ATI RN Mental Health Level 3
Proctored Exam 2023 with NGN All
70 Questions With Answers
EXAM
**1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?**
A) Euphoria and grandiosity
B) Pressured speech and flight of ideas
C) **Anhedonia and psychomotor retardation**
D) Suspiciousness and hypervigilance
**Rationale:** Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) and psychomotor
retardation (slowed movement and speech) are classic symptoms of
major depressive disorder .
**2. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is watching my
house because I have secret government codes." Which response by
the nurse is most therapeutic?**
A) **"That sounds frightening. Tell me more about what you're
experiencing."**
B) "I don't believe the FBI is watching you. That's not real."
C) "Let's focus on something else instead."
D) "Why do you think they are watching you?"
,**Rationale:** Acknowledging the client's feelings without reinforcing
the delusion is therapeutic. Option B dismisses the client's experience,
and asking "why" can imply judgment .
**3. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed fluoxetine. Which of the
following adverse effects should the nurse monitor?**
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) **Serotonin syndrome**
C) Agranulocytosis
D) Extrapyramidal symptoms
**Rationale:** Fluoxetine is an SSRI. Serotonin syndrome (agitation,
confusion, diaphoresis) is a life-threatening adverse effect.
Hypertensive crisis is associated with MAOIs .
**4. A nurse is planning care for a client with anorexia nervosa. Which
intervention should be included?**
A) Allow the client to eat alone to reduce anxiety
B) Weigh the client weekly after breakfast
C) **Monitor the client for 1 hour after meals**
D) Encourage the client to select preferred foods
**Rationale:** Monitoring for 1 hour after meals prevents purging
behaviors. Clients should be weighed daily, not weekly, and should not
eat alone .
,**5. A client with bipolar disorder is prescribed lithium. Which of the
following findings indicates early lithium toxicity?**
A) Polyuria and polydipsia
B) **Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea**
C) Fine hand tremors
D) Sedation and lethargy
**Rationale:** Early signs of lithium toxicity include GI upset (nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea), drowsiness, and coarse tremors.
Polyuria/polydipsia are expected side effects, not toxicity .
**6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting lithium. Which
instruction is most important?**
A) "Restrict your fluid intake to 1 liter per day."
B) "Take the medication on an empty stomach."
C) **"Maintain a consistent sodium intake."**
D) "You can stop the medication when you feel better."
**Rationale:** Consistent sodium intake is essential because lithium
excretion is affected by sodium levels. Low sodium can increase lithium
levels and cause toxicity .
**7. A nurse is assessing a client with alcohol use disorder who is
experiencing withdrawal. Which finding should the nurse report
immediately?**
A) Nausea and vomiting
, B) Diaphoresis and tremors
C) **Seizure activity**
D) Insomnia
**Rationale:** Seizures during alcohol withdrawal indicate impending
delirium tremens, a medical emergency. While other symptoms are
expected, seizures require immediate intervention .
**8. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports
recurrent nightmares. Which medication is commonly prescribed for
this symptom?**
A) Haloperidol
B) **Prazosin**
C) Lorazepam
D) Bupropion
**Rationale:** Prazosin (an alpha-blocker) is FDA-approved for PTSD-
related nightmares .
**9. A nurse is using therapeutic communication. Which statement
reflects active listening?**
A) "I understand how you feel."
B) **"You seem upset about what happened."**
C) "Everything will be fine."
D) "Let's talk about something happier."
Proctored Exam 2023 with NGN All
70 Questions With Answers
EXAM
**1. A nurse is assessing a client with major depressive disorder. Which
of the following findings should the nurse expect?**
A) Euphoria and grandiosity
B) Pressured speech and flight of ideas
C) **Anhedonia and psychomotor retardation**
D) Suspiciousness and hypervigilance
**Rationale:** Anhedonia (inability to feel pleasure) and psychomotor
retardation (slowed movement and speech) are classic symptoms of
major depressive disorder .
**2. A client with schizophrenia tells the nurse, "The FBI is watching my
house because I have secret government codes." Which response by
the nurse is most therapeutic?**
A) **"That sounds frightening. Tell me more about what you're
experiencing."**
B) "I don't believe the FBI is watching you. That's not real."
C) "Let's focus on something else instead."
D) "Why do you think they are watching you?"
,**Rationale:** Acknowledging the client's feelings without reinforcing
the delusion is therapeutic. Option B dismisses the client's experience,
and asking "why" can imply judgment .
**3. A nurse is caring for a client prescribed fluoxetine. Which of the
following adverse effects should the nurse monitor?**
A) Hypertensive crisis
B) **Serotonin syndrome**
C) Agranulocytosis
D) Extrapyramidal symptoms
**Rationale:** Fluoxetine is an SSRI. Serotonin syndrome (agitation,
confusion, diaphoresis) is a life-threatening adverse effect.
Hypertensive crisis is associated with MAOIs .
**4. A nurse is planning care for a client with anorexia nervosa. Which
intervention should be included?**
A) Allow the client to eat alone to reduce anxiety
B) Weigh the client weekly after breakfast
C) **Monitor the client for 1 hour after meals**
D) Encourage the client to select preferred foods
**Rationale:** Monitoring for 1 hour after meals prevents purging
behaviors. Clients should be weighed daily, not weekly, and should not
eat alone .
,**5. A client with bipolar disorder is prescribed lithium. Which of the
following findings indicates early lithium toxicity?**
A) Polyuria and polydipsia
B) **Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea**
C) Fine hand tremors
D) Sedation and lethargy
**Rationale:** Early signs of lithium toxicity include GI upset (nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea), drowsiness, and coarse tremors.
Polyuria/polydipsia are expected side effects, not toxicity .
**6. A nurse is providing teaching to a client starting lithium. Which
instruction is most important?**
A) "Restrict your fluid intake to 1 liter per day."
B) "Take the medication on an empty stomach."
C) **"Maintain a consistent sodium intake."**
D) "You can stop the medication when you feel better."
**Rationale:** Consistent sodium intake is essential because lithium
excretion is affected by sodium levels. Low sodium can increase lithium
levels and cause toxicity .
**7. A nurse is assessing a client with alcohol use disorder who is
experiencing withdrawal. Which finding should the nurse report
immediately?**
A) Nausea and vomiting
, B) Diaphoresis and tremors
C) **Seizure activity**
D) Insomnia
**Rationale:** Seizures during alcohol withdrawal indicate impending
delirium tremens, a medical emergency. While other symptoms are
expected, seizures require immediate intervention .
**8. A client with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reports
recurrent nightmares. Which medication is commonly prescribed for
this symptom?**
A) Haloperidol
B) **Prazosin**
C) Lorazepam
D) Bupropion
**Rationale:** Prazosin (an alpha-blocker) is FDA-approved for PTSD-
related nightmares .
**9. A nurse is using therapeutic communication. Which statement
reflects active listening?**
A) "I understand how you feel."
B) **"You seem upset about what happened."**
C) "Everything will be fine."
D) "Let's talk about something happier."
