ATI RN Mental Health Proctored Exam
() – Original Copy, 100%
Verified Questions and Expert Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which of the following
is a priority finding to report to the healthcare provider?
A. Loss of appetite
B. Feelings of worthlessness
C. Suicidal ideation
D. Difficulty sleeping
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Suicidal ideation is a priority finding because it indicates a risk for
self-harm, requiring immediate intervention to ensure client safety. While loss of
appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and difficulty sleeping are common in depression,
they are not as urgent as suicidal thoughts, which align with ATI’s emphasis on
safety and risk assessment in mental health nursing.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
A. Teach deep breathing techniques
B. Administer prescribed antianxiety medication
C. Encourage the client to express feelings
D. Assess the client’s level of anxiety
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Assessing the client’s level of anxiety is the first step, as it deter-
mines the severity and guides subsequent interventions. ATI standards prioritize
assessment in the nursing process before implementing techniques like deep breath-
ing, administering medication, or encouraging verbalization, which follow based on
the findings.
3. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding self-harm. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Distract the client with a group activity
B. Ask the client to describe the voices
C. Ensure a safe environment
D. Administer an antipsychotic medication
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Ensuring a safe environment is the priority to protect the client from
harm due to command hallucinations. ATI emphasizes safety first in mental health
crises. Describing voices or administering medication may follow, and distraction
is less effective for immediate risk.
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,4. A nurse is planning care for a client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide a high-stimulation environment
B. Limit choices to reduce decision-making stress
C. Encourage the client to skip meals for rest
D. Allow the client to set their own schedule
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Limiting choices reduces decision-making stress, helping to de-
escalate manic behavior and promote stability. High stimulation can worsen mania,
skipping meals is unhealthy, and an unstructured schedule may increase agitation,
per ATI mental health nursing guidelines.
5. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experiences flashbacks. What
should the nurse do to assist during a flashback?
A. Encourage the client to relive the trauma
B. Use grounding techniques to reorient the client
C. Leave the client alone to process the event
D. Administer a sedative immediately
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Grounding techniques, such as focusing on the present with sensory
cues, help reorient the client during a flashback, a key ATI strategy for PTSD. Re-
living trauma can worsen symptoms, leaving the client alone is unsafe, and sedatives
are not a first-line response.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about lithium for bipolar disorder. Which statement
indicates a need for further teaching?
A. ”I should drink plenty of water daily.”
B. ”I’ll report tremors or confusion to my doctor.”
C. ”I can stop taking it if I feel better.”
D. ”I’ll have my blood levels checked regularly.”
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The statement “I can stop taking it if I feel better” indicates a
need for further teaching, as abrupt cessation of lithium can lead to relapse. ATI
emphasizes adherence, hydration, reporting toxicity signs (tremors, confusion), and
regular blood monitoring for safe use.
7. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours washing hands.
What is the best therapeutic response?
A. ”Why do you feel the need to wash so much?”
B. ”Let’s set a time limit for hand washing.”
C. ”You don’t need to wash; your hands are clean.”
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, D. ”I’ll wash my hands with you to help.”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Setting a time limit helps gradually reduce compulsive behavior,
aligning with ATI’s support for exposure and response prevention in OCD. “Why”
questions can increase anxiety, dismissing the behavior ignores feelings, and joining
in reinforces the compulsion.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with alcohol use disorder in withdrawal. Which finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Tremors
B. Sweating
C. Seizures
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Seizures during alcohol withdrawal are life-threatening and require
immediate intervention, per ATI’s priority on safety and monitoring for severe
withdrawal symptoms. Tremors, sweating, and anxiety are expected but less urgent.
9. A client with borderline personality disorder yells at the nurse, “You never help
me!” What is the best response?
A. ”I’m doing my best to help you.”
B. ”I understand you’re upset; let’s talk about it.”
C. ”You’re being unfair to me.”
D. ”I’ll leave until you calm down.”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Acknowledging feelings and inviting discussion de-escalates and
builds trust, a key ATI strategy for borderline personality disorder. Defensiveness
or leaving can escalate, and accusing the client of unfairness is non-therapeutic.
10. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which question is most effective?
A. ”Are you feeling sad lately?”
B. ”Do you have a plan to harm yourself?”
C. ”Why would you want to hurt yourself?”
D. ”Can you promise not to harm yourself?”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Asking directly, “Do you have a plan to harm yourself?” assesses
intent and specificity, critical for suicide risk per ATI standards. Vague or “why”
questions are less effective, and promises do not ensure safety.
11. A client with anorexia nervosa refuses to eat meals. What is the nurse’s best initial
action?
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() – Original Copy, 100%
Verified Questions and Expert Answers
1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which of the following
is a priority finding to report to the healthcare provider?
