Mental Health/Psych HESI Review Questions (50 Q study with
rationale) EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2026 -2027 \University of
Kentucky
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.
ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder, and the nurse
should redirect the client to activities that are physically demanding (B) so that
energy can be expended in a socially acceptable manner. Psychotic clients are
not capable of (A). When exhibiting acting-out behavior, the client is distracted
and (C) is difficult. (D) is likely to increase manic behaviors, such as mood swings
and acting-out behaviors.
,A client on the psychiatric unit seeks out a particular nurse and imitates her
mannerisms. Which defense mechanism does the nurse recognize in this client?
A.Sublimation
B.Identification
C.Introjection
D.Repression
ANS: B
Identification (B) is an attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality
traits of another. (A) is substituting an unacceptable feeling for one that is more
socially acceptable. (C) is incorporating the values or qualities of an admired
person or group into one's own ego structure. (D) is the involuntary exclusion of
painful thoughts or memories from one's awareness.
A client begins taking an atypical antipsychotic medication. The nurse must
provide informed consent and education about common medication side
effects. Which client education will be most important?
A.Maintain a balanced diet and adequate exercise.
B.Be sure that the diet is adequate in salt intake.
C.Monitor for any changes in sleep pattern.
D.Report any unusual facial movements.
ANS: A
Several atypical antipsychotic medications can cause significant weight gain, so
the client should be advised to maintain a balanced diet and adequate exercise
(A). (B) is important with lithium, a mood stabilizer. (C and D) are less common
than weight gain.
,A 35-year-old client admitted to the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital
tells the nurse that someone is trying to poison her. The client's delusions are
most likely related to which factor?
A. Authority issues in childhood
B. Anger about being hospitalized
C. Low self-esteem
D. Phobia of food
ANS: C
Delusional clients have difficulty with trust and have low self-esteem (C). Nursing
care should be directed at building trust and promoting positive self-esteem.
Activities with limited concentration and no competition should be encouraged
to build self-esteem. (A, B, and D) are not specifically related to the development
of delusions.
Clients are preparing to leave the mental health unit for an outdoor smoke break.
A client on constant observation cannot leave and becomes agitated and
demands to smoke a cigarette. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Remind the client to wear the nicotine (NicoDerm) patch.
B.Determine if the client still needs constant observation.
C.Encourage the client to attend the smoking cessation group.
D.Explain that clients on constant observation cannot smoke.
ANS: B
The nurse should continually reassess the need for constant observation (B) so
that the client can have unit privileges such as outdoor breaks. (A and C) do not
meet the client's need and desire to smoke. (D) will cause more agitation.
, When planning care for the client undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT),
which equipment should the nurse make available? (Select all that apply.)
A.Oxygen
B. Suction equipment
C. Continuous passive range-of-motion (CPM) machine
D. Crash cart
E. Chest tube drainage system
ANS: A, B, D
Because aspiration is a potential complication, emergency equipment such as
oxygen, suction, and a crash cart should be available (A, B, and D). The client is
only unconscious for a short period; therefore, there is no need for a CPM
machine (C). ECT does not put the client at risk for a pneumothorax; therefore, a
chest tube drainage system is not needed (E).
A nurse working in the emergency department of a children's hospital admits a
child whose injuries could have been the result of abuse. Which statement most
accurately describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of suspected child abuse?
A. Obtain objective data such as radiographs before reporting suspicions.
B. Confirm suspicions of abuse with the health care provider.
C. Report any case of suspected child abuse.
D. Document injuries to confirm suspected abuse.
ANS: C
It is the nurse's legal responsibility to report all suspected cases of child abuse
(C), and notifying the nurse manager or charge nurse starts the legal reporting
process. (A, B, and D) delay the first step in reporting the abuse.
rationale) EXAM COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY
GRADED A+ LATEST UPDATE 2026 -2027 \University of
Kentucky
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.
ANS: B
The client is exhibiting manic behavior related to bipolar disorder, and the nurse
should redirect the client to activities that are physically demanding (B) so that
energy can be expended in a socially acceptable manner. Psychotic clients are
not capable of (A). When exhibiting acting-out behavior, the client is distracted
and (C) is difficult. (D) is likely to increase manic behaviors, such as mood swings
and acting-out behaviors.
,A client on the psychiatric unit seeks out a particular nurse and imitates her
mannerisms. Which defense mechanism does the nurse recognize in this client?
A.Sublimation
B.Identification
C.Introjection
D.Repression
ANS: B
Identification (B) is an attempt to be like someone or emulate the personality
traits of another. (A) is substituting an unacceptable feeling for one that is more
socially acceptable. (C) is incorporating the values or qualities of an admired
person or group into one's own ego structure. (D) is the involuntary exclusion of
painful thoughts or memories from one's awareness.
A client begins taking an atypical antipsychotic medication. The nurse must
provide informed consent and education about common medication side
effects. Which client education will be most important?
A.Maintain a balanced diet and adequate exercise.
B.Be sure that the diet is adequate in salt intake.
C.Monitor for any changes in sleep pattern.
D.Report any unusual facial movements.
ANS: A
Several atypical antipsychotic medications can cause significant weight gain, so
the client should be advised to maintain a balanced diet and adequate exercise
(A). (B) is important with lithium, a mood stabilizer. (C and D) are less common
than weight gain.
,A 35-year-old client admitted to the psychiatric unit of an acute care hospital
tells the nurse that someone is trying to poison her. The client's delusions are
most likely related to which factor?
A. Authority issues in childhood
B. Anger about being hospitalized
C. Low self-esteem
D. Phobia of food
ANS: C
Delusional clients have difficulty with trust and have low self-esteem (C). Nursing
care should be directed at building trust and promoting positive self-esteem.
Activities with limited concentration and no competition should be encouraged
to build self-esteem. (A, B, and D) are not specifically related to the development
of delusions.
Clients are preparing to leave the mental health unit for an outdoor smoke break.
A client on constant observation cannot leave and becomes agitated and
demands to smoke a cigarette. Which action should the nurse take first?
A. Remind the client to wear the nicotine (NicoDerm) patch.
B.Determine if the client still needs constant observation.
C.Encourage the client to attend the smoking cessation group.
D.Explain that clients on constant observation cannot smoke.
ANS: B
The nurse should continually reassess the need for constant observation (B) so
that the client can have unit privileges such as outdoor breaks. (A and C) do not
meet the client's need and desire to smoke. (D) will cause more agitation.
, When planning care for the client undergoing electroconvulsive therapy (ECT),
which equipment should the nurse make available? (Select all that apply.)
A.Oxygen
B. Suction equipment
C. Continuous passive range-of-motion (CPM) machine
D. Crash cart
E. Chest tube drainage system
ANS: A, B, D
Because aspiration is a potential complication, emergency equipment such as
oxygen, suction, and a crash cart should be available (A, B, and D). The client is
only unconscious for a short period; therefore, there is no need for a CPM
machine (C). ECT does not put the client at risk for a pneumothorax; therefore, a
chest tube drainage system is not needed (E).
A nurse working in the emergency department of a children's hospital admits a
child whose injuries could have been the result of abuse. Which statement most
accurately describes the nurse's responsibility in cases of suspected child abuse?
A. Obtain objective data such as radiographs before reporting suspicions.
B. Confirm suspicions of abuse with the health care provider.
C. Report any case of suspected child abuse.
D. Document injuries to confirm suspected abuse.
ANS: C
It is the nurse's legal responsibility to report all suspected cases of child abuse
(C), and notifying the nurse manager or charge nurse starts the legal reporting
process. (A, B, and D) delay the first step in reporting the abuse.
