ATI RN Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Test Bank
2026 | NCLEX-RN MCQs with Answers
1.A community health nurse is assigned to a client who has schizophrenia. The client is to
receive an I'm medication for the control of hallucinations. The client's prior nurse reports that
the client will let the nurse in her house only if the nurse carries a public health-issued blue bag
and wears black pants. The nurse is scheduled to visit this client tomorrow. Which of the
following is an appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Telephone the client and tell her that the new nurse will be wearing white pants.
B. Arrive as scheduled carrying only a stethoscope, vial, alcohol wipe, and medication syringe.
C. Arrive as scheduled with a police officer.
D. Arrive carrying a blue bag and wearing black pants - Correct answer D.
2.A client states, "I just don't know what to do about my husband's drinking. Every time I see
him drinking a beer, I start to feel extremely anxious." What would be the most therapeutic
response by the nurse?
A. Tell me more about what is going on with your son. Is he still causing problems for you?
B. At one time you told me you were drinking with your husband? Are you continuing to do
that?
C. The next time your husband starts drinking, what is something you might do to decrease your
anxiety?
D. I think you should attend an AI-Anon meeting. It is a supportive group for people who are
troubled by another person's drinking. - Correct answer C.
3.A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to care for a client who has signs of alcohol
intoxication. Which of the following should the nurse plan to include in the client's care? (Select
all that apply.)
A. Contact the laboratory to obtain a blood sample
B. Prepare the client for a CT scan
,C. Check the client's pupil reactivity
D. Obtain a urine specimen
E. Perform a developmental screening test - Correct answer A, B, C, D, E
4.A nurse in the emergency department is implementing a plan of care for a client who has
delirium tremens. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Administer diazepam (Valium).
B. Raise the bed side rails.
C. Obtain a medical history.
D. Start intravenous fluids. - Correct answer B.
5.A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is receiving treatment for an
overdose of phencyclidine piperidine (PCP). Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Perform gastric lavage.
B. Provide a warm environment.
C. Verbally attempt to calm the patient.
D. Administer ammonium chloride. - Correct answer D?
6.A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing acute alcohol
withdrawal. All of the following interventions are part of the client care protocol. Which of the
following nursing actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Implement seizure precautions.
B. Insert an IV access site.
C. Perform a neurological exam.
D. Obtain a blood specimen. - Correct answer ?
7.A nurse in an addiction rehabilitation center is planning care for a new client with a long-
standing history of alcohol abuse. Which of the following goals is of the highest priority?
,A. The client will acknowledge alcohol dependence and need for treatment.
B. The client will rebuild damaged interpersonal relationships.
C. The client will implement alternative strategies for managing anxiety.
D. The client's withdrawal from alcohol will be managed without complications. - Correct
answer D.
8.A nurse is admitting a client to a substance-abuse program. The client states, "This is all my
wife and boss's fault." The client's behavior is an example of which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Reaction-formation.
B. Compensation.
C. Projection.
D. Displacement. - Correct answer C.
9.A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal delirium. Which of the
following is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.)
A. Severe hypotension
B. Visual hallucinations
C. Grandiosity
D. Paranoid delusions
E. Tremors - Correct answer B, D, E
10.A nurse is caring for a client during admission to an alcohol treatment center. When working
with this client, which of the following approaches is appropriate?
A. Maintain a nonjudgemental attitude.
B. Avoid displaying any emotional response.
, C. Offer sympathetic support.
D. Verbalize disapproval of the substance a use. - Correct answer A.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving treatment for alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following findings is the highest priority?
A. Vitamin deficiency
B. Diaphoresis
C. Increased heart rate
D. Illusions - Correct answer D
A nurse is discussing addictive disorders with nursing staff. Which of the following should the
nurse identify as an etiological factor of addictive disorders? (Select all that apply)
A. Being female.
B. Low self-esteem.
C. Family history of addiction.
D. Personality disorders.
E. Asian ethnicity. - Correct answer B, C, D ?
A nurse is discussing alcohol withdrawal with a client who has a history of alcohol abuse. Which
of the following client statements indicate understanding?
A. "I should expect tremors to start less than 24 hours after I stop drinking."
B. "Disulfiram (Antabuse) will block my cravings for alcohol."
C. "Symptoms should last about 5 to 7 days once they begin."
D. It is important that I take Vitamin C to prevent cirrhosis or other liver damage." - Correct
answer A.
A nurse is discussing alcohol tolerance with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates understanding?
