HESI PN MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE QUESTION
BANK 2026 SOLVED ANSWERS GRADED A+
▶ Refeeding syndrome Answer: can happen when somebody who is
malnourished begins feeding again. Malnourished means your body is
deprived of nutrients. When your body tries to metabolize nutrients again,
severe shifts — related to electrolyte deficiencies — can occur in your
body's chemistry. They can cause dangerous complications, affecting your
muscles, lungs, heart and brain.
▶ nursing interventions for eating disorders Answer: NON
JUDGEMENTAL!
strict boundaries (pts prone to use splitting tactics)
positive reinforcement - even for the little things
encourage decisions making and allow some control
positive distraction - change in scenery
strict rules re movement; pts need to rest most of the day
▶ eating disorders - assess for what & why Answer: suicide risk, bc of their
impulsivity
▶ priority in treating someone w an eating disorder Answer: Behavioral
reinforcement and solid plans for relapse prevention
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders Answer: When emotional distress
cannot be processed cognitively, it may be expressed physically (chronic
nausea, chronic back pain, nondescript pain, nothing makes it better)
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - GOAL Answer: Differentiate
disorders and apply consistent nursing response
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - focus on what? Answer: Focus on
pattern recognition instead of memorization
▶ is there someone PHYSICALLY wrong in someone with Somatic &
Dissociative Disorders Answer: Nothing PHYSICALLY wrong: need to rule
out the medical cause
, ▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - pts are experiencing ____ distress
Answer: REAL! even tho sx may not match medical findings
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - nursing role Answer: validation +
redirection to function
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder - main takeaway Answer: real symptoms,
not intentional
▶ Illness Anxiety Disorder Answer: *fear of illness with minimal symptoms*
Preoccupation with having disease
Minimal physical findings
Frequent checking behaviors
Reassurance temporarily helps then anxiety returns
▶ Conversion Disorder - info Answer: *neurologic deficit after stress*
Loss of motor or sensory function
Often after emotional trauma
Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy
▶ Factitious Disorder Answer: *intentional for sick role*
Intentional symptom creation
Desire to assume sick role - they like the attention they get when sick
May self-harm to create symptoms: weird self-harm like ingesting a little bit
of poison
▶ Malingering Disorder Answer: *intentional sx creation for external gain*
Legal, financial, housing, pain meds, procedures
Behavior stops when reward achieved
"I want to hurt myself" - homeless people will often say this in winter
months :(
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern & most common complaint Answer:
Multiple shifting symptoms
Frequent provider visits
High health anxiety
Pain most common complaint
Negative testing
BANK 2026 SOLVED ANSWERS GRADED A+
▶ Refeeding syndrome Answer: can happen when somebody who is
malnourished begins feeding again. Malnourished means your body is
deprived of nutrients. When your body tries to metabolize nutrients again,
severe shifts — related to electrolyte deficiencies — can occur in your
body's chemistry. They can cause dangerous complications, affecting your
muscles, lungs, heart and brain.
▶ nursing interventions for eating disorders Answer: NON
JUDGEMENTAL!
strict boundaries (pts prone to use splitting tactics)
positive reinforcement - even for the little things
encourage decisions making and allow some control
positive distraction - change in scenery
strict rules re movement; pts need to rest most of the day
▶ eating disorders - assess for what & why Answer: suicide risk, bc of their
impulsivity
▶ priority in treating someone w an eating disorder Answer: Behavioral
reinforcement and solid plans for relapse prevention
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders Answer: When emotional distress
cannot be processed cognitively, it may be expressed physically (chronic
nausea, chronic back pain, nondescript pain, nothing makes it better)
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - GOAL Answer: Differentiate
disorders and apply consistent nursing response
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - focus on what? Answer: Focus on
pattern recognition instead of memorization
▶ is there someone PHYSICALLY wrong in someone with Somatic &
Dissociative Disorders Answer: Nothing PHYSICALLY wrong: need to rule
out the medical cause
, ▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - pts are experiencing ____ distress
Answer: REAL! even tho sx may not match medical findings
▶ Somatic & Dissociative Disorders - nursing role Answer: validation +
redirection to function
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder - main takeaway Answer: real symptoms,
not intentional
▶ Illness Anxiety Disorder Answer: *fear of illness with minimal symptoms*
Preoccupation with having disease
Minimal physical findings
Frequent checking behaviors
Reassurance temporarily helps then anxiety returns
▶ Conversion Disorder - info Answer: *neurologic deficit after stress*
Loss of motor or sensory function
Often after emotional trauma
Symptoms inconsistent with anatomy
▶ Factitious Disorder Answer: *intentional for sick role*
Intentional symptom creation
Desire to assume sick role - they like the attention they get when sick
May self-harm to create symptoms: weird self-harm like ingesting a little bit
of poison
▶ Malingering Disorder Answer: *intentional sx creation for external gain*
Legal, financial, housing, pain meds, procedures
Behavior stops when reward achieved
"I want to hurt myself" - homeless people will often say this in winter
months :(
▶ Somatic Symptom Disorder pattern & most common complaint Answer:
Multiple shifting symptoms
Frequent provider visits
High health anxiety
Pain most common complaint
Negative testing
