Mental Health HESI test bank 2023-2024
A male client in the mental health unit is guarded and vaguely answers the nurse's
questions. He isolates in his room and sometimes opens the door to peek into the hall.
Which problem can the RN anticipate?
A. Visual hallucinations.
B. Auditory hallucinations.
C. Excessive motor activity.
D. Delusions of persecution. - D. Delusions of persecution.
A female client with obsessive compulsive personality disorder is admitted to the
hospital for a cardiac catheterization. The afternoon before the procedure, the client
begins to keep detailed notes of the nursing care she is receiving, and reports her
findings to the RN at bedtime. What action should the nurse implement?
A. Explain to the client that her behavior invades the rights of the nursing staff.
B. Ask the client to explain why she is keeping a detailed record of her nursing care.
C. Teach the client strategies to control her obsessive compulsive behavior.
D. Encourage the client to express her feelings regarding the upcoming procedure. - D.
Encourage the client to express her feelings regarding the upcoming procedure.
During admission to the psychiatric unit, a female client is extremely anxious and states
that she is worried about the sun coming up the next day. What intervention is most
important for the RN to implement during the admission process?
A. Assist the client in developing alternative coping skills.
B. Remain calm and use a matter of fact approach.
C. Ask the client why she is so anxious
D. Administer a PRN sedative to help relieve her anxiety. - A. Assist the client in
developing alternative coping skills.
A female client is brought to the emergency department after police officers found her
disoriented, disorganized, and confused. The RN also determines that the client is
homeless and is exhibiting suspiciousness. The client's plan of care should include what
priority problem?
A. Acute confusion.
B. Ineffective community coping
C. Disturbed sensory perception.
D. Self-care deficit. - A. Acute confusion.
The occupational health nurse is working with a female employee who was just notified
that her child was involved in a MVA and taken to the hospital. The employee states, "I
can't believe this. What should I do?" Which response is best for the RN to provide in
this crisis?
,A. Tell me what you think should happen.
B. How serious was the collision?
C. What do you think you should do?
D. Call for transportation to the hospital. - D. Call for transportation to the hospital.
A client tells the RN that he has an IQ of 400+ and is a genius and an inventor. He also
reports that he is married to a female movie star and thinks that his brother wants a
sexual relationship with her. What is the priority nursing problem for admission to the
psychiatric unit?
A. Ineffective sexual patterns.
B. Impaired environmental interpretation.
C. Disturbed sensory perception.
D. Compromised family coping. - A. Ineffective sexual patterns.
The RN is providing care for a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder who
has self-inflicted lacerations on the abdomen. Which approach should the RN use when
changing this client's dressing?
A. Provide detailed thorough explanations when cleansing wound.
B. Perform the dressing change in a non-judgmental manner.
C. Ask in a non-threatening manner why the client cut own abdomen.
D. Request another staff member assist with the dressing change. - B. Perform the
dressing change in a non-judgmental manner.
While sitting in the day room of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye
contact,looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the RN. The two
trade places,and the RN demonstrates the client's behaviors. What is the main goal of
this therapeutic technique?
A. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
B. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.
C. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
D. Discuss the client's feelings when he responds. - C. Allow the client to identify the
way he interacts.
An antidepressant medication is prescribed for a client who reports sleeping only 4
hours in the past 2 days and weight loss of 9 lbs within the last month. Which client goal
is most important to achieve within the first three days of treatment?
A. Meet scheduled appointment with dietitian.
B. Sleep at least 6 hours a night.
C. Understands the purpose of the medication regimen.
D. Describes the reasons for hospitalization. - B. Sleep at least 6 hours a night.
, When preparing to administer to domestic violence screening tool to a female client,
which statement should the RN provide?
A. If your partner is abusing you, I need to ask these questions.
B. State law mandates that I ask if you are a victim of domestic violence.
C. The HCP provider needs to know if you are experiencing any domestic abuse.
D. All clients are screened for domestic abuse because it is common in our society. - D.
All clients are screened for domestic abuse because it is common in our society.
A young adult female visits the mental health clinic complaining of diarrhea, headache,
and muscle aches. She is afebrile, denies chills, and all laboratory findings are within
normal limits.During the physical assessment, the client tells the RN that her sister
thinks she is neurotic and calls her a hypochondriac. Which response is best for the RN
to provide?
A. Unless your sister has a medical education, ignore her comments.
B. I can hear that your sister comments are over-whelming you.
C. Do you think it's possible that you might be a hypochondriac?
D. Besides your sister's comments, what in your life is troubling you? - D. Besides your
sister's comments, what in your life is troubling you?
The RN is leading a group on the inpatient psychiatric unit. Which approach should the
RN use during the working phase of group development?
A. Establishing a rapport with group members.
B. Clarifying the nurse's role and clients' responsibilities.
C. Discussing ways to use new coping skills learned.
D. Helping clients identify areas of problem in their lives. - D. Helping clients identify
areas of problem in their lives.
A male client with schizophrenia is demonstrating echolalia, which is becoming
annoying to other clients on the unit. What intervention is best for the RN to implement?
A. Isolate the client from the other clients.
B. Administer PRN sedative.
C. Avoid recognizing the behavior.
D. Escort the client to his room. - D. Escort the client to his room.
A client is admitted for bipolar disorder and alcohol withdrawal, depressive phase.
Based on which assessment finding will the RN withhold the clonidine (Catapres)
prescription?
A. Blood pressure readings of 90/62 mmHg to 92/58 mmHg.
B. Pulse rate of 68-78 BPM.
C. Temperature of 99.5-99.7 F.
A male client in the mental health unit is guarded and vaguely answers the nurse's
questions. He isolates in his room and sometimes opens the door to peek into the hall.