A. Loss of appetite
B. Feelings of worthlessness
C. Suicidal ideation
D. Difficulty sleeping
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Suicidal ideation is a priority finding because it indicates a risk for
self-harm, requiring immediate intervention to ensure client safety. While loss of
appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and difficulty sleeping are common in depression,
they are not as urgent as suicidal thoughts, which align with ATI’s emphasis on
safety and risk assessment in mental health nursing.
2. A nurse is caring for a client with generalized anxiety disorder. Which intervention
should the nurse implement first?
A. Teach deep breathing techniques
B. Administer prescribed antianxiety medication
C. Encourage the client to express feelings
D. Assess the client’s level of anxiety
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Assessing the client’s level of anxiety is the first step, as it deter-
mines the severity and guides subsequent interventions. ATI standards prioritize
assessment in the nursing process before implementing techniques like deep breath-
ing, administering medication, or encouraging verbalization, which follow based on
the findings.
3. A client with schizophrenia reports hearing voices commanding self-harm. What is
the nurse’s priority action?
A. Distract the client with a group activity
B. Ask the client to describe the voices
C. Ensure a safe environment
D. Administer an antipsychotic medication
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Ensuring a safe environment is the priority to protect the client from
harm due to command hallucinations. ATI emphasizes safety first in mental health
crises. Describing voices or administering medication may follow, and distraction
is less effective for immediate risk.
1
,4. A nurse is planning care for a client with bipolar disorder in a manic phase. Which
intervention is most appropriate?
A. Provide a high-stimulation environment
B. Limit choices to reduce decision-making stress
C. Encourage the client to skip meals for rest
D. Allow the client to set their own schedule
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Limiting choices reduces decision-making stress, helping to de-
escalate manic behavior and promote stability. High stimulation can worsen mania,
skipping meals is unhealthy, and an unstructured schedule may increase agitation,
per ATI mental health nursing guidelines.
5. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experiences flashbacks. What
should the nurse do to assist during a flashback?
A. Encourage the client to relive the trauma
B. Use grounding techniques to reorient the client
C. Leave the client alone to process the event
D. Administer a sedative immediately
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Grounding techniques, such as focusing on the present with sensory
cues, help reorient the client during a flashback, a key ATI strategy for PTSD. Re-
living trauma can worsen symptoms, leaving the client alone is unsafe, and sedatives
are not a first-line response.
6. A nurse is teaching a client about lithium for bipolar disorder. Which statement
indicates a need for further teaching?
A. ”I should drink plenty of water daily.”
B. ”I’ll report tremors or confusion to my doctor.”
C. ”I can stop taking it if I feel better.”
D. ”I’ll have my blood levels checked regularly.”
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The statement “I can stop taking it if I feel better” indicates a
need for further teaching, as abrupt cessation of lithium can lead to relapse. ATI
emphasizes adherence, hydration, reporting toxicity signs (tremors, confusion), and
regular blood monitoring for safe use.
7. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) spends hours washing hands.
What is the best therapeutic response?
A. ”Why do you feel the need to wash so much?”
B. ”Let’s set a time limit for hand washing.”
C. ”You don’t need to wash; your hands are clean.”
2
, D. ”I’ll wash my hands with you to help.”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Setting a time limit helps gradually reduce compulsive behavior,
aligning with ATI’s support for exposure and response prevention in OCD. “Why”
questions can increase anxiety, dismissing the behavior ignores feelings, and joining
in reinforces the compulsion.
8. A nurse is caring for a client with alcohol use disorder in withdrawal. Which finding
requires immediate intervention?
A. Tremors
B. Sweating
C. Seizures
D. Anxiety
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Seizures during alcohol withdrawal are life-threatening and require
immediate intervention, per ATI’s priority on safety and monitoring for severe
withdrawal symptoms. Tremors, sweating, and anxiety are expected but less urgent.
9. A client with borderline personality disorder yells at the nurse, “You never help
me!” What is the best response?
A. ”I’m doing my best to help you.”
B. ”I understand you’re upset; let’s talk about it.”
C. ”You’re being unfair to me.”
D. ”I’ll leave until you calm down.”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Acknowledging feelings and inviting discussion de-escalates and
builds trust, a key ATI strategy for borderline personality disorder. Defensiveness
or leaving can escalate, and accusing the client of unfairness is non-therapeutic.
10. A nurse is assessing a client for suicide risk. Which question is most effective?
A. ”Are you feeling sad lately?”
B. ”Do you have a plan to harm yourself?”
C. ”Why would you want to hurt yourself?”
D. ”Can you promise not to harm yourself?”
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Asking directly, “Do you have a plan to harm yourself?” assesses
intent and specificity, critical for suicide risk per ATI standards. Vague or “why”
questions are less effective, and promises do not ensure safety.
11. A client with anorexia nervosa refuses to eat meals. What is the nurse’s best initial
action?
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