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ATI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM 2025 - 2026 /ACTUAL
EXAM WITH NGN QUESTIONS AND 100% CORRECT
AND VERIFIED ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES/A+
GRADE
A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic communication to a group of newlylicensed nurses. Which of the following responses by the newly licensed nurse requires additionalteaching regarding nonverbal communication? A. Personal space B. Posture C. Eye contact D. Intonation - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Intonation Intonation is the tone of one's voice and can communicate a variety of feelings. A nurse is communicating with a client on the acute mental health facility. The clientstates, "I can't sleep. I stay up all night." The nurse responds, "You are having difficulty sleeping?" Which of the following therapeutic communication techniques is the nurse demonstrating? A. Offering general leads B. SummarizingC. Focusing D. Restating - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Restating Restating allows the nurse to repeat the main idea expressed. A nurse is communicating with a newly admitted client. Which of the following is abarrier to therapeutic communication?A. Offering advice B. Reflecting meaning C. Listening attentively D. Giving information - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Offering advice Offering advice to a client is a barrier to therapeutic communication and should be avoided. Advice tends to interfere with the client's ability to make personal decisionsand choices. A nurse is conducting therapy with a several clients and their families. Effectivecommunication with clients and families is based on A. discussing in-depth topics with which the client feels comfortable.B. using silence to avoid unpleasant or difficult topics. C. attending to verbal and nonverbal behaviors.
D. requiring the client and family to ask for feedback. - CORRECT ANSWER-C. attending to verbal and nonverbal behaviors When a family asks a nurse for reassurance about a client's condition, which of thefollowing is an appropriate response? A. "I think your son is getting better. What have you noticed?" B. "I'm sure everything will be okay. It just takes time to heal." C. "I'm not sure what's wrong. Have you asked the doctor about your concerns?" D. "I understand you're concerned. Let's discuss what concerns you specifically." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "I understand you're concerned. Let's discuss what concerns you specifically." A therapeutic response reflects upon, and accepts, the family's feelings, and it allowsthe members to clarify what they are feeling. A nurse is caring for a client who smokes and has lung cancer. The client reports, "I'm coughing because I have that cold that everyone has been getting." Which of the following defensemechanisms is the client using? A. Reaction formation B. Denial C. Displacement D. Sublimation - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Denial pretending the truth is not reality to manage the anxiety of acknowledging what is real. A nurse is obtaining informed consent for a client who has just learned she must have abreast biopsy. The client is perspiring and pale, has a respiratory rate 30/min, and says, "I don't quite understand what you're trying to tell me." The nurse should assess the client's anxiety as which of thefollowing? A. Mild B. Moderate C. Severe D. Panic - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Moderate Moderate anxiety decreases problem-solving and may hamper one's ability to understand information. Vital signs may increase somewhat, and the person is visiblyanxious. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety. Which of thefollowing is an appropriate nursing intervention when trying to give necessary information to the client? A. Reassure the client that everything will be okay.
C. Developing goals D. Establishing boundaries - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Discussing ways to use new behaviors. Discussing ways for the client to incorporate new healthy behaviors into life is an appropriate task for the termination phase. A nurse is orienting a new client to a mental health unit. When explaining the unit'scommunity meetings, which of the following statements by the nurse is appropriate? A. "You and a group of other clients will meet to discuss your treatment plans." B. "Community meetings have a specific agenda that is established by staff." C. "You and the other clients will meet with staff to discuss common problems." D. "Community meetings are an excellent opportunity to explore your personal mental health issues." - CORRECT ANSWER-C. "You and the other clients will meet with staffto discuss common problems." Community meetings are an opportunity for clients to discuss common problems orissues affecting all members of the unit. A nurse is teaching a client who has an anxiety disorder and is scheduled to beginclassical psychoanalysis. Which of the following client statements indicates an understanding ofthis form of therapy? A. "Even if my anxiety improves, I will need to continue this therapy for 6 weeks."B. "The therapist will focus on my past relationships during our sessions." C. "Psychoanalysis will help me reduce my anxiety by changing my behaviors." D. "This therapy will address my conscious feelings about stressful experiences." - CORRECT ANSWER-B. "The therapist will focus on my past relationships during oursessions." Classical psychoanalysis places a common focus on past relationships to identify thecause of the anxiety disorder. A nurse is discussing free association as a therapeutic tool with a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the following client statements indicates understanding of this technique? A. "I will write down my dreams as soon as I wake up." B. "I may begin to associate my therapist with important people in my life."C. "I can learn to express myself in a nonaggressive manner." D. "I should say the first thing that comes to my mind." