2026 ATI RN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remot
e, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is a
ppropriate to include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
,Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. Wh
en conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ATI RN Mental Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
*B.z Identifyz thez client'sz perceptionz ofz herz mentalz healthz status.*
A.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
B.z Assessmentz isz thez priorityz actionz whenz takingz thez nursingz processz approach.z Identifyingz thez clien
t'sz perceptionz ofz herz mentalz healthz statusz providesz importantz informationz aboutz thez client'sz psycho
socialz history.
C.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
D.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Az nursez isz toldz duringz change-of-
shiſtz reportz thatz az clientz isz stuporous.z Whenz assessingz thez client,z whichz ofz thez followingz isz anz exp
e
ctedz finding?
,z
A.z Thez clientz arousesz brieflyz inz responsez toz az sternalz rib.
B.z Thez clientz hasz az Glasgowz Comaz Scalez scorez lessz thanz 7.
C.z Thez clientz exhibitsz decorticatez rigidity.
D.z Thez clientz isz alertz butz disorientedz toz timez andz place.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
*A.z Thez clientz arousesz brieflyz inz responsez toz az sternalz rib.*
A.z Az clientz whoz isz stuporousz requiresz vigorousz orz painfulz stimuliz toz elicitz az response.
B.z <7z onz GCSz indicatesz comatose,z notz stuporous,z levelz ofz consciousness.
C.z Abnormalz posturingz =z comatose.
D.z Stuporousz /=z alert.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Az nursez isz planningz az peerz groupz discussionz aboutz thez Diagnosticz andz Statisticalz Manualz ofz Menta
l
Disorders,
5 ).z Whichz 5th z Edition
ofz the z (DSM-
z following z isz appropriatez toz includez inz thez discussion?z (SATA)
A.z Thez DSM-5z isz usedz toz identifyz mentalz healthz disorders.
B.z Thez DSM-5z establishesz diagnosticz criteria.
C.z Thez DSM-5z indicatesz recommendedz pharmacologicalz treatment.
D.z Thez DSM-5z assistsz nursesz inz planningz care.
E.z Thez DSM-5z indicatesz expectedz assessmentz findings.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
A,z B,z D,z E.
,z
Thez DSM-
5 isz usedz asz az diagnosticz tool,z establishesz diagnosticz criteria,z usedz byz nursesz toz plan,z implement,z a
dz nevaluatez care,z andz identifiesz expectedz findingsz forz mentalz healthz disorders.
Itz doesz notz indicatez pharmacologicalz treatment.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Whichz ofz thez followingz isz anz examplez ofz az clientz whoz requiresz emergencyz admissionz toz az mentalz
h
ealthz facility?
A.z Az clientz withz schizophreniaz whoz hasz frequentz hallucinations.
B.z Az clientz withz symptomsz ofz depressionz whoz attemptedz suicidez az yearz ago.
C.z Az clientz withz borderlinez personalityz disorderz whoz assaultedz az homelessz manz withz az metalz rod
.
D.z Az clientz withz bipolarz disorderz whoz pacesz quicklyz downz thez sidewalkz whilez talkingz toz himself.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 2z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
C.z Az clientz withz borderlinez personalityz disorderz whoz assaultedz az homelessz manz withz az metalz rod
.
Hallucinations,z depression,z and/orz pacingz doesz notz constitutez clearz reasonz forz emergencyz commitm
ent.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 2z Applicationz Exercises
Az clientz tellsz az studentz nurse,z "Don'tz tellz anyone,z butz Iz hidz az sharpz knifez underz myz mattressz inz or
d
erz toz protectz myselfz fromz myz roommate,z whoz isz alwaysz yellingz atz mez andz threateningz me."z Which
ofz thez followingz actionsz shouldz thez nursez take?
A.z Keepz thez client'sz communicationz confidential,z butz talkz toz thez clientz daily,z usingz therapeuticz com
municationz toz convincez himz toz admitz toz holdingz thez knife.
B.z Keepz thez client'sz communicationz confidential,z butz watchz thez clientz andz hisz roommatez closely.
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
A charge nurse is discussing mental status examinations with a newly licensed nurse. Which of the
following statements by the newly licensed nurse indicates a need for further teaching?
A. "To assess cognitive ability, I should ask the client to count backward by 7."
B. "To assess affect, I should observe the client's facial expression."
C. "To assess language ability, I should instruct the client to write a sentence."
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. "To assess remote memory, I should have the client repeat a list of objects."
Asking the client to repeat a list of objects is appropriate to assess immediate, rather than remot
e, memory.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse is planning care for a client who has a mental health disorder. Which of the following is a
ppropriate to include as a psychobiological intervention?
A. Assist the client with systematic desensitization therapy.
B. Teach the client appropriate coping mechanisms.
C. Assess the client for comorbid health conditions.
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises - CORRECT ANSWER -
D. Monitor the client for adverse effects of medications.
Assisting with systematic desensitization therapy is a cognitive and behavioral.
