication with the client. However, based
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to on the nature of the information, the nurse cannot keep the information confidential
the client daily, using therapeutic communication to from everyone despite the client's request.
convince him to admit to hiding the knife. B. Based on the nature of the information, the nurse cannot keep the information
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch confidential from everyone despite the client's request
the client and his roommate closely. D. The nurse should inform the if the information will be reported to the health care
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health team
care team because it concerns the health and safety of the
client and others.
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not
inform the client of the intention to do so.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical B. CORRECT: How much water was offered and how often it was offered is
restraints. Which of the following statements should the objective data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in
nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that mechanical restraints.
apply.) C. CORRECT: A description of the client's verbal communication is objective
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast." data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in mechanical
B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr." restraints.
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel." D. CORRECT: The dosage and time of medication administration is objective
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in mechanical
1000." restraints
E. "Client acted out after lunch." A. The nurse should document objective information regarding intake in the client's
medical record.
E. The nurse should document objective information regarding the client's behavior
in the client's medical record.
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's B. CORRECT: The greatest risk to this client is an invasion of privacy through
hallucinations in the hallway with another nurse. Which of the sharing of confidential information in a public place. The first action the
the following actions should the nurse take first? nurse should take is to tell the newly licensed nurse to stop discussing the
client's hallucinations in a public location.
A. Notify the nurse manager. A. T he nurse should notify the nurse manager if the client's right to privacy is
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior. violated. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
C. Provide an in‑service program about confidentiality. C. The nurse should provide an in‑service program for staff about confidentiality.
D. Complete an incident report. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
D. The nurse should complete an incident report about the violation of the client's
right to privacy. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic D. CORRECT: The nurse should identify intonation as a component of verbal
communication to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which communication. Intonation is the tone of one's voice and can communicate a
of the following aspects of communication should the variety of feelings.
nurse identify as a component of verbal communication? A. Personal space is a component of nonverbal communication.
B. Posture is a component of nonverbal communication.
A. Personal space C. Eye contact is a component of nonverbal communication.
B. Posture
C. Eye contact
D. Intonation
A nurse in an acute mental health facility is communicating D. CORRECT: Restating allows the nurse to repeat the main idea expressed.
with a client. The client states, "I can't sleep. I stay up all A. Offering general leads allows the nurse to take the direction of the discussion.
night." The nurse responds, "You are having difficulty B. Summarizing enables the nurse to bring together important points of discussion
sleeping?" Which of the following therapeutic to enhance understanding.
communication techniques is the nurse demonstrating? C. Focusing concentrates the attention on one single point.
A. Offering general leads
B. Summarizing
C. Focusing
D. Restating
Questions with Detailed
Answers A+ Grade
2026/2027
,A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations A, B, C
with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates an
understanding of the teaching? (SATA)
A. "To assess cognitive ability; I should ask the client to
count backwards by sevens."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial
expression."
C. "To assess language ability; I should instruct the client
to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory; I should have the client
repeat a list of objects."
E. "To assess abstract thinking, I should ask the pt to
identify our most recent presidents"
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications
health disorder. Which of the following actions should the
nurse include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to B. Identify the client's perception of her of her own mental health status
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the
interview, which of the following is the highest priority
action?
A. Coordinate holistic care with social services
B. Identify the client's perception of her of her own mental
health status
C. Include the client's family in the interview
D. Teach the client about her current mental health
disorder
A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the B, D, E
DSM-5. Which of the following is appropriate to include in establishes diagnostic criteria
the discussion? (select all that apply) assists nurses in planning care
A. The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for indicates expected assessment findings
mental health disorders
B. The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for
individual mental health disorders
C. The DSM-5 indicates recommended
pharmacological treatment for mental health disorders
D. The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for clients
with mental health disorders
E. The DSM-5 indicates expected assessment findings
of mental health disorders
A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for C. CORRECT: A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate
a group of clients. The nurse should identify that which of for a temporary emergency admission.
the following clients requires a temporary emergency A. The presence of delusions does not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
admission? emergency admission unless they present a danger for the client or others.
