ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTIONS
◉ Erikson's Stages of Growth and Development. Answer: Trust vs
Mistrust [birth to 1 yr];
Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt [1-3 yrs];
Initiative vs Guilt [3-6 yrs];
Industry vs Inferiority [6-12 yrs];
Identity vs Role Confusion [12-20 yrs];
Intimacy vs Isolation [20-35 yrs];
Generativity vs Stagnation [35-65 yrs];
Integrity vs Despair [65 yr to death]
◉ Priority for PTSD client. Answer: safety; making the client feel safe
◉ DNR vs Living Will. Answer: DNR is a *medical* document the
HCP creates - a living will is a *legal* document the client creates;
DNR can be included in a living will but it can be totally separate; if
DNR w/o a living will, the family can have a say-so about
resuscitation efforts
◉ ADHD - Teaching for Parents. Answer: -Model positive behaviors;
,-Verbal instruction combined w/visual cues;
-Structured activities should be planned for the AM;
-Use charts to assist w/organization
◉ Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Answer: -lithium and MAOIs
should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to procedure;
-atropine is given IM 30 min prior to procedure to decrease
secretions;
-succinylcholine immediately following admin of -anesthesia prior to
procedure to prevent muscle contractions and fractures
◉ ECT - What to monitor *during* therapy. Answer: -respiratory rate
and effort;
-BP;
-duration of seizure [typical is 25-60 seconds; seizures greater than
90 seconds are treated w/diazepam [Valium]
◉ Phases of a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Answer:
*PREINTERACTION* - before contact w/client; RN focuses on own
preconceived ideas, stereotypes, etc.;
*ORIENTATION/INTRODUCTORY* - establish acceptance, trust,
boundaries; identify expectations and time frame; define goals;
discuss and prepare for termination and separation of relationship;
, *WORKING* - explore, evaluate, and focus on client's problems;
encourage independence;
*TERMINATION/SEPARATION* - evaluate progress and achievement
of goals; identify responses to termination such as anger, distancing,
return of symptoms, and dependency; encourage client to express
feelings about termination; identify strengths; refer out to
community resources
◉ Levels of anxiety. Answer: *MILD* -associated w/tension of
everyday life; alert and perceptual field is increased; can be
motivating;
*MODERATE* - focus is on immediate concerns; select
inattentiveness and perceptual field is narrowed; learning and
problem solving still occur;
*SEVERE* - feeling that something bad is about to happen; focus is
on minute or scattered details; needs direction to focus and
perceptual field significantly narrowed; learning and problem
solving are impossible; all behavior aimed at relieving anxiety;
*PANIC* - associated w/dread and terror and a sense of impending
doom; can't communicate or function effectively; if prolonged, panic
can lead to exhaustion and death
◉ TYPES OF DELUSIONS. Answer: Alterations in thought are false
fixed beliefs that cannot
be corrected by reasoning and are usually bizarre.
● Ideas of reference: Misconstrues trivial events and
QUESTIONS WITH FULL SOLUTIONS
◉ Erikson's Stages of Growth and Development. Answer: Trust vs
Mistrust [birth to 1 yr];
Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt [1-3 yrs];
Initiative vs Guilt [3-6 yrs];
Industry vs Inferiority [6-12 yrs];
Identity vs Role Confusion [12-20 yrs];
Intimacy vs Isolation [20-35 yrs];
Generativity vs Stagnation [35-65 yrs];
Integrity vs Despair [65 yr to death]
◉ Priority for PTSD client. Answer: safety; making the client feel safe
◉ DNR vs Living Will. Answer: DNR is a *medical* document the
HCP creates - a living will is a *legal* document the client creates;
DNR can be included in a living will but it can be totally separate; if
DNR w/o a living will, the family can have a say-so about
resuscitation efforts
◉ ADHD - Teaching for Parents. Answer: -Model positive behaviors;
,-Verbal instruction combined w/visual cues;
-Structured activities should be planned for the AM;
-Use charts to assist w/organization
◉ Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Answer: -lithium and MAOIs
should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to procedure;
-atropine is given IM 30 min prior to procedure to decrease
secretions;
-succinylcholine immediately following admin of -anesthesia prior to
procedure to prevent muscle contractions and fractures
◉ ECT - What to monitor *during* therapy. Answer: -respiratory rate
and effort;
-BP;
-duration of seizure [typical is 25-60 seconds; seizures greater than
90 seconds are treated w/diazepam [Valium]
◉ Phases of a therapeutic nurse-client relationship. Answer:
*PREINTERACTION* - before contact w/client; RN focuses on own
preconceived ideas, stereotypes, etc.;
*ORIENTATION/INTRODUCTORY* - establish acceptance, trust,
boundaries; identify expectations and time frame; define goals;
discuss and prepare for termination and separation of relationship;
, *WORKING* - explore, evaluate, and focus on client's problems;
encourage independence;
*TERMINATION/SEPARATION* - evaluate progress and achievement
of goals; identify responses to termination such as anger, distancing,
return of symptoms, and dependency; encourage client to express
feelings about termination; identify strengths; refer out to
community resources
◉ Levels of anxiety. Answer: *MILD* -associated w/tension of
everyday life; alert and perceptual field is increased; can be
motivating;
*MODERATE* - focus is on immediate concerns; select
inattentiveness and perceptual field is narrowed; learning and
problem solving still occur;
*SEVERE* - feeling that something bad is about to happen; focus is
on minute or scattered details; needs direction to focus and
perceptual field significantly narrowed; learning and problem
solving are impossible; all behavior aimed at relieving anxiety;
*PANIC* - associated w/dread and terror and a sense of impending
doom; can't communicate or function effectively; if prolonged, panic
can lead to exhaustion and death
◉ TYPES OF DELUSIONS. Answer: Alterations in thought are false
fixed beliefs that cannot
be corrected by reasoning and are usually bizarre.
● Ideas of reference: Misconstrues trivial events and
