HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM LATEST 2025-2026 NEWEST ACTUAL
EXAM WITH COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises
his voice, saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I
have ever met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch
him out!" The RN recognizes that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed.
A
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence
therapy using disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client
acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
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, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after
abruptly stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago.
Which question is most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
D
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a
male employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal
life. He further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work
that he has considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with
the therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the
highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
B
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, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client
with modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
ADE
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms
of chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal).
When the client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he
states that something has made his body contort into a monster. What action
should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia.
D
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff,
and pacing in the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses
the medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway.
What nursing intervention should the RN implement first?
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, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
C
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
D
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a female employee because of
an oncoming gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the
female employee. Both employees are referred for counseling with the staff
psychiatric RN. Which factor in the pushed employee's history is most related to
the reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
C
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized
for several days by court order. The client states, "I don't need to be here" and
tells the RN that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should document
these assessment findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
4|Page
HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM LATEST 2025-2026 NEWEST ACTUAL
EXAM WITH COMPLETE 150 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+
A male client approaches the RN with an angry expression on his face and raises
his voice, saying "My roommate is the most selfish, self-centered, angry person I
have ever met. If he loses his temper one more time with me, I am going to punch
him out!" The RN recognizes that the client is using which defense mechanism?
A. Denial.
B. Projection.
C. Rationalization.
D. Splitting.
B
A male client with bipolar disorder who began taking lithium carbonate five days
ago is complaining of excessive thirst, and the RN finds him attempting to drink
water from the bathroom sink faucet. Which intervention should the RN
implement?
A. Report the client's serum lithium level to the HCP.
B. Encourage the client to suck on hard candy to relieve the symptoms.
C. No action is needed since polydipsia is a common side effect.
D. Tell the client that drinking from the faucet is not allowed.
A
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence
therapy using disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client
acknowledge understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
1|Page
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after
abruptly stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago.
Which question is most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
D
During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a
male employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal
life. He further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work
that he has considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with
the therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the
highest priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
B
2|Page
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client
with modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
ADE
A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms
of chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal).
When the client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he
states that something has made his body contort into a monster. What action
should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia.
D
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior.
Which action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff,
and pacing in the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses
the medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway.
What nursing intervention should the RN implement first?
3|Page
, HESI MENTAL HEALTH EXAM
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
C
A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN
should plan one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
D
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a female employee because of
an oncoming gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the
female employee. Both employees are referred for counseling with the staff
psychiatric RN. Which factor in the pushed employee's history is most related to
the reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
C
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized
for several days by court order. The client states, "I don't need to be here" and
tells the RN that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should document
these assessment findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
4|Page