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "Ishould say the first thing that comes to my mind." Free association is the spontaneous, uncensored verbalization of whatever comes to aclient's mind. A nurse is preparing to implement cognitive reframing techniques for a client who hasan anxiety
disorder. Which of the following are appropriate to include in the plan of care? (Select allthat apply.) A. Priority restructuring B. Monitoring thoughts C. Diaphragmatic breathing D. Journal keeping E. Meditation - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Priority restructuringB. Monitoring thoughts D. Journal keeping A nurse is caring for a client who has a new prescription for disulfiram (Antabuse) forthe treatment of his alcohol use disorder. The nurse informs the client that this medication can causenausea and vomiting if he drinks alcohol. This form of treatment is an example of which of the following? A. Aversion therapy B. Flooding C. Biofeedback D. Dialectical behavior therapy - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Aversion therapy Aversion therapy pairs a maladaptive behavior with unpleasant stimuli to promote achange in behavior. A nurse is assisting with systematic desensitization for a client who has an extreme fearof elevators. Which of the following is appropriate when implementing this form of therapy? A. Demonstrate riding in an elevator, and then ask the client to imitate the behavior. B. Advise the client to say "stop" out loud every time he begins to feel an anxiety response related to an elevator. C. Gradually expose the client to an elevator while practicing relaxation techniques. D. Stay with the client in an elevator until his anxiety response diminishes. - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Gradually expose the client to an elevator while practicing relaxation techniques. Systematic desensitization is the planned, progressive exposure to anxiety-provokingstimuli. During this exposure, relaxation techniques suppress the anxiety response. A nurse wants to use democratic leadership with a group whose purpose is to learn appropriate conflict resolution techniques. The nurse is correct in implementing this form of groupleadership when she demonstrates which of the following actions? A. Observes group techniques without interfering with the group process B. Discusses a technique and then directs members to practice the techniqueC. Asks for group suggestions of techniques and then supports discussion D. Suggests techniques and asks group members to reflect on their use - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Asks for group suggestions of techniques and then supports discussion
C. A member who brags about accomplishments D. A member who evaluates the group's performance toward a standard - CORRECT ANSWER-C. A member who brags about accomplishments An individual who brags about accomplishments is acting in an individual role that does not promote the progression of the group toward meeting goals. Which of the following is an example of a client who requires emergency admission to amental health facility? A. A client with schizophrenia who has frequent hallucinations B. A client with symptoms of depression who attempted suicide a year ago C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with ametal rod D. A client with bipolar disorder who paces quickly down the sidewalk while talking to himself - CORRECT ANSWER-C. A client with borderline personality disorder who assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod A client who is a current danger to self or others is a candidate for emergencyadmission. A client tells a student nurse, "Don't tell anyone, but I hid a sharp knife under my mattress in order to protect myself from my roommate, who is always yelling at me and threatening me." Which of the following actions should the nurse take? A. Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the client daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to admit to hiding the knife. B. Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client and his roommate closely. C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others. D. Report the incident, but do not inform the client of the intention to do so. - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Tell the client that this must be reported to health care staff because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others. This is a serious safety issue that must be reported to the staff. Using the principle of veracity, the student tells this client truthfully what must be done regarding the issue. A nurse decides to put a client who has psychosis in seclusion overnight because theunit is very short-staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. This is an example of A. beneficence. B. a tort. C. a facility policy. D. justice. - CORRECT ANSWER-B. a tort A civil wrong that violates a client's civil rights is a tort. In this case, it is falseimprisonment.
