MENTAL HEALTH NURSING EXAM
STUDY
GUIDE FOR STUDENTS WITH QUESTIONSAND
ANSWERS 2026/2027
A nurse is collecting data from a client who takes an MAOI for the treatment of
depression.
Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Elevated blood pressure
A nurse in an acute mental health facility is caring for a client who is
experiencing an acute manic episode. Which of the following actions is the
nurse's priority? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Protect the client from impulsive
behavior.
A nurse is caring for a client who has cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol use
disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Ascites
A nurse is assisting with a community presentation about Alzheimer's disease.
The nurse should conclude that a member of the group requires further
reinforcement of teaching when she
identifies which of the following findings as a manifestation of Alzheimer's
disease? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Sudden confusion
1|Page
,A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and is severely
withdrawn. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to facilitate
communication with the client? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Speak to the client
using simple and concrete terminology.
A nurse in an acute substance disorder unit is collecting data from a client who
received treatment in the emergency department for an opioid overdose. Which
of the following findings should the nurse anticipate during opioid withdrawal?
- CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Anxiety
A nurse is collecting data from a toddler who has a fractured arm. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a possible indication of physical
abuse? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>The parent provides a history that is
inconsistent with the child's injury.
A nurse is preparing to administer a benzodiazepine to a client who has
generalized anxiety disorder. The nurse should tell the client to expect which of
the following adverse effects? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Sedation
A nurse in a mental health unit is contributing to the plan of care for a client
who is receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries. The nurse should identify
which of the following interventions as the priority for this client? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Promoting and maintaining client safety
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for
disulfiram for the management of alcohol dependence. Which of the following
dietary choices should the nurse instruct the client to avoid? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Pure vanilla extract
A nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease and becomes agitated
while refusing morning hygiene care. Which of the following actions should the
2|Page
,nurse take? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Talk to the client from two arm-
lengths away.
A nurse is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder. Following alcohol
withdrawal, which of the following medications should the nurse expect to
administer to the client during maintenance? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Disulfiram
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a school-age child who has
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"Ignore
your child's attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous."
A nurse is caring for a client who attends family counseling with his partner and
their children. The client tells the nurse that he isn't going to attend any further
sessions and states, "I don't have time for all that talking." Which of the
following responses should the nurse make? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"It
must be difficult for you to talk about family problems."
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newly admitted client who has
bipolar disorder
and is experiencing acute mania. Which of the following client goals should the
nurse identify as the priority? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Maintaining
adequate hydration
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has binge-eating disorder. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Abdominal pain
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has moderate cognitive decline due
to Stage 4 Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following findings should the
3|Page
, nurse expect? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>The client is able to identify the
names of family members.
A nurse is collecting admission data from a client who has anorexia nervosa.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Strenuous exercise regimen
A nurse is assisting with the collection of admission data for a client who has
anorexia nervosa. The client has lost 11.4 kg (25 lb) over the past month and
currently weighs 38.6 kg (85 lb). The nurse should expect which of the
following findings? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Amenorrhea
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has agoraphobia about
systematic desensitization. Which of the following comments should the nurse
include in the teaching? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"You will slowly be
exposed to increasing levels of public spaces."
A nurse in a substance use disorder treatment facility is reviewing the
medication records for a group of clients. The nurse should expect to administer
methadone for a client who has a
substance use disorder for which of the following substances? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Opiates
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the family of a client who has Alzheimer's
disease about donepezil. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Donepezil can improve cognitive
functioning during the earlier stages of the disease."
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) due to a
sexual assault that occurred 3 months ago. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Dreams about the assault
4|Page
STUDY
GUIDE FOR STUDENTS WITH QUESTIONSAND
ANSWERS 2026/2027
A nurse is collecting data from a client who takes an MAOI for the treatment of
depression.
Which of the following findings is the priority for the nurse to report to the
provider? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Elevated blood pressure
A nurse in an acute mental health facility is caring for a client who is
experiencing an acute manic episode. Which of the following actions is the
nurse's priority? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Protect the client from impulsive
behavior.
