ATI MENTAL HEALTH
Chapter 1
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a
newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the
newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(select all that apply.)
A. “To assess cognitive ability,I should ask the client to count
backward by sevens.” counting backward by 7s is an appropriate
technique to assess a client’s cognitive ability.
B. “To assess affect, I should observe the client’s facial
expression.” Observing a client’s facial expression is appropriate
when assessing affect.
C. “To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write
a sentence.” Writing a sentence is an indication of language
ability.
2. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse include
as a psychobiological intervention?
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
3. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the interview,
which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the
priority?
B. Identify the client’s perception of her mental health status.
assessment is the priority action when using the nursing process
approach to client care. identifying the client’s perception of her
mental health status provides important information about the
client’s psychosocial history.
4. A nurse is told during change‐of‐shift report that a client is
stuporous. When assessing the client,which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub. A client
who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a
response.
, 5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DsM‐5).
Which of the following information is appropriate to include in the
discussion? (select all that apply.)
B. the DSM‐5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
D. the DSM‐5 assists nurses in planning care for client’s who have
mental health disorders.
E. the DSM‐5 indicates expected assessment findings ofmental
health disorders.
Chapter 2
1. A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should identify
that which of the following clients requires a temporary emergency admission?
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
2. A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is
very short-staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The nurse’s actions are an example of
which of the following torts?
B. False imprisonment
3. A client tells a 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?
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the health and safety
of the client and others.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following statements should
the nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that apply.)
B. “Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr.”
C. “Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel.”
D. “Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000.”
5. 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?
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
Chapter 3
1. A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic communication to a group of newly licensed nurses.
Which of the following aspects of communication should the nurse identify as a component of verbal
communication?
D. Intonation
2. A nurse in an acute mental health facility is communicating with a client. The client states, “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?
D. Restating
, 3. A nurse is communicating with a client who was just admitted for treatment of a substance use disorder.
Which of the following communication techniques should the nurse identify as a barrier to therapeutic
communication?
A. Offering advice
4. A nurse caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following examples demonstrates the
nurse’s use of interpersonal communication?
C. The nurse asks the client about her body image perception.
5. A nurse is caring for the parents of a child who has demonstrated recent changes in behavior and mood.
When the mother of the child asks the nurse for reassurance about her son’s condition, which of the
following responses should the nurse make?
D.“I understand you’re concerned. Let’s discuss what concerns you specifically
Chapter 4
1. 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.” The nurse should identify that the client is using which of
the following defense mechanisms?
B. Denial
2. A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who was just informed that she requires
emergency surgery. The client, has a respiratory rate 30/min, and says, “This is difficult to comprehend. I
feel shaky and nervous.” The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following
levels of anxiety?
B. Moderate
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take when trying to give necessary information to the client? (Select all that apply.)
B. Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms with the client
D. Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions
Chapter 5
1. A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the death of his spouse. Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
C. “Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting.”
2. A charge nurse is discussing the characteristics of a nurse-client relationship with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following characteristics should the nurse include in the discussion? (Select all that apply.)
C. It is goal-directed.
D. Behavioral change is encouraged.
E. A termination date is established.
3. A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a client who has methamphetamine use
disorder. Which of the following actions indicates transference behavior?
B. The client accuses the nurse of telling him what to do just like his ex-girlfriend.
4. A nurse is planning care for the termination phase of a nurse-client relationship. Which of the following
actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Discussing ways to use new behaviors
5. A nurse is orienting a new client to a mental health unit. When explaining the unit’s community
meetings, which of the following statements should the nurse make?
Chapter 1
1. A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a
newly licensed nurse. Which of the following statements by the
newly licensed nurse indicates an understanding of the teaching?
(select all that apply.)
A. “To assess cognitive ability,I should ask the client to count
backward by sevens.” counting backward by 7s is an appropriate
technique to assess a client’s cognitive ability.
B. “To assess affect, I should observe the client’s facial
expression.” Observing a client’s facial expression is appropriate
when assessing affect.
C. “To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write
a sentence.” Writing a sentence is an indication of language
ability.
2. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse include
as a psychobiological intervention?
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a
psychobiological intervention.