A nurse is caring for a client in restraints. Which of the following statements areappropriate documentation? (Select all that apply.) A. "Client ate most of his breakfast." B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr." C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel." D. "Client received chlorpromazine (Thorazine) 15 mg by mouth at 1000." E. "Client acted out after lunch." - CORRECT ANSWER-B. "Client was offered 8 oz of water every her." C. "Client shouted at assistive personnel." D. "Client received chlorpromazine (Thorazine) 15 mg by mouth at 1000." A nurse hears a newly licensed nurse discussing a client's hallucinations in the hallway with another nurse. Which of the following actions should the nurse take first?A. Notify the nurse manager. B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior. C. Provide an in-service program about confidentiality. D. Complete an incident report. - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior. The nurse should tell the newly licensed nurse to stop discussing the client's hallucinations in a public location. This is the priority action. A nurse is preparing to provide an educational seminar on stress to other nursing staff. Which of the following is appropriate to include in the discussion? A. Excessive stressors cause the client to experience distress.B. The body's initial adaptive response to stress is denial. C. The absence of stressors results in homeostasis. D. Negative, rather than positive, stressors produce a biological response. - CORRECT ANSWER-A. excessive stressors cause the client to experience distress Distress is the result of excessive or damaging stressors, such as anxiety or anger. A nurse is discussing acute vs. prolonged stress with a client. Which of the followingshould the nurse identify as an acute stress response? (Select all that apply.) A. Decreased appetite B. Depressed immune system C. Increased blood pressure D. Panic attacks E. Unhappiness - CORRECT ANSWER-A. decreased appetiteB. depressed immune system C. increased blood pressureE. unhappiness
responsibilities." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "When I have to pick up extra work, I feelvery overwhelmed. I need to focus on my own responsibilities." This response demonstrates assertive communication, which allows the client to stateher feelings about the behavior and then promote a change. A nurse is conducting group therapy with a group of clients. Which of the followingstatements made by a client is an example of aggressive communication? A. "I wish you would not make me angry." B. "I feel angry when you leave me." C. "It makes me angry when you interrupt me." D. "You'd better listen to me." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "You'd better listen to me."This statement implies a threat and a lack of respect for another individual. A nurse is caring for a client who is speaking in a loud voice with clenched fists. Whichof the following actions should the nurse take? A. Insist that the client stop yelling. B. Request that other staff members remain close by.C. Move as close to the client as possible. D. Walk away from the client. - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Request that other staff members remain close by. The nurse should request that other staff members remain close by to assist if necessary. A nurse is assessing a client in an inpatient mental health unit. Which of the followingfindings should the nurse expect if the client is in the pre-assaultive stage of violence? (Select all that apply.) A. Lethargy B. Defensive responses to questions C. Disorientation D. Rapid breathing E. Facial grimacing F. Agitation - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Defensive responses to questionsD. Rapid breathing E. Facial grimacingF. Agitation A nurse is caring for a client in an inpatient mental health facility who gets up from achair and throws it across the day room. Which of the following is the priority nursing action? A. Encourage the client to express her feelings. B. Maintain eye contact with the client.C. Move the client away from others.
D. Tell the client that the behavior is not acceptable. - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Movethe client away from others. Moving the client away from others is the priority nursing action to prevent injury. A nurse is caring for a client who is screaming at staff members and other clients. Which of the following is a therapeutic response by the nurse to this client?A. "Stop screaming, and walk with me outside." B. "Why are you so angry and screaming at everyone?"C. "You will not get your way by screaming." D. "What was going through your mind when you started screaming? - CORRECT ANSWER-A. "Stop screaming, and walk with me outside." This is an appropriate therapeutic response. Setting limits and the use of physicalactivity, such as walking, to deescalate anger is an appropriate intervention. A nurse is discussing silent rape reaction with a newly licensed nurse. Which of thefollowing should the nurse identify as a characteristic of this type of reaction? (Select all that apply.) A. Sudden development of phobias B. Development of substance use disorder C. Increased level of anxiety during interview D. Reactivation of a prior physical disorder E. Unwillingness to discuss the sexual assault - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Sudden development of phobias D. Increased level of anxiety during interview E. Unwillingness to discuss the sexual assault A nurse is assessing a client who is the victim of sexual assault. Which of the followingfindings indicate the client is experiencing an initial impact reaction of rape-trauma syndrome? (Select allthat apply.) A. Genitourinary soreness from the assault B. Difficulties with low self-esteem C. Sleep disturbances D. Emotional outbursts E. Difficulty making decisions - CORRECT ANSWER-D. Emotional outbursts E. Difficulty making decisions A nurse is discussing the care of a client following a sexual assault with a newlylicensed nurse. Which of the following statements indicates the need for further teaching? A. "I will administer prophylactic treatment for sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia." B. "I need to obtain informed consent before the sexual assault nurse examiner obtains forensic evidence."
A. Lithium carbonate (Lithobid) B. Paroxetine (Paxil) C. Risperidone (Risperdal) D. Haloperidol (Haldol) E. Lorazepam (Ativan) - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Paroxetine (Paxil) - antidepressant E. Lorazepam (Ativan) - antianxiety A nurse is reviewing a newly admitted client's medical record. Which of the following documents is a directive for medical treatment based on the client's wishes?A. Advance directives B. Living will C. Informed consent D. Durable power of attorney for health care - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Living will Living wills are documents that direct medical treatment based on the client's wishes. A charge nurse is reviewing Kübler-Ross: Five Stages of Grief with a group of newly licensed nurses. Which of the following should the charge nurse include in the teaching? (Select all thatapply.) A. Endurance B. Denial C. Bargaining D. Anger E. Depression - CORRECT ANSWER-B. DenialC. Bargaining D. Anger E. Depression A nurse is working with a client who has recently lost his mother. The nurse recognizesthat which of the following factors influence grief and coping ability? (Select all that apply.) A. Interpersonal relationships B. Culture C. Birth order D. Size of family E. Prior experience with loss - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Interpersonal relationships B. Culture E. Prior experience with loss A nurse is discussing normal uncomplicated grief with a client who recently lost a child. Which of the following statements made by the client requires additional intervention? A. "I may experience feelings of resentment." B. "I may withdraw from others." C. "It is possible to experience changes in sleep."
