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MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCH HESI
REVIEW 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | A+ GRADED | WITH
EXPERT SOLUTIONS
At the first meeting of a group at a daycare center for older adults,
the nurse asks one of the members what kinds of things the client
would like to do with the group. The older adult shrugs and says,
"You tell me. You're the leader." What would be the best
response for the nurse to make?
A."Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader
tomorrow?"
B."Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to
accomplish?"
C."Yes, I have been assigned to lead this group. I will be here for
the next 6 weeks."
D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the
leader yourself." - correct answer-ANS: B
Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader
characteristically occur in the initial phase of group dynamics. (B)
provides information and refocuses the group to defining its
function. (A) is manipulative bargaining. (C) does not focus the
group on its purpose or task. (D) is interpreting the client's
feelings and is almost challenging.
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A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for manic
depression begins to develop diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Notify the health care provider immediately and force fluids.
B. Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of
these symptoms.
C. Record the symptoms and continue with medication as
prescribed.
D. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses.
- correct answer-ANS: B
Although these are expected symptoms, the health care provider
should be notified prior to the next administration of the drug (B).
Early side effects of lithium carbonate (occurring with serum
lithium levels below 2 mEq/L) generally follow a progressive
pattern, beginning with diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, and
muscular weakness (C). At higher levels, ataxia, tinnitus, blurred
vision, and large dilute urine output may occur. (A) will lower the
lithium level. (D) is not warranted.
A woman brings her 48-year-old husband to the outpatient
psychiatric unit and tells the nurse that he has been sleepwalking,
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cannot remember who he is, and exhibits multiple personalities.
These behaviors are often associated with which condition?
A. Dissociative disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
C. Panic disorder
D. Posttraumatic stress syndrome - correct answer-ANS: A
Sleepwalking, amnesia, and multiple personalities are examples
of detaching emotional conflict from one's consciousness (A). (B)
is characterized by persistent, recurrent intrusive thoughts or
urges (obsessions) that are unwilled and cannot be ignored and
provoke impulsive acts (compulsions), such as constant and
repeated hand washing. (C) is an acute attack of anxiety
characterized by personality disorganization. (D) is reexperiencing
a psychologically terrifying or distressing event that is outside the
usual range of human experience such as war or rape.
During a home visit, a client with schizophrenia reports hearing
voices that tell the client to walk in the middle of the street. The
nurse records several statements made by the client. Based on
which statement should the nurse determine that the client needs
hospitalization?
A."Sometimes I take an extra one of my pills when I hear the
voices."
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B."The voices are louder when I forget to take my medication. "
C."No matter what I do, I cannot make the voices go away. "
D."I just try to tell the voices to stop when they bother me. " -
correct answer-ANS: C
Hospitalization is needed if the client continues to hear voices
telling the client to do things that can cause self-harm (C). (A or B)
do not require hospitalization unless symptoms become severe.
The client should continue symptom management strategies (D)
to prevent hospitalization.
An adult client who lives in a residential facility is mentally
retarded and has a history of bipolar disorder. During the past
week, the client has refused to wear clothes and frequently
exposes their body to other residents. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
A. Establish a one-to-one relationship to discuss the behavior.
B. Redirect the client to physically demanding activities.
C. Encourage the client to verbalize thoughts when acting out.
D. Restrict social interactions with other residents in the facility. -
correct answer-ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder,
and the nurse should redirect the client to activities that are
MENTAL HEALTH/PSYCH HESI
REVIEW 2026 QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | A+ GRADED | WITH
EXPERT SOLUTIONS
At the first meeting of a group at a daycare center for older adults,
the nurse asks one of the members what kinds of things the client
would like to do with the group. The older adult shrugs and says,
"You tell me. You're the leader." What would be the best
response for the nurse to make?
A."Yes, I am the leader today. Would you like to be the leader
tomorrow?"
B."Yes, I will be leading this group. What would you like to
accomplish?"
C."Yes, I have been assigned to lead this group. I will be here for
the next 6 weeks."
D. "Yes, I am the leader. You seem angry about not being the
leader yourself." - correct answer-ANS: B
Anxiety over participation in a group and testing of the leader
characteristically occur in the initial phase of group dynamics. (B)
provides information and refocuses the group to defining its
function. (A) is manipulative bargaining. (C) does not focus the
group on its purpose or task. (D) is interpreting the client's
feelings and is almost challenging.
, Page | 2
A client who is being treated with lithium carbonate for manic
depression begins to develop diarrhea, vomiting, and drowsiness.
Which action should the nurse take?
A. Notify the health care provider immediately and force fluids.
B. Prior to giving the next dose, notify the health care provider of
these symptoms.
C. Record the symptoms and continue with medication as
prescribed.
D. Hold the medication and refuse to administer additional doses.
- correct answer-ANS: B
Although these are expected symptoms, the health care provider
should be notified prior to the next administration of the drug (B).
Early side effects of lithium carbonate (occurring with serum
lithium levels below 2 mEq/L) generally follow a progressive
pattern, beginning with diarrhea, vomiting, drowsiness, and
muscular weakness (C). At higher levels, ataxia, tinnitus, blurred
vision, and large dilute urine output may occur. (A) will lower the
lithium level. (D) is not warranted.
A woman brings her 48-year-old husband to the outpatient
psychiatric unit and tells the nurse that he has been sleepwalking,
, Page | 3
cannot remember who he is, and exhibits multiple personalities.
These behaviors are often associated with which condition?
A. Dissociative disorder
B. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
C. Panic disorder
D. Posttraumatic stress syndrome - correct answer-ANS: A
Sleepwalking, amnesia, and multiple personalities are examples
of detaching emotional conflict from one's consciousness (A). (B)
is characterized by persistent, recurrent intrusive thoughts or
urges (obsessions) that are unwilled and cannot be ignored and
provoke impulsive acts (compulsions), such as constant and
repeated hand washing. (C) is an acute attack of anxiety
characterized by personality disorganization. (D) is reexperiencing
a psychologically terrifying or distressing event that is outside the
usual range of human experience such as war or rape.
During a home visit, a client with schizophrenia reports hearing
voices that tell the client to walk in the middle of the street. The
nurse records several statements made by the client. Based on
which statement should the nurse determine that the client needs
hospitalization?
A."Sometimes I take an extra one of my pills when I hear the
voices."
, Page | 4
B."The voices are louder when I forget to take my medication. "
C."No matter what I do, I cannot make the voices go away. "
D."I just try to tell the voices to stop when they bother me. " -
correct answer-ANS: C
Hospitalization is needed if the client continues to hear voices
telling the client to do things that can cause self-harm (C). (A or B)
do not require hospitalization unless symptoms become severe.
The client should continue symptom management strategies (D)
to prevent hospitalization.
An adult client who lives in a residential facility is mentally
retarded and has a history of bipolar disorder. During the past
week, the client has refused to wear clothes and frequently
exposes their body to other residents. Which intervention should
the nurse implement?
A. Establish a one-to-one relationship to discuss the behavior.
B. Redirect the client to physically demanding activities.
C. Encourage the client to verbalize thoughts when acting out.
D. Restrict social interactions with other residents in the facility. -
correct answer-ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder,
and the nurse should redirect the client to activities that are
