ATI MENTAL HEALTH CMS EXAM ACTUAL
PAPER 2026 SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 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?
A) Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B) Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C) Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D) Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications. Answer:
D
◉ 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?
A) Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B) Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C) Include the client's family in the interview.
D) Teach the client about her current mental health disorder
Answer: B
,◉ 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.
B) The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C) The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D) The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. Answer: A
◉ A nurse is planning a peer group about the DSM-5. Which of the
following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply).
A) The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B) The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C) The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment
for 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 of mental
health disorders. Answer: B, D, E
◉ 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?
,A) A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B) A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted
suicide a year ago.
C) A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod.
D) A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the
room while talking to himself. Answer: C
◉ 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?
A) Invasion of privacy
B) False imprisonment
C) Assault
D) Battery Answer: B
◉ 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?
A) Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the
client daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to
admit to hiding the knife.
, B) Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client
and his roommate closely.
C) Tell the client that this must be reported to the healthcare team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D) Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the
client of the intention to do so. Answer: D
◉ 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)
A) Client ate most of his breakfast
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
E) Client acted out after lunch Answer: B, C, D
◉ 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?
A) Notify the nurse manager
B) Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior
C) Provide an in-service program about confidentiality
D) Complete an incident report Answer: B
PAPER 2026 SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ 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?
A) Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B) Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C) Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D) Monitor the client for adverse effects of the medications. Answer:
D
◉ 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?
A) Coordinate holistic care with social services.
B) Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C) Include the client's family in the interview.
D) Teach the client about her current mental health disorder
Answer: B
,◉ 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.
B) The client has a glasgow coma scale score less than 7.
C) The client exhibits decorticate rigidity.
D) The client is alert but disoriented to time and place. Answer: A
◉ A nurse is planning a peer group about the DSM-5. Which of the
following information is appropriate to include in the discussion?
(Select all that apply).
A) The DSM-5 includes client education handouts for mental health
disorders.
B) The DSM-5 establishes diagnostic criteria for individual mental
health disorders.
C) The DSM-5 indicates recommended pharmacological treatment
for 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 of mental
health disorders. Answer: B, D, E
◉ 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?
,A) A client who has schizophrenia with delusions of grandeur
B) A client who has manifestations of depression and attempted
suicide a year ago.
C) A client who has borderline personality disorder and assaulted a
homeless man with a metal rod.
D) A client who has bipolar disorder and paces quickly around the
room while talking to himself. Answer: C
◉ 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?
A) Invasion of privacy
B) False imprisonment
C) Assault
D) Battery Answer: B
◉ 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?
A) Keep the client's communication confidential, but talk to the
client daily, using therapeutic communication to convince him to
admit to hiding the knife.
, B) Keep the client's communication confidential, but watch the client
and his roommate closely.
C) Tell the client that this must be reported to the healthcare team
because it concerns the health and safety of the client and others.
D) Report the incident to the health care team, but do not inform the
client of the intention to do so. Answer: D
◉ 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)
A) Client ate most of his breakfast
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
E) Client acted out after lunch Answer: B, C, D
◉ 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?
A) Notify the nurse manager
B) Tell the nurse to stop discussing the behavior
C) Provide an in-service program about confidentiality
D) Complete an incident report Answer: B