Teaching appropriate coping mechanisms is a counseling or health teaching.
,Assessing for comorbid health conditions is health promotion and maintenance.
D. Monitoring for adverse effects of medications is an example of a psychobiological intervention.
ATI RN Mental Health Nursing Modules Ch. 1 Application Exercises
A nurse in an outpatient mental health clinic is preparing to conduct an initial client interview. Wh
en conducting the interview, which of the following is the highest priority action?
A. Respect the client's need for personal space.
B. Identify the client's perception of her mental health status.
C. Include the client's family in the interview.
D. Teach the client about her current mental health disorder.
ATI RN Mental Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
*B.z Identifyz thez client'sz perceptionz ofz herz mentalz healthz status.*
A.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
B.z Assessmentz isz thez priorityz actionz whenz takingz thez nursingz processz approach.z Identifyingz thez clien
t'sz perceptionz ofz herz mentalz healthz statusz providesz importantz informationz aboutz thez client'sz psycho
socialz history.
C.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
D.z Appropriate,z butz notz highestz priority.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Az nursez isz toldz duringz change-of-
shiſtz reportz thatz az clientz isz stuporous.z Whenz assessingz thez client,z whichz ofz thez followingz isz anz exp
e
ctedz finding?
,z
A.z Thez clientz arousesz brieflyz inz responsez toz az sternalz rib.
B.z Thez clientz hasz az Glasgowz Comaz Scalez scorez lessz thanz 7.
C.z Thez clientz exhibitsz decorticatez rigidity.
D.z Thez clientz isz alertz butz disorientedz toz timez andz place.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
*A.z Thez clientz arousesz brieflyz inz responsez toz az sternalz rib.*
A.z Az clientz whoz isz stuporousz requiresz vigorousz orz painfulz stimuliz toz elicitz az response.
B.z <7z onz GCSz indicatesz comatose,z notz stuporous,z levelz ofz consciousness.
C.z Abnormalz posturingz =z comatose.
D.z Stuporousz /=z alert.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Az nursez isz planningz az peerz groupz discussionz aboutz thez Diagnosticz andz Statisticalz Manualz ofz Menta
l
Disorders,
5 ).z Whichz 5th z Edition
ofz the z (DSM-
z following z isz appropriatez toz includez inz thez discussion?z (SATA)
A.z Thez DSM-5z isz usedz toz identifyz mentalz healthz disorders.
B.z Thez DSM-5z establishesz diagnosticz criteria.
C.z Thez DSM-5z indicatesz recommendedz pharmacologicalz treatment.
D.z Thez DSM-5z assistsz nursesz inz planningz care.
E.z Thez DSM-5z indicatesz expectedz assessmentz findings.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
A,z B,z D,z E.
,z
Thez DSM-
5 isz usedz asz az diagnosticz tool,z establishesz diagnosticz criteria,z usedz byz nursesz toz plan,z implement,z a
dz nevaluatez care,z andz identifiesz expectedz findingsz forz mentalz healthz disorders.
Itz doesz notz indicatez pharmacologicalz treatment.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 1z Applicationz Exercises
Whichz ofz thez followingz isz anz examplez ofz az clientz whoz requiresz emergencyz admissionz toz az mentalz
h
ealthz facility?
A.z Az clientz withz schizophreniaz whoz hasz frequentz hallucinations.
B.z Az clientz withz symptomsz ofz depressionz whoz attemptedz suicidez az yearz ago.
C.z Az clientz withz borderlinez personalityz disorderz whoz assaultedz az homelessz manz withz az metalz rod
.
D.z Az clientz withz bipolarz disorderz whoz pacesz quicklyz downz thez sidewalkz whilez talkingz toz himself.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 2z Applicationz Exercisesz -z CORRECTz ANSWERz -
C.z Az clientz withz borderlinez personalityz disorderz whoz assaultedz az homelessz manz withz az metalz rod
.
Hallucinations,z depression,z and/orz pacingz doesz notz constitutez clearz reasonz forz emergencyz commitm
ent.
ATIz RNz Mentalz Healthz Nursingz Modulesz Ch.z 2z Applicationz Exercises
Az clientz tellsz az studentz nurse,z "Don'tz tellz anyone,z butz Iz hidz az sharpz knifez underz myz mattressz inz or
d
erz toz protectz myselfz fromz myz roommate,z whoz isz alwaysz yellingz atz mez andz threateningz me."z Which
ofz thez followingz actionsz shouldz thez nursez take?
A.z Keepz thez client'sz communicationz confidential,z butz talkz toz thez clientz daily,z usingz therapeuticz com
municationz toz convincez himz toz admitz toz holdingz thez knife.
B.z Keepz thez client'sz communicationz confidential,z butz watchz thez clientz andz hisz roommatez closely.
