RN ATI MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED 2024 EXAM WITH NGN
1. A nurse is caring for a client who requires seclusion to prevent harm to others on the unit. Which
of the following is an appropriate action for the nurse to take?
a. Document the client’s behavior prior to being placed seclusion.
b. Assess the client’s behavior once every hour.
c. Offer fluids every 2 hr.
d. Discuss with the client his inappropriate behavior prior to seclusion.
Answer: c. Offer fluids every 2 hr.
2. A nurse is providing an on-service about client evacuation during a fire. Which of the following
clients should the nurse instruct the staff to evacuate first?
a. A client who uses a wheelchair and is confused
b. A client who is bedridden and wears a hearing aid
c. A client who is ambulatory and receiving oxygen
d. A client who has a fracture and is in balance suspension traction
Answer: c. A client who is ambulatory and receiving oxygen
3.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is near the end of life and is an complete bed rest. The client
states that he needs to have a bowel movement, and the nurse offers a bed pan. “I’ve always used
the bathroom.” Which of the following responses should the nurse make?
a. “Tell me what concerns you have about using a bed pan.”
b. “Make sure to use nearby furniture to support yourself when walking to the bathroom.”
c. “I will have the physical the ambulate you to the bathroom.”
d. “You have to use the bed pan for your own safety.”
Answer: a. “Tell me what concerns you have about using a bed pan.”
5. A parish nurse is leading a support group for clients whose family members have committed
suicide. Which of the following strategies should the nurse plan to use during the group session?
a. Encourage clients to establish a timeline for their own grieving process.
b. Initiate a discussion with clients about ways to cope with changes in family dynamics.
c. Assist clients in identifying ways suicide could have been prevented.
d. Discourage clients from sharing negative aspects of their relationship with the deceased persons.
Answer: b. Initiate a discussion with clients about ways to cope with changes in family dynamics.
6. A nurse is caring for a client in the emergency department who states she was beaten and sexually
assault by her partner. After a rapid assessment, which of the following actions should the nurse
plan to take next?
a. Conduct a pregnancy test
b. Request mental health consultation for the client
c. Provide a trained advocate to stay with the client
d. Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STI’s
Answer: d. Offer prophylactic medication to prevent STI’s
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder. After discussing the treatment
with his partner, the client verbally agrees to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) but will not sign the
consent form. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?
a. Request that the client’s partner sign the consent form
b. Cancel the scheduled ECT procedure
c. Proceed with the preparation for ECT based on implied consent
d. Inform the client about the risks of refusing the ECT
Answer: b. Cancel the scheduled ECT procedure
8. A nurse is caring for a client who reports that he is angry with his partner because she thinks he
is just trying to gain attention. When the attempts to talk to the client, he becomes angry and tells
her to leave. Which of the following defense mechanisms is the client demonstrating?
a. Rationalization
b. Denial
c. Compensation
d. Displacement
Answer: d. Displacement
9. A nursing is advising an assistive personnel (AP) on the care of a client who has major depressive
disorder. The AP states that he is irritated by the client’s depression. Which of the following
statements by the nurse is appropriate?
a. Please don’t take what the client said seriously when she is depressed
b. It’s important that the client feel safe verbalizing how she is feeling
c. Everybody feels that way about this client so don’t worry about it
d. I’ll change your assignment to someone who doesn’t have depressive disorder
Answer: b. It’s important that the client feel safe verbalizing how she is feeling
10. A nurse is assessing a child in the emergency department. Which of the following findings
places the child at the greatest risk for physical abuse?
a. The child is 10 years old
b. The child is home-schooled
c. The has no siblings
d. The child has cystic fibrosis
Answer: d. The child has cystic fibrosis
11. A nurse is providing behavioral therapy for a client who has obsessive – compulsive disorder.
The client repeatedly checks that the doors are looked at night. Which of the following instructions
should the give the client when using thought stopping technique?
a. Keep a journal of how often you check the locks each night
b. Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think about checking the locks
c. Ask a family member to check the lock for you at night
d. Focus on abdominal breathing whenever you go to check the locks
Answer: b. Snap a rubber band on your wrist when you think about checking the locks
12. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal. For which of the
following finds should the nurse anticipate administration of lorazepam?
a. Bradycardia
b. Stupor
c. Afebrile
d. Hypertension
Answer: a. Bradycardia
13. What findings should the nurse expect when caring for a user with Wernicke Korsak off
syndrome due to alcohol use?
Answer: The nurse should expect confusion in the user with Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome due
to alcohol use.
14. What statement by a newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of cerebral status
examinations?
Answer: The statement "To assess affect, I should observe the user's facial expression" indicates
an understanding of cerebral status examinations.
15. What psychobiological intervention should a nurse include in the care plan for a user with
cerebral health syndrome?
Answer: The nurse should include the action "Monitor the user for adverse effects of medications"
as a psychobiological intervention.
16. What is the priority action during the initial user interview in an outpatient cerebral health
clinic?
Answer: The priority action during the initial user interview is to "Identify the user's perception
of her cerebral health status."
17. What finding should a nurse expect when assessing a user described as stuporous?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding that "The user arouses briefly in response to a sternal
rub."
18. What information is appropriate to include in a peer group discussion about the DSM-5 for
cerebral health syndromes?
Answer: It is appropriate to include the information that "DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria
for individual cerebral health" and "The DSM-5 assists nurses in planning care for users who
have cerebral health syndromes."