2026 | NCLEX-RN MCQs with Answers
1.A community health nurse is assigned to a client who has schizophrenia. The client is to
receive an I'm medication for the control of hallucinations. The client's prior nurse reports that
the client will let the nurse in her house only if the nurse carries a public health-issued blue bag
and wears black pants. The nurse is scheduled to visit this client tomorrow. Which of the
following is an appropriate action by the nurse?
A. Telephone the client and tell her that the new nurse will be wearing white pants.
B. Arrive as scheduled carrying only a stethoscope, vial, alcohol wipe, and medication syringe.
C. Arrive as scheduled with a police officer.
D. Arrive carrying a blue bag and wearing black pants - Correct answer D.
2.A client states, "I just don't know what to do about my husband's drinking. Every time I see
him drinking a beer, I start to feel extremely anxious." What would be the most therapeutic
response by the nurse?
A. Tell me more about what is going on with your son. Is he still causing problems for you?
B. At one time you told me you were drinking with your husband? Are you continuing to do
that?
C. The next time your husband starts drinking, what is something you might do to decrease your
anxiety?
D. I think you should attend an AI-Anon meeting. It is a supportive group for people who are
troubled by another person's drinking. - Correct answer C.
3.A nurse in the emergency department is preparing to care for a client who has signs of alcohol
intoxication. Which of the following should the nurse plan to include in the client's care? (Select
all that apply.)
A. Contact the laboratory to obtain a blood sample
B. Prepare the client for a CT scan
,C. Check the client's pupil reactivity
D. Obtain a urine specimen
E. Perform a developmental screening test - Correct answer A, B, C, D, E
4.A nurse in the emergency department is implementing a plan of care for a client who has
delirium tremens. Which of the following actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Administer diazepam (Valium).
B. Raise the bed side rails.
C. Obtain a medical history.
D. Start intravenous fluids. - Correct answer B.
5.A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who is receiving treatment for an
overdose of phencyclidine piperidine (PCP). Which of the following interventions is appropriate?
A. Perform gastric lavage.
B. Provide a warm environment.
C. Verbally attempt to calm the patient.
D. Administer ammonium chloride. - Correct answer D?
6.A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a client who is experiencing acute alcohol
withdrawal. All of the following interventions are part of the client care protocol. Which of the
following nursing actions should the nurse perform first?
A. Implement seizure precautions.
B. Insert an IV access site.
C. Perform a neurological exam.
D. Obtain a blood specimen. - Correct answer ?
7.A nurse in an addiction rehabilitation center is planning care for a new client with a long-
standing history of alcohol abuse. Which of the following goals is of the highest priority?
,A. The client will acknowledge alcohol dependence and need for treatment.
B. The client will rebuild damaged interpersonal relationships.
C. The client will implement alternative strategies for managing anxiety.
D. The client's withdrawal from alcohol will be managed without complications. - Correct
answer D.
8.A nurse is admitting a client to a substance-abuse program. The client states, "This is all my
wife and boss's fault." The client's behavior is an example of which of the following defense
mechanisms?
A. Reaction-formation.
B. Compensation.
C. Projection.
D. Displacement. - Correct answer C.
9.A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing alcohol withdrawal delirium. Which of the
following is an expected finding? (Select all that apply.)
A. Severe hypotension
B. Visual hallucinations
C. Grandiosity
D. Paranoid delusions
E. Tremors - Correct answer B, D, E
10.A nurse is caring for a client during admission to an alcohol treatment center. When working
with this client, which of the following approaches is appropriate?
A. Maintain a nonjudgemental attitude.
B. Avoid displaying any emotional response.
, C. Offer sympathetic support.
D. Verbalize disapproval of the substance a use. - Correct answer A.
A nurse is caring for a client who is receiving treatment for alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following findings is the highest priority?
A. Vitamin deficiency
B. Diaphoresis
C. Increased heart rate
D. Illusions - Correct answer D
A nurse is discussing addictive disorders with nursing staff. Which of the following should the
nurse identify as an etiological factor of addictive disorders? (Select all that apply)
A. Being female.
B. Low self-esteem.
C. Family history of addiction.
D. Personality disorders.
E. Asian ethnicity. - Correct answer B, C, D ?
A nurse is discussing alcohol withdrawal with a client who has a history of alcohol abuse. Which
of the following client statements indicate understanding?
A. "I should expect tremors to start less than 24 hours after I stop drinking."
B. "Disulfiram (Antabuse) will block my cravings for alcohol."
C. "Symptoms should last about 5 to 7 days once they begin."
D. It is important that I take Vitamin C to prevent cirrhosis or other liver damage." - Correct
answer A.
A nurse is discussing alcohol tolerance with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the following
statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates understanding?