D. "It is possible to experience suicidal thoughts." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "It is possible to experience suicidal thoughts." Suicidal ideations are associated with dysfunctional grieving. Therefore, this responserequires additional nursing intervention. A nurse is caring for a client who lost his mother to cancer last month. Which of the following statements made by the nurse is a non-therapeutic response? A. "You sound angry." Anger is a normal feeling associated with loss."B. "Tell me more about your how you are feeling." C. "I understand just how you feel. I felt the same when my mother died." D. "Let's discuss how you have been coping." - CORRECT ANSWER-C. "I understandjust how you feel. I felt the same when my mother died." This is a closed-ended non-therapeutic statement. This is an example of minimizing feelings. The nurse implies that she knows just how the client feels which we know is not always true. A nurse assesses a client at a community mental health facility using the SADPERSONS tool. The nurse knows that this tool provides which of the following data related to a client? A. Current anxiety level B. Problem-solving abilityC. Suicide potential D. Mood disturbance - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Suicide potential A client says, "I plan to commit suicide." Which of the following should be the nurse'spriority assessment? A. Client's educational and economic background B. Lethality of the method and availability of meansC. Quality of the client's social support D. Client's insight into the reasons for the decision - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Lethalityof the method and availability of means The greatest risk to the client is self-harm as a result of carrying out a suicide plan. Therefore, the priority assessment is to determine how lethal the method is, how available the method is, and how detailed the plan is. A nurse is assessing a client who is suicidal. Which of the following is appropriate for the nurse to ask the client? (Select all that apply.) A. Do you have a plan? B. Have you thought about hurting yourself? C. Do you feel that life is not worth living? D. Why do you want to commit suicide? E. Have you experienced a recent change in your mood? - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Do you have a plan?
D. Irritability E. Aggressiveness - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Substance useD. Irritability E. Aggressiveness A nurse working in a pediatric clinic is caring for a preschool-age child who has a new diagnosis of ADHD. When teaching the parent about this disorder, which of the following statements shouldthe nurse include in the teaching? A. "Behaviors associated with ADHD must be present prior to age 3."B. "This disorder is characterized by argumentativeness." C. "Below-average intellectual functioning is associated with ADHD." D. "Because of this disorder, your child is at an increased risk for injury." - CORRECT ANSWER-D. "Because of this disorder, your child is at an increased risk for injury." Inattentive or impulsive behavior increases the risk for injury in a child who has ADHD. A nurse is obtaining a health history from the parents of a 12-year-old client who has conduct disorder. Which of the following are expected findings? (Select all that apply.) A. Bullying of others B. Threats of suicide C. Law-breaking activities D. Narcissistic behavior E. Flat affect - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Bullying of othersB. Threats of suicide C. Law-breaking activities A nurse is assessing a 4-year-old child for indications of autism spectrum disorder. Forwhich of the following indications should the nurse assess?A. Impulsive behavior B. Repetitive counting C. Destructiveness D. Somatic problems - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Repetitive counting Repetitive actions and strict routines are an indication of autism spectrum disorder. A charge nurse is leading a peer group discussion about family and communityviolence. Which of the following statements by a member of the group indicates a need for further teaching?A. "A criminal history increases the risk for violence between strangers." B. "Substance use disorder increases the risk for violence." C. "Entering an intimate relationship increases the risk for violence." D. "Pregnancy increases the risk for violence toward the intimate partner." - CORRECT ANSWER-C. "Entering an intimate relationship increases the risk for violence." This statement requires further teaching. Victims are at the greatest risk for violence
when they try to leave the relationship. A nurse is caring for an adult client who is the victim of intimate partner abuse. Theclient does not wish to report the violence to law enforcement authorities. Which of the followingnursing actions is the highest priority? A. Advise the client about the location of women's shelters. B. Encourage the client to participate in a support group for victims of abuse. C. Implement case management to coordinate community and social services. D. Educate the client about the use of stress management techniques. - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Advise the client about the location of women's shelters. The client's safety is the highest priority. Therefore, the development of a safety planthat includes the identification of safe places to live is the priority nursing action. A nurse is preparing to assess an infant who has shaken baby syndrome. Which of thefollowing is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.) A. Sunken fontanelles B. Respiratory distress C. Retinal hemorrhage