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 Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -
CORRECT
x*B. x ANSWER
x Identify x - x perceptionx ofx herx mentalx healthx status.*
x thex client's
A.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
B.x Assessmentx isx thex priorityx actionx whenx takingx thex nursingx processx approach.x Identifyingx thex clie
n
t'sx perceptionx ofx herx mentalx healthx statusx providesx importantx informationx aboutx thex client'sx psych
o
socialx history.
C.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
D.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Ax nursex isx toldx duringx change-of-
shiſtx reportx thatx ax clientx isx stuporous.x Whenx assessingx thex client,x whichx ofx thex followingx isx anx ex
pe
ctedx finding?
,x
A.x Thex clientx arousesx brieflyx inx responsex tox ax sternalx rib.
B.x Thex clientx hasx ax Glasgowx Comax Scalex scorex lessx thanx 7
.
C.x Thex clientx exhibitsx decorticatex rigidity.
D.x Thex clientx isx alertx butx disorientedx tox timex andx place
.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -
CORRECT
x*A. x ANSWER
x Thex client x - x brieflyx inx responsex tox ax sternalx rib.
x arouses
*
A.x Ax clientx whox isx stuporousx requiresx vigorousx orx painfulx stimulix tox elicitx ax respons
e.
B.x <7x onx GCSx indicatesx comatose,x notx stuporous,x levelx ofx consciousness
.
C.x Abnormalx posturingx =x comatose.
D.x Stuporousx /=x alert.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Ax nursex isx planningx ax peerx groupx discussionx aboutx thex Diagnosticx andx Statisticalx Manualx ofx Ment
al
Disorders,
5 ).x Whichxx 5th Edition
ofx xthe x (DSM-
x followingx isx appropriatex tox includex inx thex discussion?x (SATA
)
A.x Thex DSM-5x isx usedx tox identifyx mentalx healthx disorders.
B.x Thex DSM-5x establishesx diagnosticx criteria.
C.x Thex DSM-5x indicatesx recommendedx pharmacologicalx treatment.
D.x Thex DSM-5x assistsx nursesx inx planningx care.
E.x Thex DSM-5x indicatesx expectedx assessmentx findings.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
A,x B,x D,x E.
,x
Thex DSM-
5 isx usedx asx ax diagnosticx tool,x establishesx diagnosticx criteria,x usedx byx nursesx tox plan,x implement,x
dxan
evaluatex care,x andx identifiesx expectedx findingsx forx mentalx healthx disorders
.
Itx doesx notx indicatex pharmacologicalx treatment.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Whichx ofx thex followingx isx anx examplex ofx ax clientx whox requiresx emergencyx admissionx tox ax mental
xh
ealthx facility?
A.x Ax clientx withx schizophreniax whox hasx frequentx hallucinations.
B.x Ax clientx withx symptomsx ofx depressionx whox attemptedx suicidex ax yearx ago.
C.x Ax clientx withx borderlinex personalityx disorderx whox assaultedx ax homelessx manx withx ax metalx ro
d.
D.x Ax clientx withx bipolarx disorderx whox pacesx quicklyx downx thex sidewalkx whilex talkingx tox himself.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 2x Applicationx Exercisesx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
C.x Ax clientx withx borderlinex personalityx disorderx whox assaultedx ax homelessx manx withx ax metalx ro
d.
Hallucinations,x depression,x and/orx pacingx doesx notx constitutex clearx reasonx forx emergencyx commit
m
ent.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 2x Applicationx Exercises
Ax clientx tellsx ax studentx nurse,x "Don'tx tellx anyone,x butx Ix hidx ax sharpx knifex underx myx mattressx inx
ord
erx tox protectx myselfx fromx myx roommate,x whox isx alwaysx yellingx atx mex andx threateningx me."x Whic
h
ofx thex followingx actionsx shouldx thex nursex take?
A.x Keepx thex client'sx communicationx confidential,x butx talkx tox thex clientx daily,x usingx therapeuticx co
m
municationx tox convincex himx tox admitx tox holdingx thex knife.
B.x Keepx thex client'sx communicationx confidential,x butx watchx thex clientx andx hisx roommatex closel
y.
