ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH PROCTORED
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025-2026
1. A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy program to help him overcome his
anxiety. Using systematic desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to continue positive results, the client
should participate in which of the following? a. Biofeedback or d. Positive reinforcement
2. A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client’s partner 8 months ago. Whichof
the following client statements indicates maladaptive grieving? d. “I still don’t feel up to returning
to work.”
3. A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a client who has
schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol (antipsychotic, 1st gen). Which of the
following clinical findings is the nurse’s priority? d. High fever (Complication →
agranulocytosis)
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive compulsive disorder. Which of the
following recommendations should the nurse include in the client’s plan of care? c. Thought
Stopping
4. A nurse is providing teaching to the daughter of an older client who has obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Which of the following statements by the daughter indicates an understanding of the
teaching? b. “I will limit my mother’s clothing choices when she is getting dressed.”
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? c. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral
6. A nurse is providing behavioral therapy for a client who has OCD. The client repeatedly
checks that the doors are locked at night. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
give the client when using thought stopping technique? d. “Snap a rubber band on your wrist
when you think about checking the locks.”
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a cocaine use disorder. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to have during withdrawal? b. Fatigue
8. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking clozapine. For which of the
following findings should the nurse withhold the medication and notify the provider? a. WBC
9. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan? b. Encourage physical activity for the
client during the day
10. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect? c. Insomnia
,11. A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and displays severe symptoms of the
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? d. Direct the client to perform her
own daily hygiene and grooming tasks
12. A nurse is caring for a client who was involuntarily committed and is scheduled to receive
electroconvulsive therapy. The client refuses the treatment and will discuss why with the
healthcare team. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? a. Document the client’s
refusal of the treatment in the medication record
13. A nurse is providing crisis intervention for a client who was involved in a violent mass
casualty situation in the community. Which of the following actions should the nurse take during
the initial session with the client? a. Identify the client’s usual coping style.
14. A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who reports feeling sad,
worthless, and hopeless 9 months after the death of her son. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? d. Ask the client if she has thought about harming herself given -.
15. A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who has autism spectrum disorder. Which of the
following outcomes should the nurse include in the plan of care? c. Initiate social interactions with
caregiver
16. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing active auditory hallucination. Which of the
following should the nurse take? d. Focus the client on reality based activities
17. A nurse is conducting an admission interview with a client who is experiencing mania. Whichof
the following findings the nurse reports to the provider? a. Reports eating twice in the past week 't
bathed in 2 days
18. A nurse is caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following findings
requires immediate intervention by the nurse? c. +2 edema of the lower extremities
19. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a recent diagnosis of antisocial personality
disorder. Which of the following outcomes should the nurse in the care plan? a. The client treats
others with respect
20. A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed massage therapy to treat panic disorder. The
client states “I can't stand to be touched by another person”. Which of the following response
should the nurse make? c. I will tell your provider know that you would like a treat other than a
message (avoid triggers)
??(doubled)21. A nurse in a group home facility is caring for a client who is developmentally
disabled. The client has been stealing belongings from the other clients. Which of the following
techniques should the nurse use? b. Positive reinforcement
, 22. A nurse in a mental facility is caring for a newly admitted client. Which of the following
resources should the nurse recommend to help the client adapt to the healthcare setting? a. A
Community meeting
23. A nurse is teaching the caregiver of a client who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease about
home safety. Which of the following statements by the caregiver indicates an understanding ofthe
teaching? b. I will place a sliding bolt lock just above the doorknob
24. A nurse is beginning a therapeutic relationship with a client. The nurse should plan to
accomplish which of the following tasks during the working phase? b. Evaluate progress toward
predetermined goals
25. A nurse Is planning care for a client who has anorexia nervosa and is admitted to an
inpatient eating disorder unit. Which of the following is an appropriate intervention? (p. 167) c.
Initiate a relationship built on trust with the client.
26. A nurse is providing discharge teaching about manifestations of relapse to the family of a
client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the
teaching a. The client develops an inability to concentrate
27. A nurse in a mental health facility is caring for a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take during the working phase of the nurse-client relationship? c. Promote problem-
solving skills.
28. A nurse is planning care for a client who has dementia. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan? d. Provide finger food to enhance caloric intake (ensure
adequate food/fluid intake)
29. A nurse is developing a teaching plan for the family of an older adult client who is to receive
transcranial magnetic stimulation. Which of the following information should the nurse include in
the teaching plans? a. The client might have a headache after treatment (a/e mild discomfort and
tingling sensation at the site of the electromagnet)
30. A nurse overhears a client saying, “I am a spy, a spy for the FBI. I am an I, an eye for aneye,
an eye in the sky. Sky is up high. The nurse should document the client’s statement aswhich of
the following speech alterations? a. Clang association
31. A nurse is assessing a client who has neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Which of the
following clinical findings should the nurse expect? b. Temperature 40 (104F) (sudden high
fever)
32. A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is planning discharge care for a client who
sustained a traumatic brain injury. For which of the following needs should the nurse collaborate
with a clinical psychologist? a. The client needs to begin a group therapy program prior to
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS 2025-2026
1. A client is fearful of driving and enters a behavioral therapy program to help him overcome his
anxiety. Using systematic desensitization, he is able to drive down a familiar street without
experiencing a panic attack. The nurse should recognize that to continue positive results, the client
should participate in which of the following? a. Biofeedback or d. Positive reinforcement
2. A nurse is counseling a client following the death of the client’s partner 8 months ago. Whichof
the following client statements indicates maladaptive grieving? d. “I still don’t feel up to returning
to work.”