Which problem can the RN anticipate?
A. Visual hallucinations.
B. Auditory hallucinations.
C. Excessive motor activity.
D. Delusions of persecution. - D. Delusions of persecution.
A female client with obsessive compulsive personality disorder is admitted to the
hospital for a cardiac catheterization. The afternoon before the procedure, the client
begins to keep detailed notes of the nursing care she is receiving, and reports her
findings to the RN at bedtime. What action should the nurse implement?
A. Explain to the client that her behavior invades the rights of the nursing staff.
B. Ask the client to explain why she is keeping a detailed record of her nursing care.
C. Teach the client strategies to control her obsessive compulsive behavior.
D. Encourage the client to express her feelings regarding the upcoming procedure. - D.
Encourage the client to express her feelings regarding the upcoming procedure.
During admission to the psychiatric unit, a female client is extremely anxious and states
that she is worried about the sun coming up the next day. What intervention is most
important for the RN to implement during the admission process?
A. Assist the client in developing alternative coping skills.
B. Remain calm and use a matter of fact approach.
C. Ask the client why she is so anxious
D. Administer a PRN sedative to help relieve her anxiety. - A. Assist the client in
developing alternative coping skills.
A female client is brought to the emergency department after police officers found her
disoriented, disorganized, and confused. The RN also determines that the client is
homeless and is exhibiting suspiciousness. The client's plan of care should include what
priority problem?
A. Acute confusion.
B. Ineffective community coping
C. Disturbed sensory perception.
D. Self-care deficit. - A. Acute confusion.
The occupational health nurse is working with a female employee who was just notified
that her child was involved in a MVA and taken to the hospital. The employee states, "I
can't believe this. What should I do?" Which response is best for the RN to provide in
this crisis?
,A. Tell me what you think should happen.
B. How serious was the collision?
C. What do you think you should do?
D. Call for transportation to the hospital. - D. Call for transportation to the hospital.
A client tells the RN that he has an IQ of 400+ and is a genius and an inventor. He also
reports that he is married to a female movie star and thinks that his brother wants a
sexual relationship with her. What is the priority nursing problem for admission to the
psychiatric unit?
A. Ineffective sexual patterns.
B. Impaired environmental interpretation.
C. Disturbed sensory perception.
D. Compromised family coping. - A. Ineffective sexual patterns.
The RN is providing care for a client diagnosed with borderline personality disorder who
has self-inflicted lacerations on the abdomen. Which approach should the RN use when
changing this client's dressing?
A. Provide detailed thorough explanations when cleansing wound.
B. Perform the dressing change in a non-judgmental manner.
C. Ask in a non-threatening manner why the client cut own abdomen.
D. Request another staff member assist with the dressing change. - B. Perform the
dressing change in a non-judgmental manner.
While sitting in the day room of the mental health unit, a male adolescent avoids eye
contact,looks at the floor, and talks softly when interacting verbally with the RN. The two
trade places,and the RN demonstrates the client's behaviors. What is the main goal of
this therapeutic technique?
A. Initiate a non-threatening conversation with the client.
B. Dialog about the ineffectiveness of his interactions.
C. Allow the client to identify the way he interacts.
D. Discuss the client's feelings when he responds. - C. Allow the client to identify the
way he interacts.
An antidepressant medication is prescribed for a client who reports sleeping only 4
hours in the past 2 days and weight loss of 9 lbs within the last month. Which client goal
is most important to achieve within the first three days of treatment?
A. Meet scheduled appointment with dietitian.
B. Sleep at least 6 hours a night.
C. Understands the purpose of the medication regimen.
D. Describes the reasons for hospitalization. - B. Sleep at least 6 hours a night.
, When preparing to administer to domestic violence screening tool to a female client,
which statement should the RN provide?
A. If your partner is abusing you, I need to ask these questions.
B. State law mandates that I ask if you are a victim of domestic violence.
C. The HCP provider needs to know if you are experiencing any domestic abuse.
D. All clients are screened for domestic abuse because it is common in our society. - D.
All clients are screened for domestic abuse because it is common in our society.
A young adult female visits the mental health clinic complaining of diarrhea, headache,
and muscle aches. She is afebrile, denies chills, and all laboratory findings are within
normal limits.During the physical assessment, the client tells the RN that her sister
thinks she is neurotic and calls her a hypochondriac. Which response is best for the RN
to provide?
A. Unless your sister has a medical education, ignore her comments.
B. I can hear that your sister comments are over-whelming you.
C. Do you think it's possible that you might be a hypochondriac?
D. Besides your sister's comments, what in your life is troubling you? - D. Besides your
sister's comments, what in your life is troubling you?
The RN is leading a group on the inpatient psychiatric unit. Which approach should the
RN use during the working phase of group development?
A. Establishing a rapport with group members.
B. Clarifying the nurse's role and clients' responsibilities.
C. Discussing ways to use new coping skills learned.
D. Helping clients identify areas of problem in their lives. - D. Helping clients identify
areas of problem in their lives.
A male client with schizophrenia is demonstrating echolalia, which is becoming
annoying to other clients on the unit. What intervention is best for the RN to implement?
A. Isolate the client from the other clients.
B. Administer PRN sedative.
C. Avoid recognizing the behavior.
D. Escort the client to his room. - D. Escort the client to his room.
A client is admitted for bipolar disorder and alcohol withdrawal, depressive phase.
Based on which assessment finding will the RN withhold the clonidine (Catapres)
prescription?
A. Blood pressure readings of 90/62 mmHg to 92/58 mmHg.
B. Pulse rate of 68-78 BPM.
C. Temperature of 99.5-99.7 F.