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 Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -
CORRECT
x*B. x ANSWER
x Identify x - x perceptionx ofx herx mentalx healthx status.*
x thex client's
A.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
B.x Assessmentx isx thex priorityx actionx whenx takingx thex nursingx processx approach.x Identifyingx thex clie
n
t'sx perceptionx ofx herx mentalx healthx statusx providesx importantx informationx aboutx thex client'sx psych
o
socialx history.
C.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
D.x Appropriate,x butx notx highestx priority.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Ax nursex isx toldx duringx change-of-
shiſtx reportx thatx ax clientx isx stuporous.x Whenx assessingx thex client,x whichx ofx thex followingx isx anx ex
pe
ctedx finding?
,x
A.x Thex clientx arousesx brieflyx inx responsex tox ax sternalx rib.
B.x Thex clientx hasx ax Glasgowx Comax Scalex scorex lessx thanx 7
.
C.x Thex clientx exhibitsx decorticatex rigidity.
D.x Thex clientx isx alertx butx disorientedx tox timex andx place
.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -
CORRECT
x*A. x ANSWER
x Thex client x - x brieflyx inx responsex tox ax sternalx rib.
x arouses
*
A.x Ax clientx whox isx stuporousx requiresx vigorousx orx painfulx stimulix tox elicitx ax respons
e.
B.x <7x onx GCSx indicatesx comatose,x notx stuporous,x levelx ofx consciousness
.
C.x Abnormalx posturingx =x comatose.
D.x Stuporousx /=x alert.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Ax nursex isx planningx ax peerx groupx discussionx aboutx thex Diagnosticx andx Statisticalx Manualx ofx Ment
al
Disorders,
5 ).x Whichxx 5th Edition
ofx xthe x (DSM-
x followingx isx appropriatex tox includex inx thex discussion?x (SATA
)
A.x Thex DSM-5x isx usedx tox identifyx mentalx healthx disorders.
B.x Thex DSM-5x establishesx diagnosticx criteria.
C.x Thex DSM-5x indicatesx recommendedx pharmacologicalx treatment.
D.x Thex DSM-5x assistsx nursesx inx planningx care.
E.x Thex DSM-5x indicatesx expectedx assessmentx findings.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercisesx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
A,x B,x D,x E.
,x
Thex DSM-
5 isx usedx asx ax diagnosticx tool,x establishesx diagnosticx criteria,x usedx byx nursesx tox plan,x implement,x
dxan
evaluatex care,x andx identifiesx expectedx findingsx forx mentalx healthx disorders
.
Itx doesx notx indicatex pharmacologicalx treatment.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 1x Applicationx Exercises
Whichx ofx thex followingx isx anx examplex ofx ax clientx whox requiresx emergencyx admissionx tox ax mental
xh
ealthx facility?
A.x Ax clientx withx schizophreniax whox hasx frequentx hallucinations.
B.x Ax clientx withx symptomsx ofx depressionx whox attemptedx suicidex ax yearx ago.
C.x Ax clientx withx borderlinex personalityx disorderx whox assaultedx ax homelessx manx withx ax metalx ro
d.
D.x Ax clientx withx bipolarx disorderx whox pacesx quicklyx downx thex sidewalkx whilex talkingx tox himself.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 2x Applicationx Exercisesx -x CORRECTx ANSWERx -
C.x Ax clientx withx borderlinex personalityx disorderx whox assaultedx ax homelessx manx withx ax metalx ro
d.
Hallucinations,x depression,x and/orx pacingx doesx notx constitutex clearx reasonx forx emergencyx commit
m
ent.
ATIx RNx Mentalx Healthx Nursingx Modulesx Ch.x 2x Applicationx Exercises
Ax clientx tellsx ax studentx nurse,x "Don'tx tellx anyone,x butx Ix hidx ax sharpx knifex underx myx mattressx inx
ord
erx tox protectx myselfx fromx myx roommate,x whox isx alwaysx yellingx atx mex andx threateningx me."x Whic
h
ofx thex followingx actionsx shouldx thex nursex take?
A.x Keepx thex client'sx communicationx confidential,x butx talkx tox thex clientx daily,x usingx therapeuticx co
m
municationx tox convincex himx tox admitx tox holdingx thex knife.
B.x Keepx thex client'sx communicationx confidential,x butx watchx thex clientx andx hisx roommatex closel
y.