3. A nurse in an inpatient mental health facility is assessing a client who has
schizophrenia and is taking haloperidol (antipsychotic, 1st gen). Which of the
following clinical findings is the nurse’s priority? d. High fever (Complication →
agranulocytosis)
4. A nurse is planning care for a client who has obsessive compulsive disorder. Which of the
following recommendations should the nurse include in the client’s plan of care? c. Thought
Stopping
4. A nurse is providing teaching to the daughter of an older client who has obsessive-compulsive
disorder. Which of the following statements by the daughter indicates an understanding of the
teaching? b. “I will limit my mother’s clothing choices when she is getting dressed.”
5. A nurse is caring for a client who is in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. Which of the
following actions should the nurse take? c. Avoid power struggles by remaining neutral
6. A nurse is providing behavioral therapy for a client who has OCD. The client repeatedly
checks that the doors are locked at night. Which of the following instructions should the nurse
give the client when using thought stopping technique? d. “Snap a rubber band on your wrist
when you think about checking the locks.”
7. A nurse is caring for a client who has a cocaine use disorder. Which of the following
manifestations should the nurse expect the client to have during withdrawal? b. Fatigue
8. A nurse is reviewing the medical record of a client who is taking clozapine. For which of the
following findings should the nurse withhold the medication and notify the provider? a. WBC
9. A nurse is creating a plan of care for a client who has major depressive disorder. Which of the
following interventions should the nurse include in the plan? b. Encourage physical activity for the
client during the day
10. A nurse is assessing a client who is experiencing acute alcohol withdrawal. Which of the
following findings should the nurse expect? c. Insomnia
,11. A nurse is caring for a client who has schizophrenia and displays severe symptoms of the
disorder. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? d. Direct the client to perform her
own daily hygiene and grooming tasks
12. A nurse is caring for a client who was involuntarily committed and is scheduled to receive
electroconvulsive therapy. The client refuses the treatment and will discuss why with the
healthcare team. Which of the following actions should the nurse take? a. Document the client’s
refusal of the treatment in the medication record
13. A nurse is providing crisis intervention for a client who was involved in a violent mass
casualty situation in the community. Which of the following actions should the nurse take during
the initial session with the client? a. Identify the client’s usual coping style.
14. A nurse in the emergency department is caring for a client who reports feeling sad,
worthless, and hopeless 9 months after the death of her son. Which of the following actions
should the nurse take first? d. Ask the client if she has thought about harming herself given -.
15. A nurse is planning care for an adolescent who has autism spectrum disorder. Which of the
following outcomes should the nurse include in the plan of care? c. Initiate social interactions with
caregiver
16. A nurse is caring for a client who is experiencing active auditory hallucination. Which of the
following should the nurse take? d. Focus the client on reality based activities
17. A nurse is conducting an admission interview with a client who is experiencing mania. Whichof
the following findings the nurse reports to the provider? a. Reports eating twice in the past week 't
bathed in 2 days
18. A nurse is caring for a client who has anorexia nervosa. Which of the following findings
requires immediate intervention by the nurse? c. +2 edema of the lower extremities
19. A nurse is planning care for a client who has a recent diagnosis of antisocial personality
disorder. Which of the following outcomes should the nurse in the care plan? a. The client treats
others with respect
20. A nurse is caring for a client who is prescribed massage therapy to treat panic disorder. The
client states “I can't stand to be touched by another person”. Which of the following response
should the nurse make? c. I will tell your provider know that you would like a treat other than a
message (avoid triggers)
??(doubled)21. A nurse in a group home facility is caring for a client who is developmentally
disabled. The client has been stealing belongings from the other clients. Which of the following
techniques should the nurse use? b. Positive reinforcement
, 22. A nurse in a mental facility is caring for a newly admitted client. Which of the following
resources should the nurse recommend to help the client adapt to the healthcare setting? a. A
Community meeting
23. A nurse is teaching the caregiver of a client who has advanced Alzheimer’s disease about
home safety. Which of the following statements by the caregiver indicates an understanding ofthe
teaching? b. I will place a sliding bolt lock just above the doorknob
24. A nurse is beginning a therapeutic relationship with a client. The nurse should plan to
accomplish which of the following tasks during the working phase? b. Evaluate progress toward
predetermined goals
25. A nurse Is planning care for a client who has anorexia nervosa and is admitted to an
inpatient eating disorder unit. Which of the following is an appropriate intervention? (p. 167) c.
Initiate a relationship built on trust with the client.
26. A nurse is providing discharge teaching about manifestations of relapse to the family of a
client who has schizophrenia. Which of the following information should the nurse include in the
teaching a. The client develops an inability to concentrate
27. A nurse in a mental health facility is caring for a client. Which of the following actions should
the nurse take during the working phase of the nurse-client relationship? c. Promote problem-
solving skills.
28. A nurse is planning care for a client who has dementia. Which of the following interventions
should the nurse include in the plan? d. Provide finger food to enhance caloric intake (ensure
adequate food/fluid intake)
29. A nurse is developing a teaching plan for the family of an older adult client who is to receive
transcranial magnetic stimulation. Which of the following information should the nurse include in
the teaching plans? a. The client might have a headache after treatment (a/e mild discomfort and
tingling sensation at the site of the electromagnet)
30. A nurse overhears a client saying, “I am a spy, a spy for the FBI. I am an I, an eye for aneye,
an eye in the sky. Sky is up high. The nurse should document the client’s statement aswhich of
the following speech alterations? a. Clang association
31. A nurse is assessing a client who has neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Which of the
following clinical findings should the nurse expect? b. Temperature 40 (104F) (sudden high
fever)
32. A nurse in an acute care mental health facility is planning discharge care for a client who
sustained a traumatic brain injury. For which of the following needs should the nurse collaborate
with a clinical psychologist? a. The client needs to begin a group therapy program prior to
