HESI PSYCH MENTAL HEALTH TEST BANK 2026-2027 ACTUAL EXAM
300 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge
understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly
stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
D
,During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He
further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has
considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the
therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest
priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
B
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with
modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
ADE
,A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of
chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When the
client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia.
D
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior. Which
action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff,
and pacing in the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the
medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What
nursing intervention should the RN implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
C
, A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should plan
one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
D
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a female employee because of an
oncoming gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the female
employee. Both employees are referred for counseling with the staff
psychiatric RN. Which factor in the pushed employee's history is most related to the
reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
C
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized for
several days by court order. The client states, "I don't need to be here" and tells the RN
that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should document these
assessment findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
B
300 REAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS
WITH RATIONALES
The RN is teaching a client about the initiation of the prescribed abstinence therapy using
disulfiram (Antabuse). What information should the client acknowledge
understanding?
A. Completely abstain from heroin or cocaine use.
B. Remain alcohol free for 12 hours prior to the first dose.
C. Attend monthly meetings of alcoholics anonymous.
D. Admit to others that he is a substance user.
B
A male client with schizophrenia is admitted to the mental health unit after abruptly
stopping his prescription for ziprasidone (Geodon) one month ago. Which question is
most important for the RN to ask the client?
A. Have you lost interest in the things that you used to enjoy?
B. Is your ability to think or concentrate decreased?
C. How many continuous hours do you sleep at night?
D. Do you hear sounds or voices that others do not hear?
D
,During an annual physical by the occupational RN working in a corporate clinic, a male
employee tells the RN that is high-stress job is causing trouble in his personal life. He
further explains that he often gets so angry while driving to and from work that he has
considered "getting even" with other drivers. How should the RN
respond?
A. "Anger is contagious and could result in major confrontation."
B. "Try not to let your anger cause you to act impulsively."
C. "Expressing your anger to a stranger could result in an unsafe situation."
D. "It sounds as if there are many situations that make you feel angry."
D
A client who has agoraphobia (a fear of crowds) is beginning desensitization with the
therapist, and the RN is reinforcing the process. Which intervention has the highest
priority for this client's plan of care?
A. Encourage substitution of positive thoughts and negative ones.
B. Establish trust by providing a calm, safe environment.
C. Progressively expose the client to larger crowds.
D. Encourage deep breathing when anxiety escalates in a crowd.
B
Which nursing actions are likely to help promote the self-esteem of a male client with
modern depression?
A. Ask the client what his long term goals are.
B. Discuss the challenges of his medical condition.
C. Include the client in determining treatment protocol.
D. Encourage the client to engage in recreational therapy.
E. Provide opportunities for the client to discuss his concerns.
ADE
,A male client is admitted to the psychiatric unit for recurrent negative symptoms of
chronic schizophrenia and medication adjustment of Risperidone (Risperdal). When the
client walks to the nurse's station in a laterally contracted position, he states that
something has made his body contort into a monster. What action should the RN take?
A. Medicate the client with the prescribed antipsychotic thioridazine (Mellaril).
B. Offer the client a prescribed physical therapy hot pack for muscle spasms.
C. Direct client to occupational therapy to distract him from somatic complaints.
D. Administer the prescribed anticholinergic benztropine (Cogentin) for dystonia.
D
A mental health worker is caring for a client with escalating aggressive behavior. Which
action by the MHW warrant immediate intervention by the RN?
A. Is attempting to physically restrain the patient.
B. Tells the client to go to the quiet area of the unit.
C. Is using a loid voice to talk to the client.
D. Remains at a distance of 4 feet from the client.
A
A client on the mental health unit is becoming more agitated, shouting at the staff,
and pacing in the hallway. When the PRN medication is offered, the client refuses the
medication and defiantly sits on the floor in the middle of the unit hallway. What
nursing intervention should the RN implement first?
A. Transport of the client to the seclusion room.
B. Quietly approach the client with additional staff members.
C. Take other clients in the area to the client lounge.
D. Administer medication to chemically restrain the patient.
C
, A client is admitted to the mental health unit and reports taking extra antianxiety
medication because, "I'm so stressed out. I just want to go to sleep." The RN should plan
one-on-one observation of the client based on which statement?
A. "What should I do? Nothing seems to help."
B. "I have been so tired lately and needed to sleep."
C. "I really think that I don't need to be here."
D. "I don't want to walk. Nothing matters anymore."
D
A male hospital employee is pushed out the way by a female employee because of an
oncoming gurney. The pushed employee becomes very angry and swings at the female
employee. Both employees are referred for counseling with the staff
psychiatric RN. Which factor in the pushed employee's history is most related to the
reaction that occurred?
A. Is worried about losing his job to a woman.
B. Tortured animals as a child.
C. Was physically abused by his mother.
D. Hates to be touched by anyone.
C
The RN documents the mental status of a female client who has been hospitalized for
several days by court order. The client states, "I don't need to be here" and tells the RN
that she believes the television talks to her. The RN should document these
assessment findings in which section of the mental status exam/
A. Level of concentration.
B. Insightandjudgement.
C. Remotememory. D. Mood and affect.
B
