MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which behavior by the
client indicates ineffective coping?
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. Looking at old snapshots of family
3. Participating in a senior citizens' program
4. Visiting their spouse's grave once a month - (ANSWER)1. Neglecting personal grooming
Rational:
Coping mechanisms are behaviors used to decrease stress and anxiety. In response to a death,
ineffective coping is manifested by an extreme behavior that in some cases may be harmful to the
individual physically or psychologically. The correct option is indicative of a behavior that identifies an
ineffective coping behavior in the grieving process.
A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I should
have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response demonstrates
therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - (ANSWER)4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a
while?"
Rationale:
Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective therapeutic communication technique.
The correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block communication
because they minimize the client's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's expressed
feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is nontherapeutic.
,MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
When the mental health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept at all the last
couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication response to this
client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - (ANSWER)3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
Rationale:
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although
restatement is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the client's major theme,
which assists the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The
remaining options are not therapeutic responses since none encourage the client to expand on the
problem. Offering personal experiences moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned. Which
communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - (ANSWER)1. Using open-ended
questions and silence
Rationale:
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage clients to discuss their problems.
Sharing personal food preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not
helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should not
offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
,MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at the locked
exit door shouting, "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong here." What defense
mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization - (ANSWER)1. Denial
Rationale:
Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist. In projection, a
person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features and attributes them to other persons,
objects, or situations. Regression allows the client to return to an earlier, more comforting, although less
mature, way of behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or unreasonable ideas, actions, or feelings
by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the teller and the listener.
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish my family would
stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying."
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis." - (ANSWER)3.
"You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Rationale:
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the client says to
show understanding and to review what was said. While it is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to
assess the client's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not help the client
discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central issue of anger is
, MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the client's feeling; this is
nontherapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was voluntary. Based
on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - (ANSWER)4. A willingness
to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
Rationale:
In general, clients seek voluntary admission. If a client seeks voluntary admission, the most likely
expectation is that the client will participate in the treatment program since they are actively seeking
help. The remaining options are not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness, anger, and
aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary admission does not
guarantee a client's understanding of their illness, only of their desire for help.
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a client was admitted to the mental
health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which intervention
for this client?
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
2. Assist in completing an application for admission.
3. Supply the client with written information about their mental illness.
4. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was needed. -
(ANSWER)1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
Rationale:
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
The home care nurse is visiting an older client whose spouse died 6 months ago. Which behavior by the
client indicates ineffective coping?
1. Neglecting personal grooming
2. Looking at old snapshots of family
3. Participating in a senior citizens' program
4. Visiting their spouse's grave once a month - (ANSWER)1. Neglecting personal grooming
Rational:
Coping mechanisms are behaviors used to decrease stress and anxiety. In response to a death,
ineffective coping is manifested by an extreme behavior that in some cases may be harmful to the
individual physically or psychologically. The correct option is indicative of a behavior that identifies an
ineffective coping behavior in the grieving process.
A client with a diagnosis of major depression who has attempted suicide says to the nurse, "I should
have died. I've always been a failure. Nothing ever goes right for me." Which response demonstrates
therapeutic communication?
1. "You have everything to live for."
2. "Why do you see yourself as a failure?"
3. "Feeling like this is all part of being depressed."
4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a while?" - (ANSWER)4. "You've been feeling like a failure for a
while?"
Rationale:
Responding to the feelings expressed by a client is an effective therapeutic communication technique.
The correct option is an example of the use of restating. The remaining options block communication
because they minimize the client's experience and do not facilitate exploration of the client's expressed
feelings. In addition, use of the word "why" is nontherapeutic.
,MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
When the mental health nurse visits a client at home, the client states, "I haven't slept at all the last
couple of nights." Which response by the nurse illustrates a therapeutic communication response to this
client?
1. "I see."
2. "Really?"
3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
4. "Sometimes, I have trouble sleeping too." - (ANSWER)3. "You're having difficulty sleeping?"
