HESI MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE EXAM 50
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026
A female client is anxious about a scheduled diagnostic procedure and keeps
asking the same question of every staff person. How should the practical nurse
respond?
A) Encourage the client to watch television as a distraction.
B) Reinforce with the client the need for the procedure regardless.
C) Affirm the client's anxiety and ask if she wants to talk.
D) Reassure the client that the procedure is performed for others every day. -
ANSWER-C) Affirm the client's anxiety and ask if she wants to talk.
Which behavior should the practical nurse identify as aggressive in a client who is
admitted to the mental health unit?
A) Acts passive when personal rights are challenged.
B) Uses statements that express feelings of victimization.
C) Verbally attacks and demeans peers in group settings.
D) Addresses others with Mister or Misses before last name. - ANSWER-C)
Verbally attacks and demeans peers in group settings.
A male client arrives at the mental health clinic and tells the practical nurse (PN)
that he is overwhelmed and does not know who to talk to about his life. Based on
the client's comments, what aspect of the client's life should the practical nurse
explore first with the client?
,A) Coping mechanisms.
B) Problem resolution.
C) Support system.
D) Perception of the event. - ANSWER-C) Support system.
A confused male client who unexpectedly becomes agitated and combative, raises
his fist and threatens a female practical nurse (PN) stating that he is going to bash
in her face. What action should the PN take?
A) Activate the de-escalation response team.
B) Administer a PRN antianxiety agent.
C) Tell the client his behavior is not acceptable.
D) Summon the in-house security guard. - ANSWER-A) Activate the de-escalation
response team.
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a female client with borderline personality
disorder and a history of self-mutilation. The client tells the PN that another staff
member makes her feel angry and unimportant. What priority intervention should
the PN implement?
A) Tell the client that she will be secluded if she acts out.
B) Give the client a reward for expressing her anger.
C) Explain that she should cope by doing something physical.
D) Ask her if she feels like hurting herself when she is angry. - ANSWER-D) Ask
her if she feels like hurting herself when she is angry.
, Which drug is commonly prescribed for a client with attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)?
A) Haloperidol (Haldol).
B) Imipramine (Tofranil).
C) Fluphenazine (Prolixin).
D) Methylphenidate (Ritalin). - ANSWER-D) Methylphenidate (Ritalin).
A male client is admitted to a drug rehabilitation program for chronic cocaine
abuse. Which nursing problem should the practical nurse consider is the client's
highest priority?
A) Risk for noncompliance related to chronic drug use.
B) Risk for self-violence related to suicidal depression.
C) Sensory perceptual alteration related to stimulant drug use.
D) Risk for other-directed violence related to underlying personality disorder. -
ANSWER-B) Risk for self-violence related to suicidal depression.
What is the primary purpose for the practical nurse (PN) to use therapeutic
communication?
A) Maintain relationships.
B) Mutually share information.
C) Promote growth and change in clients.
D) Offer advice, suggestions, and spontaneous messages. - ANSWER-C) Promote
growth and change in clients.
QUESTIONS & CORRECT ANSWERS LATEST 2026
A female client is anxious about a scheduled diagnostic procedure and keeps
asking the same question of every staff person. How should the practical nurse
respond?
A) Encourage the client to watch television as a distraction.
B) Reinforce with the client the need for the procedure regardless.
C) Affirm the client's anxiety and ask if she wants to talk.
D) Reassure the client that the procedure is performed for others every day. -
ANSWER-C) Affirm the client's anxiety and ask if she wants to talk.
Which behavior should the practical nurse identify as aggressive in a client who is
admitted to the mental health unit?
A) Acts passive when personal rights are challenged.
B) Uses statements that express feelings of victimization.
C) Verbally attacks and demeans peers in group settings.
D) Addresses others with Mister or Misses before last name. - ANSWER-C)
Verbally attacks and demeans peers in group settings.
A male client arrives at the mental health clinic and tells the practical nurse (PN)
that he is overwhelmed and does not know who to talk to about his life. Based on
the client's comments, what aspect of the client's life should the practical nurse
explore first with the client?
,A) Coping mechanisms.
B) Problem resolution.
C) Support system.
D) Perception of the event. - ANSWER-C) Support system.
A confused male client who unexpectedly becomes agitated and combative, raises
his fist and threatens a female practical nurse (PN) stating that he is going to bash
in her face. What action should the PN take?
A) Activate the de-escalation response team.
B) Administer a PRN antianxiety agent.
C) Tell the client his behavior is not acceptable.
D) Summon the in-house security guard. - ANSWER-A) Activate the de-escalation
response team.
The practical nurse (PN) is caring for a female client with borderline personality
disorder and a history of self-mutilation. The client tells the PN that another staff
member makes her feel angry and unimportant. What priority intervention should
the PN implement?
A) Tell the client that she will be secluded if she acts out.
B) Give the client a reward for expressing her anger.
C) Explain that she should cope by doing something physical.
D) Ask her if she feels like hurting herself when she is angry. - ANSWER-D) Ask
her if she feels like hurting herself when she is angry.
, Which drug is commonly prescribed for a client with attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)?
A) Haloperidol (Haldol).
B) Imipramine (Tofranil).
C) Fluphenazine (Prolixin).
D) Methylphenidate (Ritalin). - ANSWER-D) Methylphenidate (Ritalin).
A male client is admitted to a drug rehabilitation program for chronic cocaine
abuse. Which nursing problem should the practical nurse consider is the client's
highest priority?
A) Risk for noncompliance related to chronic drug use.
B) Risk for self-violence related to suicidal depression.
C) Sensory perceptual alteration related to stimulant drug use.
D) Risk for other-directed violence related to underlying personality disorder. -
ANSWER-B) Risk for self-violence related to suicidal depression.
What is the primary purpose for the practical nurse (PN) to use therapeutic
communication?
A) Maintain relationships.
B) Mutually share information.
C) Promote growth and change in clients.
D) Offer advice, suggestions, and spontaneous messages. - ANSWER-C) Promote
growth and change in clients.