D. Altered level of consciousness E. An increase in head circumference - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Respiratory distressC. Retinal hemorrhage D. Altered level of consciousness E. An increase in head circumference A nurse working in an emergency department is assessing a child who reportsabdominal pain. When conducting a head-to-toe assessment, which of the following findings should alert thenurse to possible abuse? (Select all that apply.) A. Abrasions on knees B. Round burn marks on forearms C. Mismatched clothing D. Abdominal rebound tenderness E. Areas of ecchymosis on torso - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Round burn marks on forearms E. Areas of ecchymosis on torso A nurse is preparing a community education seminar about family violence. When discussing the types of violence, the nurse should include which of the following? A. Refusing to pay bills for a dependent, even when funds are available, is neglect.B. Intentionally causing an older adult to fall is an example of physical violence. C. Striking an intimate partner is an example of sexual violence
B. Panic disorder C. Post traumatic stress disorder D. Acute stress disorder - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Generalized anxiety disorder Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by uncontrollable, excessive worry formore than 3 months. A nurse working on an acute mental health unit is caring for a client who has post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Which of the following is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.) A. Hallucinations B. Obsessive need to talk about the traumatic event C. Exaggerated displays of emotion D. Recurring nightmares E. Diminished reflexes - CORRECT ANSWER-A. HallucinationsD. Recurring nightmares A nurse manager is discussing the care of a client who has a personality disorder with anewly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching? A. "I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule." B. "Self-assessment will help me cope with emotional reactions to client care."C. "I should practice limit-setting to help prevent client manipulation." D. "Maintaining professional boundaries is a priority of client care." - CORRECT ANSWER-A. "I can promote my client's sense of control by establishing a schedule." Rather than establishing a schedule, the nurse should ask for the client's input and offer realistic choices to promote the client's sense of control. A nurse is caring for a client who has avoidant personality disorder. Which of thefollowing statements is expected from a client who has this type of personality disorder? A. "I'm scared that you're going to leave me." B. "I'll go to group therapy if you'll let me smoke."C. "I need to feel that everyone admires me." D. "I sometimes feel better if I cut myself." - CORRECT ANSWER-A. "I'm scared that you're going to leave me." Clients who have avoidant personality disorder often have a fear of abandonment.Therefore, this type of statement is expected. A charge nurse is preparing a staff education session on personality disorders. Which of the following should be included as personality characteristics associated with all of the personalitydisorders? (Select all that apply.) A. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a group B. Belief in the ability to become invisible during times of stress
C. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed D. Claiming to be more important than other persons E. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with staff - CORRECT ANSWER-A. Difficulty in getting along with other members of a groupC. Display of defense mechanisms when routines are changed E. Difficulty understanding why it is inappropriate to have a personal relationship with staff A nurse is caring for a client who has borderline personality disorder. The client says,"The nurse on the evening shift is always nice! You are the meanest nurse ever!" The nurse shouldrecognize the client's statement as an example of which of the following defense mechanisms? A. Regression B. Splitting C. Undoing D. Identification - CORRECT ANSWER-B. Splitting Splitting occurs when a person is unable to see both positive and negative qualities at the same time. The client who has borderline personality disorder tends to see a personas all bad one time and all good another time. A nurse is assisting with a court-ordered evaluation of a client who has antisocial personality disorder. When assessing this client, which of the following are expected findings? (Select all thatapply.) A. Demonstrates extreme anxiety when placed in a social situation B. Has difficulty making even simple decisions C. Attempts to convince other clients to give him their belongings D. Becomes agitated if his personal area is not neat and orderly E. Blames others for his past and current problems - CORRECT ANSWER-C. Attemptsto convince other clients to give him their belongings E. Blames others for his past and current problems A nurse is preparing to obtain a nursing history from a client who has a new diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Which of the following questions are appropriate for the nurse to include in the assessment? (Select all that apply.) A. "What is your relationship like with your family?" B. "Why do you want to lose weight?" C. "Would you describe your current eating habits?" D. "At what weight do you believe you will look better?" E. "Can you discuss your feelings about your appearance?" - CORRECT ANSWER-A."What is your relationship like with your family?" C. "Would you describe your current eating habits?"