3. A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to
conduct an initial client interview. When conducting the interview,
which of the following actions should the nurse identify as the
priority?
B. Identify the client’s perception of her mental health status.
assessment is the priority action when using the nursing process
approach to client care. identifying the client’s perception of her
mental health status provides important information about the
client’s psychosocial history.
4. A nurse is told during change‐of‐shift report that a client is
stuporous. When assessing the client,which of the following
findings should the nurse expect?
A. The client arouses briefly in response to a sternal rub. A client
who is stuporous requires vigorous or painful stimuli to elicit a
response.
, 5. A nurse is planning a peer group discussion about the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DsM‐5).
Which of the following information is appropriate to include in the
discussion? (select all that apply.)
B. the DSM‐5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
D. the DSM‐5 assists nurses in planning care for client’s who have
mental health disorders.
E. the DSM‐5 indicates expected assessment findings ofmental
health disorders.
Chapter 2
1. A nurse in an emergency mental health facility is caring for a group of clients. The nurse should identify
that which of the following clients requires a temporary emergency admission?
C. A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a homeless man with a metal rod
2. A nurse decides to put a client who has a psychotic disorder in seclusion overnight because the unit is
very short-staffed, and the client frequently fights with other clients. The nurse’s actions are an example of
which of the following torts?
B. False imprisonment
3. A client tells a 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?
C. Tell the client that this must be reported to the health care team because it concerns the health and safety
of the client and others.
4. A nurse is caring for a client who is in mechanical restraints. Which of the following statements should
the nurse include in the documentation? (Select all that apply.)
B. “Client was offered 8 oz of water every hr.”
C. “Client shouted obscenities at assistive personnel.”
D. “Client received chlorpromazine 15 mg by mouth at 1000.”
5. 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?
B. Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior.
Chapter 3
1. A charge nurse is conducting a class on therapeutic communication to a group of newly licensed nurses.
Which of the following aspects of communication should the nurse identify as a component of verbal
communication?
D. Intonation
2. A nurse in an acute mental health facility is communicating with a client. The client states, “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?
D. Restating
, 3. A nurse is communicating with a client who was just admitted for treatment of a substance use disorder.
Which of the following communication techniques should the nurse identify as a barrier to therapeutic
communication?
A. Offering advice
4. A nurse caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following examples demonstrates the
nurse’s use of interpersonal communication?
C. The nurse asks the client about her body image perception.
5. A nurse is caring for the parents of a child who has demonstrated recent changes in behavior and mood.
When the mother of the child asks the nurse for reassurance about her son’s condition, which of the
following responses should the nurse make?
D.“I understand you’re concerned. Let’s discuss what concerns you specifically
Chapter 4
1. 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.” The nurse should identify that the client is using which of
the following defense mechanisms?
B. Denial
2. A nurse is providing preoperative teaching for a client who was just informed that she requires
emergency surgery. The client, has a respiratory rate 30/min, and says, “This is difficult to comprehend. I
feel shaky and nervous.” The nurse should identify that the client is experiencing which of the following
levels of anxiety?
B. Moderate
3. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing moderate anxiety. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take when trying to give necessary information to the client? (Select all that apply.)
B. Discuss prior use of coping mechanisms with the client
D. Demonstrate a calm manner while using simple and clear directions
Chapter 5
1. A nurse is talking with a client who is at risk for suicide following the death of his spouse. Which of the
following statements should the nurse make?
C. “Losing someone close to you must be very upsetting.”
2. A charge nurse is discussing the characteristics of a nurse-client relationship with a newly licensed nurse.
Which of the following characteristics should the nurse include in the discussion? (Select all that apply.)
C. It is goal-directed.
D. Behavioral change is encouraged.
E. A termination date is established.
3. A nurse is in the working phase of a therapeutic relationship with a client who has methamphetamine use
disorder. Which of the following actions indicates transference behavior?
B. The client accuses the nurse of telling him what to do just like his ex-girlfriend.
4. A nurse is planning care for the termination phase of a nurse-client relationship. Which of the following
actions should the nurse include in the plan of care?
A. Discussing ways to use new behaviors
5. A nurse is orienting a new client to a mental health unit. When explaining the unit’s community
meetings, which of the following statements should the nurse make?