A nurse is caring for a client who has cirrhosis of the liver due to alcohol use
disorder. Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Ascites
A nurse is assisting with a community presentation about Alzheimer's disease.
The nurse should conclude that a member of the group requires further
reinforcement of teaching when she
identifies which of the following findings as a manifestation of Alzheimer's
disease? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Sudden confusion
1|Page
,A nurse is caring for a client who has major depressive disorder and is severely
withdrawn. Which of the following techniques should the nurse use to facilitate
communication with the client? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Speak to the client
using simple and concrete terminology.
A nurse in an acute substance disorder unit is collecting data from a client who
received treatment in the emergency department for an opioid overdose. Which
of the following findings should the nurse anticipate during opioid withdrawal?
- CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Anxiety
A nurse is collecting data from a toddler who has a fractured arm. Which of the
following findings should the nurse identify as a possible indication of physical
abuse? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>The parent provides a history that is
inconsistent with the child's injury.
A nurse is preparing to administer a benzodiazepine to a client who has
generalized anxiety disorder. The nurse should tell the client to expect which of
the following adverse effects? -
CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Sedation
A nurse in a mental health unit is contributing to the plan of care for a client
who is receiving treatment for self-inflicted injuries. The nurse should identify
which of the following interventions as the priority for this client? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Promoting and maintaining client safety
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has a new prescription for
disulfiram for the management of alcohol dependence. Which of the following
dietary choices should the nurse instruct the client to avoid? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Pure vanilla extract
A nurse is caring for a client who has Alzheimer's disease and becomes agitated
while refusing morning hygiene care. Which of the following actions should the
2|Page
,nurse take? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Talk to the client from two arm-
lengths away.
A nurse is caring for a client who has alcohol use disorder. Following alcohol
withdrawal, which of the following medications should the nurse expect to
administer to the client during maintenance? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Disulfiram
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the parents of a school-age child who has
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Which of the following
instructions should the nurse include? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"Ignore
your child's attention-seeking behaviors that are not dangerous."
A nurse is caring for a client who attends family counseling with his partner and
their children. The client tells the nurse that he isn't going to attend any further
sessions and states, "I don't have time for all that talking." Which of the
following responses should the nurse make? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"It
must be difficult for you to talk about family problems."
A nurse is contributing to the plan of care for a newly admitted client who has
bipolar disorder
and is experiencing acute mania. Which of the following client goals should the
nurse identify as the priority? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Maintaining
adequate hydration
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has binge-eating disorder. Which of
the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Abdominal pain
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has moderate cognitive decline due
to Stage 4 Alzheimer's disease. Which of the following findings should the
3|Page
, nurse expect? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>The client is able to identify the
names of family members.
A nurse is collecting admission data from a client who has anorexia nervosa.
Which of the following findings should the nurse expect? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Strenuous exercise regimen
A nurse is assisting with the collection of admission data for a client who has
anorexia nervosa. The client has lost 11.4 kg (25 lb) over the past month and
currently weighs 38.6 kg (85 lb). The nurse should expect which of the
following findings? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Amenorrhea
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with a client who has agoraphobia about
systematic desensitization. Which of the following comments should the nurse
include in the teaching? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>"You will slowly be
exposed to increasing levels of public spaces."
A nurse in a substance use disorder treatment facility is reviewing the
medication records for a group of clients. The nurse should expect to administer
methadone for a client who has a
substance use disorder for which of the following substances? - CORRECT
ANSWER>>>>Opiates
A nurse is reinforcing teaching with the family of a client who has Alzheimer's
disease about donepezil. Which of the following statements should the nurse
include? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Donepezil can improve cognitive
functioning during the earlier stages of the disease."
A nurse is collecting data from a client who has post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) due to a
sexual assault that occurred 3 months ago. Which of the following findings
should the nurse expect? - CORRECT ANSWER>>>>Dreams about the assault
4|Page