19. In an emergency cerebral health facility, which user requires temporary emergency admission?
Answer: The user who has borderline personality syndrome and assaulted a homeless man with a
metal rod requires temporary emergency admission.
20. What tort is exemplified when a nurse puts a user with a psychotic syndrome in seclusion
overnight due to staffing issues?
Answer: The nurse's action is an example of "False imprisonment."
21. What action should a nurse take when a user discloses hiding a sharp knife under the mattress
for self-protection?
Answer: The nurse should "Tell the user that this must be reported to the health care team because
it concerns the health and safety of the users and others."
22. What dealing approach should a nurse plan to take when caring for a user with borderline
personality syndrome who self-mutilates?
Answer: The nurse should plan to maintain close observation of the user.
23. When assessing a user with Stage 4 Alzheimer's sickness, what finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding that the user is unable to identify the names of family
members.
24. How should a nurse respond when caring for a user who believes the television set in the room
is a two-way radio and hears voices?
Answer: The nurse should respond with empathy, saying, "That must be very frightening."
25. When planning care for a newly admitted user with bipolar syndrome experiencing acute
mania, what user goal should the nurse identify as the priority?
Answer: The nurse should identify the priority goal as "Maintaining adequate hydration."
26. What adverse effect should a nurse inform a user with generalized anxiety syndrome to expect
when administering a benzodiazepine?
Answer: The nurse should inform the user to expect "Sedation."
27. When planning care for a user receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries, what intervention
should the nurse prioritize?
Answer: The nurse should prioritize "Promoting and maintaining user safety."
28. When providing teaching to a user prescribed disulfiram for alcohol dependence, what dietary
choice should the nurse instruct the user to avoid?
Answer: The nurse should instruct the user to avoid "Pure vanilla extract."
29. How should a nurse plan to discontinue alprazolam for a user with physical dependence?
Answer: The nurse should include the action to "Taper the medication gradually over several
weeks" in the plan.
30. During alcohol withdrawal for a newly admitted user, what finding should the nurse expect
when the user reports not having anything to drink for 6 hours?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding of "Insomnia" during alcohol withdrawal.
31. What statement should the nurse include in the documentation when caring for a user in
mechanical restraints?
Answer: The nurse should include in the documentation that "User received chlorpromazine 15
mg by mouth at 1000."
32. Upon hearing a newly licensed nurse discussing a user's hallucinations in the hallway, what
action should the nurse take first?
Answer: The nurse should first "Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior."
33. When conducting a class on therapeutic communication, what aspect of communication should
the charge nurse identify as a component of verbal communication?
Answer: The charge nurse should identify "Intonation" as a component of verbal communication.
34. When a user expresses difficulty sleeping, and the nurse responds with, "You are having
difficulty sleeping?" What therapeutic communication technique is the nurse demonstrating?
Answer: The nurse is demonstrating the therapeutic communication technique of "Restating.
35. When communicating with a user admitted for substance use syndrome, what communication
technique should the nurse identify as a barrier to therapeutic communication?
Answer: The nurse should identify "Offering advice" as a barrier to therapeutic communication.
36. While caring for a user with anorexia nervosa, which example demonstrates the nurse's use of
interpersonal communication?
Answer: The nurse asking the user about her body image perception demonstrates the use of
interpersonal communication.
37. When a mother asks for reassurance about her son's condition, what response should the nurse
make?
Answer: The nurse should respond with "I understand you're concerned. Let's discuss what
concerns you specifically."
38. What statement should the nurse make when talking with a user at risk for suicide following
the death of his spouse?
Answer: The nurse should say, "Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting."
39. When discussing the characteristics of a nurse-user relationship, what characteristics should
the charge nurse include?
Answer: The charge nurse should include in the discussion that the nurse-user relationship is
"Goal-oriented," "Encourages behavioral change," and "Has an established termination date."
40. When assessing a user with binge-eating syndrome, what finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding of "Abdominal pain" in a user with binge-eating
syndrome.
41. While providing postoperative care to an older adult user who develops delirium, what action
should the nurse take?
Answer: The nurse should take the action of "Requesting a prescription for an antianxiety
medication" for an older adult user with delirium.
42. When assessing a user with conduct syndrome, what finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding of "Aggressive behavior toward others" in a user
with conduct syndrome.
43. When leading a discussion about the legal aspects of involuntary admissions, what information
should the nurse include?
Answer: The nurse should include the information that "An involuntary admission is justified if
the user is a danger to others."
44. When a user with schizophrenia is pacing rapidly and muttering angrily, what action should
the nurse take first?
Answer: The nurse should first "Approach the user in a nonthreatening manner."
45. When reviewing the medical record of a user with a new prescription for a benzodiazepine, for
which finding should the nurse question the provider's prescription?
Answer: The nurse should question the prescription if there is "Hypotension."
46. When providing teaching to the parents of a school-age child with ADHD, what instruction
should the nurse include?
Answer: The nurse should include the instruction to "Ignore your child's attention-seeking
behaviors that are not dangerous."
47. When interviewing a user with anorexia nervosa, what finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding of a "Strenuous exercise regimen" in a user with
anorexia nervosa.
48. When a user with depression states being too tired and depressed to attend group therapy, what
response should the nurse make?
Answer: The nurse should respond, "Attending group therapy, even if you're tired, is an important
part of your dealing."
49. When performing an admission assessment for a user with restricting type anorexia nervosa,
what finding should the nurse expect?
Answer: The nurse should expect the finding of "Decreased caloric intake" in a user with
restricting type anorexia nervosa.
