ATI Mental Health Nursing Practice
Exam 150 Questions with Answers and
Rationales PRACTICE EXAM REVIEWS
WITH COMPLETE ACTUAL EXAM2025-
2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY
GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A nurse is assessing a client experiencing generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD). Which finding is most characteristic?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Excessive, persistent worry about multiple events
C. Grandiose delusions
D. Flight of ideas
Rationale: GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
occurring more days than not for at least six months.
2. A client states, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is
the nurse's priority action?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real.
B. Leave the client alone to decrease stimulation.
C. Assess the content of the hallucinations and suicide risk.
D. Encourage the client to ignore the voices.
Rationale: Safety is the priority. Command hallucinations require
immediate assessment for potential harm.
,3. Which statement by a client indicates effective coping after grief
counseling?
A. "I'll never recover."
B. "I still miss my spouse, but I can enjoy life again."
C. "I shouldn't think about my spouse anymore."
D. "Everything reminds me of the loss."
Rationale: Healthy grieving involves accepting the loss while
gradually resuming meaningful activities.
4. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a
panic attack?
A. Teach deep breathing in a group.
B. Encourage discussion of feelings immediately.
C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
D. Ask the client to explain the cause of anxiety.
Rationale: During panic, clients have impaired concentration and
require calm reassurance.
5. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes
hands. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Prevent all handwashing.
B. Criticize the ritual.
C. Gradually limit the ritual while teaching alternative coping
strategies.
D. Encourage unlimited ritual performance.
Rationale: Gradual reduction minimizes anxiety while promoting
healthier coping mechanisms.
,6. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Histamine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Rationale: Low serotonin levels are commonly associated with
depressive disorders.
7. Which finding indicates lithium toxicity?
A. Mild thirst
B. Fine tremor
C. Severe diarrhea and confusion
D. Increased appetite
Rationale: Confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe neurological
symptoms indicate toxicity.
8. A client taking MAOIs should avoid which food?
A. Apples
B. Chicken
C. Aged cheese
D. Rice
Rationale: Tyramine-rich foods can precipitate hypertensive crisis.
9. Which behavior is expected during the manic phase of bipolar
disorder?
, A. Withdrawal
B. Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
C. Slow speech
D. Flat affect
Rationale: Mania commonly presents with hyperactivity and little
need for sleep.
10. A client with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect. This is classified
as:
A. Positive symptom
B. Negative symptom
C. Cognitive symptom
D. Mood symptom
Rationale: Flat affect reflects diminished emotional expression, a
negative symptom.
11. Therapeutic communication includes:
A. Giving advice.
B. Changing the subject.
C. Using open-ended questions.
D. Offering false reassurance.
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage clients to express
thoughts and feelings.
12. Which statement demonstrates empathy?
A. "I know exactly how you feel."
B. "This situation sounds very difficult for you."
Exam 150 Questions with Answers and
Rationales PRACTICE EXAM REVIEWS
WITH COMPLETE ACTUAL EXAM2025-
2026 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
VERIFIED ANSWERS/ ALREADY
GRADED A+ (MOST RECENT!!)
1. A nurse is assessing a client experiencing generalized anxiety
disorder (GAD). Which finding is most characteristic?
A. Auditory hallucinations
B. Excessive, persistent worry about multiple events
C. Grandiose delusions
D. Flight of ideas
Rationale: GAD is characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry
occurring more days than not for at least six months.
2. A client states, "I hear voices telling me to hurt myself." What is
the nurse's priority action?
A. Tell the client the voices are not real.
B. Leave the client alone to decrease stimulation.
C. Assess the content of the hallucinations and suicide risk.
D. Encourage the client to ignore the voices.
Rationale: Safety is the priority. Command hallucinations require
immediate assessment for potential harm.
,3. Which statement by a client indicates effective coping after grief
counseling?
A. "I'll never recover."
B. "I still miss my spouse, but I can enjoy life again."
C. "I shouldn't think about my spouse anymore."
D. "Everything reminds me of the loss."
Rationale: Healthy grieving involves accepting the loss while
gradually resuming meaningful activities.
4. Which intervention is appropriate for a client experiencing a
panic attack?
A. Teach deep breathing in a group.
B. Encourage discussion of feelings immediately.
C. Stay with the client and use short, simple statements.
D. Ask the client to explain the cause of anxiety.
Rationale: During panic, clients have impaired concentration and
require calm reassurance.
5. A client with obsessive-compulsive disorder repeatedly washes
hands. Which nursing intervention is appropriate?
A. Prevent all handwashing.
B. Criticize the ritual.
C. Gradually limit the ritual while teaching alternative coping
strategies.
D. Encourage unlimited ritual performance.
Rationale: Gradual reduction minimizes anxiety while promoting
healthier coping mechanisms.
,6. Which neurotransmitter is most associated with depression?
A. Acetylcholine
B. Histamine
C. Serotonin
D. GABA
Rationale: Low serotonin levels are commonly associated with
depressive disorders.
7. Which finding indicates lithium toxicity?
A. Mild thirst
B. Fine tremor
C. Severe diarrhea and confusion
D. Increased appetite
Rationale: Confusion, vomiting, diarrhea, and severe neurological
symptoms indicate toxicity.
8. A client taking MAOIs should avoid which food?
A. Apples
B. Chicken
C. Aged cheese
D. Rice
Rationale: Tyramine-rich foods can precipitate hypertensive crisis.
9. Which behavior is expected during the manic phase of bipolar
disorder?
, A. Withdrawal
B. Excessive energy and decreased need for sleep
C. Slow speech
D. Flat affect
Rationale: Mania commonly presents with hyperactivity and little
need for sleep.
10. A client with schizophrenia exhibits flat affect. This is classified
as:
A. Positive symptom
B. Negative symptom
C. Cognitive symptom
D. Mood symptom
Rationale: Flat affect reflects diminished emotional expression, a
negative symptom.
11. Therapeutic communication includes:
A. Giving advice.
B. Changing the subject.
C. Using open-ended questions.
D. Offering false reassurance.
Rationale: Open-ended questions encourage clients to express
thoughts and feelings.
12. Which statement demonstrates empathy?
A. "I know exactly how you feel."
B. "This situation sounds very difficult for you."