Rationale:
The correct option uses the therapeutic communication technique of restatement. Although
restatement is a technique that has a prompting component to it, it repeats the client's major theme,
which assists the nurse to obtain a more specific perception of the problem from the client. The
remaining options are not therapeutic responses since none encourage the client to expand on the
problem. Offering personal experiences moves the focus away from the client and onto the nurse.
A client experiencing disturbed thought processes believes that his food is being poisoned. Which
communication technique should the nurse use to encourage the client to eat?
1. Using open-ended questions and silence
2. Sharing personal preference regarding food choices
3. Documenting reasons why the client does not want to eat
4. Offering opinions about the necessity of adequate nutrition - (ANSWER)1. Using open-ended
questions and silence
Rationale:
Open-ended questions and silence are strategies used to encourage clients to discuss their problems.
Sharing personal food preferences is not a client-centered intervention. The remaining options are not
helpful to the client because they do not encourage the client to express feelings. The nurse should not
offer opinions and should encourage the client to identify the reasons for the behavior.
,MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
A client admitted to a mental health unit for treatment of psychotic behavior spends hours at the locked
exit door shouting, "Let me out. There's nothing wrong with me. I don't belong here." What defense
mechanism is the client implementing?
1. Denial
2. Projection
3. Regression
4. Rationalization - (ANSWER)1. Denial
Rationale:
Denial is refusal to admit to a painful reality, which is treated as if it does not exist. In projection, a
person unconsciously rejects emotionally unacceptable features and attributes them to other persons,
objects, or situations. Regression allows the client to return to an earlier, more comforting, although less
mature, way of behaving. Rationalization is justifying illogical or unreasonable ideas, actions, or feelings
by developing acceptable explanations that satisfy the teller and the listener.
A client diagnosed with terminal cancer says to the nurse, "I'm going to die, and I wish my family would
stop hoping for a cure! I get so angry when they carry on like this. After all, I'm the one who's dying."
Which response by the nurse is therapeutic?
1. "Have you shared your feelings with your family?"
2. "I think we should talk more about your anger with your family."
3. "You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
4. "You are probably very depressed, which is understandable with such a diagnosis." - (ANSWER)3.
"You're feeling angry that your family continues to hope for you to be cured?"
Rationale:
Restating is a therapeutic communication technique in which the nurse repeats what the client says to
show understanding and to review what was said. While it is appropriate for the nurse to attempt to
assess the client's ability to discuss feelings openly with family members, it does not help the client
discuss the feelings causing the anger. The nurse's attempt to focus on the central issue of anger is
, MENTAL HEALTH RN HESI EXIT VERSION 1 (V1) QUESTIONS & ANSWER REVISION SELF
ASSESSMENT GUIDE 2025 GRADED A+
premature. The nurse would never make a judgment regarding the reason for the client's feeling; this is
nontherapeutic in the one-to-one relationship.
On review of the client's record, the nurse notes that the mental health admission was voluntary. Based
on this information, the nurse anticipates which client behavior?
1. Fearfulness regarding treatment measures.
2. Anger and aggressiveness directed toward others.
3. An understanding of the pathology and symptoms of the diagnosis.
4. A willingness to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan. - (ANSWER)4. A willingness
to participate in the planning of the care and treatment plan.
Rationale:
In general, clients seek voluntary admission. If a client seeks voluntary admission, the most likely
expectation is that the client will participate in the treatment program since they are actively seeking
help. The remaining options are not characteristics of this type of admission. Fearfulness, anger, and
aggressiveness are more characteristic of an involuntary admission. Voluntary admission does not
guarantee a client's understanding of their illness, only of their desire for help.
When reviewing the admission assessment, the nurse notes that a client was admitted to the mental
health unit involuntarily. Based on this type of admission, the nurse should provide which intervention
for this client?
1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
2. Assist in completing an application for admission.
3. Supply the client with written information about their mental illness.
4. Provide an opportunity for the family to discuss why they felt the admission was needed. -
(ANSWER)1. Monitor closely for harm to self or others.
Rationale:
