RN ATI MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE PRACTICE 2019 A WITH NGN
1. A nurse is discussing the home care of a client who has advanced Alzheimer's disease with
the client's partner, who is planning to go out of town for several days. Which of the
following resources should the nurse recommend to the caregiver?
A. Respite Care
B. Partial hospitalization
C. Adult day care program
D. Geropsychiatric unit
Answer: A. Respite Care
2. A home health nurse is assessing an older adult client whose sibling is the primary
caregiver. Which of the following findings should the nurse identify as a possible indicator of
neglect?
A. Increased confusion
B. Sleep disturbances
C. Cluttered environment
D. Inappropriate dress
Answer: D. Inappropriate dress
3. A nurse is teaching a client who has a depressive disorder about fluoxetine. Which of the
following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. "You might notice an increase in saliva while taking this medication.”
B. "You might experience difficulties with sexual functioning while taking this medication."
C. "You should expect an improvement in symptoms of depression in 3 to 4 days."
D. "You may notice a temporary ringing in the ears when starting this medication."
Answer: B. "You might experience difficulties with sexual functioning while taking this
medication."
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who is experiencing acute mania. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan to promote sleep?
A. Have the client participate in a morning aerobics group.
B. Encourage frequent rest periods throughout the day.
C. Provide a distraction such as television at night.
D. Offer the client hot chocolate at bedtime.
Answer: B. Encourage frequent rest periods throughout the day.
5. A nurse is reviewing routine laboratory values for several clients who are taking lithium
carbonate. Which of the following clients should the nurse assess further for findings
indicating lithium toxicity?
A. A client who has a fasting blood glucose level of 80 mg/dL
B. A client who has a sodium level of 128 mEq/L
C. A client who has a BUN of 18 mg/dL
D. A client who has a potassium level of 3.6 mEq/L
Answer: B. A client who has a sodium level of 128 mEq/L
6. A nurse is caring for an older adult client who has dementia and has wandered into the day
room looking for their deceased partner. Which of the following actions should the nurse
take?
A. Move the client to a room near the nurses' station.
B. Limit visitors until the client is oriented to the environment.
C. Tell the client that their partner is deceased.
D. Talk with the client about activities they enjoyed with their partner
Answer: D. Talk with the client about activities they enjoyed with their partner
7. A client who has paranoid schizophrenia is attending a treatment planning conference with
a family member. During the discussion of the medication adherence portion of the plan, a
nurse notices that the family member seems distracted. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take?
A. Call the family member to the side to inquire if they have questions or concerns about the
treatment plan.
B. Advise the family member that this treatment plan has been developed specifically for the
client to follow.
C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions about the treatment plan.
D. Document that the family member does not support the medication treatment plan.
Answer: C. Ask the family member if they have any thoughts or questions about the
treatment plan.
8. A nurse is obtaining a mental health history from an older adult client. Which of the
following actions should the nurse plan to take?
A. Raise the pitch of the voice when speaking to the client.
B. Begin the interview by explaining the plan of care.
C. Interview the client in a private setting
D. Ask the client to complete a detailed questionnaire.
Answer: C. Interview the client in a private setting
9. A nurse is planning care for a client who has schizophrenia and reports auditory
hallucinations. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan?
A. Promote the use of music to compete with the client’s auditory hallucinations
B. Inform the client that the auditory hallucinations are not real
C. Avoid asking the client if they are experiencing auditory hallucinations.
D. Instruct the client on the use of voice recognition regarding the auditory hallucinations.
Answer: A. Promote the use of music to compete with the client’s auditory hallucinations
10. A nurse is admitting a female client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect during the admission assessment?
A. Diarrhea
B. Heavy menstrual bleeding
C. Tachycardia
D. Orthostatic hypotension
Answer: D. Orthostatic hypotension
11. A nurse is caring for a client who has a recent diagnosis of mild Alzheimer's disease. The
client's partner asks the nurse about expected manifestations. The nurse should teach the
partner to expect which of the following manifestations to occur first?
A. Inability to recognize family members
B. Chooses clothing that is inappropriate for the weather
C. Exhibits a change in personality
D. Frequently misplaces objects
Answer: D. Frequently misplaces objects
12. A nurse is admitting a client who has alcohol use disorder. Which of the following
statements by the client indicates that the client is using denial as a defense mechanism?
A. "I put in extra hours at work so I won't think about drinking."
B. "I know that wine is good for my heart, so that's why I drink some each evening."
C. "I make up for my drinking by taking my partner on nice vacations."
D. “I am able to go to work every day, so I don’t have a problems.”
Answer: D. “I am able to go to work every day, so I don’t have a problems.”
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14. A nurse in an outpatient mental health setting is collecting a health history from a client
who is taking paroxetine for depression. The client reports to the nurse that he also takes
herbal supplements. The nurse should advise the client that which of the following
supplements interacts adversely with paroxetine?
A. St. John’s wort
B. Saw palmetto
C. Echinacea
D. Ginkgo
Answer: A. St. John’s wort
15. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following findings is the nurse
required to report?
A. A client who has bipolar disorder and tested positive for genital herpes simplex virus
reports having multiple sexual partners.
B. A client who has depression reports having a lack of interest in assisting their partner in the
care of their children.
C. A Client who has borderline personality disorder threatened to harm their roommate.
D. An adolescent client who has anorexia nervosa has a BMI of 1 7.
Answer: C. A Client who has borderline personality disorder threatened to harm their
roommate.
16. A charge nurse is preparing an educational session for a group of newly licensed nurses to
review client rights under the law. Which of the following statements should the nurse make?
A. "Information regarding clients should remain confidential until after their death."
B. "Failure to report suspected maltreatment or neglect of a disabled adult is a felony in all
states."
C. "As long as client identity is disguised, their health information can be shared between
professionals on the internet."
D. “In the event a client threatens harm to others, medications can be administered without
consent”
Answer: D. “In the event a client threatens harm to others, medications can be administered
without consent”
17. A community health nurse is planning an education program about depressive disorders.
Which of the following factors should the nurse include as increasing the risk for depression?
A. Male gender
B. Hyperthyroidism
C. Substance use disorder
D. Being married
Answer: C. Substance use disorder
18. A nurse is planning care for a 7-year-old child who has ADHD. Which of the following
interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Decrease distractions during meal times.
B. Provide positive feedback when the child completes a task.
C. Clearly identify consequences for unacceptable behavior.
D. Remove unnecessary equipment from the child’s surrounding.
Answer: D. Remove unnecessary equipment from the child’s surrounding.
19. A nurse in a mental health clinic is caring for a client who has bipolar disorder and reports
that they stopped taking lithium 2 weeks ago. The nurse should recognize which of the
following as an expected adverse effect that might have caused the client to stop taking the
medication?
A. Sore throat
B. Photophobia
C. Hand tremors
D. Constipation
Answer: C. Hand tremors
20. A client who has a diagnosis of depression is attending group therapy. During the group
meeting, the nurse asks each member to identify one goal for the day. When it is the client's
turn, they do not respond. Which of the following actions should the nurse take before
repeating the request to the client?
A. Allow the client time to formulate an answer
B. Prompt the client to give a response.
C. Move on to the next client.
D. Offer the client a suggestion for a goal.
Answer: A. Allow the client time to formulate an answer
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27. A nurse is caring for a client who has a history of alcohol use disorder and was
involuntarily admitted to a mental health facility. When the nurse attempts to administer oral
lorazepam, the client refuses to take the medication and becomes physically aggressive.
Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Hold the lorazepam.
B. Request a prescription for IM lorazepam.
C. Attempt to administer the lorazepam 2 hr later.
D. Request a prescription to administer disulfiram.
Answer: B. Request a prescription for IM lorazepam.
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29. A nurse is caring for a client who has antisocial personality disorder and is receiving
behavioral therapy through operant conditioning. Which of the following client behaviors
indicates effectiveness of the therapy?
A. Controls anger outbursts to avoid being placed in seclusion
B. No longer exhibits a fear of social or public situations
C. Refrains from manipulating others to earn dining room privileges
D. Imitates the therapist's use of a relaxation technique
Answer: C. Refrains from manipulating others to earn dining room privileges
30. A nurse is caring for a client whose child has a terminal illness. The client requests
information about how to deal with the upcoming loss. Which of the following statements
should the nurse make?
A. "It will be better for you to keep busy to avoid thinking about your child’s death."
B. "You will complete the grieving process about a year after your child’s death."
C. "The grief process will start once your child actually dies."
D. “It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others”
Answer: D. “It is not uncommon to feel angry toward yourself or others”
31. A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who is being admitted to an acute care unit
following a suicide attempt. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as
the priority?
A. Arrange one to one observation of the client
B. Encourage interaction with the client’s peers
C. Administer medication for depressive disorder.
D. Encourage the client to attend a support group.
Answer: A. Arrange one to one observation of the client
32. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. For which of the following situations should the
nurse complete an incident report?
A. A client refuses electroconvulsive therapy after signing the consent form.
B. A client who was voluntarily admitted left the unit against medical advice.
C. A client was administered one-half of the prescribed dose of medication.
D. A client was placed in restraints after attempts to de-escalate aggressive behaviors failed.
Answer: C. A client was administered one-half of the prescribed dose of medication.
33. During a client's initial interview in a mental health inpatient setting, a nurse identifies
that the client is maintaining eye contact and leaning forward. Which of the following
assumptions should the nurse make based on the client's nonverbal behaviors?
A. The client is interested in what the nurse is saying.
B. The client is attempting to manipulate the nurse.
C. The client is physically attracted to the nurse.
D. The client needs to feel accepted by the nurse.
Answer: A. The client is interested in what the nurse is saying.
34. A nurse is documenting admission assessment findings for a client who has major
depressive disorder. The nurse should identify which of the following findings as clinical
manifestations? (Select all that apply.)
A. Feelings of hopelessness
B. Pressured speech
C. Grandiosity
D. Anhedonia
E. Flat facial expression
Answer: A. Feelings of hopelessness
D. Anhedonia
E. Flat facial expression
Explanation:
• Feelings of hopelessness is correct. The nurse should document feelings of hopelessness as
a clinical manifestation of major depressive disorder.
• Pressured speech is incorrect. This clinical manifestation is associated with clients who are
experiencing mania, rather than major depressive disorder.
• Grandiosity is incorrect. This clinical manifestation is associated with clients who are
experiencing mania, rather than major depressive disorder.
• Anhedonia is correct. The nurse should document the inability to experience pleasure as a
clinical manifestation of major depressive disorder.
• Flat facial expression is correct. The nurse should document a fiat facial expression as a
clinical manifestation of major depressive disorder.
35. A nurse on a mental health unit is admitting a client who is anxious and tells the nurse, "I
hear voices telling me what to do." Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
A. Tell the client that the voices do not really exist.
B. Touch the client to help reduce feelings of anxiety.
C. Instruct the client to go to a quiet room when the voices start talking.
D. Ask the client what the voices are saying
Answer: D. Ask the client what the voices are saying
36. A nurse is caring for a client who is undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and will
receive succinylcholine. The client asks the nurse about this medication. Which of the
following responses should the nurse make?
A. "Succinylcholine will enhance the therapeutic effects of this treatment."
B. “Succinylcholine is given to reduce muscle movements during therapy”
C. "Succinylcholine will decrease the anxiety level that you might experience with this
treatment."
D. "Succinylcholine is used as a general anesthetic to make sure you are sleeping during the
procedure."
Answer: B. “Succinylcholine is given to reduce muscle movements during therapy”
37. A nurse is assessing a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect?
A. Emotional lability
B. Self-sacrificing
C. Suspicious of others
D. Grandiosity
Answer: A. Emotional lability
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39. A nurse is caring for a client in a mental health facility. The nurse overhears another staff
member make derogatory comments to the client. Which of the following actions should the
nurse take?
A. Confront the staff member,
B. Encourage the client to report the incident.
C. Document the incident in the client's health record.
D. Report the occurrence to the charge nurse.
Answer: D. Report the occurrence to the charge nurse.
40. A nurse is providing teaching to a client who is to begin undergoing light therapy at
home. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the teaching?
A. Ensure a family member can be present during treatment.
B. Increase fluid intake for 24 hr before the treatment starts.
C. Change position slowly when the treatment is complete.
D. Avoid looking directly at the light during treatment.
Answer: D. Avoid looking directly at the light during treatment.
41. A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and is experiencing psychosis. The
nurse should identify that which of the following findings indicates a potential psychiatric
emergency?
A. The client is exhibiting echolalia.
B. The client reports command hallucinations
C. The client reports loss of motivation.
D. The client is exhibiting blunted affect.
Answer: B. The client reports command hallucinations
42. A nurse is establishing a therapeutic relationship with a client who has antisocial
personality disorder. Which of the following strategies should the nurse use when
communicating with this client?
A. Behave in a friendly manner toward the client.
B. Set realistic limits on the client’s behavior
C. Show respect for the client's need for isolation.
D. Act as a role model for assertiveness.
Answer: B. Set realistic limits on the client’s behavior
43. A nurse is caring for a client who has borderline personality disorder. Which of the
following goals is the priority when planning care for this client?
A. The client will take prescribed medications as scheduled.
B. The client will express feelings of frustration.
C. The client will refrain from self-mutilation
D. The client will participate in group therapy.
Answer: C. The client will refrain from self-mutilation
44. A nurse in a community health center is counseling a family of two parents and two
children. Which of the following statements by a family member indicates manipulative
behavior?
A. "If you do my homework form, I won’t bother you for the rest of the day."
B. "Mom is always upset."
C. "It’s not the children's fault. It's mine."
D. "It's your fault that we're having problems as a family."
Answer: A. "If you do my homework form, I won’t bother you for the rest of the day."
45. A nurse is planning care for a newly admitted client who has bipolar disorder and is
experiencing mania. Which of the following is the priority action by the nurse?
A. Schedule the client for group therapy sessions.
B. Maintain consistent rules.
C. Provide frequent high calorie snacks
D. Avoid the use of value Judgments.
Answer: C. Provide frequent high calorie snacks
46. A nurse in a mental health clinic is planning care for a client who has a new prescription
for olanzapine. Which of the following interventions should the nurse identify as the priority?
A. Advise the client to take frequent sips of water.
B. Instruct the client to avoid driving during initial therapy
C. Consult a dietitian for a calorie-controlled diet plan.
D. Recommend that the client exercise regularly.
Answer: B. Instruct the client to avoid driving during initial therapy
47.
48. A nurse is reviewing the electronic medical record of a client who has schizophrenia and
is taking clozapine. Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to notify the
provider?
A. The client's chart indicates a 1.36-kg (3-lb) weight gain in 1 month.
B. The client reports an inability to breathe easily.
C. The client's laboratory results indicate a fasting blood glucose level of 130 mg/dL.
D. The client reports having recently started smoking cigarettes.
Answer: B. The client reports an inability to breathe easily.
49. A nurse is admitting a client who has schizophrenia to an acute care setting. When the
nurse questions the client regarding their admission, the client states, "I'm red, in the head,
and I'm going to bed!" The nurse should document the client's speech pattern as which of the
following?
A. Clang association
B. Word salad
C. Neologism
D. Echolalia
Answer: A. Clang association
50. A nurse is caring for a group of clients. Which of the following findings should the nurse
report?
A. A client who is taking clozapine and has a WBC count of 7,500/mm3
B. A client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
C. A client who is taking valproate and has a platelet count of 150,000/mm3
D. A client who is taking lithium and has a lithium level of 1.2 mEq/L
Answer: B. A client who is taking lamotrigine and has developed a rash
51. A nurse in a provider's office is collecting a health history from the guardian of a schoolage child who has been taking atomoxetine. Which of the following adverse effects reported
by the guardian is the priority for the nurse to report to the provider?
A. Reduced appetite
B. Fatigue
C. Dark urine
D. Sweating
Answer: C. Dark urine
52. A nurse is communicating with a client in an inpatient mental health facility. Which of the
following actions by the nurse demonstrates the use of active listening?
A. Offering self
B. Use of silence
C. Attention to body language
D. Reflection of feelings
Answer: C. Attention to body language
53. A nurse is admitting a client who has anorexia nervosa and is at 60% of ideal body
weight. Which of the following interventions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Encourage the client to drink 125 mt of fluid each hour while awake.
B. Allow the client to eat independently in their room.
C. Weigh the client twice weekly.
D. Measure the client's vital signs once each day.
Answer: A. Encourage the client to drink 125 mt of fluid each hour while awake.
54. A nurse is assessing a client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following findings
should the nurse document as a negative symptom of this disorder?
A. Delusions
B. Neologisms
C. Anhedonia
D. Echopraxia
Answer: C. Anhedonia
55. A nurse is preparing to administer chlorpromazine 0.55 mg/kg PO to an adolescent who
weighs 110 1b. Available is chlorpromazine syrup 10 mg/5 mL. How many mL should the
nurse administer? (Round the answer to the nearest whole number. Use a leading zero if it
applies. Do not use a trailing zero.)
56. A nurse is planning discharge for a client who has bipolar disorder and has a prescription
for lithium. Which of the following client statements indicates understanding of the teaching
about the medication?
A. "I should eat a regular diet with normal amounts of salt and fluids.”
B. "I should discontinue the lithium when I begin to feel better.”
C. "I need to be careful to avoid becoming addicted to the lithium."
D. "I can skip a dose of medication if my stomach is upset."
Answer: A. "I should eat a regular diet with normal amounts of salt and fluids.”
57. A nurse is planning care for a client who has depression and has made frequent suicide
attempts. Which of the following statements indicates the client has a decreased risk for
suicide?
A. "I'm relieved now that my financial affairs are in order."
B. “It is easier to talk about my feelings now”
C. "Suddenly I have enough energy to do anything I want."
D. "Thank you for always taking such good care of me."
Answer: B. “It is easier to talk about my feelings now”
58.
59. A nurse is delegating client care tasks to a licensed practical nurse (LPN) and an assistive
personnel. Which of the following tasks should the nurse assign to the LPN?
A. Obtain the weight of a client who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing mania.
B. Assess the nutritional intake of a client who has anorexia nervosa and has refused to eat for
the past 2 days.
C. Monitor the cardiovascular status of a client who is experiencing serotonin syndrome.
D. Change the dressing of a client who has borderline personality disorder and superficial
self-inflicted wounds.
Answer: D. Change the dressing of a client who has borderline personality disorder and
superficial self-inflicted wounds.
60. A nurse is assessing a school-age child who has conduct disorder. Which of the following
characteristics should the nurse expect the child to demonstrate?
A. Feelings of remorse
B. Extended periods of depression
C. Deficits in intellectual functioning
D. Aggression toward animals
Answer: D. Aggression toward animals