B. Clinical findings of depression do not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
A. A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of emergency admission unless the client is currently at risk for suicide.
grandeur D. A client who is pacing does not constitute a clear reason for a temporary
B. A client who has manifestations of depression and emergency admission.
attempted suicide a year ago
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and
assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
D. A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly
around the room while talking to himself
, A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic B. CORRECT: A civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights is a tort. In this
disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is very case, it is false imprisonment, which is the confining of a client to a specific
short‑staffed, and the client frequently fights with other area, such as a seclusion room, if the reason for such confinement is for the
clients. The nurse's actions are an example of which of the convenience of staff.
following torts? A. Invasion of privacy is the sharing or obtaining of the client's confidential
information without the client's consent.
A. Invasion of privacy C. Assault is making a threat to the client's person.
B. False imprisonment D. Justice involves the fair and equal treatment of clients
C. Assault
D. Battery
A client tells a nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp .C. CORRECT: The information presented by the client is a serious safety
knife under my mattress in order to protect myself from my issue that the nurse must report to the health care team. Using the ethical
roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening principle of veracity, the student tells the client truthfully what must be done
me." Which of the following actions should the nurse take? regarding the issue.
A. The nurse should use therapeutic communication with the client. However, based
A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to on the nature of the information, the nurse cannot keep the information confidential
the client daily, using therapeutic communication to from everyone despite the client's request.
convince him to admit to hiding the knife. B. Based on the nature of the information, the nurse cannot keep the information
B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch confidential from everyone despite the client's request
the client and his roommate closely. D. The nurse should inform the if the information will be reported to the health care
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health team
care team because it concerns the health and safety of the
client and others.
D. Report the incident to the health care team, but do not
inform the client of the intention to do so.
A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical B. CORRECT: How much water was offered and how often it was offered is
restraints. Which of the following statements should the objective data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in
nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that mechanical restraints.
apply.) C. CORRECT: A description of the client's verbal communication is objective
A. "Client ate most of his breakfast." data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in mechanical
B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr." restraints.
C. "Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel." D. CORRECT: The dosage and time of medication administration is objective
D. "Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at data that the nurse should document when caring for a client in mechanical
1000." restraints
E. "Client acted out after lunch." A. The nurse should document objective information regarding intake in the client's
medical record.
E. The nurse should document objective information regarding the client's behavior
in the client's medical record.
A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's B. CORRECT: The greatest risk to this client is an invasion of privacy through
hallucinations in the hallway with another nurse. Which of the sharing of confidential information in a public place. The first action the
the following actions should the nurse take first? nurse should take is to tell the newly licensed nurse to stop discussing the
client's hallucinations in a public location.
A. Notify the nurse manager. A. T he nurse should notify the nurse manager if the client's right to privacy is
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior. violated. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
C. Provide an in‑service program about confidentiality. C. The nurse should provide an in‑service program for staff about confidentiality.
D. Complete an incident report. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
D. The nurse should complete an incident report about the violation of the client's
right to privacy. However, there is another action that the nurse should take first.
A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic D. CORRECT: The nurse should identify intonation as a component of verbal
communication to a group of newly licensed nurses. Which communication. Intonation is the tone of one's voice and can communicate a
of the following aspects of communication should the variety of feelings.
nurse identify as a component of verbal communication? A. Personal space is a component of nonverbal communication.
B. Posture is a component of nonverbal communication.
A. Personal space C. Eye contact is a component of nonverbal communication.
B. Posture
C. Eye contact
D. Intonation
A nurse in an acute mental health facility is communicating D. CORRECT: Restating allows the nurse to repeat the main idea expressed.
with a client. The client states, "I can't sleep. I stay up all A. Offering general leads allows the nurse to take the direction of the discussion.
night." The nurse responds, "You are having difficulty B. Summarizing enables the nurse to bring together important points of discussion
sleeping?" Which of the following therapeutic to enhance understanding.
communication techniques is the nurse demonstrating? C. Focusing concentrates the attention on one single point.
A. Offering general leads
B. Summarizing
C. Focusing
D. Restating
