Mental Health Practice HESI Questions
and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026
| Correct & Verified
A client taking haloperidol develops muscle stiffness, fever, and confusion. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Encourage fluids.
✔✔B. Notify the provider of suspected neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
C. Provide rest in a dark room.
D. Administer acetaminophen only.
A client with major depressive disorder states, “Nothing will ever get better for me.” What is the
nurse’s best response?
A. “Don’t say that, things will improve soon.”
✔✔B. “You seem to feel hopeless right now.”
C. “You should try to think more positively.”
D. “Why would you feel that way?”
A nurse notices a client pacing, clenching fists, and glaring. What is the nurse’s priority
intervention?
1
,A. Ask the client to stop the behavior.
✔✔B. Ensure the safety of the environment.
C. Begin lengthy conversation.
D. Offer group therapy.
A client with schizophrenia hears voices telling them to harm themselves. What is the nurse’s
first action?
A. Distract the client with music.
✔✔B. Ask directly about intent to act on the voices.
C. Tell the client the voices are not real.
D. Reassure the client that others don’t hear voices.
A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports constant worry. Which intervention should the
nurse teach?
A. Increase caffeine to stay alert.
✔✔B. Practice deep breathing exercises.
C. Avoid all social interaction.
D. Suppress worries completely.
2
,A nurse observes a client with schizophrenia who suddenly stops speaking and stares blankly.
How should this be documented?
A. Tangential speech
✔✔B. Thought blocking
C. Loose associations
D. Flight of ideas
A client with depression is placed on sertraline. Which statement shows the need for further
teaching?
A. “I should take my medication every day.”
✔✔B. “I can stop taking it once I feel better.”
C. “It may take weeks to improve my mood.”
D. “I might feel nauseous at first.”
A client prescribed lithium develops diarrhea, tremors, and confusion. What is the priority
action?
A. Offer electrolyte replacement.
✔✔B. Withhold the dose and notify the provider.
3
, C. Encourage additional fluids.
D. Continue the medication as prescribed.
A client with PTSD reports nightmares and flashbacks. What is the nurse’s best response?
A. “You should avoid talking about your trauma.”
✔✔B. “Tell me about the nightmares you have been experiencing.”
C. “Nightmares are not part of PTSD.”
D. “You must ignore the flashbacks.”
A nurse cares for a client with schizophrenia who states, “The FBI has implanted a chip in my
brain.” How should the nurse respond?
A. “That is impossible.”
✔✔B. “It must be very frightening to think that.”
C. “You are wrong about that.”
D. “You should ignore those thoughts.”
A client suddenly begins crying during a group therapy session. What is the nurse’s best action?
A. Ask the client to leave.
4
and Answers | Latest Version | 2025/2026
| Correct & Verified
A client taking haloperidol develops muscle stiffness, fever, and confusion. What is the nurse’s
priority action?
A. Encourage fluids.
✔✔B. Notify the provider of suspected neuroleptic malignant syndrome.
C. Provide rest in a dark room.
D. Administer acetaminophen only.
A client with major depressive disorder states, “Nothing will ever get better for me.” What is the
nurse’s best response?
A. “Don’t say that, things will improve soon.”
✔✔B. “You seem to feel hopeless right now.”
C. “You should try to think more positively.”
D. “Why would you feel that way?”
A nurse notices a client pacing, clenching fists, and glaring. What is the nurse’s priority
intervention?
1
,A. Ask the client to stop the behavior.
✔✔B. Ensure the safety of the environment.
C. Begin lengthy conversation.
D. Offer group therapy.
A client with schizophrenia hears voices telling them to harm themselves. What is the nurse’s
first action?
A. Distract the client with music.
✔✔B. Ask directly about intent to act on the voices.
C. Tell the client the voices are not real.
D. Reassure the client that others don’t hear voices.
A client with generalized anxiety disorder reports constant worry. Which intervention should the
nurse teach?
A. Increase caffeine to stay alert.
✔✔B. Practice deep breathing exercises.
C. Avoid all social interaction.
D. Suppress worries completely.
2
,A nurse observes a client with schizophrenia who suddenly stops speaking and stares blankly.
How should this be documented?
A. Tangential speech
✔✔B. Thought blocking
C. Loose associations
D. Flight of ideas
A client with depression is placed on sertraline. Which statement shows the need for further
teaching?
A. “I should take my medication every day.”
✔✔B. “I can stop taking it once I feel better.”
C. “It may take weeks to improve my mood.”
D. “I might feel nauseous at first.”
A client prescribed lithium develops diarrhea, tremors, and confusion. What is the priority
action?
A. Offer electrolyte replacement.
✔✔B. Withhold the dose and notify the provider.
3
, C. Encourage additional fluids.
D. Continue the medication as prescribed.
A client with PTSD reports nightmares and flashbacks. What is the nurse’s best response?
A. “You should avoid talking about your trauma.”
✔✔B. “Tell me about the nightmares you have been experiencing.”
C. “Nightmares are not part of PTSD.”
D. “You must ignore the flashbacks.”
A nurse cares for a client with schizophrenia who states, “The FBI has implanted a chip in my
brain.” How should the nurse respond?
A. “That is impossible.”
✔✔B. “It must be very frightening to think that.”
C. “You are wrong about that.”
D. “You should ignore those thoughts.”
A client suddenly begins crying during a group therapy session. What is the nurse’s best action?
A. Ask the client to leave.
4
